The Tainted Cup

A Novel

De: Robert Jackson Bennett

Narrado por: Andrew Fallaize

Duración: 13 h y 51 m

Resumen del Editor

A Holmes and Watson-style detective duo take the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist, from the Edgar-winning, multiple Hugo-nominated Robert Jackson Bennett

“Great fantasy detective stories are too rare, but Bennett—[a] rising star of fantasy—more than delivers.”—Charlie Jane Anders, The Washington Post

In Daretana’s greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire’s borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death both terrifying and impossible.

Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home.

At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana’s brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior—but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana’s mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective.

As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.

By an “endlessly inventive” (Vulture) author with a “wicked sense of humor” (NPR), The Tainted Cup mixes the charms of detective fiction with brilliant world-building to deliver a fiendishly clever mystery that’s at once instantly recognizable and thrillingly new.

©2024 Robert Jackson Bennett (P)2024 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Great fantasy detective stories are too rare, but Bennett . . . more than delivers.”—Charlie Jane Anders, The Washington Post

“Holmes and Watson get a new twist in this fantastical noir set in a mysterious empire . . . Perfect for those who loved China Mieville’s Perdito Street and Kraken but wished there was more camaraderie and crime-solving.”—CrimeReads

"A wonderful novel whose pull to keep turning pages comes from the great plot, inventive world, and fascinating characters. Highly recommended.”—SFF World

Really fun fantasy whodunnit

Reads a bit like Agatha Christie meets Sanderson. Interesting characters, and the reader clearly had a good time doing it. Only angry I have to wait for the next in the series!

Original and hypnotic

The story was unlike anything I had read in this genre. The characters were eccentric in an amusing and likable way. Very well crafted and difficult to stop listening to. I look forward to other books by this author.

Loved it

This story does have a very Sherlock and Watson feel to it but set in a Roman Empire type of world with an environmenf that does its best to kill things via toxins and sea monsters. But that is background to the thoroughly engaging murder mystery. The 2 main characters are interesting and complex people and seeing their interactions was fascinating. The narrator was great and a good fit for the story. The ending is satisfying but definitely leaves an opening for further adventure and I hope there are more books set in this world.

Outstanding performance!

Loved this narration! So creative and talented. I have a hard time with fantasy sometimes because I find the characters and the rules of the world difficult to follow but this narrator made it easier to determine the voices.

What a great story!

Amazing story and fantastic audible. Slightly different than RBJ other works, but one of his bests.

Such a great book!

This offers a brilliant blend of fantasy and murder mystery. An Imperial officer is murdered and the weapon is a tree erupting from his body. This sets the stage for an intriguing investigation. Enter Ana Dolabra, an eccentric yet brilliant investigator known for her unorthodox methods. Actually, enter Din, because Ana can't be bothered to show up to the scene herself. Din is her newly appointed assistant, an engraver augmented to have a perfect memory using scents as triggers to recall them.

As the duo delves into the case, they uncover a scheme that poses a threat to the Empire itself. The dynamic between Ana and Din is a highlight in the story. I also just adore the representation in the novel, heavily hinting at dyslexia and sensory issues in our main characters. Not to mention that Din appears to be bisexual.

This book really shines when Anna is on the page. She's irreverent and brilliant and hilarious. She's balanced well with her typically straight-laced assistant Din who is incredibly new to all of this detective stuff. This book draws to mind classic detectives like Sherlock Holmes, Benoit Blanc, and Miss Marple. I barked out a laugh several times during this book. Ana's character pays homage to classic detectives, featuring a gloriously labyrinthine plot and a haunting fantasy world.

The world-building is exceptional, especially with the inclusion of Leviathans (kudos on the horror elements!) lurking outside the walls. Did I mention that they sometimes have faces and those faces appear to be saying things? Creepy! I can't wait to discover more about them in the subsequent books. The world hits some similar notes and has some similar vibes to one of my favorite but lesser-known books (The Five Penalties series by Marina J. Lostetter). Humanity is surrounded by terrible things and they're just trying to avert their eyes while power corrupts in their midst.

While the story excels in capturing the essence of classic (kind of unpleasant) detectives, the characters beyond Ana and Din felt somewhat flat to me. Nevertheless, "The Tainted Cup" offers a captivating and entertaining experience, combining the best elements of mystery and fantasy.

I had a GREAT time. I highly recommend the audiobook.

Unique and addictive

Thoroughly enjoyed this unique and engaging book! Hoping for more in this vein soon. I’d snap up a series with these characters. Couldn’t get the story out of my head!

A great mystery and story

This story reminded me of so many murder mysteries, but what stood out to me were a few things; that the murders were taking place during, in effect, a state of emergency, making things difficult. Anna is an incredibly fun character, like Sherlock Holmes or Poirot with a dash of Benoit Blanc, albeit more eccentric and foul mouthed. I also like that the Empire is not portrayed as a hopelessly corrupt, that it shows that while there are troubles, justice can still be done. Overall I would definitely look into this again one day.

Very fun fantasy mystery

Some nice twists and absolutely Superb Narration. I’ll read/listen to more Robert Jackson Bennett

I did not want this book to end.

This book surprised me at every turn. I kept imagining different outcomes and I was inevitably wrong. It took me a bit to fully immerse myself in the Empire and its people. The world building was very well done and detailed. By the time I was well enough into the book I could smell the sea breeze and feel the squelch of mud beneath my feet.

This was my first book by Robert Jackson Bennett but it will not be my last. Also, kudos to Andrew Fallaize as narrator.