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Dragon and Gargoyle #1
A Dragon, a Gargoyle, and a Faery Walk into a Pub
A dragon with a paperwork fetish and a gargoyle with a snacking problem - not the most conventional team, but they get the job done.
Welcome to a different side of Ireland, where leprechauns head Criminal Investigative Divisions, suave vampires run pubs where Fae and Outsiders freely mix, and witches with green thumbs have to take over when absent-minded wizards are away looking into were-rabbit issues.
Aiden Moss and Torloch Doyle are dumped into the deep end of their next case by an anonymous phone call, leading them to a kidnapping and suspected drug ring. With only one clue, the detectives head for the best place to start an investigation - the nearest sandwich shop.
With some luck, the help of their friends, and a few emergency snack runs, can the detectives solve the case before things take a darker turn?
Grab the book now and join the adventure today!
Welcome to a different side of Ireland, where leprechauns head Criminal Investigative Divisions, suave vampires run pubs where Fae and Outsiders freely mix, and witches with green thumbs have to take over when absent-minded wizards are away looking into were-rabbit issues.
Aiden Moss and Torloch Doyle are dumped into the deep end of their next case by an anonymous phone call, leading them to a kidnapping and suspected drug ring. With only one clue, the detectives head for the best place to start an investigation - the nearest sandwich shop.
With some luck, the help of their friends, and a few emergency snack runs, can the detectives solve the case before things take a darker turn?
Grab the book now and join the adventure today!
324 pages, ebook
First published February 1, 2024
317 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Barry
36 books53 followersHi! I’m Lisa.
I love all things books, especially happy romance books. I love writing. I enjoy formatting text, finding book covers, and editing.
And of course, I love reading which is what lead me down this path of writing. Plus these characters pop in my head and I enjoy jotting them down and seeing where they lead me.
I live in Florida but rarely go to the beach, and always wear black. My favorite place to visit is Ireland.
I count on my three cats to bother me while I’m trying to create the words and on the countless gargoyles in my collection to listen carefully when I read aloud. My hot hubby likes to listen in as well.
Thanks for dropping in and checking out my books. Cheers!
I love all things books, especially happy romance books. I love writing. I enjoy formatting text, finding book covers, and editing.
And of course, I love reading which is what lead me down this path of writing. Plus these characters pop in my head and I enjoy jotting them down and seeing where they lead me.
I live in Florida but rarely go to the beach, and always wear black. My favorite place to visit is Ireland.
I count on my three cats to bother me while I’m trying to create the words and on the countless gargoyles in my collection to listen carefully when I read aloud. My hot hubby likes to listen in as well.
Thanks for dropping in and checking out my books. Cheers!
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 9, 2025
I always like it when I discover a book that has a gargoyle in it, and for once it's wasn't a fantasy romance one, instead it's a mystery featuring a dragon and a gargoyle shifters who make up a detective team. I found this book vastly entertaining with great banter between the two leads, the humor had me chuckling out loud, and the action is perfectly paced. There are an array of magical creatures throughout the book, mermaids, pixies, gnomes, witches, and being set in Ireland I learnt a few things as well. This was a great first book and I'll definitely be continuing the series.
What do you get when you put a dragon with a paperwork fetish and a gargoyle with a snacking problem together.
A detective team with a difference.
Aiden Moss and Torlock Doyle receive an anonymous phone call just as their last case is wrapping up. With barely any information to go on, they find themselves investing a kidnapping and a suspected drug ring. Along with their boss, a leprechaun with a coffee addiction, and a faery prince who likes to pop in unannounced, can these two unconventional detectives solve the case before it's too late?
I have to say I was drawn to Loch immediately. A gargoyle who has a weakness for snacking, a bunny snuggling obsession, a cat called Elias, and an easy charm you can't help but fall for. The fact he has a soft spot for anything cute and fluffy melted my heart straight away. Of course he also doesn't like to follow the rules and breaks as many as he can along the way finding himself in trouble more often than not with his boss. Haha yeah I adored him.
Aiden who is a dragon shifter is as different from Loch as night and day, he's more softly spoken and prefers a cup of tea and his books to partying. He's a stickler for the rules and helps to keep his partner in check. The fact that he nerds out over paperwork had me laughing, because who in their right minds LIKES paperwork. But he redeemed himself in my eyes as he likes to cook and bake (swoon) something that comes in handy when living with a gargoyle who is constantly eating. Yep I'm developing a wee crush on him too.
