The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru

Name: The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru
Price: 30.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780593952689

✍️ Olesya Salnikova Gilmore

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$30.00

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A Parisian tearoom owner summons a haunted Grand Duke who reveals dark family secrets.

Zina and Baba Valya maintain a quiet life in Paris until royal visitors disrupt their routine. The arrival of Princess Olga triggers a series of supernatural events that threaten the women’s safety. Gilmore constructs a narrative where past tragedies intrude upon the present through spiritual means. The Grand Duke’s haunting forces Zina to confront her own lineage and the circumstances surrounding her mother’s untimely death. This work examines the burden of inherited secrets within a displaced community.

Key Themes

Russian emigre life spiritual hauntings family secrets

Literary Context

The story is set in Paris among the Russian emigre community following the revolution. It references the last Tsar of Russia and his cousin, the Grand Duke. The narrative draws on traditions of fortune-telling and séance practices within this specific historical diaspora.

Difficulty

● Easy

Recommended For Fans Of

Anne Rice · Shirley Jackson · Daphne du Maurier

🩸

Horror Fiction

🏛 Berkley Books 📅 2026 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9780593952689

📝 Description: The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru

Olesya Gilmore’s novel centers on Zina and her grandmother Baba Valya, who run a Parisian tearoom on rue Daru. They serve the Russian emigre community by day and conduct séances by night. The narrative shifts when Princess Olga and her brother arrive seeking their father, the Grand Duke, who was cousin to the murdered last Tsar of Russia. Zina performs a séance to summon him, but the spirit begins haunting the shop with sinister knowledge about Zina’s mother’s death. The story explores the hidden past of the protagonists and the dangers of their found family. Gilmore writes fiction that blends gothic atmosphere with supernatural mystery. The book suits readers interested in Russian history and ghost stories. It may not appeal to those who prefer contemporary realism or lack interest in emigre communities. The plot relies on the tension between the living and the dead rather than action sequences.

💎 Our verdict on The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Gilmore successfully crafts a tense gothic atmosphere where past tragedies intrude upon the present through supernatural means. The narrative effectively utilizes the haunting of the Grand Duke to explore themes of inherited secrets and the complexities of found family among the Russian diaspora in Paris. The focus on spiritual mystery rather than action sequences creates a compelling, mood-driven experience. This work best suits readers with an interest in Russian history and traditional ghost stories. It may not appeal to those preferring contemporary realism or who lack curiosity about emigre communities, as the plot relies heavily on the tension between the living and the dead.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate atmospheric ghost stories set against a backdrop of historical upheaval will find this novel compelling. It offers a unique perspective on the Russian emigre experience, blending personal familial trauma with broader political tragedy. Those interested in the intersection of gothic horror and true history will enjoy the exploration of inherited secrets and spiritual unrest. The book is ideal for fans who prefer mood-driven narratives over fast-paced action, providing a slow-burn mystery centered on identity and lineage within a displaced community.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Gilmore successfully crafts a tense gothic atmosphere where past tragedies intrude upon the present through supernatural means. The narrative effectively utilizes the haunting of the Grand Duke to explore themes of inherited secrets and the complexities of found family among the Russian diaspora in Paris. The focus on spiritual mystery rather than action sequences creates a compelling, mood-driven experience. This work best suits readers with an interest in Russian history and traditional ghost stories. It may not appeal to those preferring contemporary realism or who lack curiosity about emigre communities, as the plot relies heavily on the tension between the living and the dead.