Robert Jackson Bennett – författare

**WINNER OF THE 2025 HUGO AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL** A peculiar crime. A brilliant investigator. A mystery of epic proportions. In an opulent mansion at the borders of the Empire, an Imperial officer lies dead - killed when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even here, where contagions abound and the blood of the Leviathans works strange magical changes, it''s a death at once terrifying and impossible. Called in to solve the crime is Ana Dolabra, an investigator whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricity. At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, an engraver, magically altered to possess a perfect memory. Soon, the mystery leads to a scheme that threatens the safety of the Empire itself. For Ana, all this makes for a deliciously thorny puzzle - at last, something to truly hold her attention. And Din? He''ll just have to hold on for the ride.An eccentric detective and her long-suffering assistant untangle a web of magic, deceit, and murder in this sparkling fantasy reimagining of the classic crime novel - from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.''Engrossing and fascinating'' MUR LAFFERTY ''A masterstroke. I want Bennett to write a dozen of these, and send them to me yesterday'' MAX GLADSTONE ''Original, imaginative, and suspenseful'' MEG GARDINER ''Riveting'' AMAL EL-MOHTAR ''If you love unique, genre-bending, boundary-pushing fantasy as much as I do, look no further than Robert Jackson Bennett'' FONDA LEE ''Part Sherlock Holmes murder mystery, part Through the Looking-Glass, The Tainted Cup is one of the wildest, most original stories'' WESLEY CHU READERS LOVE ROBERT JACKSON BENNETT! ''This is that rare thing - a book so good that you are bereft when you reach the final page. I loved this and would spend much more time in its world'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''Utterly riveting read from beginning to end. Another mind blowing innovative world-build'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''I couldn''t put this one down and read waaay into the night to discover who did what to whom - and came away with a massive book hangover that had me dreaming of Bennett''s world for the rest of the week'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''I adored this book! Can''t recommend it enough. Murder mystery in a fantasy setting with botanical murder weapons, augmented humans and leviathans threatening to breach city walls! It was such a wonderful, exciting book!'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''This book destroyed those expectations. This was fantastic'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

''A riveting murder mystery wrapped in a twisty conspiracy'' FONDA LEE ''A twisty detective story, a weird fantasy, a thrilling adventure'' MAX GLADSTONE In sequel to the Hugo award-winning The Tainted Cup, an eccentric detective matches wits with a seemingly omniscient adversary in this brilliant bio-punk fantasy mystery.An impossible crime has occurred. A Treasury officer has disappeared into thin air - vanishing from a building whose entrances and exits are all sealed. To solve the case, the Empire calls on its most brilliant and mercurial detective, Ana Dolabra, and her bemused assistant Dinios Kol.Ana soon discovers they are investigating not a disappearance but a murder - and one of surpassing cunning, carried out by an opponent who can pass through warded doors like a ghost. Din has seen his superior solve impossible cases before. But as the death toll grows and their quarry predicts each of their moves with uncanny foresight, he fears she has at last met an enemy she can''t defeat . . .

READERS LOVE THE SHADOW OF THE LEVIATHAN SERIES

''Dinios kol my disastrous bisexual son is back!! and hes sleep deprived!! he''s vomiting!!! he''s yearning!!! he''s slowly losing his marbles!! he''s in severe debt!! he''s in way over his head!!'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''Robert Jackson Bennett does it again with A Drop of Corruption, the kind of fantasy-mystery that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''You can always count on RJB to write a stunningly original work of fantasy that''s precisely and cunningly crafted to leave its reader feeling bereft and abandoned and craving a sequel like an ember craves air. This was so good. 10/10. Would read again in a heartbeat'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''It''s like knives out but if knives out was set in a fantasy world and benoit blanc was an old woman who had hired the most disaster bisexual to be her eyes and ears'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''A murder investigation. No, a coming-of-age. No, a political fantasy. No, a murder investigation. No... well, I don''t want to spoil it. Let me just say that I found it rather delightful how my expectations were simultaneously met and thwarted'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''Watson and Holmes but fantasy . . . if Watson is aware that Holmes is a complete crazy person and is a bit terrified of him (actually, her)'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ AUTHORS LOVE THE SERIES ''Original, imaginative, and suspenseful, The Tainted Cup superbly blends mystery and fantasy. I couldn''t put it down. Give me more of this world and these characters ASAP!'' Meg Gardiner ''Part Sherlock Holmes murder mystery, part Through the Looking-Glass, The Tainted Cup is one of the wildest, most original stories I''ve ever had the privilege to explore. This is a book that has planted roots in my head for the rest of my life'' Wesley Chu ''The Tainted Cup is a true fantasy mystery, with a leading duo who stand with Holmes and Watson among the greats. And Bennett sets it all in a squishy, fascinating, biopunk world I''m dying to find out more about. Bring on the next one!'' Django Wexler ''A classic murder mystery set against dazzling world-building and sly social commentary. Robert Jackson Bennett doesn''t miss'' James L. Sutter

''The exciting beginning of a promising new epic fantasy series. Prepare for ancient mysteries, innovative magic, and heart-pounding heists'' Brandon Sanderson, New York Times bestselling author of OathbringerShe thought it was just another job. But her discovery could bring the city to its knees . . .In the city of Tevanne, you either have everything, or nothing. For escaped slave Sancia Grado, eking out a precarious living in the hellhole known as the Commons, nothing is just one misstep away. So when she is offered a lucrative job to steal an ancient artefact from a heavily guarded warehouse, she leaps at the chance. But instead of a way out of Tevanne, she finds herself the target of a murderous conspiracy. Someone powerful wants the artefact, and Sancia dead. To survive, Sancia will need every ally and every ounce of wits at her disposal - because if her unknown enemy unlocks the artefact''s secrets, the world - and reality - will never be the same.''Robert Jackson Bennett deserves a huge audience'' Brent Weeks''An altogether terrific read'' Sebastien de Castell''Intricate worldbuilding, fascinating magic, and engaging characters. More please!'' Felicia Day''Inventive, immersive, and thrilling . . . Do yourself a favor and pick this up!'' Kevin Hearne

''Exciting . . . Prepare for ancient mysteries, innovative magic, and heart-pounding heists'' Brandon Sanderson, New York Times bestselling author of OathbringerThe upstart firm Foundryside is struggling to make it. Orso Igancio and his star employee, former thief Sancia Grado, are accomplishing brilliant things with scriving, the magical art of encoding sentience into everyday objects, but it''s not enough. The massive merchant houses of Tevanne won''t tolerate competition, and they''re willing to do anything to crush Foundryside.''A refreshing look at magic - featuring a heroine every reader will root for - from one of the smartest writers I know,'' says Peter V. Brett, New York Times bestselling author of The Demon CycleBut even the merchant houses of Tevanne might have met their match. An immensely powerful and deadly entity has been resurrected in the shadows of Tevanne, one that''s not interested in wealth or trade routes: a hierophant, one of the ancient practitioners of scriving. And he has a great fascination for Foundryside, and its employees - especially Sancia.Now Sancia and the rest of Foundryside must race to combat this new menace, which means understanding the origins of scriving itself - before the hierophant burns Tevanne to the ground.''A compelling treatise on power and its misuse'' said The Guardian of Foundryside

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

"Superbly blends mystery and fantasy . . . Give me more of this world and these characters ASAP!"-#1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Gardiner

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.