Shadow of the Leviathan – serie

**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 CHUREADERS 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

'A riveting murder mystery wrapped in a twisty conspiracy, set in a vivid fantasy world terrorized by eldritch monsters' FONDA LEE'A twisty detective story, a weird fantasy, a thrilling adventure' MAX GLADSTONEIn the second adventure in the Shadow of the Leviathan series, the eccentric detective Ana Dolabra 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 - abducted from his quarters in a building whose entrances and exits are all sealed.The brilliant and mercurial investigator, Ana Dolabra, and her assistant Dinios Kol have been called in to crack the case.Before long, Ana discovers that they're actually investigating a murder. Worse, the adversary seems to be able to pass through warded doors like a ghost, and can predict every one of Ana's moves as though they can see the future.Ana's solved impossible cases before. But this time, with the stakes higher than ever and the investigators seemingly a step behind their adversary at every turn, has Ana finally 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'A riveting murder mystery wrapped in a twisty conspiracy, set in a vivid fantasy world terrorized by eldritch monsters . . .' Fonda Lee'I loved this. A twisty detective story, a weird fantasy, a thrilling adventure-The Tainted Cup is a masterstroke. I want Bennett to write a dozen of these, and send them to me yesterday' Max Gladstone'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

An impossible crime has occurred. A Treasury officer has disappeared into thin air - abducted from his quarters in a building whose entrances and exits are all sealed.The brilliant and mercurial investigator, Ana Dolabra, and her assistant Dinios Kol have been called in to crack the case.Before long, Ana discovers that they're actually investigating a murder. Worse, the adversary seems to be able to pass through warded doors like a ghost, and can predict every one of Ana's moves as though they can see the future.Ana's solved impossible cases before. But this time, with the stakes higher than ever and the investigators seemingly a step behind their adversary at every turn, has Ana finally met an enemy she can't defeat?

An unthinkable crime. A fatal conspiracy. A suspect without a trace.The heir to one of the Empire's most powerful families sits in jail, accused of murder. His hands are covered in his victim's blood, and he can neither deny his guilt nor explain his actions.If the great detective Ana Dolabra - along with her assistant Dinios Kol - cannot save him, the farming canton of Sapirdad will explode into war, plunging the Empire into famine and chaos.But this murder is only the latest in a subtle web of death, woven by a mastermind with an ancient weapon at his disposal.Ana and Din have faced terrible crimes before. But as they pursue their adversary through wild ranges, sprawling ranches, and reeking slaughterhouses, even they are not prepared for the horrifying secret behind their opponent's powers . . .Eccentric yet brilliant detective Ana Dolabra must prove a man's innocence to stop a civil war in the third book of the series that began with the award-winning The Tainted Cup.