The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan Book 1) by Robert Jackson Bennett. Del Rey, 2024. 978-1984820716. 432pp.
The book opens with a gruesome death. It turns out to be a murder, which leads to the discovery of what is probably a broader conspiracy against the empire that builds the walls and keeps the giant monsters (leviathans) out. Its protagonists are a bookish investigator who prefers to go blindfolded and her assistant, who has been altered to have a perfect memory. (Many specialists working for the empire have been altered significantly, giving them abilities beyond those of normal folks. Others have merely been tweaked a bit to increase their chances of survival.)
I haven’t enjoyed a fantasy novel this much in years. I was talking to a friend who read it, and said it reminded me of a Sherlock Holmes story; she immediately corrected me and said it was more based on the Nero Wolf / Archie Goodwin model, where the detective sends out his trusted assistant to bring back information. (She’s right.) And it’s fun; the assistant is a complete fish out of water with an innocent heart, a secret, and a special gift. His boss is also beyond odd, and she even has an enjoyable potty mouth.
An excellent sequel, A Drop of Corruption, was published in January of 2026, and a third book in the series will be out at the end of summer. I’m recommending them all to everyone who will listen.
Winner: Hugo Award for Best Novel (2025), World Fantasy Award (2025).