The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru

by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore

A fearless fortune teller in 1920s Paris must use her powers to divine who she can trust when an exiled Romanov princess and her brother come to her seeking answers about a decades-old mystery…


Spirited Zina and her secretive grandmother, Baba Valya, own a tearoom on rue Daru in Paris, where they have lived quietly since Zina’s mother’s untimely death. By day, the women serve tea, mostly to members of the bustling Russian émigré community, but when dusk falls, they divine fortunes and perform séances for their loyal clientele.


Then the charming Princess Olga and her brother arrive, searching for knowledge about the disappearance of their father, the exiled Grand Duke, cousin of the last Tsar of Russia. Zina, eager to learn more about the spirit world and her powers, performs the séance. She is able to summon the Grand Duke, but to her horror, he starts to haunt the shop, and he seems to know something sinister about her mother’s death.


As Zina delves into her family’s hidden past, dark secrets are unearthed, threatening the home and tearoom Zina and her grandmother have worked so hard to build, not to mention their very lives.

Genres: Horror, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Gothic, Fantasy, France, Adult

407 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 24, 2026

About the author

Olesya Salnikova Gilmore is the author of The Witch and the Tsar and The Haunting of Moscow House. Originally from Moscow, she was raised in the US and graduated from Pepperdine University with a BA in English/political science, and from Northwestern School of Law with a JD. She practiced litigation at a large law firm for several years before pursuing her dream of becoming an author. Now she is happiest writing novels in a variety of genres, including fantasy, paranormal, gothic horror, and historical fiction. She also loves exploring Eastern European history and folklore. Her work has appeared in LitHub, Tor.com, CrimeReads, Writer’s Digest, Historical Novels Review, Bookish, Washington Independent Review of Books, among others. She lives in a wooded, lakeside suburb of Chicago with her husband and two daughters.

Reviews

[Olesya Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

5-⭐️, not because it’s my book, but for book narrator Saskia Maarleveld’s brilliant narration of my story. Each inflection of her voice carries poignancy and emotion, each character is thoughtfully rendered with a different tone of her voice, and the time and place — 1920s Paris — positively comes alive under her masterful, gritty yet beautiful narration.

If you are an audio reader, please check out the audiobook!

Info/links 👉 https://olesyagilmore.com/books/the-f.... 🖤

———

3/24/2026 — OUT IN THE WORLD! 🥳🎉

THE FORTUNE TELLERS OF RUE DARU 🔮 is now available wherever books are sold! I hope you enjoy Zina and Valya’s story, with a cup of tea or coffee beside you as you read 📖

Request from your local library, tell your friends, and leave a review on here and/or your favorite review platform! 📝

Happy reading 🖤✨

xoxo

Olesya


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10/31 update —

Happy Halloween!

Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru is now on NetGalley (!)

👉 https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...

There is also a Goodreads giveaway going on right now thru November 9 👉 https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...

This is all very, very hard to believe — I still think of this story as a bunch of random notes in my notes app…

Reviewers, bookstores, fellow writers and readers, pretty much anyone (no, you don’t have to be in publishing to request on NetGalley, an online website for books not yet published available for early read & review, and yes, it is completely free to sign up and start requesting), pretty please request my book!

Reviews are super important for authors at any stage, but in particular, this one, so I would love it if you checked out my book and requested an early read of it. Then, if you enjoy it, leave a review on Goodreads or your favorite review platform.

🔮🔮🔮🔮

In my newest gothic suspense novel (my third!), a string of mysterious deaths come to light when a young fortune teller in 1920s Paris summons a vengeful spirit in her family’s tearoom, only to discover her grandmother is the prime murder suspect and her secret past is the key to the mystery.

👻👻👻👻

(Check out the full GR summary for more!) 🖤🖤

—————————

Hi, readers!

I can’t wait for you to read my third novel, now with a shiny new and stunning cover, as revealed by PEOPLE!

See the article (and an exclusive excerpt of the book!) here 👉 https://people.com/the-fortune-teller....

This book, another gothic, was a blast to write (ie, it’s my most fun 🤩), and is about a young and fearless fortune teller in 1920s Paris and her spitfire of a grandmother, seances and fortunes whispered over cups of coffee, a tearoom haunted by a vengeful ghost, and the sins of a shadowy, secret past threatening to destroy everything 👻🔮☕️🔪🩸Oh, there’s also romance with a certain snooping inspector 😝 Check out the publisher’s summary here on Goodreads for more.

Preorder info is up 👉 https://olesyagilmore.com/books/the-f.... And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get ALL the updates! 👉 https://olesyagilmore.com/newsletter/.

