At thirty-one, Garrett Willigins has finally earned his private investigator's badge. Unfortunately the bills haven't stopped coming and building a solid reputation won't happen overnight. Forced to take employment wherever they can, Garrett and his miniature dragon partner, Merle, must dirty their hands any way possible to make a buck. Shoveling manure, chasing cats, and dock duty seem to be the order of the day. Working off back rent for a notorious gangster isn't the safest of jobs on a good day, but when the other dock workers begin disappearing, Garrett finds himself elbow deep in a mystery that might spell a quick end to his short P.I. career. "Reed has a wonderful way with descriptions, and much of his book is just fun-to-read silliness, especially the parts featuring ogres and minotaurs. Before ogre Maury's ukulele performance, he asks the crowd, "What do you call a minotaur with no legs? Ground Beef " More levity, mystery and fantasy are in store; this is only the first of the Vellian Mysteries trilogy." -Kirkus Reviews "Take a dose of Christopher Moore, mix in a P.I.'s personality and struggles with a dash of fantasy ala Tanya Huff, and flavor the pot with a talking dragon ala Anne McCaffrey, and there you have it: a quasi-mystery and fantasy blend that is ripe with intrigue, investigations, and action." -D. Donovan, eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Review * * * * For more fun with Garrett and the gang, check out the Vellian Heroes series -Funny Fruit and The Cassadian Chalice