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Dez Limerick #4
Storm Warning
Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26Win a free print copy of this book!
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20 copies available
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Dez Limerick has his considerable skills pushed to the limit when, to rescue a friend, he has to get to—and get into—a state of the art facility on full lockdown, with considerable forces determined to stop him.
Desmond Aloysius Limerick—'Dez' to all who know him—is a man with a shadowy past, certain hard-to-replicate skills, and a reputation as a good man to have when the going gets tough. Dez is doing his best to enjoy his retirement, wandering the country, doing what interests him, and occasionally helping friends when they find themselves needing any of his particular skills—mundane or extraordinary. For Dez was trained as a 'gatekeeper' - someone who can open any door, keep it open, and control who does and does not go through.
It's those skills that are now in demand when the State Department comes calling looking for his help. A multinational scientific research facility on the coast of Newfoundland has gone dark, the facility on full lockdown, and no one can get in or out. No one knows what is going on, but it can't be good. And a close friend of Dez is presumed locked inside the facility along with everyone else.
Even getting to the facility is an insurmountable challenge. The weather has flights grounded, some shadowy group is doing everything they can to impede the rescue team's progress, and hidden enemies are embedded in the rescue team. But anyone who thinks this is more than one man can face has never met Dez Limerick.
Desmond Aloysius Limerick—'Dez' to all who know him—is a man with a shadowy past, certain hard-to-replicate skills, and a reputation as a good man to have when the going gets tough. Dez is doing his best to enjoy his retirement, wandering the country, doing what interests him, and occasionally helping friends when they find themselves needing any of his particular skills—mundane or extraordinary. For Dez was trained as a 'gatekeeper' - someone who can open any door, keep it open, and control who does and does not go through.
It's those skills that are now in demand when the State Department comes calling looking for his help. A multinational scientific research facility on the coast of Newfoundland has gone dark, the facility on full lockdown, and no one can get in or out. No one knows what is going on, but it can't be good. And a close friend of Dez is presumed locked inside the facility along with everyone else.
Even getting to the facility is an insurmountable challenge. The weather has flights grounded, some shadowy group is doing everything they can to impede the rescue team's progress, and hidden enemies are embedded in the rescue team. But anyone who thinks this is more than one man can face has never met Dez Limerick.
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 26, 2026
About the author
James Byrne
4 books334 followersJAMES BYRNE is the pseudonym for an author who has worked for more than twenty years as a journalist and in politics. A native of the Pacific Northwest, he lives in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
November 26, 2025
Thanks to Angelica at Macmillan (much appreciated, Angelica), I discovered John Byrne and the Dez Limerick series—somehow both had eluded me despite years of devouring this genre. As I sat at the keyboard, ready to draft my review, I realized there was no way I could top Angelica’s wonderfully succinct introduction to Storm Warning. So, here’s her brilliant invitation for those of you who have yet to meet Dez.
Dear Reader,
Based on what you’ve loved in the past, I think this one is going to hit the sweet spot for you. STORM WARNING by James Byrne (May 26, 2026, Minotaur Books) delivers the kind of high-tension and one-man army heroics that reward readers who enjoy smart, tactical thrillers with a beating heart at the center.
Dez Limerick is a character you want to latch onto instantly: deeply capable, deadly funny, and impossible not to root for, especially this time when to rescue a friend, he has to get to—and get into—a state of the art facility on full lockdown, with considerable forces determined to stop him.
If you’re in the mood for a tightly wound, high-stakes rescue story led by a character with real depth and grit, this is absolutely where you’ll want to start.
Dear Reader,
Based on what you’ve loved in the past, I think this one is going to hit the sweet spot for you. STORM WARNING by James Byrne (May 26, 2026, Minotaur Books) delivers the kind of high-tension and one-man army heroics that reward readers who enjoy smart, tactical thrillers with a beating heart at the center.
Dez Limerick is a character you want to latch onto instantly: deeply capable, deadly funny, and impossible not to root for, especially this time when to rescue a friend, he has to get to—and get into—a state of the art facility on full lockdown, with considerable forces determined to stop him.
If you’re in the mood for a tightly wound, high-stakes rescue story led by a character with real depth and grit, this is absolutely where you’ll want to start.
November 30, 2025
Storm Warning by James Byrne
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This is book four is the Dez Limerick series. Storm Warning can be read as a standalone but the whole series is so much fun it is HIGHLY recommended (by ME) that you start with book one (Gatekeeper).
Dez is a highly skilled man who is called a Gatekeeper. He can open any door and keep it open for as long as it is required of him. He is also a chill guy who easily makes friends and love to play music. He is retired but somehow keeps getting into situations where he needs to put his skills to use. The current situation requires flying to a research science facility in Canada that has gone dark.
.
I really enjoy these books so much, so as soon as I got this e-arc I downloaded it the same day and started reading it. Pub date is May 26th which gives you plenty of time to catch up with the whole series (there are only three books before Storm Warning, you can do it, I believe in you).
Dez is such a fun and love able character. I just want to be besties with him and hear all his stories and listen to him play bass and have a drink with him.
This book surprised me with a couple of the little twists it took! It was action packed, fast paced, and full of wit and charm. We have a new character introduced named Ash and I love her character! I hope I get to see glimpses of her later on in future books. Also, Petra (from book one) is in this book and I loved me a good boss lady!!!
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This series is one of my new favorite mystery/adventure series and I would recommend it to anyone who loves action books or shows!
.
This is book four is the Dez Limerick series. Storm Warning can be read as a standalone but the whole series is so much fun it is HIGHLY recommended (by ME) that you start with book one (Gatekeeper).
Dez is a highly skilled man who is called a Gatekeeper. He can open any door and keep it open for as long as it is required of him. He is also a chill guy who easily makes friends and love to play music. He is retired but somehow keeps getting into situations where he needs to put his skills to use. The current situation requires flying to a research science facility in Canada that has gone dark.
.
I really enjoy these books so much, so as soon as I got this e-arc I downloaded it the same day and started reading it. Pub date is May 26th which gives you plenty of time to catch up with the whole series (there are only three books before Storm Warning, you can do it, I believe in you).
Dez is such a fun and love able character. I just want to be besties with him and hear all his stories and listen to him play bass and have a drink with him.
This book surprised me with a couple of the little twists it took! It was action packed, fast paced, and full of wit and charm. We have a new character introduced named Ash and I love her character! I hope I get to see glimpses of her later on in future books. Also, Petra (from book one) is in this book and I loved me a good boss lady!!!
.
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This series is one of my new favorite mystery/adventure series and I would recommend it to anyone who loves action books or shows!
December 5, 2025
Another excellent addition to the Dez Limerick series, Storm Warning is highly enjoyable.
Dez is spending his time in New York, working in a restaurant, learning how to be a chef. The State Department comes calling, asking for his help to get into a facility in Canada that appears to be on lockdown. No one knows how or why.
When he hears that an old friend is among those trapped, he quickly agrees.
What ensues is action due to weather, mischief, saboteurs and villians.
With some new promising characters added to the story, Storm Warning hits all the right notes. And come on, a story that mentions the Oilers playing on TV is already going to be a good book.
With vivid descriptions of a very small mining town in Newfoundland, to describing the bunker that is on lockdown, Byrne weaves a story that is over all too quickly.
Dez is likeable, funny and clever. I enjoy that he is not perfect. He can lose a fight. He can make mistakes. It makes him more human, despite his skills at opening doors.
For any fans looking for a new series, start with The Gatekeeper and you will get hooked.
Dez is spending his time in New York, working in a restaurant, learning how to be a chef. The State Department comes calling, asking for his help to get into a facility in Canada that appears to be on lockdown. No one knows how or why.
When he hears that an old friend is among those trapped, he quickly agrees.
What ensues is action due to weather, mischief, saboteurs and villians.
With some new promising characters added to the story, Storm Warning hits all the right notes. And come on, a story that mentions the Oilers playing on TV is already going to be a good book.