More news coming soon, including NetGalley info and Goodreads giveaways and so, so much more!

xx

Olesya 🖤

[Becky Spratford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review in the January 2026 issue of Library Journal.

Three Words That Describe This Book: menacing, political intrigue, historical

more words: occult, seances, family secrets, strong frame-- time and place and people, flashbacks, Russian Emigre community

Draft Review: In 1924 Paris, Zina and her grandmother, Valya, run a teashop in a bustling Russian emigre neighborhood. Their fortunetelling is 100% real. Valya has a gift and is helping Zina fine-tune her own. Valya supplements their income by staging seances, even though Zina very clearly holds the dark and dangerous power to call up the dead because Valya knows from experience that welcoming in “the darkness” will lead to nothing but disaster. Ignoring her grandmother, Zina agrees to help a prince and princess figure out who killed their father, the Grand Duke, realesing a demon who forces all to reckon with generations of betrayals and trauma. Readers follow Zina in the present and Valya in both the present and through flashbacks, as this supernatural horror story winds its way through the vibrant streets of 1920s Paris and into the deadly politics of late 19th century Russia, with the headstrong and thoroughly modern Zina owning her powers, wielding them at whatever the cost in search of the truth.

Verdict: Gilmore’s latest historical horror will be another crowd pleaser. For fans of menacing supernatural tales of family secrets, ghosts, possession, and intrigue such as The Deep by Alma Katsu and House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama.

As the title says, this story follows a family of Fortune Tellers centered around their teashop- Samovar-- on the Rue Daru. The present of the book is 1924 where Zina aged 24 works with her grandmother- Valya. Valya has raised Zina since her mother was murdered back when Zina was a baby. Valya and Zina are not fakers. There are real fortune tellers. Valya can read fortunes in coffee grounds while Zina can see people's auras. Zina is still learning to hone her craft.

They perform fake seances at night because Valya is afraid of really doing one and bringing dark. demons into the living world.

Zina has had a brush with doing one though and wants to try again, no matter what her grandmother thinks. When the Grand Duke's children-- Princess Olga and Prince Alec come to fins Zina and ask her to help them figure out who killed their father- Zina's life changes forever. She does the seance and it starts a chain of events that will reveal all of the secrets her grandmother refused to share but it may also endanger her life.

The story opens in 1900 at the tea house as the Grand Duke is stumbling and dies. and throughout Valya's narration alternates between the present and telling her story from 1869 in Russia forward, explaining how her life and the Grand Duke's are intertwined. Those "past" chapters are revealed slowly throughout the narrative and do a very good job to anchor the reader to Valya as a fully fledged character and not just the grumpy grandmother.

A strong histrionical supernatural horror story that captures the Russian Emigre community in Paris during the 1920s but with ties back to their lives in Russia before the Bolshevik revolution.

There are many twists here and all of the characters get involved in the story and the twists. Not just Zina, Valya and Olga but the various secondary characters too. And the ghosts. No character here is wasted, which was well done. But it is Zina's story here. She needs to find her strength and powers, take control of her life, and her family's destiny.

Readers will think they have figured things out and then a twist and then more information and

For fans of female led menacing supernatural tales of family secrets, ghosts, possession, and betrayal like The Deep by Alma Katsu and House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama.

[Kat Salnikova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I was a fan of Olesya Salnikova Gilmore's work from the beginning, The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru is an elegantly told and beautifully written novel that exceeded all my expectations. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a mix of fantasy with historical fiction, gothic, and mystery. .

From the very first page, Gilmore lures you into the haunting and mystical world of the Samovar Russian Tea House where the main protagonists, Baba Valya and Zina, tell fortunes for the Russian emigres that fled Russia after the revolution of 1917. You are then plunged into a murder mystery that has you guessing all the way until the very end. A story of love, deceit, and secrets, this book had me on the edge of my seat.

What was more impressive to me than the storytelling were the themes that were deeper undercurrents of the book.

First and foremost, this is a story of immigrants. This book poignantly shows the sacrifices, the resilience, and the strength that immigrants embody while leaving their home countries for a better life, while at the same time fighting tooth and nail to preserve their culture. As a child of immigrants myself, I thought that Gilmore expertly gave us a glimpse and appreciation of the struggle of this immigrant lifestyle.

Independently, the female lead characters show us the every day adversities that women have to navigate - from single motherhood, to living in a male-dominated society, to fighting for the rights to make our own decisions as women.. I thought that the parallels between Zina's mother's story and the many courageous women who had to endure abuse at the hands of men in power was especially gracefully and thoughtfully told.

