Independence Square A novel

In his follow-up to Snowdrops (2011), Miller transports readers to the Orange Revolution in Kiev in 2004, when protesters took to Independence Square to demand a new presidential election after the opposition candidate survived a suspicious poisoning and the Russian-backed candidate sailed to an improbable victory. British diplomat Simon Davey is on the ground in Kiev, where British and American embassies are united in their desire to see the Supreme Court of Ukraine overturn the results and hold a new election. Simon back-channels with Misha Kovrin, a powerful Ukrainian businessman, bringing him to Independence Square to see the protests for himself and to meet a beautiful young protester, Olesya, whom Simon's colleague has recruited. Miller jumps back and forth in time between 2004 and 2017, when Simon, now back in England and driving for a ride share service, catches sight of Olesya and follows her, hoping to get the truth about the events that cost him his diplomatic career. Readers with a keen interest in political fiction will find much to savor in the complex machinations Miller expertly creates.--Kristine Huntley Copyright 2020 Booklist

In this rousing yet uneven fictionalized retelling of events surrounding Ukraine's 2004 Orange Revolution, Miller (Snowdrops), culture editor for the Economist, draws on his experience working in the region to tease out the political, civilian, and diplomatic tensions behind the mass protests. Chapters set in 2004 follow the protests, political plays, and governmental scrambling leading up to Ukraine Supreme Court's ruling that the country's 2004 presidential election was invalid and the court's call for a new vote. British diplomat Simon Davey was ousted after an attempt to calm relations between protesters and government-backed political groups failed as a result of him being accused of having an affair with his Russian contact. In 2017, threads start to unravel for Davey after he sees Oleysa Zarchenko, a Ukrainian protestor and his former contact, on the London subway. He follows her and questions her about her role in the protests and the Ukrainian government's response to the protests. As his perception changes, he begins to see how the power levers were being pulled 12 years ago, and reveals himself to be a somewhat obtuse, selfish, and idealistic bureaucrat who must come to terms with his culpability in governmental manipulation. Readers who can look past the underdeveloped characters will enjoy Miller's vivid portrayal of political intrigue. (Feb.)