This series continues to amaze me with its complexity and depth. The world-building is incredibly immersive, and I was thrilled to explore a brand-new setting in Yarrowdale. The intricate details made the place feel alive, and I loved getting to know its secrets.

The murder mystery at the heart of this installment was gripping—I genuinely didn’t see the answers coming until the big reveal. It was masterfully woven into the story, keeping me guessing the whole way through.

Ana and Din are one of my favorite fictional duos. Their banter is sharp and heartfelt, and I adore the way Din always looks out for Ana. The character development in this book was fantastic, offering deeper insight into both of them. Ana, in particular, has become one of my all-time favorite characters. I’m especially eager to learn more about her augmentations in future books.

This installment left me even more invested in the series, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

I adored this second installment of the Ana and Din mystery series, also known as the Shadow of the Leviathan series. In fact, I am tempted to say I enjoyed it even more than The Tainted Cup! And with that said, I would argue that readers are not required to read these books in publication order, following in the mystery genre tradition. Feel free to read in publication order, but upon finishing this book, I realized that to read book 1 isn't a prerequisite for enjoying and understanding the separate plot of book 2.

Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol travel to the canton of Yarrowdale, at the very edge of the Empire’s reach, to investigate the strange disappearance of a Treasury officer. He vanished from his room many stories above the ground, its door and windows locked from the inside. I mean, was this story written for me...or was it written for me?

The character work remains among my favorite parts of this series, and not just between Ana and Din. A third character introduced in this narrative that I desperately hope to see again is Malo; she straddles two perspectives due to her background which enriched this particular mystery tenfold. The world building is spectacular, expecting the reader to keep up without overwhelming us with too much information at once. And the mystery plotting would impress most mystery readers. It's among the most impressive fantasy mysteries I have read, and I always adore the homages that Robert Jackson Bennet employs, reminding us that this series is a Sherlockian reimagining with Ana as our Holmes and Din as our Watson. While The Tainted Cup reimagined Arthur Conan Doyle's A Study in Scarlet, A Drop of Corruption introduces an iconic villain a la Moriarty!

Hands down, one of my best books of 2025!!

Actual Rating: 5.0 stars
Original Pub Date: 1 Apr 2025
Reading Format: physical book + audiobook

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for an E-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review!

Big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book.

Mystery novels rarely keep me guessing, but A Drop of Corruption by Robert Bennett was a refreshing exception. From start to finish, the story had me second-guessing every theory I came up with. Just when I thought I had the culprit figured out, Bennett threw in a twist that completely upended my assumptions — and I loved it.

One of the highlights of this installment was getting to know Kol and Ana on a deeper level. Their evolving relationship added a layer of emotional depth that balanced the suspense beautifully. Watching their bond strengthen and their mutual respect grow was truly the icing on the cake.

I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series, especially to uncover more about Ana’s mysterious past. Bennett has crafted a compelling world with characters I genuinely care about — and I can’t wait to return to it.

Mystery, Expansive World Build, Unique Characters.

Din and Ana are a perfect balance, and I can't get enough of their banter. While the mystery unfolds we get a deep look into Din's past and why he chose the job he did. We also get a bit more information on Ana in general, her history, powers and reach in the world.

I am obsessed with this world build. It's immersive, and captivating in all the right ways. From the way the politics work, to the science and 'monsters' that lurk in the shadows. It's all well laid out and explained.

As with the last book, the mystery does not disappoint. It's twisted, and expansive. There isn't a simple answer, yet there kind of is. The way the investigations takes Din on his own new experiences and personal exploration is a treat in itself. But by the end I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the final reveal. It's shocking, but all the pieces were put into place throughout the book.

You'll love this series if you enjoy Sherlock Holmes, and Epic Fantasy books. This is the perfect mix of both, and I can't wait to read the next installment.