With vivid descriptions of a very small mining town in Newfoundland, to describing the bunker that is on lockdown, Byrne weaves a story that is over all too quickly.
Dez is likeable, funny and clever. I enjoy that he is not perfect. He can lose a fight. He can make mistakes. It makes him more human, despite his skills at opening doors.
For any fans looking for a new series, start with The Gatekeeper and you will get hooked.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a tense and fast-moving thriller with plenty of suspense, danger, and unexpected twists along the way. The pacing kept the story engaging, and the high-stakes atmosphere made it easy to keep turning the pages.
A solid pick for readers who enjoy action-driven thrillers and suspense novels.
PUBLISH DATE: May 26, 2026
BOOK TITLE: Storm Warning
SERIES: Dez Limerick, #4
AUTHOR: James Byrne
PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES: 368
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
A solid pick for readers who enjoy action-driven thrillers and suspense novels.
PUBLISH DATE: May 26, 2026
BOOK TITLE: Storm Warning
SERIES: Dez Limerick, #4
AUTHOR: James Byrne
PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES: 368
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
December 1, 2025
When I saw this was book four in a series, I knew I had to go back and read the first three. Was it necessary? Not at all. Am I glad I did? Absolutely. I’m now officially hooked on the Dez Limerick series.
The plot in “Storm Warning” is gripping and face-paced with so much attention to detail, that your heart-races with every twist and turn. Dez was already such a well-developed character from the beginning but I’ve enjoyed watching him grow as the series goes on.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
The plot in “Storm Warning” is gripping and face-paced with so much attention to detail, that your heart-races with every twist and turn. Dez was already such a well-developed character from the beginning but I’ve enjoyed watching him grow as the series goes on.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
December 6, 2025
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
James Byrne delivers another fantastically fun and enormously engaging Dez Limerick novel that has it all. Packed with suspense, intrigue, every shade of violence, diabolical villains, and a wise-cracking, dangerously formidable hero that could go toe to toe with the best in the thriller genre. Making Storm Warning one of the most entertaining and unputdownable thrillers of 2026.
James Byrne delivers another fantastically fun and enormously engaging Dez Limerick novel that has it all. Packed with suspense, intrigue, every shade of violence, diabolical villains, and a wise-cracking, dangerously formidable hero that could go toe to toe with the best in the thriller genre. Making Storm Warning one of the most entertaining and unputdownable thrillers of 2026.
November 26, 2025
5 stars
Another thrilling adventure featuring the brilliantly talented and humble Desmond Limerick- a military-trained specialty gatekeeper who can open, hold open, and close any door. This includes controlling who goes in and out and includes all kinds of “doors”- from electronic locks to jammed elevators. Desmond, called Dez by his friends, has been enjoying his retirement from the UK, which includes playing his base guitar or a piano at bar gigs and recently being a sous chef for a gorgeous celebrity chef who Dez is dating.
Dez gets an urgent call asking for his help from the FBI’s Elite Hostage Rescue Team and the State Department. They’re headed up to Canada off the coast of Newfoundland to investigate a state-of-the-art Neutrino Collector research facility, with multi-national backing including from the U.S., that has gone into both radio silence as well as a full security lock down. The mining facility on top of the research lab has been evacuated due to a labor strike involving excessive worker injuries. It’s been mining for cerium, a valuable mineral in short supply needed for electronics. The small town on top is also radio silent. There are several massive snow blizzards in the area, and it’s unclear if anyone will be able to land nearby. Trisha Jackson, a negotiator from State and her Secret Service bodyguard Rusty Townsend need Dez’ help breaking into the locked down facility.
Add into the mix a whole host of hostile groups convening around the site for unknown reasons. These include elite Russian soldiers there on a secret mission and perhaps connected to the Russian company overseeing the mineral extractions. Skyhook Technologies, a huge company that has a vested interest in the mines, have sent a large group of hardcore mercenaries on some sort of retrieval mission. The mining company, while having a respectable corporate board, has two owners, Valerie and Vincent Crays, who are pathological and unrelentingly violent in their greed. As the mine’s located in Canada, there’s the Canadian Mounties, police, as well as a young former Olympic gymnastics star turned Parisian assassin has embedded herself as representing a Canadian Research council. Add into the mix a former lover of Dez’s, Petra Alexandris, a billionaire whose company, Triton Experiators, invests in clean technology has gone to check out both the mine and neutrino facility in which she invested. There also turn out to more hidden spies among the groups.
It's going to take all of Dez’s skills to sort this all out while staying alive. And did I mention that since he’s retired Dez really prefers not to kill anyone if he can help it? Dez is low key, understated, hilarious, and unstoppable. He has an issue of chess-like complexity at the Canadian site that needs to be sorted.
It all proves a great edge-of-the-seat thriller and another amazing addition to a fantastic series!
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.
Another thrilling adventure featuring the brilliantly talented and humble Desmond Limerick- a military-trained specialty gatekeeper who can open, hold open, and close any door. This includes controlling who goes in and out and includes all kinds of “doors”- from electronic locks to jammed elevators. Desmond, called Dez by his friends, has been enjoying his retirement from the UK, which includes playing his base guitar or a piano at bar gigs and recently being a sous chef for a gorgeous celebrity chef who Dez is dating.
Dez gets an urgent call asking for his help from the FBI’s Elite Hostage Rescue Team and the State Department. They’re headed up to Canada off the coast of Newfoundland to investigate a state-of-the-art Neutrino Collector research facility, with multi-national backing including from the U.S., that has gone into both radio silence as well as a full security lock down. The mining facility on top of the research lab has been evacuated due to a labor strike involving excessive worker injuries. It’s been mining for cerium, a valuable mineral in short supply needed for electronics. The small town on top is also radio silent. There are several massive snow blizzards in the area, and it’s unclear if anyone will be able to land nearby. Trisha Jackson, a negotiator from State and her Secret Service bodyguard Rusty Townsend need Dez’ help breaking into the locked down facility.
Add into the mix a whole host of hostile groups convening around the site for unknown reasons. These include elite Russian soldiers there on a secret mission and perhaps connected to the Russian company overseeing the mineral extractions. Skyhook Technologies, a huge company that has a vested interest in the mines, have sent a large group of hardcore mercenaries on some sort of retrieval mission. The mining company, while having a respectable corporate board, has two owners, Valerie and Vincent Crays, who are pathological and unrelentingly violent in their greed. As the mine’s located in Canada, there’s the Canadian Mounties, police, as well as a young former Olympic gymnastics star turned Parisian assassin has embedded herself as representing a Canadian Research council. Add into the mix a former lover of Dez’s, Petra Alexandris, a billionaire whose company, Triton Experiators, invests in clean technology has gone to check out both the mine and neutrino facility in which she invested. There also turn out to more hidden spies among the groups.
It's going to take all of Dez’s skills to sort this all out while staying alive. And did I mention that since he’s retired Dez really prefers not to kill anyone if he can help it? Dez is low key, understated, hilarious, and unstoppable. He has an issue of chess-like complexity at the Canadian site that needs to be sorted.
It all proves a great edge-of-the-seat thriller and another amazing addition to a fantastic series!
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.
January 13, 2026
9/10
Dez Limerick, where the hell have you been hiding throughout my mystery reading lifetime?!
What. A. Badass.
I love me a Jack Reacher story. Trouble seems to always find him.
I then learned about Sam Pope. He seems to always find trouble.
But Dez. Dez is hired to keep people out of trouble.
I had never heard of this character - or James Byrne for that matter. I knew not what I was getting into.
“Storm Warning” is the fourth in the Dez series and if it’s any indication of what the others are like - I’m in. In fact, I just borrowed Dez #1 from Libby immediately after I read the last word of Storm Warning.
I could not stop reading this book. The action starts on page one and doesn’t slow down until the last word. It’s a true talent that can write a suspense novel like this.
I’m in awe.
If you like Jack Reacher, you’ll love Dez.
Read it.