Lastly, at the end of the day, this is a story about family. The love that Baba Valya has for her granddaughter leads her to think more clearly and rationally, and ultimately leads to her redemption. In the end, this book is a reminder that love is, and will always be, the answer.

I think the marker of a great book is the ability of the author to take the reader out of their lives, while exposing a side of humanity that makes the reader re-evaluate his/her life and world they live in. Gilmore has expertly achieved this. Absolutely 5/5 stars. I will eagerly be awaiting her next book!

Thank you netgalley and Berkeley/Penguin Random House for the opportunity to review!

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/3

In Samovar, a Russian tea room in Paris, Baba Valya and Zina ply their trade as cafe owners - but when evening comes Valya reads cards or coffee beans to tell the fortunes of the well-heeled. Zina is aware of a talent she possesses that her grandmother does not - an affinity with those who had already passed over.

So when Princess Olga and Prince Alec arrive at Samovar, Zina goes against Valya's wishes and holds a seance for the siblings to discover what happrned to their father, the Grand Duke. But Zina's powers are untrained and soon both she and her grandmother are fighting for their livelihoods and even their lives.

The story begins very well with an interesting story within a story of what happened not just to the Grand Duke but also to Zina's mother and a fortune that has gone missing.

However the story becomes very circuitous and overlong with too many explanations about what has just happened. Even at the end Zina explains one more time what had just taken place.

The characters are not particularly sympathetic either. I didn't like either Zina or her grandmother and the peripheral characters are all quite haughty. Zefir the cat was a nice touch.

On the whole, a decent story with an obvious ending that needed some judicious editing to give it more impact.

Thankyou to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the digital review copy.

[Gabriella Saab · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️Five stars and happy pub day to my bestie Olesya and her beautiful new gothic, THE FORTUNE TELLERS OF RUE DARU!⭐️

I had the pleasure of reading a wonderful early draft of this novel, and it’s only continued to flourish. Set in 1920s Paris, Zina and her grandmother, Baba Valya, own a tearoom on Rue Daru—except it’s no ordinary tearoom. The women also perform séances. When an exiled princess and her brother seek information about their father, Zina discovers her own abilities and conjures his spirit—then he haunts the tearoom and seems to know something about Zina’s mother’s death years prior. As Zina seeks the truth, she will need all her wits to protect herself and her loved ones.

I love a rich, twisty historical, and this book delivers all that and more. Olesya’s writing is beautiful and immersive, sweeping you into the Russian émigré community while Paris comes to vibrant life and you glance over your shoulder in case the spirits are haunting you, too. The suspense and mystery will keep you guessing, and the story is well-plotted, well-paced, and comes together perfectly.

But the strongest aspects are the relationships between Zina and Baba Valya, and their found family. The dynamics are complex, fascinating, and fully realized as they navigate danger, secrets, and their care and concern for one another. I love when well-developed characters drive a story while the plot—which, of course, is just as gripping—supports their journey, and that is the case here, with characters you’ll connect with and cheer for. This book also delivers a lush gothic atmosphere, plenty of mystery, and even some romance. The séances and speculative elements are such fun, spooky additions that entertained me and left me eagerly turning the pages.

What I love most about Olesya’s books is you can always tell how personal the story is to her, and you can certainly feel that passion in this book. It comes through so clearly and makes a wonderful novel even better. This book is a joy to read, and I can’t wait for readers to experience it.

Congratulations, dearest bestie friend! So proud of you and can’t wait to add my copy to my shelves 🖤🔮👻

[Veerle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in 1920s Paris, The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru follows Zina and her grandmother Baba Valya, who run a tearoom in the heart of the Russian émigré community. By day, they serve tea; by night, they perform séances and tell fortunes. Their quiet life is disrupted when a Russian princess and her brother arrive seeking answers about their father’s mysterious death. When Zina summons his spirit, she unleashes something far darker than expected—secrets tied not only to the Grand Duke, but to her own family’s past. As Zina digs deeper, the line between the living and the dead blurs, and long-buried truths threaten everything she holds dear.

This is, without a doubt, one of Olesya Salnikova Gilmore’s best books to date. Her writing is incredibly fluid, making it easy to sink into the story, while her storytelling remains sharp and immersive throughout. The pacing is strong, with just the right amount of suspense to keep you turning the pages—there’s always a sense that something ominous is waiting just around the corner.

What truly stood out to me is how vividly the setting comes to life. You are transported straight into Belle Époque Paris, more specifically into the lesser-known Russian quarter and people—a fascinating and rarely explored backdrop that adds a rich historical layer to the novel. Gilmore captures both the atmosphere and the cultural nuances beautifully, making the setting feel almost like a character in its own right.

