I do love a good murder mystery! Robert Jackson Bennett's The Tainted Cup (#1,225) is one of the best I've come across in a long, long time. Many whodunit fans will miss this one entirely because it is labeled science fiction. Set in an empire beset by leviathans attacking from beyond its heavily fortified sea walls, it is also plagued with a series of unnatural deaths. An official Investigator, Ana, and her recently appointed apprentice Assistant Investigator, Din, are assigned to look into the matters. Are the deaths merely unfortunate contagions, or is there a pattern and motive behind these disparate events?
Din is the eyes for Ana, who belongs to a race so sensitive to outside stimuli she must work through a proxy. He still doesn't know the full range of his abilities, but Ana has chosen him based on what she suspects about him. Together, they make a formidable team - like Sherlock and Watson. When they draw close to the truth of the matter during an impending breach of the sea walls by the second rampaging titan in a matter of days, someone is planning to take advantage of the chaos to rid themselves of these impediments.
The world Bennett has built is fascinating with its dangerous landscapes, magical plants controlled by the bureaucracy, and of course, the hierarchy that controls, and is controlled by the empire and the wealthiest power players. I really hated to see this book come to an end, I enjoyed it so much. I am very glad to see that there will be a second book in this series to be released next February. I can't wait!
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