Faded Steel Heat by Glen Cook

This compilation of excerpts introduces a fantasy world where the protagonist, Garrett, a private detective, navigates the complexities of TunFaire, a city populated by humans and various nonhuman races like elves, dwarves, centaurs, and the rare Loghyr. The narrative centers on unraveling a conspiracy involving shapeshifters who infiltrate and replace individuals, particularly within "The Call," a human-supremacist movement. Garrett, aided by his unique companions—a "Dead Man" Loghyr, a psychotic talking parrot, and a rat-woman tracker—investigates the disappearances and attacks on prominent figures like brewery owner Max Weider. The conflict escalates, revealing betrayals, political machinations, and the involvement of powerful sorcerers as Garrett races to expose the true orchestrator behind the chaos, Glory Mooncalled.