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Quick answer: If you liked The Tainted Cup, read Robert Jackson Bennett's City of Stairs and Foundryside, then The Lies of Locke Lamora, Storm Front, Rivers of London and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. All pair fantasy worlds with sharp detective work and odd magic.
Robert Jackson Bennett's 2024 novel is a fantasy mystery set in an empire where a young investigator, Din, and his brilliant superior solve murders linked to giant creatures and bioengineered servants. Readers compare it to Sherlock Holmes with fantasy trimmings. The books below offer similar detective-driven fantasy and clever mysteries in strange worlds.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Stairs | Robert Jackson Bennett | Adult | more Bennett |
| Foundryside | Robert Jackson Bennett | Adult | magic as technology |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | clever heists |
| Storm Front | Jim Butcher | Adult | wizard detective |
| Rivers of London | Ben Aaronovitch | Adult | police and magic |
| A Study in Scarlet | Arthur Conan Doyle | Adult | the first Holmes |
| The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | Arthur Conan Doyle | Adult | detective stories |
| The Alloy of Law | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | gunslinger fantasy |
| Mistborn: The Final Empire | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | magic and rebellion |
| Gideon the Ninth | Tamsyn Muir | Adult | necromancers in space |
| The Rook | Daniel O'Malley | Adult | secret agency |
| All Systems Red | Martha Wells | Adult | witty AI |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | Adult | lyrical storyteller |
| The Hollow Places | T. Kingfisher | Adult | funny cosmic horror |
| The Thursday Murder Club | Richard Osman | Adult | cosy humour |
1. City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett
A spy investigates a murder in a city where gods once ruled. Smart, inventive and tense.
Best for: more Bennett.
2. Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
A thief steals an artefact and discovers a world of magical engineering. Fast and imaginative.
Best for: magic as technology.
3. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
A group of thieves in a fantasy city run elaborate cons. Witty and fast.
Best for: clever heists.
4. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Harry Dresden is a wizard private investigator in Chicago. A classic start to a long series.
Best for: wizard detective.
5. Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
A young constable becomes an apprentice wizard in modern London. Funny, clever and well-grounded.
Best for: police and magic.
6. A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
Holmes and Watson meet and solve a murder. Short and classic.
Best for: the first Holmes.
7. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
Twelve short mysteries with Holmes and Watson. The model for the detective duo.
Best for: detective stories.
8. The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson
A lawman returns to a city of gangsters and magic. Fast and funny.
Best for: gunslinger fantasy.
9. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
A street thief joins a crew to topple an immortal ruler. Tight plot, clear rules.
Best for: magic and rebellion.
10. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
A swordswoman and a necromancer solve a mystery in a decaying palace. Witty and gothic.
Best for: necromancers in space.
11. The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
A woman wakes with no memory and finds she works for a secret supernatural agency. Funny and clever.
Best for: secret agency.
12. All Systems Red by Martha Wells
A security robot hacks itself and just wants to watch TV. Short and charming.
Best for: witty AI.
13. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe tells his own story. Beautiful and slow.
Best for: lyrical storyteller.
14. The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher
A woman finds a portal in her uncle's museum. Scary and witty.
Best for: funny cosmic horror.
15. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Four retirees solve cold cases and then a murder. Funny and warm.
Best for: cosy humour.
How to Choose
For more Bennett choose City of Stairs or Foundryside. For fantasy detective series pick Storm Front or Rivers of London. For the original model read The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. For clever con artists try The Lies of Locke Lamora. For witty science fiction read All Systems Red. The Tainted Cup is plotted like a puzzle, so these picks suit readers who enjoy clues and reveals. The Tainted Cup is the first book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series, so readers who enjoy it have sequels to look forward to. If you enjoy mysteries where the solution comes from careful observation, the Holmes stories remain the model. If you prefer world building, City of Stairs and Foundryside have plenty of it. If you want a lighter fantasy detective, Storm Front and Rivers of London are fast. Bennett's books are well suited to audiobooks.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Tainted Cup about?
A junior investigator and his genius superior solve murders in a fantasy empire.
Who wrote it?
Robert Jackson Bennett.
When was it published?
2024.
Is it like Sherlock Holmes?
Yes, with a brilliant detective and a narrating assistant.
Is it a series?
Yes, it begins the Shadow of the Leviathan series.
Is it a mystery or fantasy?
Both.
Is it violent?
It has murders and some grisly scenes.
What should I read next?
Try City of Stairs.
Do I need to read City of Stairs first?
No. The Tainted Cup is a separate series.
Is the sequel out?
Check current listings for the Shadow of the Leviathan series.