The Tainted Cup
Feb 2024 · Ana and Din Mysteries Book 1 · Sold by Del Rey
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About this ebook
HUGO AWARD WINNER • WORLD FANTASY AWARD WINNER • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A Holmes and Watson–style detective duo take the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist, from acclaimed author Robert Jackson Bennett
“Like an endearing fantasy version of Knives Out . . . A great murder mystery is hard to pull off, but Bennett structures his perfectly.”—T. J. Klune, The New York Times
“Combines the best of Lovecraft and Doyle.”—Matt Dinniman, New York Times bestselling author of Dungeon Crawler Carl
“A masterpiece.”—Hideo Kojima, legendary videogame creator of the Metal Gear series
LOCUS AWARD FINALIST • EDGAR AWARD NOMINEE • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, NPR, Elle, BookPage
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.
“Like an endearing fantasy version of Knives Out . . . A great murder mystery is hard to pull off, but Bennett structures his perfectly.”—T. J. Klune, The New York Times
“Combines the best of Lovecraft and Doyle.”—Matt Dinniman, New York Times bestselling author of Dungeon Crawler Carl
“A masterpiece.”—Hideo Kojima, legendary videogame creator of the Metal Gear series
LOCUS AWARD FINALIST • EDGAR AWARD NOMINEE • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, NPR, Elle, BookPage
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.
HUGO AWARD WINNER • WORLD FANTASY AWARD WINNER • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A Holmes and Watson–style detective duo take the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist, from acclaimed author Robert Jackson Bennett
“Like an endearing fantasy version of Knives Out . . . A great murder mystery is hard t...
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Ratings and reviews
151 reviews
Rebecca Lewis
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August 21, 2026
I enjoyed The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett. It’s a murder mystery set in this strange fantasy world, and I thought that combination worked well. The story follows Din, who works as an assistant to an investigator named Ana Dolabra. Din has been altered so he can remember pretty much everything he sees. Ana is this smart, weird, and sometimes difficult investigator. Their dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Phebe Dehaan
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March 15, 2026
very delightful. Ana is a good time. Following Din echoes Sherlock Holmes as written by Dr Watson, and being in an alien land with fantasy and science fiction mixed together is a real treat. four stars only because the characters feel a little...hollow. I love a plot driven story but (although the side characters felt as real as they needed to be) Din and Ana are... lacking something. and maybe it's because Ana is meant to be mysterious (I won't complain about all the yellow eye squinting and glaring despite no one supposedly being able to see her eyes. authors forget details) but even in her mystery she could still feel more whole. same for Din.
Susan Dara (RedReviews4You)
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July 13, 2026
This is one of the most satisfying fantasy mysteries I’ve read in a long time. The atmosphere is lush, strange, and beautifully detailed, and every page feels intentional. The mystery itself is elegant and fair, with clues that come together in a way that feels both surprising and inevitable. The heart of the book is the mentor–apprentice relationship, which is sharp, tender, and full of quiet humor. Their dynamic reveals the world piece by piece, and the emotional undercurrent adds depth with
About the author
Robert Jackson Bennett is the author of the bestselling Ana and Din series, the first book of which, The Tainted Cup, won the Hugo Award for Best Novel and the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel and was an Edgar Award finalist. Previously, his Founders Trilogy and his Divine Cities trilogy were both Hugo Award finalists in the Best Series category. His work has received the Edgar Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, and the Philip K. Dick Citation for Excellence, and has been shortlisted numerous times for the World Fantasy and Locus awards. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his family.
Robert Jackson Bennett is the author of the bestselling Ana and Din series, the first book of which, The Tainted Cup, won the Hugo Award for Best Novel and the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel and was an Edgar Award finalist. Previously, his Founders Trilogy and his Divine Cities trilogy were b...
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