GREY BEES by Andrey Kurkov (2018 Maclehose Press, London, Softcover)

From the back cover: "In Ukraine's Grey Zone, the no-man's-land between loyalist and separatist forces, there lies a village of three streets. "Thanks to the war of sporadic violence and constant propaganda that has been dragging on for years, only two villagers remain: retired safety inspector turned beekeeper Sergey Sergeyich and Pashka, his old enemy from his schooldays. "With little food and no electricity, under the ever-present threat of bombardment, Sergeyich's one remaining comfort is his bees. As spring approaches, he knows he must take them far from the Grey Zone so that they can collect their pollen in peace. "This simple mission on their behalf introduces him to combatants and civilians on both sides of the battle lines: loyalistsq, separatists, Russian occupiers and Crimean Tatars. Wherever he goes, Sergeyich's childlike simplicity and strong moral compass disarm everyone he meets. "But could he be manipulated to serve an unworthy cause, spelling disaster for him, his bees and his country?" Translated from Russian by Boris Dralyuk Paperback, 352 pages New, unread.