As in her previous works, strong female characters take center stage. Zina and Baba Valya are complex, resilient, and determined women who refuse to be overshadowed by the forces around them—whether societal or supernatural. The novel feels like a tribute to the strength and resilience of Russian émigré women, highlighting their struggles, independence, and unbreakable spirit.

Overall, this is a gripping, atmospheric read that blends historical fiction with gothic suspense in a compelling way.

Many thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Shyames · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful journey through 1920s Paris (and a little bit before) through the eyes of Russian immigrants, with a sprinkle of the supernatural.

From the very first page, it's so easy to immerse yourself in this world. Olesya really did a great job of painting a picture of Paris and the struggles of the people, but also the beauty of it all. We start with Zina and Baba Valya and their Samovar, which turns out to be not only a tearoom but also a place where they do fortune-telling. As we get to know the characters, we discover the traumatic events from the past that have come back to haunt the family.

Zina's mother, Svetlana, was murdered years ago, and the investigation into her death starts anew when two Romanov siblings push for an enquiry into their father's death—both cases appearing to be intertwined. As all parties strive to find the truth, more and more secrets come to light, culminating in an ultimate showdown.

However, in my opinion, this is mostly a story about family, growing up, and discovering confidence in your own abilities. While Valya has hidden a lot from her granddaughter throughout the years, she notices Zina's newfound confidence and, through the circumstances they find themselves in, finally reveals the past and shares how proud she is of her granddaughter.

The characters are very flawed, each in a different way, which just adds more depth for me. No one here is immune to a bad fate; no one is perfect or protected from suffering. But at the same time, no one is lost forever. It's a thrilling murder mystery, enriched by the setting of 1920s Paris and sprinkled with elements of Russian folklore. I very much enjoyed it and wholeheartedly recommend it.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

[Caley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel so torn. I loved the fortune telling element of this book; the different types of capability was really interesting. I liked the sections including the spiritual collective of Paris and the whole 'getting the hand back together' trope is always a favourite
I felt like the characters and dialogue felt really modern. This didn't feel like a historical novel.
I felt that Zina felt very young, she didn't seem like a 24 year old. This book felt like a young adult book (which isn't a bad thing, just not what I wanted to read).
I really enjoyed some parts but I think this was more of a miss than a hit.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Marina Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Salnikova Gilmore's writing soars with this inventive, chilling feast of fortune-telling, seances, and deadly secrets, while dazzling readers with the unforgettable scenery and achingly beautiful prose. This thrilling story of murder, generational power of love and treachery will be devoured in one sitting.

[Leah M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rounded to 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Gilmore burst onto my radar with her debut novel, The Witch and the Tsar, and immediately became a favorite of mine. She has a gift for weaving Russian folklore and history with suspense, mystery, and thriller elements. Although I’m not usually one for books labeled horror, I couldn’t resist the draw of Gilmore’s writing. And boy, am I glad for that because I loved this book so much.

I typically can fly through a book, but there’s something strange I have noticed about myself. When I am really enjoying a book, I drag my feet while reading, taking my time to savor the story instead of racing to the end to see the twists. That’s what happened with this book, and it took me almost two weeks to finish the reading.

The first and last parts of the book moved much faster than the middle, which I found moved a lot slower and that made the ending feel a bit rushed after the more leisurely pace. I also thought that parts in the middle of the story felt a bit repetitive, but it still didn’t stop me from becoming engrossed in the reading and couldn’t put it down. It was an enjoyable read, and I found it so atmospheric.

This book is a masterful combination of historical fiction, gothic horror, fantasy, magical realism, and suspense. It focuses on the Russian émigré population in Paris in the 1920s, dealing with fallout from the Russian revolution and seeking a better life in France. Gilmore has a talent for creating an atmospheric setting, and in this case, she depicts the tearoom, Samovar, in such exquisite detail that it stood out so clearly in my mind. In comparison, the rest of the Parisian scenes kind of paled in comparison as they weren’t quite as vivid, leaving the scenes at Samovar to stand out so much more than the rest of the locations.

While this is a story about a haunting, the real heart of the story is the strong, complex multigenerational relationship between Baba Valya and her granddaughter Zina, who she raised after the death of Valya’s daughter Svetlana. We see scenes through both of their eyes, and there are glimpses into the past as Zina learns more about the family history and secrets that involved her mother, lead to Svetlana’s death, and the central theme of a spirit haunting the teahouse. However, the close bond between Valya and Zina changes as time goes on and Zina beginning to exert more control over her own life as an adult was a central theme of the story. But as time goes on and events are spiraling out of control, it becomes clear that secrets from the past are violently affecting the future of the tearoom and their lives, and Valya has to learn to trust her granddaughter as an adult and share those secrets.

