Crime and Punishment follows Raskolnikov, a poor student in St. Petersburg who commits murder to test a theory about extraordinary people standing above morality. What follows is a descent into fever, guilt, and psychological torment as a detective circles closer and a mysterious woman offers unexpected grace. Dostoyevsky uses the crime as a springboard for questions about suffering, redemption, and whether a person can live with what they have done.

WHY WE PICKED IT
Because it is one of the great psychological novels and a masterclass in how interior monologue can drive a plot. Crime and Punishment is a strong pick for readers who like moral complexity, Russian literature, and books that burrow into a character's mind.

DETAILS
• Author: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• Publication Date: December 31, 2002
• Format: Paperback
• ISBN: 9780140449136
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