In Bennett’s second book of the Shadow of the Leviathan series, Ana and Din find themselves, once again, surrounded by murder and mayhem. At first, they’re investigating the death of a numbers expert from the Imperial Treasury. But the death toll rises almost immediately, and victims continue to fall as the two close in on the truth. Every word, every detail matters as Ana pieces the complex plot together in her own strange way. Many of Bennett’s characters, like Din himself, possess artificially enhanced skills that enable them to function beyond the limits of human ability. For the first victim, it was his skill with numbers. For Din, it’s the ability to remember absolutely everything he sees and hears. For others it’s the ability to sense emotions and detect lies. And for Ana, most of her time is spent blindfolded, enabling her to concentrate fully on the clues and testimony. The setting is a strange, dark, fantasy world that draws the reader into the Eastern Empire experience. Bennett’s enhanced ability is his imagination, and it knows no bounds. I highly recommend this series!

I am obsessed with this series!!! I love everything about it. The worldbuilding, characters, mysteries, etc. RJB has become an auto-buy author for me now. I can't wait to continue on with this series. Highly recommend! This was a fantastic follow up to the first book. We got a little more expansion on the world (though I do wish we had a bit more because I still feel as though I know very little about it) and more of the "magic" system opened up to us as well. We got to know our two protagonists better, and the mystery had me hooked from beginning to end. I will say, however, the way things wrapped up felt a little too convenient and there was a fairly glaring plot hole. This one was also quite politics heavy. All of this led to it being a four star for me instead of a five like the first book. Regardless, I still absolutely love this series and will continue recommending it to absolutely everyone!

RBJ has quickly established himself as the master of the subgenre formed where SFF overlaps with detective fiction. It is hard enough mastering one genre. To master two, and have them successfully feed off each other is logarithmically more difficult. This makes him one of my favorite writers at the moment.

All fantasy naturally contains layers of revelation as the mythology, magic and world are revealed. What is incredible about his Ana and Din novels so far is that you keep thinking you are getting a hang of the world, only for the next novel to reveal how little you actually understood. Indeed my major complaint about this novel was that it seemed like he had revealed a major character mystery far too early in the series. But I have faith that he will once again make the seemingly familiar strange and mysterious.

A stunning continuation to the series. I think I've enjoyed it even more than the first book!

I feel like Ana and Din are my family at this point. I loved the plot, but even more than that, I loved the characters and worldbuilding. I feel like this author has a way of transporting the reader to the story- I was forgetting I was reading, which is the best feeling ever.

If you haven't read the series yet, I really really recommend it. I am craving the next installment already. Thinking about these books honestly makes me weirdly emotional.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

How serendipitous that I could finally dive into this right as the preceding book in the Shadow Of The Leviathan series (also an Ana And Din mystery) deservedly won the 2025 Hugo for Best Novel!

I'd venture to say that A Drop of Corruption is even better than <a href="https://www.criminalelement.com/book-review-the-tainted-cup-by-robert-jackson-bennett/">The Tainted Cup</a>, and not just because of the excellent, blistering afterword Robert Jackson Bennett includes here. It's always good to read when genre authors are using their writing less for escapism and more as a way to grapple with the realities of our present-day. It's even better when they argue against those seeking to use genre as a way to reframe bad concepts into palatable ideals. Let me tell you, when RJB gets mad in his afterword, he gets Big Mad, and rightfully so.

The story itself continues in the strange and magnificent world of the Khanum Empire, a realm beset by the Leviathans that come in from the sea every wet season and threaten to destroy everything in their path. They do not, however, come so far north as here to Yarrowdale, one of the Empire's vassal kingdoms. The waters here are so safe that the Empire has built one of its greatest research facilities in the harbor, to the benefit of both Imperials and natives.

When a Treasury officer disappears from an unreachable locked room, leaving copious amounts of blood behind him, Imperial Investigator Ana Dolabra is sent to investigate. As is her wont, she sends her assistant Dinius Kol ahead of her to collect evidence and pave the way, so she can seclude herself in her eventual lodgings and digest the information he faithfully brings to her in his capacity as an Engraver, one of those people specially enhanced by the Empire's research to remember everything they see.

