Welcome to Deep Cove by Reed Grant

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