
A Trade of Blood
an addictive, unputdownable fantasy mystery with an eccentric detective duo by the author of THE TAINTED CUP
Robert Jackson Bennett(Author)
Hodderscape (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 4. August 2026
Book
Hardback
400 pages
978-1-3997-2550-7 (ISBN)
Description
An unthinkable crime. A fatal conspiracy. A suspect without a trace.
The heir to one of the Empire's most powerful families sits in jail, accused of murder. His hands are covered in his victim's blood, and he can neither deny his guilt nor explain his actions.
If the great detective Ana Dolabra - along with her assistant Dinios Kol - cannot save him, the farming canton of Sapirdad will explode into war, plunging the Empire into famine and chaos.
But this murder is only the latest in a subtle web of death, woven by a mastermind with an ancient weapon at his disposal.
Ana and Din have faced terrible crimes before. But as they pursue their adversary through wild ranges, sprawling ranches, and reeking slaughterhouses, even they are not prepared for the horrifying secret behind their opponent's powers . . .
Eccentric yet brilliant detective Ana Dolabra must prove a man's innocence to stop a civil war in the third book of the series that began with the award-winning The Tainted Cup.
The heir to one of the Empire's most powerful families sits in jail, accused of murder. His hands are covered in his victim's blood, and he can neither deny his guilt nor explain his actions.
If the great detective Ana Dolabra - along with her assistant Dinios Kol - cannot save him, the farming canton of Sapirdad will explode into war, plunging the Empire into famine and chaos.
But this murder is only the latest in a subtle web of death, woven by a mastermind with an ancient weapon at his disposal.
Ana and Din have faced terrible crimes before. But as they pursue their adversary through wild ranges, sprawling ranches, and reeking slaughterhouses, even they are not prepared for the horrifying secret behind their opponent's powers . . .
Eccentric yet brilliant detective Ana Dolabra must prove a man's innocence to stop a civil war in the third book of the series that began with the award-winning The Tainted Cup.
Reviews / Votes
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 * Fonda Lee, World Fantasy Award-winning author of the Green Bone Saga * 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 * Max Gladstone, New York Times bestselling co-author of This Is How You Lose the Time War * 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 * Wesley Chu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The War Arts Saga * 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! * Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the UNSUB series * 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 * Fantasy Hive * 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 * The Fantasy Hive *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Hodder & Stoughton
Product notice
Trade binding
Illustrations
None
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
620 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3997-2550-7 (9781399725507)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Robert Jackson Bennett
A Trade of Blood
an addictive, unputdownable fantasy mystery with an eccentric detective duo by the author of THE TAINTED CUP
E-Book
approx. 08/2026
Hodderscape
€16.99
Not yet available
Person
Robert is the author of American Elsewhere, The Troupe, The Company Man, Mr. Shivers, as well as The Divine Cities trilogy and The Founders Trilogy. The final installment of The Founders Trilogy, LOCKLANDS, is in stores June of 2022.
His work has received the Edgar Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, and the Phillip K. Dick Citation of Excellence, and he has been shortlisted for the World Fantasy, British Fantasy, and Locus Awards.
He lives in Austin with his wife and two sons, one of whom is very large and one of whom is very loud.
His work has received the Edgar Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, and the Phillip K. Dick Citation of Excellence, and he has been shortlisted for the World Fantasy, British Fantasy, and Locus Awards.
He lives in Austin with his wife and two sons, one of whom is very large and one of whom is very loud.