Jak Barley Private Inquisitor and the Case of the Annoying Assassins (Jak Barley #5) by Dan Ehl

Jak is back and he's just as bad as he always was.  Bad puns, interesting curses, and ready to step where other people would not tread.  It's a good thing he has friends.  Without Lorenzo and his witch girlfriend and her mother, he probably wouldn't make it through these odd adventures he jumps into.

The author sent me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you).  It has been published, so you can grab a copy now.

This one is the best one yet.  It starts a hunt for bank robbers and identifying corrupt CIA (Clandestine Information Authority) agents.  Then he finds out someone has put a whack contract on him, so he's dancing around assassins most of the story.  Even adopting a dire poodle pup isn't safe.  Now someone wants to steal him!  

Then he runs into goblins, demons, and dragons on his quest.  The worst part is he's living undercover in an elders’ RW (recreational wagon) park set atop a butte with the other oldsters and they're not a lot of help when you're being attacked.

He's wearing a ring that makes him look old but some of the creatures can tell he's magicked and they still want to kill him.  Don't feel bad for Jak, he brings a lot of it on himself.

He (and the author) can come up with the most unique curses I've ever heard.  Puns abound.  After all, he names his dire poodle "Phideaux".

I enjoy this whole series because it makes me laugh in places, the danger feels real and the author always gives you lots of magical and dangerous creatures to read about. If you like fantasy and fun, you'll enjoy this story.