I was lucky enough to read James Byrne’s forthcoming book, Chain Reaction, the third in the Dez Limerick series of thrillers. That book will be released January 28. In the meantime, I went back and picked up The Gatekeeper. I still have the second, Deadlock, to read. I’m hooked on Dez.

Desmond Aloysius Limerick was trained as a gatekeeper, able to open any door or gate, and keep it open as long as needed. He proved that in Algeria. Now, though, he’s retired at thirty-five and living in the U.S. where he takes occasional gigs as a bass or piano player. But, just because he’s a musician doesn’t mean he’s lost his skills.

After one of his gigs, Dez notices a gorgeous woman in the elevator of his hotel. She’s kind when she turns down his request to have a drink. So, he’s willing to step up when he notices a sniper on the roof of the neighboring building, and sees professional gunmen deploy from vehicles. He’s able to turn the tables on the gunman, rescuing Petra Alexandris.

Petra is the chief legal counsel and daughter of Constantine Alexandris, founder of Triton Expediters, a company that funds military throughout the world. Petra has a problem. Something is going on at Triton, and that includes over a billion dollars missing. She doesn’t know who to trust at Triton, but she knows she can trust Dez.

That billion dollars is just the tip of the iceberg in a large plan that involves survivalists, white supremacists, undercover military, the media, the Russians, and a dangerous conspiracy. Dez is a gatekeeper, though, with the ability to wreak havoc in all kinds of plans.

I don’t usually pick up thrillers such as The Gatekeeper. But, I fell hard for this MacGyver character who takes on the bad guys when he must. The book is violent, but I love everything about Dez and his small group of allies. He takes on all comers with a grin and a warped sense of humor. And, in this case, he takes on a conspiracy that sounds so familiar in today’s world.

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

The Gatekeeper by James Byrne. Minotaur Books, 2022. ISBN 9781250805768 (hardcover), 327p.

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