The story was such a good one that it took me a few days to even be able to organize my thoughts, and I’m still struggling. There’s a lot of research that went into this story, and it offered readers a glimpse into an insulated community of Russians living in Paris. My ‘Roman Empire’ topic is the Russian Revolution, and it was fascinating to see how Russians lived in exile in Paris—both aristocrats and working class families. One of my favorite aspects of the story was the seamless inclusion of occult activities that were based in fact, with Samovar functioning as a tearoom by day, and a parlor to tell fortunes and host seances. The magic system is well explained, especially with all the different affinities a person can have.

Overall, I really loved the way the story unfolded and how things wound up. The family dynamics were powerful in this book, and they embody a feminism that was only just beginning to show in society—three generations of Lenormand women lived their lives freely, with only limited appearances of men and certainly none who can control them. Control is another theme of the story, related to the autonomy of the women, the off-balanced dynamic between aristocrats and working class, Valya’s attempts to control the flow of information to Zina, and the appearance of a police inspector who seems way too curious but also deliciously snarky. Despite the slowed pace of the middle part of the book, it did feel like the author allowed the characters to fully depict the characters and the strong community influence they are subjected to. As for the label of horror, I’d say this falls more into the gothic, suspense, and most of all, historical fiction, although it does have a bit of horror lite to it.

Bottom line: Gilmore’s talents seem to be flourishing with this third book, and if you like books that cross over genres and intergenerational family dynamics with a heavy dose of Russian culture and folklore, this is the book for you.

[Rebecca Mildren · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It starts off feeling like a fairly straightforward historical murder mystery, but quickly unfolds into a delightfully twisty, atmospheric paranormal puzzle.
The story is set in the Russian émigré community of 1920s Paris and centers on Zina, a young woman from a family of fortune tellers who run a haunted tea shop by day and hold séances by night. When the long-cold case of her mother’s murder—along with the disappearance of a Russian Grand Duke—is reopened, Zina is pulled into an investigation that stretches back across generations.
With a dual timeline split between 1920s Paris and Imperial Russia in the late 19th century, the past keeps catching up with the present and shaping it in surprising ways. One of the things I appreciated most is that this isn’t the usual 1920s Paris of famous artists and writers. Instead, it focuses on the Russian immigrant community, both aristocrats and ordinary people who’ve lost everything, which gives the story a perspective that feels fresh and different.
While the paranormal elements lend the book a gothic, spooky vibe, the historical detail is clearly well researched. The cast of characters is unique and memorable, and there’s a thread of romance that adds warmth and intrigue without taking over. The séance scenes in particular are intimate, eerie, dangerous, and unsettling, all in the best way.
I really gobbled this book up, it kept me reading far later than I intended. I’ve enjoyed all of the author’s books so far, and would say that this one was different in a good way: faster-paced and driven by its central mystery.
If you like dual timelines, atmospheric historical settings, and layered mysteries with a strong dose of the supernatural, this is an easy recommendation.

[Sara Jesus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about fortune tellers that serve tea by day and in the night perform séances for their loyal clients. Baba Valya and her grandaughter Zina live quiet in their tearoom on rue Daru in Paris, until Zina discovers big secrets of Valya past. How kill her mother? And why the Grand Duke think that their family is responsible for his death?

Is a book full of mystery, intrigue and will made feel like you in Paris. I especialy love the connection betteween Zina and her grandmother. Learning how Valya start her bussiness as fortune teller and how her path made that The Grand Duke haunted her tearoom years later. Also I love Zina determinaton to find asnwers and always choose her family.

[Kenzie Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I start gushing about this book thank you @berkleypub for the free copy. #berkleypartner #berkleypub

I feel like Gilmore is one of those authors who writes just for me. She incorporates all of my favourite elements and wraps them into a beautifully written story every time.

Here we have a Gothic Historical Horror (I would say horror light) that has two points of view. One is Zina’s Grandmother, Valya, in the late 1800s and the other is Zina’s POV in 1920s Paris. Both narratives are equally intriguing and necessary for the development of the plot. This book would not work without the dual POV.

Gilmore weaves Russian history and folklore into a rich story about immigrants who fled to Paris during the fall of the Russian monarchy, honing in on the rise of séances happening in both Russia and Paris at the time.

All of this is delivered through a beautifully crafted, atmospheric setting that feels deliciously unsettling.

