**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' ?????