Book DescriptionAt 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!**