I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an arc of this book. I loved this book, as always with Ruth Hogan’s books the characters were absolutely brilliant and I didn’t want my journey with them to end, definitely recommend.

The perfect book for a gentle escape. Set in both the 1970s and the current day, the story slowly introduces the characters and their histories from when they met in a holiday park in Brighton. I was particularly drawn to the wonderful canine personalities who all add so much to the ambience of the story and I’ll be taking more notice of St. Pancras next time I’m there. Highly recommended!

Madame Burova is enchanting. Ruth Hogan has a true skill for deeply engaging characters (including the amazing canines) who enrich every corner of the story that they unfurl. This is no exception.

Told across two timelines - one in the early 1970s and the present day - we meet Madame Burova as she takes over from her mother in her booth providing palm reading, tarot cards and fortune telling. In the modern timeline a secret has come to the fore and the early timeline tells the story of that secret. We meet an incredible ensemble of friends, entertainers and strays in a book that culminates in a very satisfying conclusion.

I’m not sure I would have jumped into a blurb about clairvoyance if it had come from another author, but having loved all of Ruth Hogan’s previous books, I was thrilled to read this one too.

Thanks to Netgalley, Two Roads, John Murray Press and Hachette for an advanced copy of this gem.

A really beautiful read. Liked how the two time frames interlinked. You admire Madame Burova's strength and courage throughout and really admire her confidentiality. A lot of books that focus on this subject focus on whether or not these people are frauds, but wonderfully this is not the angle and it really works.
A real story of love and loss, identity and a search for the truth.
Possibly found it a teeny bit slow starting but once the two main characters meet I was hooked and couldn't put it down.
Like the background noise of the holiday park going on, the mumblings, the competitive nature etc. I also like how tarot is used. Its not too much but enough to keep the story moving and in part reveal more about minor characters hidden secrets/guilts/truths.
Really really enjoyed this one.

🌟B O O K R E V I E W🌟

Madame Burova - Ruth Hogan

𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝑩𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒂 - 𝑻𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒕 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓, 𝑷𝒂𝒍𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒗𝒐𝒚𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒚 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔.
𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆'𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒅. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝑩𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒂 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆'𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇. 𝑩𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕, 𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒐.
𝑰𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏, 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒉 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕. 𝑩𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒋𝒐𝒃, 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒈𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑫𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒂 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝑩𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒂'𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒓.

I absolutely just loved this book! It is wonderfully warm, nostalgic and written with love you can feel it emanating from every page.
I can’t really articulate why I love it so, it reminds me of lying on the lawn under a blue hazy sky, listening to planes yawing overhead and a sense of home, a real story that I felt connected to; both to the characters and the sense of place.

‘𝑶𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒃𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒔. 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒄𝒄𝒖𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓-𝒘𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒔𝒖𝒏.’

The story spans 50 years travelling back and forth between the seventies and now.
Billie travels to Brighton to meet Madame Burova and to try to find out some information about her birth parents, she is given some clues but she is intrigued by Imelda. I loved the interplay between these women, it feels real and they feel loved by the author writing them. The friendships of Billie sound authentic and it also had a tint of hazy 70’s sunny nostalgia to me

‘𝑰𝒎𝒆𝒍𝒅𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑩𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆.’

There is seventies sexism, still shocking that is was so all pervading and it was difficult for women to do anything about in a world so ruled by men, it really angered me but I love that fact that they can and do fight back guerilla style!

I loved the characters, they are all so rounded, you feel you would know them if you walked into the Brighton cafe and saw them. I had so many questions reading this story - What of Imelda and Cillian’s relationship? What is the significance of Vivienne, what happens to Jeanie, I want to know more about Treasure? I was intrigued by Henrys part in the story and his connection to Imelda, he is gorgeous and so kind.

I desperately needed to know what happened to them all and who Billie’s parents were. It kept me reading as I’d really connected with these people.

‘𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒏𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒚, 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒖𝒍. 𝑰𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔.’

The twist and the heartbreak and then the absolute joy this book brings is just wonderful. This is a great story and will make you feel happy to the bottom of your boots and I defy you not to cry right at the end.

✩✩✩✩✩

[AD-GIFTED]

@ruthmariehogan @johnmurrays #netgalley

Many thanks to Netgalley, Two Roads and Ruth Hogan for my copy. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read Madame Burova. I have read and hugely enjoyed Ruth's three previous books and happily this one did not disappoint. As always the characters were wonderful - quirky but lovable and the plot is beautiful - gentle yet emotionally powerful and also entertaining. These are just the loveliest most uplifting kinds of books. Very highly recommended.

At the heart of this story is a woman looking to find her real parents,having recently found out she was adopted.
This brings her into contact with Madam Burova,who is central to the story,which is told over two timelines,one now,one back in the 70s.

