Seul le silence #[nn]

Adapted from R.J. Ellory's acclaimed novel, this French graphic album brings a haunting rural atmosphere to life through Richard Guérineau's quietly devastating artwork. The cover sets the tone perfectly: a young boy in overalls stands alone on a dusty dirt road, a weathered farmhouse behind him and a small broken toy — a red bird and a shoe — lying abandoned at his feet, the sepia palette deepening the sense of isolation and melancholy. Fabrice Colin and Guérineau's 2021 collaboration for Philéas looks like essential reading for fans of Southern Gothic storytelling.