The Shadow of the Leviathan series is great

The first book of the series, The Tainted Cup, won a Hugo for Best Novel for a good reason.

There are layers here. The world by itself is interesting, feels alive and the detective mysteries are compelling. Characters interact with each other, have their own distinct points of view and do not just react to events. Together - similarly to fine dining - these layers reinforce each other.

I think I've been in the mood for this type of world for a while: this muddy, biological empire far away from well-known continents or fantasy tropes.

I've really enjoyed the series so far, the third book that comes out next year is one of the very few books on my wishlist.