How often do you read a book and say, “I wonder how they came up with that title?” I love it that I read this third Dez Limerick thriller by James Byrne, and understood how the title Chain Reaction was used. If Dez Limerick hadn’t received a text begging him to sit in as a musician at the opening of a new convention center in Newark, New Jersey, he never would have been on site.

At thirty-five, Dez is retired and living in California where he takes occasional gigs as a bass player and pianist. The request from Kansas Jack and the Blacktop brings him to the Liberty Center. He’s dumped his clothes in his hotel room, and he’s checking out the center when he realizes there are military men scattered around. He’s sitting in a martini bar with Catalina Valdivia, a thief, when the announcement goes out that the center has been taken over by a military group, and they’ll kill any civilians that try to leave. Dez watches a couple people get shot before he decides to take matters into his own hands. He recruits Cat to assist him, although she has no interest in going straight.

In his life before retirement, Dez was a gatekeeper, skilled at getting through doors and locks, and keeping them open as long as he needed. Now, he takes on a group of Russian terrorists. But, he’s also convinced there’s more going on than just Russian terrorists. He noticed one or two people killed by weapons that weren’t Russian, and by the time he gets through this mess, he lets the FBI know about his suspicions.

There are multiple switches in this fast-paced, explosive story. Someone seems to know exactly what Dez will do next, someone who might just understand his training as a gatekeeper.

After I got used to reading Dez’ British accent, I fell right into this book. You don’t need to have read previous books in the series. I already ordered The Gatekeeper, the first, at the library. I’m looking forward to Dez Limerick’s first thrilling adventure.

James Byrne’s website is https://jamesbyrnethriller.com/

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley from NetGalley in order to review this for a journal.