#netgalley #stormwarning
Dez Limerick, where the hell have you been hiding throughout my mystery reading lifetime?!
What. A. Badass.
I love me a Jack Reacher story. Trouble seems to always find him.
I then learned about Sam Pope. He seems to always find trouble.
But Dez. Dez is hired to keep people out of trouble.
I had never heard of this character - or James Byrne for that matter. I knew not what I was getting into.
“Storm Warning” is the fourth in the Dez series and if it’s any indication of what the others are like - I’m in. In fact, I just borrowed Dez #1 from Libby immediately after I read the last word of Storm Warning.
I could not stop reading this book. The action starts on page one and doesn’t slow down until the last word. It’s a true talent that can write a suspense novel like this.
I’m in awe.
If you like Jack Reacher, you’ll love Dez.
Read it.
#netgalley #stormwarning
November 27, 2025
The ride gets wild when Dez Limerick wades into the fray, and the FBI and State Department need his help and his gatekeeping skills. A scientific facility deep in the Earth, the cerium mine above it, and the tiny town above that have all lost any communications with the outside world.
When Dez and the few officials he's traveling with get separated from their FBI backup by a fierce winter storm, it's up to Dez and a handful of players to figure things out. Little do they know that outwitting and outmaneuvering private mercenaries and foreign military are part of the mission. With spies in their ranks and groundbreaking research that could have earth-shattering ramifications, Dez will need far more than just his skills for getting through locked doors.
Hold onto your hat and dive in to this thrilling, riveting read. With his affable ways and a smile on his face, Dez has a way of making friends and enemies in equal measure, always skating the line on the right side of the law. With ingenuity, creativity, and a quiet determination, Dez is definitely the guy you want on your side. Between Dez's antics, the non-stop action, and the thrilling surprises, this edge-of-the-seat is guaranteed to entertain and delight every reader.
*Special thanks to Angelica at Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an early copy of this.
When Dez and the few officials he's traveling with get separated from their FBI backup by a fierce winter storm, it's up to Dez and a handful of players to figure things out. Little do they know that outwitting and outmaneuvering private mercenaries and foreign military are part of the mission. With spies in their ranks and groundbreaking research that could have earth-shattering ramifications, Dez will need far more than just his skills for getting through locked doors.
Hold onto your hat and dive in to this thrilling, riveting read. With his affable ways and a smile on his face, Dez has a way of making friends and enemies in equal measure, always skating the line on the right side of the law. With ingenuity, creativity, and a quiet determination, Dez is definitely the guy you want on your side. Between Dez's antics, the non-stop action, and the thrilling surprises, this edge-of-the-seat is guaranteed to entertain and delight every reader.
*Special thanks to Angelica at Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an early copy of this.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As soon as I saw my email with the latest ARC for the new Dez Limerick novel, I got the biggest smile on my face; like an old combat buddy showing up with a six pack to catch up. These books are now my newest guilty pleasure, they're well written and just plain fun to read. Dez is a fantastic character, capable and an all-around good bloke, willing to lend a hand when someone is in trouble over their head. He's roped in this time, to rescue some scientists locked into a mine in the middle of a severe winter storm. He has to deal with hostile Canadians, wealthy and powerful femme fatale, and an unlimited supply of deadly mercenaries; all while trying to find his former paramour, Petra. Throw in a group of Russian special forces, a petite assassin, and a bunker buster bomb and there's really no telling who's going to survive. Dez wades into trouble with a smile on his face and a wise crack on his lips doing what need done so the good guys win out. These books are well written and a joy to read, Dez is a warm hearted soul who ends up in some remarkable situations. They're just like grabbing a huge bag of popcorn and taking your seat at a summer blockbuster, and I can't wait for the next one!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars rounded up. I liked Dez a lot, he was such an interesting and moral character, but still held his own using ingenious ways when he needed too. Ash was fascinating and I wish the book had been more about her, because there was a LOT going on. I struggled with this book a little bit, mostly due to Dez's way of speaking. Normally once I'm partway through the book, a character's voice falls into place for me, but instead it just grated on me the whole time. Overall, an interesting story.
December 8, 2025
Thanks to James Byrne, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is one is a continuing series featuring Dez Limerick, a man with certain skills, and it can be read independently. The story involves problems at a research facility in Canada and the US, Russia, and the Canadians are all seeking to contact the facility and understand what is going on. Unfortunately, there are bad people all around and Dez must use al his skills to survive and resolve the situation.
I enjoyed this book! It had a great combination of action, great dialog, and unexpected situations to keep me engaged and interested in the story the whole way. If you like Mitch Rapp, Reacher, or other similar characters, you’ll like this. Recommended
This book is one is a continuing series featuring Dez Limerick, a man with certain skills, and it can be read independently. The story involves problems at a research facility in Canada and the US, Russia, and the Canadians are all seeking to contact the facility and understand what is going on. Unfortunately, there are bad people all around and Dez must use al his skills to survive and resolve the situation.
I enjoyed this book! It had a great combination of action, great dialog, and unexpected situations to keep me engaged and interested in the story the whole way. If you like Mitch Rapp, Reacher, or other similar characters, you’ll like this. Recommended
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this novel featuring a character that is unique in thrillers being written today, a character who is as interesting doing normal things, as he is doing action things, one whose stories continues to grow, as do the characters around him, in fascinating ways.
As a young reader I skipped, well young reader books, going from Hardy Boys to mostly Men's Adventure. The Executioner, The Destroyer, Death Merchant, anything with a gun, a sword and continuing adventures I was a reader. Men's adventure was basically Harlequin Romances for men. Stories about men, shooting things, women who loved them, foreigners to be killed. In fact Gold Eagle, the publisher for The Executioner, Able Team and others was owned by Harlequin. At the same time I loved Len Deighton, John le Carré, Eric Ambler, Robert Littel, et al. Thriller writers whose characters used their minds, more than their might. Over the last twenty years most thriller books being published would have been considered men's adventure years ago. Names like Pike, Scout, Trig, and missions where people are just there to be saved, and or killed, depending on the whim of the writer. Pretty blah stuff. That is why I love the adventures of Desmond Aloysius Limerick so much. Yes he is tough, short but with a fifty inch chest. And he can handle himself, bad guys and pretty women. But he can also play bass, piano, and now cook a Béchamel sauce that might be pretty good. Storm Warning by James Byrne is the fourth book in the Dez, as his mates call him series, this time taking place in the far north, with enemies in front and behind him, and even the weather itself doing its best to stop him from doing what he does best.
Dez is happy in New York, learning to cook, romancing a up-and-coming-chef when he is asked by an old associate from the FBI Hostage Rescue Team to use his particular set of skills to help the government out. And an old friend. Dez was once a Gatekeeper, a person trained to open doors, keep them open, and get people out, no matter the odds. A multinational research center has gone dark in Canada, for reasons unknown. The location is between two superstorms that leave only a small window for a team to get in, and the United States needs all the help it can get. Inside are scientists at the cutting edge of research, and an old friend of Dez's, one he still has feelings for. Before he can even leave he is offered a lot of money to do something wrong. Suddenly there are enemies behind him, in front of him, and even with the group he is with. As the weather cuts them off, Dez realizes there is a lot more going on than science at this base. And a lot of people coming after him.
Another great book in a series that has never let me down. Dez is a fascinating character, one that makes mistakes, owns up to his mistakes, and tries to make them right. Dez is not Jack Reacher, he gets hurt, banged up, and trusts the wrong people. Not only is Dez a good character but so are the cast. Bad guys are bad, good guys good, supporting cast have stories. Everything has meaning. Also Dez never looks for the fight, though he is quick to end it. What I really enjoy is the smarts. The poetry he drops, the figuring things out. The planning in his head. And the deadly traps when he has too. A book that is both riveting and worth reading for the character, the plot and to see where things are going.
This is the fourth book, so I would say start with the first. New readers won't go wrong. Dez has changed, and this book shows a new turning of the character, from drifter getting into things, to well maybe a character in an Edgar Wallace novel. That is a good thing. I look forward to many more of these adventures, and where Dez goes next.
