Tainted Cup

An impossible murder. A brilliant eccentric detective. And a mystery unlike anything the Empire has ever seen.

In one of Daretana’s grandest mansions, a high-ranking imperial officer is found dead under impossible circumstances—a tree has seemingly erupted from his body.

In an Empire where leviathan blood can cause strange magical transformations and contagions are an everyday threat, unusual deaths aren’t unheard of. But this one is something different.

Called to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a legendary investigator as brilliant as she is eccentric. Ana rarely leaves her home, keeps her eyes covered, and has an extraordinary ability to unravel mysteries that leave everyone else completely baffled.

At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, whose magically enhanced memory makes him uniquely suited to observe crime scenes and report every detail back to Ana.

What begins as one bizarre murder soon reveals something much larger.

As Ana and Din follow the clues, they uncover a conspiracy that could threaten the entire Empire—and Din begins to realize that solving the murder may be only one piece of a much more dangerous puzzle.

Blending a classic detective mystery with imaginative fantasy world-building, The Tainted Cup delivers murder, monsters, magic, conspiracy, and an unforgettable Holmes-and-Watson-style investigative duo.

Perfect for readers who love: murder mysteries, fantasy mysteries, eccentric detectives, impossible crimes, magical worlds, conspiracies, Sherlock Holmes-style investigations, monsters, and genre-bending fantasy.

Author: Robert Jackson Bennett
Genre: Fantasy Mystery / Mystery & Thriller / Epic Fantasy
Series: Shadow of the Leviathan #1
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 432
Publisher: Del Rey
Publication Date: November 5, 2024
EAN/ISBN: 9781984820716