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Cover of The Tainted Cup

Fantasy · Mystery · Thriller

The Tainted Cup

by Robert Jackson Bennett

4.4 out of 5, from 964 ratings from Hardcover readers

In an empire protected by walls against giant sea beasts, a young investigator named Din is paired with Ana Dolabra, an odd but brilliant detective. A murder at a grand house, tied to the monsters' biology, pulls them into a bigger plot.

Facts last checked 2026-10-16

First published
2024
Pace
Medium
Length
Medium
Pages
406
Format
Book 1 of 3 in Ana and Din Mysteries
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Read this if you like fantasy mysteries with a Holmes-and-Watson dynamic and strange, inventive worldbuilding.

Skip this if you want a fast-paced action story, since the case is built on slow deductions and detail.

The feel

Content warnings

  • Violence
  • Death
  • Gore

Also reported by Hardcover readers:

  • Body horror
  • Physical abuse
  • Murder
  • Classism
  • Drug use
  • Blood
  • Queer
  • Gore-Emesis
  • Gore-Blood

Quick answers about The Tainted Cup

What is The Tainted Cup about?
In an empire protected by walls against giant sea beasts, a young investigator named Din is paired with Ana Dolabra, an odd but brilliant detective. A murder at a grand house, tied to the monsters' biology, pulls them into a bigger plot.
Who should read The Tainted Cup?
Read it if you like fantasy mysteries with a Holmes-and-Watson dynamic and strange, inventive worldbuilding. Skip it if you want a fast-paced action story, since the case is built on slow deductions and detail.
How long and how fast is The Tainted Cup?
It is a medium-paced, medium read of about 406 pages, first published in 2024.
Does The Tainted Cup have content warnings?
Content we flag: Violence, Death, Gore.
Can I borrow The Tainted Cup for free?
Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Tainted Cup; the borrow button above searches it for you.
What should I read after The Tainted Cup?
Readers who liked it often move on to A Study in Scarlet, The Name of the Rose, Foundryside.

Where to get it

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