Gilmour also confirmed that some of the characters were inspired by real life individuals such as Dmitri Pavlovich and Felix Yusupov. If their names sound familiar to you it is because they had their hands in the messy demise of Rasputin. This little tid bit made the history nerd in me very excited.

All that to say, if you enjoy gothic historical fiction with a spooky edge, you need to read this, especially if you love Russian folklore and history.

[Janereads10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gothic horror at its best. This had everything I wanted - seances, ghosts, sinister secrets, and a tearoom in 1920s Paris where fortunes are told after dark.

Zina and her grandmother Baba Valya ran a tearoom on rue Daru, serving Russian émigrés by day and conducting seances by night. When Princess Olga arrived searching for answers about her missing father, the Grand Duke, Zina performed a seance that summoned him. But he didn't just appear - he haunted their shop. And he knew something sinister about Zina's mother's death.

The mystery and secrets kept me listening. As Zina delved into her family's hidden past, dark truths surfaced that threatened everything she and her grandmother had built.

What touched me most was the friendship and camaraderie within Zina and Valya's community. Zina's heartbreak over losing her mother resonated deeply. The occult elements - the seances, the ghosts - felt genuinely sinister.

Audio experience: Saskia Maarleveld is always a great listen with her raspy voice. She brought out Valya's fierceness and Zina's vulnerability perfectly. I listened at 1.7x speed and found it easy to follow without the book on hand.

You'll love this if: You want gothic horror with seances and ghosts, 1920s Paris settings, and stories about found family and hidden pasts.

Thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the advance audio copy.

[Thenerdypsych · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot I liked about this but other elements overshadowed my enjoyment. I loved the 1920's setting of Paris with the blended Russian-French culture. The unsolved crimes kept me invested in the story, eagerly following the FMC as she learns her occultist skills as she searches for the truth. Her relationship with her grandmother was beautiful and the end had me teary. I found the seances and mystical elements enjoyable to read. Unfortunately the book felt drawn out with too much detail invested in unrelated areas. I struggled to like the FMC in the end, particularly regarding how she managed the events that unfolded between her and Gabriel.

[Greer Nadeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Witch and the Tsar and am thrilled to say The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru by @olesyaauthor is one of my favorite reads this year.

Zina and her grandmother, Baba Valya run a tea shop and tell fortunes on Rue Daru in Paris. When Zina's path crosses with a former Russian prince and princess wanting her fortune telling services, she disregards her grandmother's warnings and dives head first into the dangerous unknown. This is an atmospheric story involving séances, a haunted tea shop, and mystery in the Russian quarter of 1920s Paris, and I loved every second of it!

Thank you so much @netgalley and @berkleypub for the opportunity to read and review this book, which is out today!

[Leslie Zemeckis]

Excellent - loved this blend of Russian fled emigres in Paris and magic and a mysterious tea room

[Julie Wilkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in 1920s Paris, full of mystery, ghosts, and fortune telling. Great story of three generations of women.

[KDub · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 🌟

I enjoyed this one; it was dark, suspenseful, and full of great characters. I loved the mix of historical fiction with horror and the Paris setting. The mystery surrounding the FMC’s family and the seances kept me intrigued throughout the story.

Recommended for fans of gothic horror/suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC.

[Ray Palen · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE FORTUNE TELLERS OF RUE DARU is the third novel of gothic horror from author Olesya Salnikova Gilmore following THE WITCH AND THE TSAR and THE HAUNTING OF MOSCOW HOUSE. In each story she has leveraged her Russian background to produce dark tales that toe the line between the supernatural and magical realism.

The majority of the novel is set in 1920’s Paris but the opening sequence takes place in the recent past in the year 1900. It is here where we see the Grand Duke of Paris struggling to make his way to the Samovar tearoom on Rue Daru where he claims to have been poisoned by the places owner. His thoughts were accurate as we watch the life drift out of him before he can get his revenge on the woman who cursed him.

Twenty-four years later we are introduced to the young woman named Zina, who is the granddaughter of Baba Valya who owns and operates the Samovar tearoom. She assists her grandmother not only with the daily operations of the place but also in the after-hours business that takes place there. This business does not involve tea, rather, it deals in the occult --- fortune telling, seances, and conjuring spirits of the dead.

Zina has learned a lot from her grandmother and just enough to be dangerous. Things backfire a bit on her when she attempts to use her own powers to conjure and ends up reviving the ghost of the long dead Grand Duke who may have died on their property. This all came about due to the business Zina was attempting to enact with Olga and Alec, the Grand Duke’s children, who still wanted an answer to what happened to their father.

