In the last couple weeks, I tore through James Byrne’s Dez Limerick thriller series. I started with the third. Chain Reaction comes out at the end of January. I certainly don’t encourage anyone to start at the end. When I read Deadlock, the second book, there were characters waiting for me who appear in Chain Reaction. Start with The Gatekeeper and meet Dez Limerick.
In some ways, this is a typical thriller with the hero taking on the bad guys. But, Dez is not the usual protagonist. He’s not good-looking like Jack Reacher. But, he is a MacGyver type of character who can take on multiple people with a few marbles or ball bearings. If you don’t mind the violence, it’s a joy to watch Dez Limerick work.
Now that he’s living in California, Dez has supposedly given up his job as a gatekeeper, someone who can open doors and hold them open as long as he needs to. But, he hasn’t given up his friends. When Raziah Swann, a singer and songwriter, tells him her sister, Laleh, was mugged, Dez heads to Oregon to assist his friend. Even when he arrives at the hospital, he recognizes men who shouldn’t be on hospital grounds, men he knows are heading for Laleh’s room. Dez is willing to take them out to protect Raziah and Lelah, even when he’ll end up arrested.
One of Laleh’s journalist colleagues died recently, and she did a puff piece about the man. But, what does the man’s death and Laleh’s piece have in common? There’s a connection to Clockjack, an app integrator used in technology all over the world, especially in the U.S. government. And, Clockjack has more hired guns than any technological corporation should have.
Each one of Byrne’s thrillers drags readers into a world situation that is plausible. That makes every one of his books riveting and frightening. As I said, start with The Gatekeeper. You might be ready for Chain Reaction by February.
James Byrne’s website is https://jamesbyrnethriller.com/.
Deadlock by James Byrne. Minotaur Books, 2023. ISBN 9781250805782 (hardcover), 359p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book.
There sound great, Lesa. I’ll definitely get DEADLOCK.
Oh, Kim, you should start with The Gatekeeper. I love this character.
Just started The Gatekeeper yesterday. Very unusual character but I do like the kind of guy who can almost do anything. (Loved the first 20 or so Reacher books!)
I pay attention to what you like and almost always try them. Some I like (Virgil Flowers) and others not so much but am thankful to you for introducing me to them. There are so many books I might not have read if I didn’t read your blog. Including I should mention the so interesting Kim Hays books and the wonderful Cara Hunter series.
I hope you like The Gatekeeper, Diane. If you liked the first 20 Jack Reacher books, you should like that one. He is a little different.
Thank you! That means so much that you’ve found books you might not have read because of the blog. And, no one has the same taste, so I certainly understand when something I liked doesn’t work for another reader. Thank you so much, Diane.
I have The Gatekeeper inbound to me at the library.
And, I am with Diane. I never would have read the Eve Dallas series if Lesa had not said how good it was years ago. Not the only series either. Had no plans to read the first by Bruce Borgos and Lesa reached out and told me, “Fat Man, you need to read this” or words to that effect.
I very much appreciate Lesa and this blog.
Kevin, You and Scott might both like The Gatekeeper. You’ll know if you should suggest it to him after you read it.
Thank you! As many books as you read, it means a lot that you’ve discovered some books and authors thanks to the blog.
And, thank you for sharing the ones you read here. I always appreciate it, Kevin.