Book Review: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

It’s exciting to begin a new book series and immediately fall in love with the world the author has created. Such was the case for me with Robert Jackson Bennett’s 2024 novel, The Tainted Cup, which introduces us to the fantasy empire of Khanum, and investigator Ana Dolabra and her new assistant Dinios Kol, a pair of characters I can’t wait to spend more time with.

Ana has an uncanny mind that allows her to sort through and analyze information better than nearly anyone else, similar to characters like Sherlock Holmes or Benoit Blanc. Dinios is a young sublime, a person who has been modified by the kingdom’s Apothetikals to receive a specific talent that grants them almost superhuman abilities. In his case, it is Engraving, a form of turbocharged photographic memory and instant recall, which makes him an ideal assistant for a detective.

In their first case working together the pair is tasked with looking into the disturbing murder of an engineer named Blas, whose body was found in a mansion belonging to the Hazas, one of the wealthiest families in the empire. They are quickly able to ascertain what killed him, which leads to their being called to assist with several similar deaths in the city of Talagray, where the wall that keeps giant beasts known as Leviathans from entering the kingdom experienced a major breach, possibly as a result of sabotage and possibly connected to Blas’ murder. It doesn’t take them long to realize that people are withholding information from them, but as additional bodies begin to sprout up and the city braces for further Leviathan attacks, they’ll have to work fast to find just who is behind the killings and what they hope to accomplish before it’s too late.

As with any good mystery there are a variety of colorful characters to be met and interviewed here, with some standing out more than others, but the wry and aloof Ana and endearingly nervous Din are the real standouts. While Ana is the lead investigator, the story is being told from Din’s perspective, allowing us to both experience his personal growth and gradually learn about the solution to the mystery, maintaining suspense throughout the novel.

The world within The Tainted Cup is well-thought out and detailed without getting mired down in minutiae. Bennett writes clearly and evocatively, making it easy for the reader to see every scene in their mind, almost as if recalling a memory. The mystery itself is well-constructed and satisfying, playing fair while also being challenging to fully piece together. Answers are revealed at a steady pace, keeping the pages turning well into the night, on the way to an ending that thrills as the elaborate construction of the plot is fully revealed. Thankfully book two came out earlier this year, because any who pick up this book will want to jump right into more adventures with Ana and Din. ★★★★★