"One of the best books on crime and punishment ever written, from the cold, heartless homeland of the genre."--Prospect "An involving meditation on Russia, avarice, and the nature of liberty."--The Times (London) "A cautionary tale about the consequences of greed and, as such, a fitting one for these times."--The Guardian When young, wealthy Andrei is thrown into Moscow's toughest prison, he's forced to turn inward to escape his daily hardships. A bestseller and critical sensation in Russia, this is a shocking indictment of the post-Soviet era and a fast-paced, psychologically astute thriller from an exciting new voice in European literature.