It also brings a whole host of other slightly eccentric and colourful characters,all of whom have a certain charm,and make the story feel like a proper "feel good" book.

Left me with a smile.

I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read and review this as I'd had my eye on it for a long time! It did not disappoint! Such a memorable story and a great cast of characters. Very well-written and I enjoyed the inter-twining relationships between the characters, especially when all was not at it seemed. The pages literally turned themselves and the author created an unforgettable story that will stay with me forever.

A lovely story which I read over two sittings. Ruth Hogans books always make me smile and Madame Burova was just what I needed in these troubled times. I loved Imelda, she was really interesting with her tarot cards and palmistry. Set over two timelines I think this is probably Ruth Hogans best book yet.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

Goodness me! This book has it all – romance, lost love and a mystery – and tackles subjects ranging from racism and unplanned pregnancy to animal cruelty. In fact, it packs so much in, I had to read it twice just to get the multitude of characters and their stories straight in my head.

Linking them all is Madame Imelda Burova – tarot reader, palmist and clairvoyant – who has used her talents to answer the burning questions of Brighton’s residents and holidaymakers since 1972. Now, nearly fifty years later, having decided to retire, she has one final message to pass on. The recipient, Billie, has her world tipped upside down by the news she receives from Madame Burova and, drawn to the enigmatic people and events of 1970s Brighton, starts her search for the truth.

I enjoyed the story all the way through and I did get choked up at the end with the conclusion to Imelda’s own journey, but Imelda was the only character I felt any real warmth towards, as well as perhaps Henry and Treasure. Sadly - and it is a genuine sadness - it felt like the novel didn’t spend enough time with most of the other characters to really develop a connection. I’m afraid I didn’t even warm to Billie all that much, with her bowler hat and metallic Dr. Martens shoes. The camaraderie of the Larkins Holiday Park employees and entertainers did come shining through, however.

In summary, if I were looking into Madame Burova’s crystal ball, I’d see an enjoyable read for an overcast Sunday afternoon in your future if you picked up this book. The cards also suggest a packet of your favourite biscuits and a delicious hot beverage might be forthcoming.

Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the eARC on which this review is based.

This was a delightful book which I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters were engaging and the females feisty. You will find yourself cheering them on.

Madame Burova is a heartwarming story set in 1973 and present day. Madame Burova is a tarot reader and clairvoyant based in Brighton who has been entrusted with a secret about an abandoned baby’s heritage. Billie is that abandoned baby who meets Madame Burova at a crossroads in her life: her adopted parents have died, her marriage has ended and she has taken voluntary redundancy from her job. Billie finds a new community of friends in Brighton as she tries to figure out her her birth mother and father are - all whilst Madame Burova deals with the burden of her secret and her memories from the past. This book is a joy to read - the 1970s era of holiday parks and seaside life is drawn so vividly and the community of characters are a delight to read about. There are no real surprises at the end as I had guessed Billie’s birth parents but if you want a feel good read, this is the book for you.

Madame Burova - Tarot Reader, Palmist and Clairvoyant is retiring and leaving her booth on the Brighton seafront after fifty years also the keeper of a few secrets,

Billie has lost her university job, her marriage, and her place in the world when she discovers something that leaves her very identity in question. Determined to find answers, she must follow a trail which might just lead right to Madame Burova's door.

Having read and loved Ruth's other three books, I knew I was in for a treat with Ruth's new novel Madame Burova and it didn't disappoint.

Madame Burova is set over 50 years and keeps flipping back and forth between the past and the present as you follow the two main characters Imelda Burova and Billie and all they go through. Along the way you met more wonderful characters like Treasure and Cillian and of course not forgetting the dogs.

Madame Burova is a brilliant book and Ruth Hogan's writing style sweeps you up. The book is endearing , sad and funny. Also have a tissue on hand cause there was a few times I cried.

I will be telling everyone about the book and buying a few copies for friends and family.

So curl up on your favourite armchair, have a cup of tea (tea leaves of course) and immerse yourself in world and life of Madame Burova.

With thanks to Netgalley and Two roads for allowing me to review this book.

The way Ruth Hogan portrays her characters is fabulous; not always sympathetic, but so real that you care about them. I finished this book yesterday and am still thinking about the story and what happens to the characters after the end. Enthralling story telling; maybe not quite as good as Queenie Malone, but that was exceptional (one of my all time favourites). The only small gripe I had was that (spoiler) Cillian's death was somewhat glossed over. Why would a healthy young man just die? This is a book I will recommend to everyone, it's sad, funny, endearing and very well written.