I also adore Rudy, an unseelie fae prince who is a little hyperactive, talks a mile a minute and pops up when you least expect him. He's a cutie.
I love the way this friendship works along with how they work together on the case and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them. So it's off to book 2 for me. Highly recommend 😁
What do you get when you put a dragon with a paperwork fetish and a gargoyle with a snacking problem together.
A detective team with a difference.
Aiden Moss and Torlock Doyle receive an anonymous phone call just as their last case is wrapping up. With barely any information to go on, they find themselves investing a kidnapping and a suspected drug ring. Along with their boss, a leprechaun with a coffee addiction, and a faery prince who likes to pop in unannounced, can these two unconventional detectives solve the case before it's too late?
I have to say I was drawn to Loch immediately. A gargoyle who has a weakness for snacking, a bunny snuggling obsession, a cat called Elias, and an easy charm you can't help but fall for. The fact he has a soft spot for anything cute and fluffy melted my heart straight away. Of course he also doesn't like to follow the rules and breaks as many as he can along the way finding himself in trouble more often than not with his boss. Haha yeah I adored him.
Aiden who is a dragon shifter is as different from Loch as night and day, he's more softly spoken and prefers a cup of tea and his books to partying. He's a stickler for the rules and helps to keep his partner in check. The fact that he nerds out over paperwork had me laughing, because who in their right minds LIKES paperwork. But he redeemed himself in my eyes as he likes to cook and bake (swoon) something that comes in handy when living with a gargoyle who is constantly eating. Yep I'm developing a wee crush on him too.
I also adore Rudy, an unseelie fae prince who is a little hyperactive, talks a mile a minute and pops up when you least expect him. He's a cutie.
I love the way this friendship works along with how they work together on the case and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them. So it's off to book 2 for me. Highly recommend 😁
June 14, 2025
This turned out very different than I expected, esp. regrading the expectations set by the blurb. I thought this would be a "laugh-out-loud urban fantasy mystery with lots of witty banter, humour, and snark". What I got was a very solid urban fantasy mystery with a few humorous remarks.
Which was not what I was in the mood for, but - despite being currently in one of the worst mood-reading moods ever: if I am not 100% vibing with it, I am not reading it, my brain simply refuses - I still kept reading, the story was so intriguing I just could not put it down. Despite the lack of humour, and even though the characters were far less funny or charming than I would have liked them to be.
Now, with all that kept in mind, I have a few points that really did not work for me at all:
1) A book set in Ireland, using plenty of Irish - and general British - slang, yet being written in American English (e.g. 'realized' instead of "realised") is one of my biggest pet peeves ever. If you write a "British" story - or an Irish story -, for the love of the grammar gods, use British spelling or the whole thing quickly becomes a farce.
2) This needs a better editor or proofreader. There were quite a number of typos, misplaced commas, and just plainly wrong - and sometimes at least highly questionable - terms throughout the book. It's not like every other sentence bad, but it was quite noticeable for me and it affected my enjoyment quite a bit; esp. in combination with #1 and the fact that this book was not entirely fitting my mood. Not to mention that there is not one correctly formatted dash in the whole damn thing, it's hyphens everywhere. Maybe I am a bit harsh here, but still...
3) The blurb should reflect the mood of the book better. I think it's currently setting the wrong expectations. It might be a me thing, but when I read the blurb I am expecting a fantasy mystery full of whacky humour, not a fantasy mystery with a tad of humour sprinkled in every so often. In short, I expected something way more heavy on the humour side than what I got, and that's - at least partially - the blurb's fault.
All that said, I still enjoyed the hell out of this book - after I adjusted my expectations to fit the book in front of me - and I am now going to directly dive into the second book of the series.
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Transparency info: Read via Kindle Unlimited.
Which was not what I was in the mood for, but - despite being currently in one of the worst mood-reading moods ever: if I am not 100% vibing with it, I am not reading it, my brain simply refuses - I still kept reading, the story was so intriguing I just could not put it down. Despite the lack of humour, and even though the characters were far less funny or charming than I would have liked them to be.