As a young reader I skipped, well young reader books, going from Hardy Boys to mostly Men's Adventure. The Executioner, The Destroyer, Death Merchant, anything with a gun, a sword and continuing adventures I was a reader. Men's adventure was basically Harlequin Romances for men. Stories about men, shooting things, women who loved them, foreigners to be killed. In fact Gold Eagle, the publisher for The Executioner, Able Team and others was owned by Harlequin. At the same time I loved Len Deighton, John le Carré, Eric Ambler, Robert Littel, et al. Thriller writers whose characters used their minds, more than their might. Over the last twenty years most thriller books being published would have been considered men's adventure years ago. Names like Pike, Scout, Trig, and missions where people are just there to be saved, and or killed, depending on the whim of the writer. Pretty blah stuff. That is why I love the adventures of Desmond Aloysius Limerick so much. Yes he is tough, short but with a fifty inch chest. And he can handle himself, bad guys and pretty women. But he can also play bass, piano, and now cook a Béchamel sauce that might be pretty good. Storm Warning by James Byrne is the fourth book in the Dez, as his mates call him series, this time taking place in the far north, with enemies in front and behind him, and even the weather itself doing its best to stop him from doing what he does best.
Dez is happy in New York, learning to cook, romancing a up-and-coming-chef when he is asked by an old associate from the FBI Hostage Rescue Team to use his particular set of skills to help the government out. And an old friend. Dez was once a Gatekeeper, a person trained to open doors, keep them open, and get people out, no matter the odds. A multinational research center has gone dark in Canada, for reasons unknown. The location is between two superstorms that leave only a small window for a team to get in, and the United States needs all the help it can get. Inside are scientists at the cutting edge of research, and an old friend of Dez's, one he still has feelings for. Before he can even leave he is offered a lot of money to do something wrong. Suddenly there are enemies behind him, in front of him, and even with the group he is with. As the weather cuts them off, Dez realizes there is a lot more going on than science at this base. And a lot of people coming after him.
Another great book in a series that has never let me down. Dez is a fascinating character, one that makes mistakes, owns up to his mistakes, and tries to make them right. Dez is not Jack Reacher, he gets hurt, banged up, and trusts the wrong people. Not only is Dez a good character but so are the cast. Bad guys are bad, good guys good, supporting cast have stories. Everything has meaning. Also Dez never looks for the fight, though he is quick to end it. What I really enjoy is the smarts. The poetry he drops, the figuring things out. The planning in his head. And the deadly traps when he has too. A book that is both riveting and worth reading for the character, the plot and to see where things are going.
This is the fourth book, so I would say start with the first. New readers won't go wrong. Dez has changed, and this book shows a new turning of the character, from drifter getting into things, to well maybe a character in an Edgar Wallace novel. That is a good thing. I look forward to many more of these adventures, and where Dez goes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 26, 2026
Desmond Limerick, or “Dez” to his friends, is what is known colloquially as a “gatekeeper”, meaning one of his talents is getting into locked areas and breaking into any room with a locked door. This, along with his substantial size and ass-kicking skills, make him an important asset to just about anyone, but Dez insists on working alone, trusting only a few friends. When he’s recruited by the U.S. State Department to travel to a remote mine in Eastern Canada that’s gone dark, he is not sure what he’ll find when he gets there. What he finds, and definitely did not expect, is a mining operation that has been taken hostage by Russian militants. To make matters worse, a group of mercenaries wants access to the mine and they are willing to destroy anyone and anything who gets in their way- including Dez and his team.
“Storm Warning” is the fourth novel in the Dez Limerick series by author James Byrne. With the taut action of a spy novel and the elusive, independent “gatekeeper” with an accent as the protagonist, “Warning” is a non-stop, page-turning read.
For this specific series, it is not necessary to read all of the novels in order and, in fact, I have only read the second and fourth, so I can tell you with honesty that readers will be able to keep up if they’ve missed some in the series. Each adventure is different and, seeing as Dez is, for the most part, an independent party, he doesn’t tend to bring a lot of similar characters with him from one venture to another, so anyone can keep up- even if you’re reading this novel as a first-time, stand-alone introduction to Dez Limerick.
Dez’s nationality is what makes him the standout protagonist that he is- his U.K accent adds utter hilarity to his no-nonsense vibe, not to mention his hardcore ability to pretty much take anyone on in a fight and leave them in the dust.
In this particular iteration, everyone was an enemy, not only the obvious Russians but the mercenaries that were hired by the extremely rich psychopathic husband and wife, and even a few townspeople serving as spies so the entirety of “Warning” was a guessing game.
The frigid setting of Newfoundland in the middle of a winter storm, the abandoned mining research facility and the small group of townspeople who lived above it, combined with drama and pulse-pounding action is what makes “Warning” the page-turner that it is. Add to that the short chapters, which make it an easy read, and the hilarious protagonist with a take-no-prisoners attitude, and Byrne’s newest installment makes for one heck of an entertaining read!
Expected publication date: May 26, 2026
Desmond Limerick, or “Dez” to his friends, is what is known colloquially as a “gatekeeper”, meaning one of his talents is getting into locked areas and breaking into any room with a locked door. This, along with his substantial size and ass-kicking skills, make him an important asset to just about anyone, but Dez insists on working alone, trusting only a few friends. When he’s recruited by the U.S. State Department to travel to a remote mine in Eastern Canada that’s gone dark, he is not sure what he’ll find when he gets there. What he finds, and definitely did not expect, is a mining operation that has been taken hostage by Russian militants. To make matters worse, a group of mercenaries wants access to the mine and they are willing to destroy anyone and anything who gets in their way- including Dez and his team.
“Storm Warning” is the fourth novel in the Dez Limerick series by author James Byrne. With the taut action of a spy novel and the elusive, independent “gatekeeper” with an accent as the protagonist, “Warning” is a non-stop, page-turning read.
For this specific series, it is not necessary to read all of the novels in order and, in fact, I have only read the second and fourth, so I can tell you with honesty that readers will be able to keep up if they’ve missed some in the series. Each adventure is different and, seeing as Dez is, for the most part, an independent party, he doesn’t tend to bring a lot of similar characters with him from one venture to another, so anyone can keep up- even if you’re reading this novel as a first-time, stand-alone introduction to Dez Limerick.
Dez’s nationality is what makes him the standout protagonist that he is- his U.K accent adds utter hilarity to his no-nonsense vibe, not to mention his hardcore ability to pretty much take anyone on in a fight and leave them in the dust.
In this particular iteration, everyone was an enemy, not only the obvious Russians but the mercenaries that were hired by the extremely rich psychopathic husband and wife, and even a few townspeople serving as spies so the entirety of “Warning” was a guessing game.
The frigid setting of Newfoundland in the middle of a winter storm, the abandoned mining research facility and the small group of townspeople who lived above it, combined with drama and pulse-pounding action is what makes “Warning” the page-turner that it is. Add to that the short chapters, which make it an easy read, and the hilarious protagonist with a take-no-prisoners attitude, and Byrne’s newest installment makes for one heck of an entertaining read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
James Bryne’s fourth book in the Dez Limerick series,
Storm Warning,
is a spellbinding action thriller with some twists, good characterization, and fantastic world-building. Dez has a shadowy past and a good person to have on your side. He’s been trained as a gatekeeper capable of opening any door, keeping it open as long as necessary, and controlling who does and doesn’t go through it. Though retired, he keeps his skills up to date, and helps friends from time to time.
The State Department asks for Dez’s help. A multinational scientific research facility on the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador has gone dark. The facility is on full lockdown and no one can get in or not. Additionally, a close friend of Dez is presumed to be locked inside the facility with everyone else. Just getting to the facility is going to be tough. There are multiple storm systems headed that way causing flights to be grounded and a shadowy group is impeding the rescue team’s progress.