Ruth Hogan is very good at creating good, engaging characters, and with Madame Burova I felt she's succeeded in that again. Imelda herself is great - interesting and funny, and I really wanted to know what had happened to her in her past. But also, the little side-character storylines are very good. I especially liked Treasure's story, and Clive, and I would have loved more of Imelda's mum and dad.
There's a real warmth to the story. It's just what's needed for pandemic reading matter, and although sometimes the plot has to reach a little to resolve, you forgive it because it's done so charmingly.
I enjoyed the Brighton setting, and the jumps between the 1970's and the present day work well. The story really drew me in, and I looked forward to reading more each night.

I absolutely loved it!
The plot is full of twists and turns and although the readers might have their ideas about what is coming there are still some unexpected turns.
The timeline alternates between now and the 70's Britain. It was interesting and sad to find out about racism and sexism so present in the 70's society.
The set is also unusual and interesting: a holiday park where many of the characters are entertainers, and the Brighton pier where Madame Burova has her booth.
The story has a motley crew of characters, which makes it really enjoyable. I loved Imelda aka Madame Burova. I don't think I have ever read a story with a palmist and clairvoyant as a heroine before.
I also loved the rich tapestry of human relationships depicted in the story.
All in all: I think Ruth Hogan is one of the very talented authors who can tell an enjoyable story that captures the reader so I will always look out for her next works.

You know when you’re sat in front of a gooey pie and you know that eating it will make you sick but you eat it anyway? And apart from feeling sick, a part of you is quite satisfied of having savoured it? That about sums up my feelings for Madame Burova, clairvoyant, palmist, tarot reader at Brighton Pier. The secrets her clients leave with her are sacred, but she is planning to retire and some of those secrets cannot be kept hidden indefinitely.
The plot is rather improbable, the “twists” come with highlighter pen. The characters are formulaic: an overdressed haughty person is a nasty one, one that likes dogs obviously is nice.
And still, the jumble of timelines and the cast of many, the Pier community and allegiances somehow work together and create quite a mesmerising mix.

4-5 stars.

There are two central characters in this multilayered latest novel from the talented Ruth Hogan. The first is obviously Madame (Imelda) Burova, Tarot reader, palmist, clairvoyant and keeper of secrets since 1972 when she took over dukkering from her Romany mother Shunty Mae on Brighton’s beach front. The second is Billie who discovers in adulthood on the death of her much loved parents that she is a ‘foundling’. The story is told between 1972 and now as we eventually learn the truth about Billie’s parentage.

This novel takes a little more getting into than usual with this author, mainly because there are a lot of characters. However, once you establish who is who were off and it’s a very enjoyable ride. There’s a lot going on in the storytelling but the threads come together extremely well as it reaches a lovely conclusion. There are quite a lot of themes, such as love between Imelda and Cillian Byrne the Wall of Death rider at Larkin’s Holiday Camp where they meet. There’s racism in the 197O’s directed at adorable mixed race Treasure and his treatment at school makes your blood boil especially as he is such a kind boy. There’s the casual sexually inappropriate advances of the predatory and far too handsy manager at Larkin’s. The mystery of Billie is central to the storyline and brings all the themes together extremely well. I love how Billie finds herself and her voice through this journey of self discovery. There’s a brilliant scene in a railway carriage where you realise the hidden depth of her personality and I love the humour of this encounter - there’s always plenty of clever humour peppering a Ruth Hogan novel. There’s a fantastic mix of characters from bitchy self centred Vivienne to adorable Henry the pianist. What can I say about Madame Burova except that she utterly fabulous and I fell under her spell immediately. One of the authors greatest strengths in her novels is her ability to craft wonderfully colourful and memorable characters. Even the peripheral ones such as Clive the ‘MI5 agent’ are extremely well depicted. I must mention the dogs too, who wouldn’t want to steal the divine Dasha the Borzoi in the 70’s or Mabel in the present day. They feel almost human and I love how they interpret their owners mood so accurately!

Overall, I really enjoyed this once I’d established the cast of characters. I love the connections from the past to the present and how it all plays out. I love the outcome and it’s one I wholeheartedly approve of!! I hope some of the characters will feature again in the wonderful Brighton setting.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to John Murray Press for the much appreciated arc for an honest review.

An enjoyable and easy read. The story is about Billie and her search for her biological parents and tarot card reader, Imelda, who had found her as an abondoned baby. It unfolds by going between then (1970s) and now and a few slightly eccentric characters met along the way.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. #MadameBurova #RuthHogan

A highly entertaining read. Perfect diversion from a global pandemic. A pleasurable, feel good offering once again from this author.