As for Baba Valya, we get to see her own history in flashback chapters. It is there where we learn about her own daughter who may have been murdered by the Grand Duke. This will all inevitably lead to her own planned revenge against him which now seems to be coming full circle with Zina’s conjuring of his haunted spirit. Zina is not aware of what happened to her mother, she can only guess from the strange things the spirit of the Grand Duke is saying to her which makes her begin to question if they had any involvement with her mother’s death while she was just a child.

Samovar is visited by a Police Inspector named Allard, who was obviously sent there to look into something that happened there. He plays it off cooly, but Nina will soon learn how he got involved and who sent him on the quest to make trouble for her and her grandmother. When Zina accepts an invitation from Olga and Alec to come out to their home to assist them with locating their father in the afterlife. She reluctantly conducts a Ouija session to no avail. What Nina does discover is that this was all a set-up, as Olga and Alec suspected her and her grandmother of knowing the details of their father’s death and they were also the ones to turn Inspector Allard their direction.

Nina has to escape from their home and go back to Samovar to not only deal with the conjured spirit of the Grand Duke that was still there but also to confront Baba Valya about what she was hiding from her regarding this entire matter. She ends up attempting to contact her late mother for answers and what she finds out is shocking. Now, Nina must fight to save her families name and her grandmother from possible prosecution all while finally unraveling the mystery that has haunted her throughout her life. THE FORTUNE TELLERS OF RUE DARU is a haunting tale filled with all the elements you would expect from a work of gothic horror.

Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was provided for review by NetGalley and the publisher, Berkley Publishing. Thank you!

In Paris on the Rue Daru, there stands a tea house called Samovar. Inside, an old woman and her granddaughter serve tea and cakes during the day and tell fortunes at night. While the séances they hold are fake, the abilities that Baba Valya and Zina share are very real. The majority of their clientele are older Russian émigrés, but on occasion someone younger enters.

Princess Olga and her brother Prince Alec come to Samovar looking for insight into their father’s disappearance. The Grand Duke disappeared when the two were younger and no one is sure if he is alive or truly dead. Zina agrees to help and in performing the séance summons the ghost of the Grand Duke himself. To her shock and horror, he begins to haunt the small tea house and Zina begins to have visions of him and her mother, who died when Zina was an infant.

As Baba Valya and Zina seek to exorcise the ghost of the Duke, secrets thought long hidden are revealed. The past that Valya has kept hidden from Zina must be brought to light even if it means destroying the Samovar itself.

Readers who enjoy a good historical fiction with a Russian twist will already be familiar with the name Olesya Salnikova Gilmore. As with her previous books, The Witch and the Tsar and The Haunting of Moscow House, she is able to skillfully blend fact and fiction into a book that is difficult to put down.

The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru centers around Paris in 1924 with occasional chapters looking back at Russia in 1900 and even further back to 1869. The chapters are told mainly from granddaughter Zina’s viewpoint, but we occasionally see things from Valya’s. This is especially true in the chapters set in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s when we see how intertwined the lives of the Grand Duke and Valya have become.

As this is a supernatural horror, there is no shortage of ghosts and other supernatural occurrences. The Grand Duke haunts the Samovar, Zina has visions of her mother and the Duke, during the séances there are strange winds and ghostly voices. Every ghost Zina encounters is tied to someone in the story, some are kind and others are less so.

Like any good mystery, The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru has plenty of twists and turns. As you read you may think you know where the story is going only for something to occur on the next page to prove you wrong. Every character has a part to play, even those who seem like they wouldn’t.

The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru was an enjoyable and entertaining read for me. Readers who enjoyed Ms. Salnikova Gilmore’s previous books or who are looking for a book that is a mixture of history and horror would do well to check this one out.

[selireadss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was filled with family secrets, occults and a lot of fortune telling ☕️ I felt like I had stepped inside the book and I was walking through the 1920s Parisian streets (even though I have never been to Paris) alongside our FMC. Zina. as she searched for her mother's murderer, uncovering the hidden secrets, all the while dealing with an evil spirit threatening their lives. I loved Zina's determination and the way she was clever enough to not trust anybody that easily.

Some of my favorite parts were the different forms of fortune telings, the séances in her grandmother's tearoom, and how Zina could communicate with spirits; even the dark ones. 🔮

And let me not even get started on the writing. Olesya Salnikova Gilmore did a phenominal job. Throughout the book I was imagining everything so vividly.

This was such an amazing read and not once did I guess what would happen next.