Besides Dez’s skills as a gatekeeper, he is a musician who plays the guitar and the piano. He is innovative, has an attitude of positivity, and generally avoids guns. He is capable, a fast thinker, strong, a great strategist, and moves with precision. He deflects rather than talk about himself, but his other skills include chemistry, computers, and engineering. Readers also get insight into a few of the other secondary characters including some of the antagonists.
While the book starts and ends in New York City, most of the book is set in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, in a small town, as well as the mine and research center underneath the town. While the book is descriptive, it doesn’t adversely affect the pacing. The novel begins with a riveting prologue that lures readers into the fantastic thriller. However, it takes a while to connect it to the rest of the story.
I was intrigued by the characters, the plot, and the idea of a gatekeeper. Additionally, it was fascinating to have a protagonist in a thriller that didn’t rely on guns. The author was innovative in this respect. While some scenes are over-the-top, I went with the flow and enjoyed it. The plot has a lot of variables and changes in alliances, with a few surprises along the way. It is skillfully constructed and compelling.
Overall, this was a twisty, fast-paced, action-packed, high-stakes, and violent action thriller. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series as well as go back and read the first two books featuring Dez.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and James Byrne provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for May 26, 2026.
-----------------------------
My 4.34 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
The State Department asks for Dez’s help. A multinational scientific research facility on the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador has gone dark. The facility is on full lockdown and no one can get in or not. Additionally, a close friend of Dez is presumed to be locked inside the facility with everyone else. Just getting to the facility is going to be tough. There are multiple storm systems headed that way causing flights to be grounded and a shadowy group is impeding the rescue team’s progress.
Besides Dez’s skills as a gatekeeper, he is a musician who plays the guitar and the piano. He is innovative, has an attitude of positivity, and generally avoids guns. He is capable, a fast thinker, strong, a great strategist, and moves with precision. He deflects rather than talk about himself, but his other skills include chemistry, computers, and engineering. Readers also get insight into a few of the other secondary characters including some of the antagonists.
While the book starts and ends in New York City, most of the book is set in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, in a small town, as well as the mine and research center underneath the town. While the book is descriptive, it doesn’t adversely affect the pacing. The novel begins with a riveting prologue that lures readers into the fantastic thriller. However, it takes a while to connect it to the rest of the story.
I was intrigued by the characters, the plot, and the idea of a gatekeeper. Additionally, it was fascinating to have a protagonist in a thriller that didn’t rely on guns. The author was innovative in this respect. While some scenes are over-the-top, I went with the flow and enjoyed it. The plot has a lot of variables and changes in alliances, with a few surprises along the way. It is skillfully constructed and compelling.
Overall, this was a twisty, fast-paced, action-packed, high-stakes, and violent action thriller. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series as well as go back and read the first two books featuring Dez.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and James Byrne provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for May 26, 2026.
-----------------------------
My 4.34 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This review of the advance copy of Storm Warning appears on NetGalley here: https://www.netgalley.co.uk/book/7329...
A neutrino research facility located deep beneath an underground mining operation in Eastern Canada goes into lockdown, complete with a total communication blackout. Dez Limerick, aka the Gatekeeper, has his leisurely life interrupted when the U.S. State Department enlists him to help unlock the mine/lab where, apart from the scientists, a prominent businesswoman – someone whom Dez cares for – is also feared to be trapped. Dez joins a team comprising the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Unit and a deputy assistant secretary of State on the perilous journey to the site, which is being battered by snowstorms. From the outset, saboteurs attempt to derail the mission, and as more players join the team, it becomes clear that not everyone is what they seem. Dez must draw on his entire armoury of tricks and tactics if he hopes to succeed in getting to the bottom of it all – literally and figuratively – and coming out alive.
Dez, now on his fourth outing in Storm Warning by James Byrne, is an unconventional sort of hero. Built like a tank, he speaks in a quirky diction laced with Irish idioms and carries himself with a humorous, light‑hearted demeanour. Though I can’t tell if his Irish vocabulary is authentic, it is undeniably amusing. He is razor‑sharp and seems to know something about everything — occasionally to the point of sounding like a smartass. The supporting cast, especially the State Department official and the wisp‑like assassin named Ash, is well‑crafted and intriguing, though the villains sometimes veer into over‑the‑top territory.
The breakneck action, while requiring the reader to suspend disbelief at times, is engagingly choreographed. Byrne’s atmospheric descriptions of the snowbound setting heighten the tension, and Dez’s wildly inventive responses to obstacles keep the plot unpredictable. While the novel delivers the kind of cinematic thrills fans of the series have come to expect, the final chapter introduces a twist that, despite setting up a promising course for future instalments, feels somewhat contrived. Still, Storm Warning is another fast, entertaining read, and I will gladly follow Dez through at least a few more of his upcoming adventures.
I am grateful to St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books for the digital review copy of Storm Warning through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.
A neutrino research facility located deep beneath an underground mining operation in Eastern Canada goes into lockdown, complete with a total communication blackout. Dez Limerick, aka the Gatekeeper, has his leisurely life interrupted when the U.S. State Department enlists him to help unlock the mine/lab where, apart from the scientists, a prominent businesswoman – someone whom Dez cares for – is also feared to be trapped. Dez joins a team comprising the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Unit and a deputy assistant secretary of State on the perilous journey to the site, which is being battered by snowstorms. From the outset, saboteurs attempt to derail the mission, and as more players join the team, it becomes clear that not everyone is what they seem. Dez must draw on his entire armoury of tricks and tactics if he hopes to succeed in getting to the bottom of it all – literally and figuratively – and coming out alive.
Dez, now on his fourth outing in Storm Warning by James Byrne, is an unconventional sort of hero. Built like a tank, he speaks in a quirky diction laced with Irish idioms and carries himself with a humorous, light‑hearted demeanour. Though I can’t tell if his Irish vocabulary is authentic, it is undeniably amusing. He is razor‑sharp and seems to know something about everything — occasionally to the point of sounding like a smartass. The supporting cast, especially the State Department official and the wisp‑like assassin named Ash, is well‑crafted and intriguing, though the villains sometimes veer into over‑the‑top territory.
The breakneck action, while requiring the reader to suspend disbelief at times, is engagingly choreographed. Byrne’s atmospheric descriptions of the snowbound setting heighten the tension, and Dez’s wildly inventive responses to obstacles keep the plot unpredictable. While the novel delivers the kind of cinematic thrills fans of the series have come to expect, the final chapter introduces a twist that, despite setting up a promising course for future instalments, feels somewhat contrived. Still, Storm Warning is another fast, entertaining read, and I will gladly follow Dez through at least a few more of his upcoming adventures.
I am grateful to St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books for the digital review copy of Storm Warning through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
One-word review: Exhilarating
Emojis: 🌪️🔐🔥
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My thoughts:
This book? Pure adrenaline. The kind that starts as a slow pulse and then suddenly you’re sprinting alongside it, heart pounding, fully locked in. From the very first chapter, Storm Warning wastes absolutely no time—and I loved that. The pacing is relentless in the best way, like being caught in a storm you don’t want to escape from.
At the center of it all is Dez Limerick, and wow… I get the hype now. He’s one of those characters who feels larger than life, but somehow still grounded enough to believe in. I loved him. And I especially loved that he walks this fine line between morally gray and deeply principled. He’s not polished. He’s not predictable. But he is someone you trust to get the job done—unless you’re on the wrong side of him… in which case, good luck.
What really stood out to me is how real Dez feels compared to other characters in this lane. He gave me the same satisfaction as a classic action lead, but without that untouchable, almost robotic edge. He’s sharp, yes—but he’s also human. Approachable, even. (Again… if you’re the antagonist.)
The plot itself is a high-stakes puzzle box—locked doors, hidden enemies, a facility that seems to be breathing down your neck. Every layer adds pressure. Every obstacle feels earned. And the setting? Absolutely gripping. That isolated, storm-battered research facility amplified everything—the tension, the danger, the urgency. It’s the kind of setting that doesn’t just exist… it participates.
