*A Guardian and a Thief* is the second novel by Megha Majumdar, the acclaimed author of the national bestseller *A Burning*. Set in a near-future Kolkata, the story unfolds against a backdrop of extreme scarcity, migration, and moral pressure. The narrative follows two central figures: a woman desperately searching for a thief who stole her family's meager resources, and the thief himself, as they both navigate a city pushed to its limits by food shortages and social collapse.

The novel has been selected as an Oprah's Book Club pick, highlighting its significance in the 2025 literary landscape. Majumdar's work is noted for its electrifying prose and its exploration of how individuals maintain their humanity and moral compass when faced with systemic failure and survival-driven choices.