The Tainted Cup: an exceptional fantasy mystery with a classic detective duo
Robert Jackson Bennett
Feb 2024 · Hachette UK
4.6star
50 reviews
Ebook
432
Pages
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About this ebook
**WINNER OF THE 2025 HUGO AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL!**
'Part Sherlock Holmes murder mystery, part Through the Looking-Glass, The Tainted Cup is one of the wildest, most original stories' WESLEY CHU
An eccentric detective and her long-suffering assistant untangle a web of magic, deceit, and murder in this sparkling fantasy reimagining of the classic crime novel - from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.
A peculiar crime. A brilliant investigator. A mystery of epic proportions.
In an opulent mansion at the borders of the Empire, an Imperial officer lies dead - killed when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even here, where contagions abound and the blood of the Leviathans works strange magical changes, it's a death at once terrifying and impossible.
Called in to solve the crime is Ana Dolabra, an investigator whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricity. At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, an engraver, magically altered to possess a perfect memory.
Soon, the mystery leads to a scheme that threatens the safety of the Empire itself. For Ana, all this makes for a deliciously thorny puzzle - at last, something to truly hold her attention. And Din? He'll just have to hold on for the ride.
READERS LOVE ROBERT JACKSON BENNETT
'This is that rare thing - a book so good that you are bereft when you reach the final page. I loved this and would spend much more time in its world' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Utterly riveting read from beginning to end. Another mind blowing innovative world-build' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I couldn't put this one down and read waaay into the night to discover who did what to whom - and came away with a massive book hangover that had me dreaming of Bennett's world for the rest of the week' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I adored this book! Can't recommend it enough. Murder mystery in a fantasy setting with botanical murder weapons, augmented humans and leviathans threatening to breach city walls! It was such a wonderful, exciting book!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book destroyed those expectations. This was fantastic' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
AUTHORS LOVE ROBERT JACKSON BENNETT
'Engrossing and fascinating' MUR LAFFERTY
'A masterstroke. I want Bennett to write a dozen of these, and send them to me yesterday' MAX GLADSTONE
'Original, imaginative, and suspenseful' MEG GARDINER
'Riveting' AMAL EL-MOHTAR
'If you love unique, genre-bending, boundary-pushing fantasy as much as I do, look no further than Robert Jackson Bennett' FONDA LEE
'Part Sherlock Holmes murder mystery, part Through the Looking-Glass, The Tainted Cup is one of the wildest, most original stories' WESLEY CHU
An eccentric detective and her long-suffering assistant untangle a web of magic, deceit, and murder in this sparkling fantasy reimagining of the classic crime novel - from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.
A peculiar crime. A brilliant investigator. A mystery of epic proportions.
In an opulent mansion at the borders of the Empire, an Imperial officer lies dead - killed when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even here, where contagions abound and the blood of the Leviathans works strange magical changes, it's a death at once terrifying and impossible.
Called in to solve the crime is Ana Dolabra, an investigator whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricity. At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, an engraver, magically altered to possess a perfect memory.
Soon, the mystery leads to a scheme that threatens the safety of the Empire itself. For Ana, all this makes for a deliciously thorny puzzle - at last, something to truly hold her attention. And Din? He'll just have to hold on for the ride.
READERS LOVE ROBERT JACKSON BENNETT
'This is that rare thing - a book so good that you are bereft when you reach the final page. I loved this and would spend much more time in its world' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Utterly riveting read from beginning to end. Another mind blowing innovative world-build' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I couldn't put this one down and read waaay into the night to discover who did what to whom - and came away with a massive book hangover that had me dreaming of Bennett's world for the rest of the week' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I adored this book! Can't recommend it enough. Murder mystery in a fantasy setting with botanical murder weapons, augmented humans and leviathans threatening to breach city walls! It was such a wonderful, exciting book!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book destroyed those expectations. This was fantastic' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
AUTHORS LOVE ROBERT JACKSON BENNETT
'Engrossing and fascinating' MUR LAFFERTY
'A masterstroke. I want Bennett to write a dozen of these, and send them to me yesterday' MAX GLADSTONE
'Original, imaginative, and suspenseful' MEG GARDINER
'Riveting' AMAL EL-MOHTAR
'If you love unique, genre-bending, boundary-pushing fantasy as much as I do, look no further than Robert Jackson Bennett' FONDA LEE
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Ratings and reviews
4.6
50 reviews
Dominika Orlikowska
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November 8, 2025
English isn’t my first language, so at first it was difficult to comprehend the strange new world unfolding before me. There were many words I didn’t know. Nevertheless, the story was gripping—I couldn’t wait to read more. I felt both excited and nervous about what might happen next. It even moved me to tears. I absolutely loved it.
Mike Carter
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November 29, 2024
Picked this up completely on a whim and was very surprised with how much I enjoyed it. Think high fantasy crossed with the 'knives out' movie and you'll be scratching the surface.
John Faller
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July 1, 2025
I takes skill and perhaps a certain stubbornness to create a truly believable world and this book has it in spades.
About the author
Robert is the author of American Elsewhere, The Troupe, The Company Man, Mr. Shivers, as well as The Divine Cities trilogy and The Founders Trilogy. The final installment of The Founders Trilogy, LOCKLANDS, is in stores June of 2022.
His work has received the Edgar Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, and the Phillip K. Dick Citation of Excellence, and he has been shortlisted for the World Fantasy, British Fantasy, and Locus Awards.
He lives in Austin with his wife and two sons, one of whom is very large and one of whom is very loud.
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