A Drop of Corruption cover art

A Drop of Corruption

the gripping biopunk murder mystery sequel to The Tainted Cup

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A Drop of Corruption

By: Robert Jackson Bennett
Narrated by: Andrew Fallaize
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About this listen

 An impossible crime has occurred. A Treasury officer has disappeared into thin air - abducted from his quarters in a building whose entrances and exits are all sealed.

The brilliant and mercurial investigator, Ana Dolabra, and her assistant Dinios Kol have been called in to crack the case.

Before long, Ana discovers that they're actually investigating a murder. Worse, the adversary seems to be able to pass through warded doors like a ghost, and can predict every one of Ana's moves as though they can see the future.

Ana's solved impossible cases before. But this time, with the stakes higher than ever and the investigators seemingly a step behind their adversary at every turn, has Ana finally met an enemy she can't defeat?©2025 Robert Jackson Bennett Crime Fiction Dark Fantasy Epic Fantasy Mystery Crime

Critic Reviews

PRAISE FOR ROBERT JACKSON BENNETT
A riveting murder mystery wrapped in a twisty conspiracy, set in a vivid fantasy world terrorized by eldritch monsters . . . If you love unique, genre-bending, boundary-pushing fantasy as much as I do, look no further than Robert Jackson Bennett
I loved this. A twisty detective story, a weird fantasy, a thrilling adventure - The Tainted Cup is a masterstroke. I want Bennett to write a dozen of these, and send them to me yesterday
Part Sherlock Holmes murder mystery, part Through the Looking-Glass, The Tainted Cup is one of the wildest, most original stories I've ever had the privilege to explore
Original, imaginative, and suspenseful, The Tainted Cup superbly blends mystery and fantasy in this vivid, complex novel. I couldn't put it down. Give me more of this world and these characters ASAP!
**PRAISE FOR A DROP OF CORRUPTION**
Bennett's wonderfully clever and compulsively readable sequel to 2024's The Tainted Cup offers another winning blend of fantasy and classic detection. . . . Bennett skillfully integrates humor and magic into the complex puzzle plot and plays fair with planting clues for the reader. Randall Garrett fans will be hooked
A thoroughly satisfying delight from start to finish
Superb . . . [Bennett] writes the kind of fun, propulsive work that kept my teenage self scouring the shelves for the next installment
A wicked clever immensely fun sequel that ups the ante further on a remarkably fun and imaginative series. A Drop of Corruption is already shaping up to be an early forerunner for book of the year (like its predecessor). I couldn't have asked for a better birthday gift than this book and this is my Pick for the Month
A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett seamlessly fuses together fantasy and sci-fi, politics and mysticism, nature and technology, new life and horrifying deaths. It is another incredible tale that is set to satisfy on every level
A Drop of Corruption did not disappoint, building on the foundation of book one with an even sharper and more compelling murder mystery that opened the world in intriguing new ways
Din is a charming narrator, and their banter propels the reader through a truly baffling mystery to satisfying conclusion
Just as good as the first... If deep and complex fantasy worlds are your thing, this is where to go
All stars
Most relevant
The format is obvious (Holmes and Watson), but the writing is excellent and the setting novel and interesting. RJB also gives you the information to figure it out, which is refreshing. I'd say the tainted cup might be a bit better, but interested to see where he takes it with the next book in the series.

Also, the author's note at the end is interesting analysis.

RJB, you've done it again!

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I was hooked, listening for hours at a time. This book is incredible, it ensures it shows and doesn’t tell. It’s wonderful to put it all together with the charismatic and interesting characters as you go along. An interestingly layered story interwoven with themes that affect us in the modern world. Bravo sir, bravo 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 15/10! I cannot wait for more!

Old school who done it, in fantasy land 🙌🏼

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similar to my review of the first novel: I really like this book but I am absolutely blown away by the audiobook performance.
there is so much range in the reader, he had me gripped and constantly impressed by all the character voices.

Top Production

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A Drop of Corruption has a fully realised world and a narrator that works perfectly. Seeing Ana through Dinios’ eyes adds depth to the story, and the narration itself was excellent.

I especially liked the author’s note at the end about fantasy’s tendency toward autocracy in the 2010s and how it reflects the global rise in autocratic rule. It’s a sharp and relevant observation that stuck with me.

Fabulous characters and points of view

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This was a really enjoyable story. I am looking forward to the next book coming out.

Loved it

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