La Boussole #[nn]

Three figures stand against a muted compass rose: a sharp-eyed redheaded woman in a blazer, a tall dark-haired man in an open shirt bearing what looks like a bloodstain, and a heavyset older man with a steely expression — together they make for a compelling, tension-charged trio. Published by Soleil in 2011, La Boussole is a French-language graphic novel crafted by Séverine Lambour and Benoît Springer, whose clean, angular linework gives the characters a cool, noir-edged presence. If you're drawn to stylish European crime storytelling, this one has an atmosphere that pulls you right in.