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The Tainted Cup
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Andrew Fallaize
- Length: 13 hrs and 51 mins
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Publisher's Summary
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
“Great fantasy detective stories are too rare, but Bennett—[a] rising star of fantasy—more than delivers.”—Charlie Jane Anders, The Washington Post
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.
What the critics say
“Great fantasy detective stories are too rare, but Bennett . . . more than delivers.”—Charlie Jane Anders, The Washington Post
“Holmes and Watson get a new twist in this fantastical noir set in a mysterious empire . . . Perfect for those who loved China Mieville’s Perdito Street and Kraken but wished there was more camaraderie and crime-solving.”—CrimeReads
"A wonderful novel whose pull to keep turning pages comes from the great plot, inventive world, and fascinating characters. Highly recommended.”—SFF World
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What listeners say about The Tainted Cup
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- Bunni Morris
- 2024-03-23
Why Would Anyone Give This OUTSTANDING Book anything But 5Stars
Hilarious....The dialogue between Din and Anna is endlessly enjoyable. I BOODY LOVED THIS BOOK
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- Jeremy Neff
- 2024-02-28
A very fun listen
The characters were well developed and interesting. There felt like there was a deep and complex history to the land that still has not given up all it's secrets. It's like a Sherlock Holmes novel in a fantasy world. Great narration too. Really brought the characters to life.
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