I finally finished A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett, and I honestly think it’s even better than the first book, The Tainted Cup—which is saying a lot, because I absolutely loved that one.

The story once again follows the brilliant and deeply strange Ana Dolabra and her loyal and long-suffering assistant, Dinios Kol. This time, they’re called to investigate what’s left of a body discovered in a canal near Yarrowdale, part of the independent Khanum Empire. Khanum is currently negotiating a potential merger with the Empire, so tensions are already high. When it’s revealed that the remains belong to a treasury official named Sujedo, and that his death appears to be a classic locked-room mystery with doors and windows secured from the inside, the case immediately becomes more than just a straightforward murder investigation.

Teaming up with Malo, an augmented warden from Yarrowdale, Din leads us through a maze of twists and revelations that expand the scope far beyond one suspicious death. What begins as a puzzle quickly spirals into political intrigue involving factions opposed to Khanum joining the Empire, along with the looming threat of sabotage at the Shroud, an island where the Empire harvests alchemical reagents from a dead leviathan. The stakes feel larger, darker, and far more dangerous this time around.

The world-building continues to be one of the series’ strongest elements. The variety of races and the concept of “sublimes”, humans magically and biologically altered through leviathan-derived chemicals, make the setting feel both imaginative and unsettling. Seeing everything through Din’s perspective adds emotional weight to the narrative. We feel his anxiety over his family’s crushing debts, his very real fear of the Shroud, and his constant curiosity about who and what Ana truly is. His voice grounds the story, making even the most bizarre elements feel personal and immediate.

Overall, A Drop of Corruption delivers everything I hoped for in a sequel: a more intricate mystery, higher political stakes, deeper character development, and an even richer world. It builds confidently on the foundation laid in The Tainted Cup while raising the tension and emotional impact. If you enjoy clever locked-room mysteries wrapped in dark fantasy with sharp political undercurrents and unforgettable characters, this series is absolutely worth your time. I’m already eager to see where Ana and Din’s next investigation takes them.