Ana quickly determines that the Treasury officer was murdered, but not in the way that the staging of his quarters would have people believe. The more she and Din investigate, however, the more they're confounded by an adversary who seems capable of predicting her every move. As biological weapons are uncovered and the fragile negotiations between the Empire and the rulers of Yarrowdale hang in the balance, Ana and Din must race to uncover and stop the ruthless mastermind behind a diabolical plot that doesn't care how many people it has to murder or maim to affect its executor's aims.

Full of intrigue and derring-do, this is a terrific sequel to TTC that also does something extraordinary: it begs people to understand that codified legal oversight and infrastructure exist for the very good reason of protecting all of a nation's citizens. Whether in the form of Ana going after rogue administrators or Din wrestling with his desire to leave the investigative branch of government in order to fight Leviathans on the frontlines, RJB presents an impassioned plea to us all to value our roles in defense of civil society. No government is immune to corruption, but that doesn't mean that we can let it go unchecked or, worse, persuade ourselves and each other that compassion can be shown only to those at the top and consequences meted only to the powerless. Jake Casella Brookins does a better job of explaining the philosophies on display here in his review at <a href="https://locusmag.com/2025/06/a-drop-of-corruption-by-robert-jackson-bennett-review-by-jake-casella-brookins/">Locus</a>; if you're interested in the subject of the presentation of autocracy vs the rule of law in fiction, you should definitely give that a read, too.

Honestly, if you enjoy reading intelligent fiction, then this is the book for you. But if you love your mysteries and speculative fiction with a dose of thoughtful examination regarding the real world around us, with a clear-eyed view of governance and civic responsibility, then I can't recommend this highly enough. Unsurprisingly, ADoC is already on my shortlist of nominations for next year's Hugos!

A Drop Of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett was published April 1 2025 by Del Rey and is available from all good booksellers, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15382/9780593723821">Bookshop!</a>

A phenomenal follow-up to Robert Jackson Bennett's THE TAINTED CUP. Once again showing a masterful handle on both mystery and fantasy, the expert blending of these two genres is truly a sight to behold. It's so delightful to once again be in the company of Ana and Din as they solve another seemingly impossible mystery. Nothing is as it seems, but that's half the fun!

TL;DR: I'm obsessed with this scifi sherlock holmes-esque series about an eccentric detective and her sidekick solving VERY cool mysteries. I might have enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. Great world-building, cool mythology, great expansion of characters and relationships. give me more!!

We once again join engraver Dinios 'Din' Kol and investigator Ana Dolabra in a serpentine case that will take them to the very edges of the Empire to solve a locked-room murder that quickly spirals into something more dangerous and sinister than anyone could have imagined.

Another twisty mystery that shines thanks to the author's complex worldbuilding and fully developed characters. We spend a lot more time with Din than Ana in this book, which lets his character shine in moments of danger and cunning. We discover things through his eyes and those of the local people, who give depth to everything happening behind the scenes of the bigger mystery, making this about so much more than a murder and the danger it uncovers. It gives the plot layers and meaning beyond just figuring out the how and why, making it a fascinating, thought-provoking read.

The one downside is that there's a tendency to get so much into explaining the complexity of the world that it feels unnecessarily wordy and heavy at times. Yes, it's foreign and unusual enough that exploration and exposition are necessary to ground it, but I just wish there was a way to do it in a few sentences instead of paragraphs. It's not heavy enough to make me dislike it, just enough to force me to walk away from it and breathe every once in a while.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the interesting read!

This book is nearly perfect. So well written and fun, it’s a sharp fantasy take on a murder mysterious with Sherlock Holmes vibes. I can’t for the next book in ther series

I didn’t think anything could top The Tainted Cup, but A Drop of Corruption blew me away.
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This series is what happens when you take Sherlock & Watson, drop them into a wildly original fantasy world, and let the murder mysteries spiral into political conspiracies, magical secrets, and razor-sharp banter.
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Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol are back, and their dynamic somehow gets even better. Their relationship isn’t all warm fuzzies- it’s messy, honest, hilarious, and deeply human.
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Ana is a force of nature (as usual), and Din’s journey in this one had my heart. If book one was a love letter to world-building, book two perfects the art of pacing and mystery.
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Yes, the mystery has layers. Yes, the world-building is lush, botanical, and occasionally mind-bending. Yes, there’s a new cast of quirky side characters I already adore. But what really makes this book special? The way it peels back the darker layers of power, trust, and partnership while still being fun. And funny. And brilliant.
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Fantasy mystery lovers- you NEED this series. I didn’t know I could love a magical procedural this much, and now I never want it to end. Give me 15 of these, please.

