The Coldest Winter

THE COLDEST WINTER
BOOKLIST -- After a series of failed recon assignments, M16 agent David Perceval has been given an impossible mission. Tasked with extracting a Russian scientist during the end of the Cold War, he quickly discovers that escape is unlikely in a snow-clad Berlin, while hiding is just as difficult with Russian spies and double agents constantly on his tail. A prequel to Johnston and Sam Hart's Coldest City (2012), this is just as gripping, filled with daring escapes and constant double crosses, and the masterful and unexpected conclusion will keep readers guessing up to the very end. Perkins' artwork brings the shady world of espionage to life: his heavy shadowing obscures nearly all facial features, and gray benday dots provide the only contrast between the stark black-and-white swaths of the artwork. Though the visual style sometimes makes it difficult to distinguish between characters, the noirlike images deliver an atmosphere of questionable morality and deep secrecy that's perfectly in keeping with the story. Ideal for fans of spy fiction.