Even though this is book four in the series, I didn’t feel lost at all. You’ll definitely get more depth reading in order, but this still stands strong on its own, which I always appreciate.
If you love fast-paced thrillers with clever problem-solving, a magnetic lead, and stakes that just keep climbing… this one delivers. Fully.
And truthfully? I’m ready for Dez’s next adventure.
Emojis: 🌪️🔐🔥
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My thoughts:
This book? Pure adrenaline. The kind that starts as a slow pulse and then suddenly you’re sprinting alongside it, heart pounding, fully locked in. From the very first chapter, Storm Warning wastes absolutely no time—and I loved that. The pacing is relentless in the best way, like being caught in a storm you don’t want to escape from.
At the center of it all is Dez Limerick, and wow… I get the hype now. He’s one of those characters who feels larger than life, but somehow still grounded enough to believe in. I loved him. And I especially loved that he walks this fine line between morally gray and deeply principled. He’s not polished. He’s not predictable. But he is someone you trust to get the job done—unless you’re on the wrong side of him… in which case, good luck.
What really stood out to me is how real Dez feels compared to other characters in this lane. He gave me the same satisfaction as a classic action lead, but without that untouchable, almost robotic edge. He’s sharp, yes—but he’s also human. Approachable, even. (Again… if you’re the antagonist.)
The plot itself is a high-stakes puzzle box—locked doors, hidden enemies, a facility that seems to be breathing down your neck. Every layer adds pressure. Every obstacle feels earned. And the setting? Absolutely gripping. That isolated, storm-battered research facility amplified everything—the tension, the danger, the urgency. It’s the kind of setting that doesn’t just exist… it participates.
Even though this is book four in the series, I didn’t feel lost at all. You’ll definitely get more depth reading in order, but this still stands strong on its own, which I always appreciate.
If you love fast-paced thrillers with clever problem-solving, a magnetic lead, and stakes that just keep climbing… this one delivers. Fully.
And truthfully? I’m ready for Dez’s next adventure.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Holey Moley! This is one heck of a ride.
Plot summary: Dez, who is known for his magic abilities to open doors of all sorts, is called in by the U.S. government to help them make contact with a crew of scientists whose communications went dark deep inside the snows in Canada. The group meets up with several others at a hotel who are trying to get into the compound, which is built on top of a mine, for different reasons. Even before they get there, Dez is approached to help another group get in. They try to bribe and then kill him.
When the group does actually get there, through a series of wild events, they discover several groups of people stuck inside, as well as dead bodies. Can they figure out why comms are down, who is doing the killing, and why?
This is a complex story, and that plot summary doesn't really do it justice. There are many moving parts and interesting characters with secrets of their own. Ash is an assassin posing as a representative of an environmental agency, and Dez knows he's met her before, but he can't place where until close to the end. Why is she there? And who is she sent to kill?
There are many twists and turns here, and Dez's antics are totally wild. Plus, he's against using firearms at most times, so it's his hands vs. the bad guys. He's a lot of fun, with a big heart and a unique, Irish twang.
There's also plenty of science here, which makes it more than the standard action or spy novel.
Caution about some very disturbing elements that I had to skim through.
Looking forward to reading the next books in this series!
4.5 stars
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and James Byrne for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.
Plot summary: Dez, who is known for his magic abilities to open doors of all sorts, is called in by the U.S. government to help them make contact with a crew of scientists whose communications went dark deep inside the snows in Canada. The group meets up with several others at a hotel who are trying to get into the compound, which is built on top of a mine, for different reasons. Even before they get there, Dez is approached to help another group get in. They try to bribe and then kill him.
When the group does actually get there, through a series of wild events, they discover several groups of people stuck inside, as well as dead bodies. Can they figure out why comms are down, who is doing the killing, and why?
This is a complex story, and that plot summary doesn't really do it justice. There are many moving parts and interesting characters with secrets of their own. Ash is an assassin posing as a representative of an environmental agency, and Dez knows he's met her before, but he can't place where until close to the end. Why is she there? And who is she sent to kill?
There are many twists and turns here, and Dez's antics are totally wild. Plus, he's against using firearms at most times, so it's his hands vs. the bad guys. He's a lot of fun, with a big heart and a unique, Irish twang.
There's also plenty of science here, which makes it more than the standard action or spy novel.
Caution about some very disturbing elements that I had to skim through.
Looking forward to reading the next books in this series!
4.5 stars
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and James Byrne for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.
November 24, 2025
Brilliant plot and characters!
I was invited to review this new book from James Byrne continuing the Dez character, of whom I was lucky to review the second book. I had loved the book back then and this new one builds more love for the character and respect for the author..
The story is slick, believable and built with a lot of thought., It is sprinkled with lots of technical inputs but never overbearing or taking attention away from the plot at hand. The characters are built with solid details and thus made real life like. I could imagine so many of the situations described in the just because of the details provided.
The plot moves pretty fast with one wondering where the first anecdote connects with the rest of the book. I for one missed the fact that it was Dez in the first anecdote and had to go back to connect. The plot builds a good deal of suspense with multiple groups attracted to the same site in canada and for a mysterious purpose. All gets neatly revealed as the story progresses and in places unexpectedly, as well!
The same problem that I faced in the Dez book #2 continues - that of my understanding of his English. But that's on me I guess. In any case there are many words in the book that I had to use a dictionary to look up for their meanings!!
The final segment of the book brings a nice closure to multiple threads - business side and personal sides as well for the main characters, and James does a brilliant work here in my opinion.
Highly recommended!!
I was invited to review this new book from James Byrne continuing the Dez character, of whom I was lucky to review the second book. I had loved the book back then and this new one builds more love for the character and respect for the author..
The story is slick, believable and built with a lot of thought., It is sprinkled with lots of technical inputs but never overbearing or taking attention away from the plot at hand. The characters are built with solid details and thus made real life like. I could imagine so many of the situations described in the just because of the details provided.
The plot moves pretty fast with one wondering where the first anecdote connects with the rest of the book. I for one missed the fact that it was Dez in the first anecdote and had to go back to connect. The plot builds a good deal of suspense with multiple groups attracted to the same site in canada and for a mysterious purpose. All gets neatly revealed as the story progresses and in places unexpectedly, as well!
The same problem that I faced in the Dez book #2 continues - that of my understanding of his English. But that's on me I guess. In any case there are many words in the book that I had to use a dictionary to look up for their meanings!!
The final segment of the book brings a nice closure to multiple threads - business side and personal sides as well for the main characters, and James does a brilliant work here in my opinion.
Highly recommended!!
December 6, 2025
Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley
Desmond Aloysius Limerick, Dez to his friends, is learning to cook as he watches over the Cheshire Cat where he’s just stopped some protection racket bullies from harassing the owners. He’s not expecting Tom Fairweather, a team leader for the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team, to show up.
Fairweather needs a gatekeeper. And soon afterwards Dez is on his way to the Fuchs Underground Neutrino Collector on the coast of Newfoundland.
Why has the facility gone into lockdown? And what will happen when Dez learns that Petra Alexandris is one of those locked inside the facility?
=========
Fourth in the author’s Dez Limerick series, there is sufficient backstory here for the book to work as a standalone. Nuanced characters [some from previous adventures, some new], a strong sense of place, and a propulsive plot work together to pull readers into the telling of the tale from the outset.
Compelling, unstoppable action, and a delightful dose of humor all work together to keep those pages turning as fast as possible. Readers are likely to be on the edge of their seats as the suspense builds and the heart-pounding story unfolds.
Readers who enjoy action-packed thrillers as well as those who’ve enjoyed the previous books in the series are sure to enjoy Dez’s latest unputdownable adventure.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#StormWarning #NetGalley
Desmond Aloysius Limerick, Dez to his friends, is learning to cook as he watches over the Cheshire Cat where he’s just stopped some protection racket bullies from harassing the owners. He’s not expecting Tom Fairweather, a team leader for the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team, to show up.
