Sisco #5

Set against a wintry New York City streetscape — yellow cabs, the Chrysler Building, and an American flag visible in the background — Sisco #5 brings sharp spy-thriller energy to this 2012 entry from Le Lombard. Thomas Legrain's cover artwork places a determined man at the forefront, pistol raised and ready, while a dark-haired woman stands close behind him, both clad in heavy coats that speak to the cold tension of the scene. "Kalasjnikov-diplomatie" promises the kind of high-stakes intrigue that makes this Belgian series such a compelling read.