The Crime and the Criminal Book I by Richard Marsh is a suspenseful crime novel that delves into themes of mistaken identity, deception, and the complexity of truth. The story follows Mr. Thomas Tennant, a man who encounters a woman from his past, Nelly, on a train journey from Brighton to Victoria. Shocked to see her after believing she had died seven years earlier, Tennant is caught in a tense struggle with Nelly, which results in her falling out of the train. Confused by the incident, Tennant is further unsettled when he meets a detective at the next station, who is investigating the disappearance of a woman named Louise O'Donnell. Although Tennant knows more than he lets on, he chooses not to reveal his encounter with Nelly, convinced that she is truly dead. As the narrative unfolds, the themes of identity, guilt, and moral ambiguity surface, raising questions about the boundaries between reality and perception. Marsh masterfully builds suspense, keeping readers on edge as the mystery deepens and the true nature of the crime is slowly uncovered.