Fairweather needs a gatekeeper. And soon afterwards Dez is on his way to the Fuchs Underground Neutrino Collector on the coast of Newfoundland.
Why has the facility gone into lockdown? And what will happen when Dez learns that Petra Alexandris is one of those locked inside the facility?
=========
Fourth in the author’s Dez Limerick series, there is sufficient backstory here for the book to work as a standalone. Nuanced characters [some from previous adventures, some new], a strong sense of place, and a propulsive plot work together to pull readers into the telling of the tale from the outset.
Compelling, unstoppable action, and a delightful dose of humor all work together to keep those pages turning as fast as possible. Readers are likely to be on the edge of their seats as the suspense builds and the heart-pounding story unfolds.
Readers who enjoy action-packed thrillers as well as those who’ve enjoyed the previous books in the series are sure to enjoy Dez’s latest unputdownable adventure.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#StormWarning #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dez Limerick is recruited to find a way into a multinational scientific research facility on the coast of Newfoundland. Dez is a gatekeeper. He can open any door and keep it open. He is eager to take part in the mission because a former lover is one of the people trapped in the facility.
There are many problems not least that the facility is in the path of two major storms. Just getting there will be an accomplishment. However, the bigger problem is that people who want in are willing to do anything or kill anyone to get there first.
Two aircraft set out, but only the one Dez is on finds its way to the facility. There they find that the small town appears abandoned though there is evidence of deaths. Getting into the facility is difficult, but Dez manages it only to find out that the townspeople have taken refuge in the quarters the miners usually used, a group of Russians have taken over two lower levels of the mine, and the research facilty down on level six is in lockdown from the inside.
Luckily, one of the people in Dez's group is a negotiator from the US Department of State who begins to try to find a way to get to the research facility. Less lucky, the group also includes a mole in the control of the company that wanted to get there first and there is a young woman who is holding all sorts of secrets including her membership in a mysterious international organization.
This was a fast-paced thriller starring a larger-than-life hero. I enjoyed all the twists and turns of the plot which was filled with characters with hidden agendas.
There are many problems not least that the facility is in the path of two major storms. Just getting there will be an accomplishment. However, the bigger problem is that people who want in are willing to do anything or kill anyone to get there first.
Two aircraft set out, but only the one Dez is on finds its way to the facility. There they find that the small town appears abandoned though there is evidence of deaths. Getting into the facility is difficult, but Dez manages it only to find out that the townspeople have taken refuge in the quarters the miners usually used, a group of Russians have taken over two lower levels of the mine, and the research facilty down on level six is in lockdown from the inside.
Luckily, one of the people in Dez's group is a negotiator from the US Department of State who begins to try to find a way to get to the research facility. Less lucky, the group also includes a mole in the control of the company that wanted to get there first and there is a young woman who is holding all sorts of secrets including her membership in a mysterious international organization.
This was a fast-paced thriller starring a larger-than-life hero. I enjoyed all the twists and turns of the plot which was filled with characters with hidden agendas.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Action packed, suspenseful and great hero can be found in this book, the fourth in the Dez Limerack series. While I hadn’t read the previous three books, I didn’t find that an impediment as the story can be read as a stand alone.
Desmond “Dez” Limerick,ex-Irish mercenary, is retired and enjoying the world, helping out friends when he’s approached to get into a state of the art facility in Newfoundland. Dez had trained as a “gatekeeper” being able to get into places, keep the doors open and control who gets in or out. The facility, the Fuchs Underground Neutrino Collector, is a multinational scientific research center working on complex particle research. Petra Alexandris, the CEO of the bank that handles the money for much of the world’s military structures, Triton Expeditors, is one of the people now cut off from the world. It’s important to find out what’s going on - plus a friend of Dez’s in there. Can he do it?
This is a “high octane” thriller packed with nasty villains, raging storms, hidden enemies and dark secrets. Other characters add credence to the story and its thriller aspects: mean mercenaries, a State Department official good at poker (my favorite) and deprived corporate executives. A new character, Ash, emerges too - I found her very interesting. The book is paced nicely too.
This is a book for lovers of high action, taut intrigue and a protagonist who’s got a moral backbone.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for allowing me access to this ARC.
Desmond “Dez” Limerick,ex-Irish mercenary, is retired and enjoying the world, helping out friends when he’s approached to get into a state of the art facility in Newfoundland. Dez had trained as a “gatekeeper” being able to get into places, keep the doors open and control who gets in or out. The facility, the Fuchs Underground Neutrino Collector, is a multinational scientific research center working on complex particle research. Petra Alexandris, the CEO of the bank that handles the money for much of the world’s military structures, Triton Expeditors, is one of the people now cut off from the world. It’s important to find out what’s going on - plus a friend of Dez’s in there. Can he do it?
This is a “high octane” thriller packed with nasty villains, raging storms, hidden enemies and dark secrets. Other characters add credence to the story and its thriller aspects: mean mercenaries, a State Department official good at poker (my favorite) and deprived corporate executives. A new character, Ash, emerges too - I found her very interesting. The book is paced nicely too.
This is a book for lovers of high action, taut intrigue and a protagonist who’s got a moral backbone.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for allowing me access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Underestimate Dez Limerick at your peril. The fourth in the Dez Limerick series is packed with action, suspense, and twists. When a group of scientists working on a project at a scientific research facility in Eastern Canada go dark, an assortment of folks embark on a mission to the underground lab to get to the truth and save the scientists. The group comprises government officials from the State Department, Secret Service, the company who is financing the project, National Research Council, a Hostage Rescue Team, and Dez, as gatekeeper. who is charges with gaining access to the facility. Beset by major storms, there are issues getting every to the town. Once there, they encounter imprisoned townspeople, Russians, and mercenaries working for a corrupt corporation who have already sown death in the town. Who are these people really? What’s everyone after? Who can be trusted? Then there is an organization, Tontine. “…we’ve done a lot for many, many generations. When we quietly need an assassin, we train one. When we need a thief, or a spy, or a saboteur, or a seduce, then we train them and deploy them. Alll for the goal of world stability.”
There is a lot going on in this story. It’s freezing cold and claustrophobic, in a good way. Storm Warning is a great ride and Dev Limerick is a really fun character whose intelligence and sharp wit makes him a joy to root for. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance review copy.
There is a lot going on in this story. It’s freezing cold and claustrophobic, in a good way. Storm Warning is a great ride and Dev Limerick is a really fun character whose intelligence and sharp wit makes him a joy to root for. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Grab the popcorn, with non-stop adventure from the very first page, this novel is like watching a summer blockbuster. This is the fourth book in a series that I’d never read before, but I never had any issues figuring out the backstories. Dez is a Bourne-type badass with a shady past and a lot of resources. His specialty is opening doors. Any door, anywhere. He also knows about explosives, weapons and hand-to-hand combat. His disregard for grammar belies his cultured background. He knows more about physics than your average fighter. In short, Dez is full of contradictions, and a lot of fun. The plot is easy to follow and very suspenseful. The State Department comes calling for help figuring out what happened at a neutrino lab deep under a Canadian mine. Other people want to get in for less honorable purposes, and Dez and his companions need to work with or against them. There are moles, backstabbers and a few psychopaths in his way. The characters are not very deep, but his buddies are likable enough that you care about them. So is this great literature? Not really, but it is entertaining and kept me reading. Highly recommended for Sigma Force or NUMA fans. Pure escapism.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received an ARC of Storm Warning for my honest opinion. This was my first time reading anything by James Byrne, and I have to say he has gained a new fan.
I really liked how easy it was to get into this series. I hadn’t read the first three Dez Limerick books, but jumping in was surprisingly smooth, which was a huge plus for me. In this installment, Dez—who’s retired—is brought in by the government for his unique “gatekeeper” skills. He finds himself on a mission to a research facility in Newfoundland that has suddenly gone dark, with a friend trapped inside, storms closing in, and hidden dangers at play.
