Books like Strange music by Alan Dean Foster

In this new addition to the Humanx Commonwealth saga, the charismatic empath Flinx and his deadly‑laced minidrag Pip are called back from retirement when an old ally’s return forces them onto the planet Largess. Largess, whose seal‑like inhabitants speak through song and whose clan politics have kept Commonwealth trade at bay, has recently opened its borders. When the daughter of a powerful chieftain goes missing, the planet’s authorities suspect a covert agent, and they enlist Flinx and Pip’s help. Armed with forbidden weaponry, the enemy threatens to ignite a conflict that could doom Largess and jeopardize Commonwealth interests. Flinx’s empathic powers falter in the Larians’ unique language, leaving the pair to depend on their ingenuity and Pip’s lethal skills to unravel the mystery, confront the merciless adversary, and secure a fragile peace before war erupts.

First publish date: 2017