The Tainted Cup Book Review

Title: The Tainted Cup
Author: Robert Jackson Bennett
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2024
Pages: 406
Goodreads Rating: 4.35
Rating: 9/10

“The towers of justice are built one brick at a time. We have more to build yet.”

Calling all Sherlock Holmes lovers! An investigator and her assistant are tasked with investigating a most curious death… What makes it peculiar? A tree seemingly spontaneously burst from the victim. Or should I say… victims. For what starts as a lone occurrence quickly unravels into a layered, complex scheme. Now our dynamic duo must get to the bottom of the case before becoming the next victims. 

Pros
Addictive and fast-paced
Bennett holds your attention the entire time. The Tainted Cup is a fast-paced, suspenseful book with creative characters and an onion-like plot. You’ll quickly find yourself becoming the investigator trying to piece together the clues. 

Interesting world
This is not a simple murder mystery. This is an intricate world where life balances on a razor sharp edge. When your world could be destroyed by earthquakes and leviathan breaches, you learn to adapt. Genetic engineering techniques are taken to an extreme for both plants and people. Some GMO measures have been implemented to combat these threats like augmented physical abilities and modified plants that serve as building materials. Other enhancements have been developed for more professional and recreational purposes that fit the needs and desires of the political and social hierarchies. 

Cons
More worldbuilding details
The Tainted Cup is told from one character’s POV where we learn alongside the character. Because of this, we don’t get a ton of worldbuilding details in the first book of the series. Take the leviathans as a good example. Why do the leviathans breach the walls during the wet season? What exactly do they look like? Don’t expect a ton of answers. 

Overall…
When I started the book, I expected a fun murder mystery with little else. What I got was a detailed, political world full of twists and turns… and a murder mystery. I highly recommend this book for all Sherlock Holmes lovers.