I highly recommend this book if you love:
● Fortune telling
● Historical fantasy
● Gothic atmosphere
● Haunting mystery
● Family secrets
● A sprinkle of romance
● Tea and coffee

Thank you so much to the publisher for sending a proof copy in exchange for an honest review

[Samantha Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru by is a magical historical fantasy set in 1920s Paris. The story follows Zina and her grandmother Valya as they unravel their family secrets and deal with a vicious spirit who is threatening their lives and precious tea room that means everything to them.

This was a fantastic historical fantasy with just the right amount of gothic atmosphere and a mystery to keep you guessing until the end. Paris is one of my favourite cities and it was incredible to see the research that went into this novel. Olesya’s love for Paris really came through and it felt so tangible. I also really enjoyed seeing how the Russian community settled into Paris following the revolution and how they created a life for themselves in a small part of a city so far from home.

I’m so fascinated by fortune telling and mediums, and this was my favourite element of the book. You felt like you were there during the séances and could feel Zina’s fear. It was amazing to see her develop her craft and grow in confidence as she learned from others. Even though the tea room wasn’t sentient, it felt like a character in its own right. It was full of charm and provided a base for all of the quirky characters to come for their morning coffee and cakes, or for an after hours reading or séance.

This book was completely different to anything I’ve read recently, and a real change of pace, in a good way. I wanted to take my time and savour the story rather than rushing through and I’m glad I allowed myself that time to enjoy it fully.

Read this if you like:

☕️ Historical fantasy
☕️ A Gothic atmosphere
☕️ Magical mysteries

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC to read and review.

[Paul Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Animosity and vengeance cross country boarders as once noble Russian families flee the Soviet revolution to try to survive in 1920’s Paris. Revenge becomes multigenerational as Zina and her grandmother try to live a normal respectable life as fortune tellers on rue Daru. Zina finds her gift is real as she conducts seances and spirits of the dead send her messages and cause havoc when an old family nemesis comes back to haunt her grandmother’s tearoom.
This book is filled with life and amazing characters. I took my time and really steeped in the atmosphere because, even with malevolent spirits about, there was a gorgeous romantic aura in the air.
Great historical fiction makes you feel nostalgic for a time and a place that you have never been to, because while you are reading, you feel like you are actually there, and when you are not reading, you wish you were walking along those streets, smelling the scent lingering in the air, hearing the busy noises of a world that feels so alive. Olesya Salnikova Gilmore captures this feeling with ease. I want to go back.

[Inês Feiteiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley.
Set in 1920s Paris, this gothic novel follows Zina and her grandmother, who run a tearoom by day and tell fortunes by night. Their lives change when Princess Olga and her brother ask for help uncovering their father’s disappearance—but when Zina summons him, he returns as a dangerous presence, tied to secrets about her mother’s death.
This story surprised me—in a good way. I was hooked from the start, loved the mystery, and really enjoyed the eerie, witchy atmosphere. It also gave me the fortune-telling vibes I’ve been craving.

[Henry Saccu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book overall! I loved the twists and turns and characters. I didn’t love the way the book wraps up, as I didn’t feel like Zina’s behavior in the final chapter and epilogue fit her character, and I feel like it could have wrapped up without this, which is why I gave four stars. Having said that, this is definitely still worth a read!

[Alexis Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be the best of Olesya yet! Wow! What a novel! Also the authors note at the end made the entire story even better. Can’t wait for more from her!

[Candace]

DNF on audio at 41% 5/3/26. I liked a lot of elements of this, especially at first, but it grew flat for me.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of horror and historical fiction this is the book for you. You get the fun French vibes and the love of Paris but you also get a bit of a shock and scare. This book was beautifully written and the descriptions made it feel as if you were sitting in Paris in that time. Highly recommend this new book!

[Nicole Alycia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zina has the rare ability to commune with the dead. But when a seance goes wrong and the spirit of a long dead Romanov begins haunting her grandmothers tea room, the past will begin to unravel and old mysteries will become new again.

I love anything to do with fortune telling and anything set during the 1920s! Zina and her Baba Valya run a tea shop in Paris on rue Daru where they tell fortunes by day and hold seances by night. They are strong, independent women living in a still very male oriented society and I loved reading about them running their own business.
It was so interesting to read about the Russian emigres in Paris right after the revolution that dethroned the Romanovs and the descendants still living abroad. It added a fresh layer to the story that I haven’t read about before.
I really enjoyed the mystery woven into the story as well! There were the creepy, paranormal vibes mixed with the search for the truth and I absolutely loved it!
I will say this got a little slow around the middle and felt like it dragged just a bit but the ending absolutely made up for it! I could not put it down for the last 100 pages!

If you enjoy a gothic paranormal historical mystery then you should definitely pick this one up!