Honestly, this was such a blast. The pacing was relentless—something was happening on every page, and it never let up. I was completely hooked and ended up reading it in one sitting. It was just pure fun. I loved Ash, and I especially enjoyed the dynamic between Dez and Ash.
After finishing this, I’m actually motivated to go back and start the series from the beginning, which says a lot. For me, this was a solid 4-star read—fast-paced, entertaining, and just a really good time. I think fans of the series (and new readers like me) will have a lot of fun with this one.
I highly recommend giving this one a try 😊
I really liked how easy it was to get into this series. I hadn’t read the first three Dez Limerick books, but jumping in was surprisingly smooth, which was a huge plus for me. In this installment, Dez—who’s retired—is brought in by the government for his unique “gatekeeper” skills. He finds himself on a mission to a research facility in Newfoundland that has suddenly gone dark, with a friend trapped inside, storms closing in, and hidden dangers at play.
Honestly, this was such a blast. The pacing was relentless—something was happening on every page, and it never let up. I was completely hooked and ended up reading it in one sitting. It was just pure fun. I loved Ash, and I especially enjoyed the dynamic between Dez and Ash.
After finishing this, I’m actually motivated to go back and start the series from the beginning, which says a lot. For me, this was a solid 4-star read—fast-paced, entertaining, and just a really good time. I think fans of the series (and new readers like me) will have a lot of fun with this one.
I highly recommend giving this one a try 😊
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This is a review of an ARC from Edelweiss
Dez Limerick is back. The sometime mercenary with a very special set of talents has been retired. But when the US State Department asks for his help, he's back in the game. A scientific research facility in Newfoundland, hidden under a mining operation, has gone dark, and the politicians suspect that more than one bad actor is involved. Townspeople, miners, and scientists are possibly being held hostage, along with a personal friend of Dez. Add blizzards and an undercover assassins, and you've got a lot for Dez to work though.
There's an expression that goes something like "for the people who like this sort of thing, this is a thing they will like." I like this sort of thing, and this is definitely something I like! It's the literary equivalent of a big explosive action movie, but just very, very well done. Byrne know how to keep all the pieces moving, to give you just enough information so you think you know where things are going and then slip a surprise in. Fights and battle scenes are tautly written, and the characters, for the most part feel like actual humans in an unnatural situation. Just an all-around good job.
Dez Limerick is back. The sometime mercenary with a very special set of talents has been retired. But when the US State Department asks for his help, he's back in the game. A scientific research facility in Newfoundland, hidden under a mining operation, has gone dark, and the politicians suspect that more than one bad actor is involved. Townspeople, miners, and scientists are possibly being held hostage, along with a personal friend of Dez. Add blizzards and an undercover assassins, and you've got a lot for Dez to work though.
There's an expression that goes something like "for the people who like this sort of thing, this is a thing they will like." I like this sort of thing, and this is definitely something I like! It's the literary equivalent of a big explosive action movie, but just very, very well done. Byrne know how to keep all the pieces moving, to give you just enough information so you think you know where things are going and then slip a surprise in. Fights and battle scenes are tautly written, and the characters, for the most part feel like actual humans in an unnatural situation. Just an all-around good job.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Desmond Aloysius Limerick has a name that is a powerhouse, a body that is a wrecking ball, and street smarts to outfox MacGuyver. I love the no-nonsense approach that Des takes to any roadblock in front of him. He forges relationships in a fluid manner and makes snap decisions. This book has him still being true to himself while taking on an old foe as well as some of the harshest weather for a firefight. The actual mission that he is on is such a small part of the fight he is thrown into, and the engineering and politics and street-fighting are all exciting enough to propel the story along like it is on a slalom. With a large set of characters, four different sides to the fight, and no break in the Arctic weather, there is not a slow page in the book! After introducing the character Ash, I hope she features in future books - although not someone I would ever want to meet in a hallway of any sort, she added an electric spark to the action. Thank you to AP from Minotaur Books/Macmillan Publishers for the DRC of this book. I loved the story, and was even thrown for a loop at the very end of the book!
April 12, 2026
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dez Limerick is a highly skilled "gatekeeper." "...the State Department comes calling looking for his help. A multinational scientific research facility on the coast of Newfoundland has gone dark, the facility on full lockdown, and no one can get in or out. No one knows what is going on, but it can't be good. And a close friend of Dez is presumed locked inside the facility along with everyone else. Even getting to the facility is an insurmountable challenge. The weather has flights grounded, some shadowy group is doing everything they can to impede the rescue team's progress, and hidden enemies are embedded in the rescue team." And so it begins.
Suspenseful, full of intrigue, traitors, and yes--diabolical villains [the Crays]. There's Dez, the State Department, Russians, mercenaries, scientists, locals, corporate heads, and more!
This is the fourth in the Dez Limerick series, but I'ver only read [and enjoyed 2]. Fast-paced, entertaining and an easy read. Credits for the twists--I didn't see coming.
Recommend [if this type of book is your jam!].
Dez Limerick is a highly skilled "gatekeeper." "...the State Department comes calling looking for his help. A multinational scientific research facility on the coast of Newfoundland has gone dark, the facility on full lockdown, and no one can get in or out. No one knows what is going on, but it can't be good. And a close friend of Dez is presumed locked inside the facility along with everyone else. Even getting to the facility is an insurmountable challenge. The weather has flights grounded, some shadowy group is doing everything they can to impede the rescue team's progress, and hidden enemies are embedded in the rescue team." And so it begins.
Suspenseful, full of intrigue, traitors, and yes--diabolical villains [the Crays]. There's Dez, the State Department, Russians, mercenaries, scientists, locals, corporate heads, and more!
This is the fourth in the Dez Limerick series, but I'ver only read [and enjoyed 2]. Fast-paced, entertaining and an easy read. Credits for the twists--I didn't see coming.
Recommend [if this type of book is your jam!].
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dez Limerick series #4. This series just gets better and better. It's Reacher with a sense of humor! Dez has the special skills of a gatekeeper and is requested by the US govt to assist in a bizarre situation in Newfoundland. A neutrino research facility deep underground has gone silent, as have the mining site and town residents in the levels above. Before Dez can even get up to speed, he is approached by dangerous men to help them also get into the facility. He says no and they do not take it kindly. And, of course, there's a charming blizzard the team he is with have to contend with just to get there. It starts out fast and never slows down. Old characters reappear, and new ones are added, most distinctive being the small female assassin Ash (handy in those tight spaces underground), Bodies pile up and questions are answered. Dez has a real way with words and an easygoing, cheerful attitude which totally confuses the bad guys and makes the story fun as well as exciting. Great series, highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This series just keeps getting better and better. I have fallen for the quirky and unique character of Dez Limerick, and he does NOT disappoint in this newest book.
This storyline has Dez being asked to help a group investigate and facilitate entry into a multinational scientific research facility and underground mine in Canada that has gone completely dark. The group, a mix of the FBI, an American State Dept official (and her bodyguard), a RCMP cop, a traitor.......oh, and an assassin. Not to mention lots and lots of bad guys (and girls) and so many different agendas that it takes a while to unravel everything.
As usual, Dez steals the show with his interesting way of communicating (not to mention his talents) and I was invested from beginning to end. This one was DEFINETELY filled to the brim with nonstop action. I LOVED every minute of it.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This book will be out for publication on May 26, 2026.
This storyline has Dez being asked to help a group investigate and facilitate entry into a multinational scientific research facility and underground mine in Canada that has gone completely dark. The group, a mix of the FBI, an American State Dept official (and her bodyguard), a RCMP cop, a traitor.......oh, and an assassin. Not to mention lots and lots of bad guys (and girls) and so many different agendas that it takes a while to unravel everything.
As usual, Dez steals the show with his interesting way of communicating (not to mention his talents) and I was invested from beginning to end. This one was DEFINETELY filled to the brim with nonstop action. I LOVED every minute of it.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This book will be out for publication on May 26, 2026.
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