Two Roads unveils Hogan's latest novel, based on famous clairvoyant

Ruth Hogan is publishing her fourth novel with Two Roads in April 2021, Madame Burova—a story of community, love and friendship set in Brighton and spanning over 50 years.

Hogan, known for her "up-lit", has published previous titles including The Keeper of Lost Things, The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes and Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel. These books will all be updated with fresh covers for next year, with the "lively" paperback reissues to be published in March.

Two Roads publisher Lisa Highton bought British Commonwealth rights excluding Canada to Madame Burova from Laura Macdougall at United Agents. In the new book, readers will follow the fortunes of Tarot reader and clairvoyant Madame Burova. She is retiring, but before she does she has promises to keep and secrets to reveal, according to the book's synopsis.

The book's protagonist was inspired in part by the life of Eva Petulengro, a famous clairvoyant and Tarot reader who lived and worked for many years in Brighton, and whose booth can still be seen on the promenade. According to John Murray, to research the book, Hogan studied for many months with an expert Tarot teacher until she was able to read to a professional standard.

Highton said: "Ruth is a phenomenal writer and we’re so proud to be publishing her, it’s been a joy to escape into this glorious world—fans old and new are in for a treat."

Hogan said: "Writing Madame Burova was a wonderfully immersive experience and a welcome escape into a magical world of holiday camps, seaside towns and train stations. The cast of characters became my friends and companions, and in all the strange days of lockdown I never once felt alone."

Madame Burova has been billed as a lead fiction title for Two Roads in 2021 and is set to receive a "major" publicity and marketing campaign to match. It will be released in hardback on 1st April 2021, with the new editions of The Keeper of Lost Things, The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes and Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel in paperback on 4th March 2021.