I am late to the party for The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett, but wow, did I enjoy this book! At its core, this is a murder mystery, but it’s set in a rich fantasy world that blends the political depth of Dune with the investigative flair of Sherlock Holmes. If that sounds like your cup of tea, prepare to be hooked.

We are led through the story by Dinios (Din) Kol, a magically enhanced human who works as an engraver, a person who can memorize everything in a scene and relay it back perfectly. (Their description reminded me of the Mentats of Dune, but other magically enhanced characters, called axioms, are probably even closer.) He has passed his engraver exams and is chosen by the brilliant but strange investigator, Ana Dolabra, to become her assistant.

Their previous assignments have mostly dealt with fraud, but they are called to investigate the death of Commander Blas, an engineer for the Empire. The death is horrific and unusual, and they are led down a rabbit hole of intrigue that leads them into a deep web of conspiracy, corruption, and secrets that threaten the very heart of the Empire.

The interactions between Ana and Din are wonderfully rich. Ana is eccentric and thought mad by most, whereas Din is a rule follower and rather dry. As their working relationship progresses, Din slowly discovers that her habits and methods are for a larger purpose than he can imagine. His initial begrudging respect morphs into an understanding and appreciation of her quirks because they lead to clues that most would not have uncovered.

The world itself is rich with creatures, magic, and mayhem. While Din and Ana are working on this murder mystery, the Empire itself is preparing for the wet season, in which leviathans from the sea test the fortifications along the shore in an attempt to attack. The descriptions of the flora and fauna, as well as the magically enhanced characters themselves, are rich.

And the mystery itself? It will leave you hanging on to every conversation and event to try and solve the mystery. But as the story continues, we are given more to consider, with even more twists and turns showing the depth of treachery reaches all the way to the top of the richest enclaves within the Empire itself.

I enthusiastically endorse The Tainted Cup for fans of compelling mystery and immersive fantasy. Best of all, Ana and Din’s story continues into the next book in the series, A Drop of Corruption, which I already have in my TBR pile! Also, I so enjoyed Mr. Bennett’s writing that  I plan on reading some of his novels. More reviews to come!