Description

‘The ‘Queen of Uplit’ returns brilliantly to form with this gloriously good-natured novel.’ DAILY MAIL ‘Supremely upliftng …an absolute gem’ – MIKE GAYLE ‘Stunning, immersive and absolutely wonderful’ – ANNIE LYONS ‘Woke up early to finish this breathtakingly beautiful story … absolutely wonderful’ – CELIA ANDERSON ‘Blooming with wonderful, vibrant and charismatic characters’ PRIMA ‘A novel that fascinates… that holds mysticism, accidental and deliberate secrets, and unrequited and lost love within Ruth Hogan’s very able grasp’ KIT FIELDING

Madame Burova – Tarot Reader, Palmist and Clairvoyant is retiring and leaving her booth on the Brighton seafront after fifty years.

Imelda Burova has spent a lifetime keeping other people’s secrets and her silence has come at a price. She has seen the lovers and the liars, the angels and the devils, the dreamers and the fools. Her cards had unmasked them all and her cards never lied. But Madame Burova is weary of other people’s lives, their ghosts from the past and other people’s secrets, 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. She holds two brown envelopes in her hand, and she has to deliver them.

In London, it is time for another woman to make a fresh start. 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.

In a story spanning over fifty years, Ruth Hogan conjures a magical world of 1970s holiday camps and seaside entertainers, eccentrics, heroes and villains, the lost and the found. Young people, with their lives before them, make choices which echo down the years. And a wall of death rider is part of a love story which will last through time.

Publisher Review

*Praise for The Keeper of Lost Things* A charming story of fresh starts and self-discovery that warms the cockles. * Woman & Home * Psychological realism, whimsy and magic are a winning combination in this quirky, exquisitely crafted novel... It's a charming read, perfect for the holidays: you will want to share it when you get home. * The Lady * Hogan's touching, funny and romantic debut is that rare and precious thing: a real story with brilliant characters. * Daily Mail * This mystical and spiritual tale is a joyous read that will broaden your imagination and warm your heart. * OK! * *Praise for Madame Burova* Ruth Hogan is the queen of uplifting fiction and Madame Burova reminds us why. Each character is lovingly crafted, their stories beautifully and heartbreakingly woven into something magical. The writing crackles with humour and warmth whilst not being afraid to tackle the harsh realities of racism in the 1970s. It's the kind of story you want to devour greedily but then feel bereft that you won't get to spend more time with Imelda, Cillian, Billie, Treasure, and all the other glorious characters. I can't imagine a better book in which to lose yourself at the moment. Stunning, immersive and absolutely wonderful. -- Annie Lyons Woke up early to finish this breathtakingly beautiful story. Ruth Hogan's Madame Burova is absolutely wonderful. -- Celia Anderson A triumph! It's moving and entertaining and packed with surprises... When I look into my crystal ball I predict it's going to be a MASSIVE hit! * Matt Cain, author of The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle * Packed full of twists, turns and a wonderfully drawn cast of characters you won't forget, Madame Burova is a supremely uplifting tale of secrets, love and identity all written with Hogan's trademark warmth and humour. An absolute gem. * Mike Gayle *