Now, with all that kept in mind, I have a few points that really did not work for me at all:
1) A book set in Ireland, using plenty of Irish - and general British - slang, yet being written in American English (e.g. 'realized' instead of "realised") is one of my biggest pet peeves ever. If you write a "British" story - or an Irish story -, for the love of the grammar gods, use British spelling or the whole thing quickly becomes a farce.
2) This needs a better editor or proofreader. There were quite a number of typos, misplaced commas, and just plainly wrong - and sometimes at least highly questionable - terms throughout the book. It's not like every other sentence bad, but it was quite noticeable for me and it affected my enjoyment quite a bit; esp. in combination with #1 and the fact that this book was not entirely fitting my mood. Not to mention that there is not one correctly formatted dash in the whole damn thing, it's hyphens everywhere. Maybe I am a bit harsh here, but still...
3) The blurb should reflect the mood of the book better. I think it's currently setting the wrong expectations. It might be a me thing, but when I read the blurb I am expecting a fantasy mystery full of whacky humour, not a fantasy mystery with a tad of humour sprinkled in every so often. In short, I expected something way more heavy on the humour side than what I got, and that's - at least partially - the blurb's fault.
All that said, I still enjoyed the hell out of this book - after I adjusted my expectations to fit the book in front of me - and I am now going to directly dive into the second book of the series.
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Transparency info: Read via Kindle Unlimited.
March 16, 2024
3.5 but I rounded up because it was interesting and had a diverse group of characters!
I did however felt a little lost like I was reading the second book so I looked and there is a #0 so a prequel? I may need to read that to get more backstory of Loch and Aidan.
It was entertaining and new author to me so very interested to look into a whole new backlist!
There are also other books in this series so I will definitely try to read those too! :)
I did however felt a little lost like I was reading the second book so I looked and there is a #0 so a prequel? I may need to read that to get more backstory of Loch and Aidan.
It was entertaining and new author to me so very interested to look into a whole new backlist!
There are also other books in this series so I will definitely try to read those too! :)
April 16, 2024
Really fun series. Can't wait to read the next one.
February 4, 2024
Awesome book. I Loved it. This characters was wild and crazy and their were many twists and turns. It was a page turner and the suspense was fantastic. Moss and Doyle have to found out to what happen in a mystery case that was brought to them to solve in the quicken. This story had humor and it was mind blowing and it was steamy. They were private detective who had to solve a mystery case. I highly recommend this book and you won't be disappointed. I received advance copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving a honest review. Trina Jones
February 3, 2024
Meet Aiden Moss and Torloch Doyle a set of investigators who end up with a mystery to solve. But these two are a riot and seem to just blunder their way to find out what is going on and save the day. I laughed through most of the story as these two have been partners for too long and work well together and cause a bit of mayhem along the way. Lots of action, trouble, detours, clues to hunt down and so much more to keep me entertained. Loved it. Enjoyed the story and characters.
February 23, 2024
Funny, engaging, and good pacing. I'll definitely be back for more!
February 18, 2025
In the supernatural Criminal Investigations Division in Ireland, one of the top teams (if not the top) of detectives consists of Dragon Aiden Moss and gargoyle Torloch Doyle.
When they are called to a local pub to check out a human girl who seems to be under a spell, the mystery is on. First, they are attacked by minitours and a harpy while the girl is kidnapped. Then a second incident happens but this time they manage to get her back to their headquarters. There is definitely some sort of spelled drugs involved.
This leads to a good mystery as they try to find out the source of the drug. It seems when they get close Aiden is attacked by the minitours and Loch by the harpy which no one but him has seen.
This book has the mystery, interesting characters, and a fair amount of humour. Aiden loves paperwork, he is pretty anal at times, Loch is always eating and really has no regard for rules. They are assisted by the fae prince Rudy, who is a story just by himself. And don’t forget the man – leprechaun in charge who has a problem with caffeine – he’s sort of addicted to it.
The banter between the characters makes this book worth while, the two are such good friends.
I must admit, I’m glad I have a British background or some of the things that are said and described would have confused me, nothing that I can really point out, just things that made me thing of stuff my parents would say but that my friends couldn’t figure out.
This was a great book and I’m ready to jump into the next one.
When they are called to a local pub to check out a human girl who seems to be under a spell, the mystery is on. First, they are attacked by minitours and a harpy while the girl is kidnapped. Then a second incident happens but this time they manage to get her back to their headquarters. There is definitely some sort of spelled drugs involved.
