I.R.$. #9

A silver-haired, sharp-eyed man stands in determined close-up before imposing iron gates, a shadowy mansion looming behind him under a moody night sky — it's a cover by Bernard Vrancken that immediately sets a tone of intrigue and high-stakes tension. This ninth volume in Stéphen Desberg and Vrancken's acclaimed financial-thriller series brings the story to Rome with "Romeinse betrekkingen," promising the kind of elegant cat-and-mouse storytelling the series does so well. If you've been following I.R.$. for its sleek blend of crime and corruption, this 2007 Le Lombard entry looks like a compelling next chapter.