Madame Burova - Ruth Hogan

The thing about Ruth Hogan’s books is that you think you know what to expect but actually you don’t. There is a recognisable style in narrative and characterisations and the plots have an atmosphere that may be unmistakably ‘Hogan’ but they are very diverse . This new book is no exception. And whilst I retain a deal of affection for her debut novel The Keeper of Lost Things I’ve a sense that this one may be the best yet.

A palpably described Brighton -  you can smell the seafront - offers the setting for a tale of hidden secrets and spiritual clairvoyance. Hogan has created a delight in the  character of Imelda - Madame Burova - as we explore her life from the past and the present. T’would be a disservice to give too much away but there are issues explored regarding identity, various types of harassment, the importance and strength to be found in friendships, and, of course - love.

Hogan’s characters are defined and vibrant, from the main characters to the ‘bit part’ players. The ‘goodies’ have a warmth within them and leap off the page at you. The novel is set in two distinct time frames - the seventies and the present day -  Madame Burova is the cement between the two  and whilst it is very much her story it is Billie’s too. Their paths cross and their meeting serves as a catalyst for much of what follows. Who is Biilie? I’ll let the blurb explain.

‘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.’

Described as the ‘queen of uplit’ Ruth Hogan has written a heartwarming tale with humour, mystery and points to ponder, a perfect read for a gradual exit from lockdown.

My thanks to Readers First for a gifted proof.