it is part of a series I believe this is the second book. Although I have no read the 1st im going to dive into that. I loved the flow of this book and the character development. The side characters are really interesting there's a lot of mystery but also made me laugh it was very multi layered. Kept me guessing on what was going on but also enjoyed guessing the outcome only to be totally wrong.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Net Galley for this ARC!

I’m not always big on murder mystery stories because my brain can’t handle the missing pieces patiently. However, Robert Jackson Bennett definitely knows how to write such an addictive story that’ll get you hooked up until the end. The world building is so refreshing, even from the first book, The Tainted Cup. Fantasy readers don’t always get well-built and well-structured fantasy elements these days. The pacing of the story is perfectly executed, the author did well in delivering the story, not rushing or draggy. It’s nice to see that fantasy authors are actually crafting yet not too greedy at giving the readers crumbs on every page. Getting back into the dynamics between the characters, Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol are the most fun parts of the sequel. The characters are just so complex and layered. Halfway through the book, I thought it was going to be like any other sequels in the fantasy series, which are bound to either turn into a big mess or a great experience altogether, but Robert Jackson Bennett didn’t disappoint at all. A Drop of Corruption is such a fun combination of cozy thriller and fantasy story. Can’t wait to get into the third book! Thanks Netgalley and Random House / Del Rey for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey/Inklore for giving me an opportunity to read this fantastic eARC!

There is so much that could be said about A Drop of Corruption. Much like the first book, it delivers a wonderfully complex plot filled with political intrigue and scheming, eccentric characters, and masterful world-building. The intricacies and mystery of this book were woven so deep. It was truly a thrilling ride to get to the end of this whodunnit.

Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol continue to be, what I consider, one of the most captivating and fun duos to be written. I have loved reading their interactions and watching their relationship develop throughout this story.

Oftentimes when I am reading books that are part of an unfinished series, I'm left with a sense of unfulfillment and longing for a sense of closure (which, I'm sure is quite normal and intended for the most part). The ending of A Drop of Corruption left me so sated and hyped. I cannot wait to continue this series!

Also, don't skip the author's note. Yes, Robert Jackson Bennett, may we come to live in such a worthier world, and soon.

Thank you to NetGalley and random house publishing group for an advance reader copy and exchange for an honest review!!

In the second installment of the Shadow of the Leviathan series, we are brought back into Yarrowdale with our favorite characters Ana and Din. A treasury officer has gone missing and it’s up to them to find out who has caused this disappearance. In their hunt to find answers, it’s not just a disappearance they’re solving, but a murder. As they continue to unravel more of this mystery, it comes to light that Ana may have met her match. Will this mystery be solved or will the fall of the empire be upon us?

Now that I’ve been in this world a little bit longer, and I understand the magic system a little bit more the story is quite enjoyable. I love Bennett’s wit and his character growth throughout the entire book. As more of this world is being opened up to us. We are introduced to more magic, more supernatural powers and more world. This world is extremely interesting to me and I’m trying to understand where Bennett intends to go with the world that he has created because the most interesting part of the story are the leviathans. The fact that they continue to be introduced in the story and a lot of the world revolves around them, but we don’t know anything about them is actually driving me crazy. I hope in the next installment we get more of an understanding of where these leviathan came from or a little bit of a better understanding of the history of this world so we understand more of what the end goal of the overarching plot is.

Overall, I ended up giving this a 4/5 stars and I can’t wait to see what Bennett has in store for us next.

A good follow up to the first adventure with these characters. The author is great at creating atmosphere and a sense of place, as well as characters that have depth and personality. It's a good mystery that takes plenty of twists and turns.