This leads to a good mystery as they try to find out the source of the drug. It seems when they get close Aiden is attacked by the minitours and Loch by the harpy which no one but him has seen.
This book has the mystery, interesting characters, and a fair amount of humour. Aiden loves paperwork, he is pretty anal at times, Loch is always eating and really has no regard for rules. They are assisted by the fae prince Rudy, who is a story just by himself. And don’t forget the man – leprechaun in charge who has a problem with caffeine – he’s sort of addicted to it.
The banter between the characters makes this book worth while, the two are such good friends.
I must admit, I’m glad I have a British background or some of the things that are said and described would have confused me, nothing that I can really point out, just things that made me thing of stuff my parents would say but that my friends couldn’t figure out.
This was a great book and I’m ready to jump into the next one.
August 11, 2025
A Dragon, a Gargoyle, and a Fairy Walk into a Pub by Nicole DragonBeck
I went in expecting a lighthearted pub crawl with a fantastical twist—and compared to my past darker mystery reads, it definitely started off more playful. Unfortunately, after the fun opener, the pace stalled. The only relationship with any real spark was between the dragon and the gargoyle—everyone else felt like set dressing. Rory, the fairy prince, had a few comical moments, but the plot mostly boiled down to: “go here, talk to that person, move on.”
And then… the coriander. Oh, the coriander. The author at one point calls it a Mexican spice, but to me, cumin and cilantro are the more instantly recognizable flavors of that cuisine. Coriander is my least-used spice, and here it became the supposed “touchstone smell” of the story—but instead of feeling rich or meaningful, it just grated in its repetitiveness.
The mid-book action with the minotaur and harpy had the same rinse-and-repeat feel, and by the last few chapters, I wasn’t holding my breath for the big twist—I was just waiting for the credits to roll. Maybe it was my mood, but this “jaunty ride” in fantasyland ended up more like a long Uber ride where you keep checking how many stops are left.
I went in expecting a lighthearted pub crawl with a fantastical twist—and compared to my past darker mystery reads, it definitely started off more playful. Unfortunately, after the fun opener, the pace stalled. The only relationship with any real spark was between the dragon and the gargoyle—everyone else felt like set dressing. Rory, the fairy prince, had a few comical moments, but the plot mostly boiled down to: “go here, talk to that person, move on.”
And then… the coriander. Oh, the coriander. The author at one point calls it a Mexican spice, but to me, cumin and cilantro are the more instantly recognizable flavors of that cuisine. Coriander is my least-used spice, and here it became the supposed “touchstone smell” of the story—but instead of feeling rich or meaningful, it just grated in its repetitiveness.
The mid-book action with the minotaur and harpy had the same rinse-and-repeat feel, and by the last few chapters, I wasn’t holding my breath for the big twist—I was just waiting for the credits to roll. Maybe it was my mood, but this “jaunty ride” in fantasyland ended up more like a long Uber ride where you keep checking how many stops are left.
September 8, 2024
Not even 1 star
My opinion:
I do not even know what this is. It is to stupid to be funny for my taste and very boring. To much blah blah and nothing really interesting.
I was bored and skipped and jumped over pages..to be more bored and in the end found the culprit and I did not liked the answer to the " problem " those guys where trying to investigate.
I picked this book to check out the series and author. Was that a waste of my money!
It was like the author tried to push every known creature into the book, just awful. You got the Fairy, the Gargoyle, Dragon, Harpy, Centaur .. what ever. Just a stupid mix of beings. Most seem to be not that intelligent and what some in the comments call funny talk, is just annoying ... just an awful, boring ,uninteresting book. Not my cup of tea.
So if you like stuff like Pat and Patachon, Stan & Ollie.. and you do not care for a good crime and intelligent conversations and solutions, smart characters : yea that book might be for you.
My opinion:
I do not even know what this is. It is to stupid to be funny for my taste and very boring. To much blah blah and nothing really interesting.
I was bored and skipped and jumped over pages..to be more bored and in the end found the culprit and I did not liked the answer to the " problem " those guys where trying to investigate.
I picked this book to check out the series and author. Was that a waste of my money!
It was like the author tried to push every known creature into the book, just awful. You got the Fairy, the Gargoyle, Dragon, Harpy, Centaur .. what ever. Just a stupid mix of beings. Most seem to be not that intelligent and what some in the comments call funny talk, is just annoying ... just an awful, boring ,uninteresting book. Not my cup of tea.
So if you like stuff like Pat and Patachon, Stan & Ollie.. and you do not care for a good crime and intelligent conversations and solutions, smart characters : yea that book might be for you.
July 13, 2025
This book us so much fun!
In the city where magic and mundane collide, KPOC's dynamic duo—a bookish Dragon and a sardonic Gargoyle—solve crimes with wit sharper than their supernatural claws. Their Faery sidekick flits in like a caffeinated pixie, adding just the right dash of chaos to their investigative cocktail.
Humans stroll obliviously past paranormal beings, never suspecting the supernatural soap opera unfolding around them. When a sinister new street drug starts turning young women—both human and magical—into living statues, our mismatched heroes race against time. Their mission: unravel the pharmaceutical nightmare, concoct an antidote with the help of a witch, and shut down the dealers before the body count becomes a supernatural statistic.
In the city where magic and mundane collide, KPOC's dynamic duo—a bookish Dragon and a sardonic Gargoyle—solve crimes with wit sharper than their supernatural claws. Their Faery sidekick flits in like a caffeinated pixie, adding just the right dash of chaos to their investigative cocktail.
Humans stroll obliviously past paranormal beings, never suspecting the supernatural soap opera unfolding around them. When a sinister new street drug starts turning young women—both human and magical—into living statues, our mismatched heroes race against time. Their mission: unravel the pharmaceutical nightmare, concoct an antidote with the help of a witch, and shut down the dealers before the body count becomes a supernatural statistic.
April 24, 2025
A Good Read
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the world the authors have created. It’s light and fun, with tons of interesting tidbits and neverending potential for new stuff. I did find the writing occasionally lacking and the characters made decisions I often didn’t understand the rationale for, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story and I will likely read the next one.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the world the authors have created. It’s light and fun, with tons of interesting tidbits and neverending potential for new stuff. I did find the writing occasionally lacking and the characters made decisions I often didn’t understand the rationale for, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story and I will likely read the next one.
December 8, 2024
a really fun read
It is the holiday season and I want something fun to read. This story absolutely did that. Loch and Aiden are the perfect odd couple. Rudy adds another dimension of fun. I really want to know Selena and Loch’s history and how long that has been going on.
This is a fun, shorter read. Definitely a must buy if you enjoy gargoyles, dragons, and elves!
It is the holiday season and I want something fun to read. This story absolutely did that. Loch and Aiden are the perfect odd couple. Rudy adds another dimension of fun. I really want to know Selena and Loch’s history and how long that has been going on.
This is a fun, shorter read. Definitely a must buy if you enjoy gargoyles, dragons, and elves!
August 25, 2025
This book is pure fun! A dragon obsessed with paperwork, a gargoyle with a snacking problem, and a faery in the mix, how could I not be entertained? The banter is sharp, the world feels alive, and the pub scenes had me grinning like I was right there with a pint in hand. Mystery, magic, and mischief all in one, can’t wait to see where this series goes next!
August 30, 2025
a fun adventure
I had no clue what to expect with this story but the title intrigued me. I’m really glad I picked this up. It’s an interesting read and good story. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters and their interactions felt real.
I had no clue what to expect with this story but the title intrigued me. I’m really glad I picked this up. It’s an interesting read and good story. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters and their interactions felt real.
October 15, 2025
Quite Good
Think Montague & Strong (Orlando Sanchez) but with scales and wings and fast cars rather than magic and guns and … well, fast cars…but with far less angst. I hope the series holds up over time.
Think Montague & Strong (Orlando Sanchez) but with scales and wings and fast cars rather than magic and guns and … well, fast cars…but with far less angst. I hope the series holds up over time.
February 23, 2024
Great.
Mysteries can be delightful and humorous this one definitely fits the bill. It is a very enjoyable story,
Mysteries can be delightful and humorous this one definitely fits the bill. It is a very enjoyable story,
October 25, 2024
A good story that has mystery and intrigue, with fun characters and witty dialogue....A very enjoyable read.
October 6, 2025
A mystery with paranormal detectives in a version of the world inhabited by magical beings and humans who are unaware of their co-existence. Absolutely great!
November 22, 2025
This was a fun and funny lightweight read. Just what I was looking for. I needed to take a break from the heavy book I've been reading.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews