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Dez Limerick #2
Deadlock
James Byrne's Deadlock is the sequel to the highly praised The Gatekeeper featuring Dez Limerick, one of the best new thriller heroes...
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 8, 2023
131 people are currently reading
10963 people want to read
About the author
James Byrne
4 books311 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 388 reviews
April 30, 2023
I had high hopes for the second book featuring Desmond Aloysius Limerick and Deadlock (Dez) did not disappoint! Honestly, the ledge I put Dez on was in no way fair to James Byrne and he still met the challenge. Dez is a "Gatekeeper"--long thought to be an urban legend-- they can open any door, keep said door open as long as necessary, and ensures no one enters or exits without his express permission. Deadlock uses a wild plot with nonstop action that really showcases Dez's ability to open any door--among many other impressive talents--and pissing everyone off while smiling like an idiot.. Dez is such a unique character and that uniqueness extends to the way he speaks, which can be tough to read at first. A lot of missing letters. You get used to it quick but it is still a learning curve. And well-worth the effort. Rarely does a character come sauntering in overshadowing everything in their wake--plot included. The plot is secondary; It is the Dez show. And it's one show that shouldn't be missed!
My sincere thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Deadlock!
My sincere thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Deadlock!
September 3, 2023
I loved this book. It is very fast paced without losing any of the details that makes the story vivid and entertaining. This was one of those rare books where I could see the story as a movie in my head while I read it. I would have read it all in one sitting except I fell asleep (it would have been worth the all nighter though). The main character, Dez, has an endearing charm all his own and overall, this author makes all of the characters engaging. None of the characters are one dimensional - they are all complex and even the bad guys have redeeming qualities. The author used his knowledge of the Portland area to set the scene for the story and he did an excellent job.
To give you an idea how much I like Dez Limerick, he reminds me of Joe Kowalski from Sigma Force who I dearly love. I am sure that Dez will grow on me like Kowalski has as I have read the Sigma Force series. I will look for anything new by this author and will order it right away based on the two books that he has out so far. In fact, I am already waiting for his next book.
To give you an idea how much I like Dez Limerick, he reminds me of Joe Kowalski from Sigma Force who I dearly love. I am sure that Dez will grow on me like Kowalski has as I have read the Sigma Force series. I will look for anything new by this author and will order it right away based on the two books that he has out so far. In fact, I am already waiting for his next book.
August 13, 2023
DEADLOCK is the second book in James Byrne's Dez Limerick series. To say this book is a fast-paced, tension laden thriller is a gross understatement. Like its predecessor THE GATEKEEPER, the action is nonstop with explosive scenes setting the pages on fire through twists and turns readers and antagonists never see coming. Cancel all other plans and buckle in before diving into this one. It's one insane ride!
Upon first appearance, Desmond Aloysius Limerick aka Dez to his friends is a happy go lucky, guitar playing guy with a quirky smile, sharp wit and endearing Scottish accent. However, if circumstances warrant it, he can change into a lean, mean fighting machine in the blink of an eye - one with a bottomless arsenal of hard-won, honed skills to call upon. He can appear like a ghost, move like a shadow, wreak havoc, and slip away in the darkness unseen leaving utter chaos and devastation behind - with a poop eating grin on his face the whole time. Dez is a superhero on steroids. Friends love him. Enemies consider him the devil incarnate. He is/was a "gatekeeper" - the keeper of doors. He's never seen one he couldn't open, secure, and keep open as long as necessary making sure all his comrades escape and the job is complete before slipping away. He's retired now . . . unless his skills are needed. When a young friend calls him in distress over an unprovoked attack on her sister, Dez drops everything and answers her plea for help. What he walks into proves to be a complex hornet's nest of lies, deceit and secrets centered around tech company Clockjack - do-gooders on the surface but serving as a front for a sociopath employing hired thugs for protection while plotting to carry out assassinations and take over small third-world countries providing criminals' safe harbor. Before it's all said and done, the thugs wanting a piece of Dez are joined by numerous agencies including the local police, DEA and US Marshal Service. The numbers aren't in Dez's favor, but he does love a good challenge.
James Byrne has brilliantly penned a highly engaging, intensive story with a once in a blue moon, ferocious junk yard dog style superhero who's unique in every way from his Scottish brogue which can be hard to decipher at first to his razor-sharp wit that frustrates his enemies to no end but delights his friends to his big, old kind heart seen only by a precious few. The large cast is just as unique with a vast array of personalities and roles manipulating their way through a minefield of electrified plot twists. The pace is one speed - pedal to the metal, wide open from beginning to end - not to say there aren't any lulls but they're rare as hen's teeth.
DEADLOCK is a well-crafted, highly addictive thriller with a larger-than-life character who will make readers cringe, blush, cheer and laugh all within a few pages. This book can be read as a standalone as the author weaves in enough backstory to give readers a solid foundation of who Dez is but do yourself a favor and grab THE GATEKEEPER and allow Dez to introduce himself. Just don't fall for his "I'm a simple man who plays a guitar" routine . . . Dez is a force to be reckoned with. I'm ecstatic over what I interpreted as the setup for another book to be found in the final pages. Fans of high action thrillers and crime stories are going to devour DEADLOCK as will those looking for a new kind of hero. Dez Limerick is your man!
Many thanks to Minotaur Books for an arc of this fantastic thriller! All opinions expressed are my own. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine. It's now available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
Upon first appearance, Desmond Aloysius Limerick aka Dez to his friends is a happy go lucky, guitar playing guy with a quirky smile, sharp wit and endearing Scottish accent. However, if circumstances warrant it, he can change into a lean, mean fighting machine in the blink of an eye - one with a bottomless arsenal of hard-won, honed skills to call upon. He can appear like a ghost, move like a shadow, wreak havoc, and slip away in the darkness unseen leaving utter chaos and devastation behind - with a poop eating grin on his face the whole time. Dez is a superhero on steroids. Friends love him. Enemies consider him the devil incarnate. He is/was a "gatekeeper" - the keeper of doors. He's never seen one he couldn't open, secure, and keep open as long as necessary making sure all his comrades escape and the job is complete before slipping away. He's retired now . . . unless his skills are needed. When a young friend calls him in distress over an unprovoked attack on her sister, Dez drops everything and answers her plea for help. What he walks into proves to be a complex hornet's nest of lies, deceit and secrets centered around tech company Clockjack - do-gooders on the surface but serving as a front for a sociopath employing hired thugs for protection while plotting to carry out assassinations and take over small third-world countries providing criminals' safe harbor. Before it's all said and done, the thugs wanting a piece of Dez are joined by numerous agencies including the local police, DEA and US Marshal Service. The numbers aren't in Dez's favor, but he does love a good challenge.
James Byrne has brilliantly penned a highly engaging, intensive story with a once in a blue moon, ferocious junk yard dog style superhero who's unique in every way from his Scottish brogue which can be hard to decipher at first to his razor-sharp wit that frustrates his enemies to no end but delights his friends to his big, old kind heart seen only by a precious few. The large cast is just as unique with a vast array of personalities and roles manipulating their way through a minefield of electrified plot twists. The pace is one speed - pedal to the metal, wide open from beginning to end - not to say there aren't any lulls but they're rare as hen's teeth.
DEADLOCK is a well-crafted, highly addictive thriller with a larger-than-life character who will make readers cringe, blush, cheer and laugh all within a few pages. This book can be read as a standalone as the author weaves in enough backstory to give readers a solid foundation of who Dez is but do yourself a favor and grab THE GATEKEEPER and allow Dez to introduce himself. Just don't fall for his "I'm a simple man who plays a guitar" routine . . . Dez is a force to be reckoned with. I'm ecstatic over what I interpreted as the setup for another book to be found in the final pages. Fans of high action thrillers and crime stories are going to devour DEADLOCK as will those looking for a new kind of hero. Dez Limerick is your man!
Many thanks to Minotaur Books for an arc of this fantastic thriller! All opinions expressed are my own. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine. It's now available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
August 3, 2023
Move over, Jack Reacher, Evan Smoak--here comes Desmond Aloysius Limerick! In this second outing, Dez has retired and has been living in LA, playing his guitar, when his friend, Raziah Swann calls from Portland, Oregon, needing his help--her sister Laleh, a business reporter, was attacked on the street and is in the hospital. Dez arrives just in time to stop three men from finishing the job. Federal agencies get involved when the thugs are recognized as known criminals but soon get the word to back off, leaving Dez to protect the sisters.
Laleh had been writing about the death of her friend, Conor O'Meara, who'd been doing an audit of Clockjack Solutions, the biggest B Corp in Oregon, the maker of phones and software. So that's the obvious place to start looking...
Dez is a breath of fresh air. No one is quite sure where he's from--is he Scottish, Irish? Does he have a military background? He's certainly no Adonis. He's short, bow-legged, ham-handed, and barrel-chested, with many battle scars. But don't underestimate him--he's clever and resourceful and a good man in a fight. If there's any man crazy enough to take on an international corporation, it's him. There's plenty of action and violence in this thriller but humor too. Dez is one of kind.
I received an arc of this new thriller from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Laleh had been writing about the death of her friend, Conor O'Meara, who'd been doing an audit of Clockjack Solutions, the biggest B Corp in Oregon, the maker of phones and software. So that's the obvious place to start looking...
Dez is a breath of fresh air. No one is quite sure where he's from--is he Scottish, Irish? Does he have a military background? He's certainly no Adonis. He's short, bow-legged, ham-handed, and barrel-chested, with many battle scars. But don't underestimate him--he's clever and resourceful and a good man in a fight. If there's any man crazy enough to take on an international corporation, it's him. There's plenty of action and violence in this thriller but humor too. Dez is one of kind.
I received an arc of this new thriller from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
July 30, 2023
This is a complex, delicious thriller that will keep you turning the pages late into the night. A great heroic adventure with lots of tension building to a climax. If you like thrillers, you will enjoy this one. It says this a squel to The Gatekeeper by James Byrne, but I hadn't read that one and had no trouble following the story.
Description:
Desmond Aloysius Limerick ("Dez" to his friends and close personal enemies) is a man with a shadowy past, certain useful hard-won skills, and, if one digs deep enough, a reputation as a good man to have at your back. Now retired from his previous life, Dez is just a bloke with a winning smile, a bass guitar, and bullet wounds that paint a road map of past lives.
Jaleh Swann, a business journalist hot on the trail of an auditor who was mugged and killed, lands in the hospital just one day after her Portland apartment is ransacked. When Jaleh’s sister, Raziah, reaches out to an old friend for help, Dez has no choice but to answer. The Swann sisters have been pulled into a dizzying web of cover-ups and danger. At the center lies an insidious Oregon-based tech corporation, Clockjack, which has enough money and hired guns to silence just about anyone—including this rag-tag trio. Luckily, Dez’s speciality is not just to open doors, but keep them open—and protect those working to expose Clockjack’s secrets.
More stands in the way of the truth than just one corporation. When hired thugs come to the finish the job and attack the Swann sisters at the hospital, Dez does what he does best. Now, the two captured men (and the corpse Dez left behind) attract the attention of not just Clockjack, but of the Portland police, the D.E.A, and the U.S. Marshalls. Dez and the Swann sisters are on the run from powers beyond their control and means. Outnumbered, under resourced and outgunned, Dez must use all his skills to keep his friends safe and stand up to corporate conniving. After all, the one thing Clockjack didn’t count on? A good man with a simple job to do.
My thoughts:
Loved the character Dez with his gatekeeping skills. He's quite the hero! The plot was good and the story was so fast-paced I didn't want to put it down. I may go back and read the first book - just because I liked the Dez character so much. He seems to have a reputation as a legend - his trademark is the ability to open any door. That may not seem to be such an admirable skill, but after reading the book it's very special. There's some humor in the book too, that relieves some of the tension. Some of the situations were over-the-top and you have to suspend belief.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on August 8, 2023.
Description:
Desmond Aloysius Limerick ("Dez" to his friends and close personal enemies) is a man with a shadowy past, certain useful hard-won skills, and, if one digs deep enough, a reputation as a good man to have at your back. Now retired from his previous life, Dez is just a bloke with a winning smile, a bass guitar, and bullet wounds that paint a road map of past lives.
Jaleh Swann, a business journalist hot on the trail of an auditor who was mugged and killed, lands in the hospital just one day after her Portland apartment is ransacked. When Jaleh’s sister, Raziah, reaches out to an old friend for help, Dez has no choice but to answer. The Swann sisters have been pulled into a dizzying web of cover-ups and danger. At the center lies an insidious Oregon-based tech corporation, Clockjack, which has enough money and hired guns to silence just about anyone—including this rag-tag trio. Luckily, Dez’s speciality is not just to open doors, but keep them open—and protect those working to expose Clockjack’s secrets.
More stands in the way of the truth than just one corporation. When hired thugs come to the finish the job and attack the Swann sisters at the hospital, Dez does what he does best. Now, the two captured men (and the corpse Dez left behind) attract the attention of not just Clockjack, but of the Portland police, the D.E.A, and the U.S. Marshalls. Dez and the Swann sisters are on the run from powers beyond their control and means. Outnumbered, under resourced and outgunned, Dez must use all his skills to keep his friends safe and stand up to corporate conniving. After all, the one thing Clockjack didn’t count on? A good man with a simple job to do.
My thoughts:
Loved the character Dez with his gatekeeping skills. He's quite the hero! The plot was good and the story was so fast-paced I didn't want to put it down. I may go back and read the first book - just because I liked the Dez character so much. He seems to have a reputation as a legend - his trademark is the ability to open any door. That may not seem to be such an admirable skill, but after reading the book it's very special. There's some humor in the book too, that relieves some of the tension. Some of the situations were over-the-top and you have to suspend belief.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on August 8, 2023.
May 7, 2023
Brilliantly crafted. Twists you cannot anticipate with non stop action.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This story was a trip to read. Once you settle into the language pattern of the main character, the story becomes better with each turn of the page. One thing that many thrillers have in common is they are very fast-paced with plenty of action that keeps you on your toes. Deadlock is that as well.
Another thing that captured my attention was the inventiveness of this character. Dez is extremely capable and smart. He is intuitive and highly protective of his friends. He’s like a modern-day MacGyver, and if you don’t know who that is, search it.
This action-packed story had so many twists and turns that you never have time to get bored or even wonder what’s gonna happen next. Just sit back and go with the flow and enjoy the action, subtle humor, and overprotection of Dez. I love this guy!
While all of this is loaded into book two, I never felt lost. But trust me. I am going back to grab book one! Dez is a character that quickly endears himself to you and will be a character that will shine for many more editions to come!
Deadlock is brilliantly crafted by Byrne. Loaded with twists you cannot anticipate and nonstop action. Definitely, one to watch for!
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/deadlock-by-...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This story was a trip to read. Once you settle into the language pattern of the main character, the story becomes better with each turn of the page. One thing that many thrillers have in common is they are very fast-paced with plenty of action that keeps you on your toes. Deadlock is that as well.
Another thing that captured my attention was the inventiveness of this character. Dez is extremely capable and smart. He is intuitive and highly protective of his friends. He’s like a modern-day MacGyver, and if you don’t know who that is, search it.
This action-packed story had so many twists and turns that you never have time to get bored or even wonder what’s gonna happen next. Just sit back and go with the flow and enjoy the action, subtle humor, and overprotection of Dez. I love this guy!
While all of this is loaded into book two, I never felt lost. But trust me. I am going back to grab book one! Dez is a character that quickly endears himself to you and will be a character that will shine for many more editions to come!
Deadlock is brilliantly crafted by Byrne. Loaded with twists you cannot anticipate and nonstop action. Definitely, one to watch for!
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/deadlock-by-...
April 29, 2023
My fav new series! If Popeye and Jason Bourne ever had a secret love child it would be Dez Limierick. He is brilliant, funny and hella deadly. What more can you want? Fans of Jack Reacher, Gray Man and Orphan X definitely need to check this out.
July 12, 2023
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: August 8, 2023
American author James Byrne’s second novel, “Deadlock”, also happens to be the second in the Dez Limerick series (the first, “The Gatekeeper” was published last year). Think of the movie “Taken”, with a gritty yet hilarious leading man with an accent, hell-bent on justice and protecting those he cares about, add a controlling, power-hungry mega-corporation determined to gain even more wealth regardless of who gets hurt in the process, and you have “Deadlock”.
Dez Limerick’s life as a “gatekeeper” is officially behind him. No longer required to run military ops and guide his team through war-desiccated countries, Limerick now has the oppourtunity to live the life he wants. But that life he left behind has provided him with a “particular set of skills” that makes him useful to those he knows and loves. When a young woman and her sister are targeted after uncovering dark secrets about tech company, Clockjack, Dez is called into action. Now he must he face off against a corrupt corporation with endless resources in order to protect those he cares about.
“Deadlock” is non-stop action from page one. Sabotage, intrigue, subterfuge, explosions and fist fighting are threaded through an intense plot, all culminating in an ending that leaves just enough tension, the reader will be left wanting more.
I have not read “The Gatekeeper”, so I am new to Dez and his band of highly trained colleagues (if you can call them that). That being said, like most other series’ of this type, “Deadlock” can be read as a stand-alone, although the previous novel would provide a more in-depth background on some of the characters and plot points.
Dez is witty and hilarious with his Scottish brogue and neutral demeanor. His intelligence is not overt, but his methods are so subtle and sneaky that he is utterly unstoppable. His relationships are frail but his morality is strong, and he is definitely a character that is made for the big screen.
Although the plot focuses on the tech sector, the language is not overly scientific, and the subject matter is generalizable. There are numerous characters, but their individual personalities differ, making it easy to differentiate. The ending overtly hints at a third novel, and there’s no doubt that Byrne will bring Dez into the world again with at least a few more afterward. This series will appeal to those who love high-octane spy novels with gruff underdog protagonists.
Expected publication date: August 8, 2023
American author James Byrne’s second novel, “Deadlock”, also happens to be the second in the Dez Limerick series (the first, “The Gatekeeper” was published last year). Think of the movie “Taken”, with a gritty yet hilarious leading man with an accent, hell-bent on justice and protecting those he cares about, add a controlling, power-hungry mega-corporation determined to gain even more wealth regardless of who gets hurt in the process, and you have “Deadlock”.
Dez Limerick’s life as a “gatekeeper” is officially behind him. No longer required to run military ops and guide his team through war-desiccated countries, Limerick now has the oppourtunity to live the life he wants. But that life he left behind has provided him with a “particular set of skills” that makes him useful to those he knows and loves. When a young woman and her sister are targeted after uncovering dark secrets about tech company, Clockjack, Dez is called into action. Now he must he face off against a corrupt corporation with endless resources in order to protect those he cares about.
“Deadlock” is non-stop action from page one. Sabotage, intrigue, subterfuge, explosions and fist fighting are threaded through an intense plot, all culminating in an ending that leaves just enough tension, the reader will be left wanting more.
I have not read “The Gatekeeper”, so I am new to Dez and his band of highly trained colleagues (if you can call them that). That being said, like most other series’ of this type, “Deadlock” can be read as a stand-alone, although the previous novel would provide a more in-depth background on some of the characters and plot points.
Dez is witty and hilarious with his Scottish brogue and neutral demeanor. His intelligence is not overt, but his methods are so subtle and sneaky that he is utterly unstoppable. His relationships are frail but his morality is strong, and he is definitely a character that is made for the big screen.
Although the plot focuses on the tech sector, the language is not overly scientific, and the subject matter is generalizable. There are numerous characters, but their individual personalities differ, making it easy to differentiate. The ending overtly hints at a third novel, and there’s no doubt that Byrne will bring Dez into the world again with at least a few more afterward. This series will appeal to those who love high-octane spy novels with gruff underdog protagonists.
July 17, 2023
Deadlock sounded like a novel that I could get behind very easily. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for me. Granted, I knew that the novel was a sequel. But I generally manage to get by reading sequels as standalones. However, Deadlock was difficult to read as a standalone. Without knowing anything about the Gatekeeper backstory, I was lost at the get-go.
Even if I did know Dez' backstory of being the gatekeeper, I don't think I would enjoy this novel or the prior novel. What I didn't care for was Dez' dialect. Dez came across to me as a wannabe pirate. Something that turned me off at the start. And the wry humor was a miss for me as well. Those two aspects took away from the mystery and suspense in my opinion. An unfortunate one star DNF at 33%
I'm sure that I'm an outlier opinion. But that's just my thoughts about this novel. I don't think I would want to read any more of this series. But, if there are other novels from this author, I'll probably give them a try.
I received a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Even if I did know Dez' backstory of being the gatekeeper, I don't think I would enjoy this novel or the prior novel. What I didn't care for was Dez' dialect. Dez came across to me as a wannabe pirate. Something that turned me off at the start. And the wry humor was a miss for me as well. Those two aspects took away from the mystery and suspense in my opinion. An unfortunate one star DNF at 33%
I'm sure that I'm an outlier opinion. But that's just my thoughts about this novel. I don't think I would want to read any more of this series. But, if there are other novels from this author, I'll probably give them a try.
I received a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
April 10, 2023
I have just finished reading Deadlock by Author James Byrne.
This is the second book in the Dez Limerick Series.
The main character is Desmond Aloysius – Dez. He is colourful and not at all boring.
This storyline takes place in Portland Oregon.
Dez has been asked to help a couple of sisters – The Swann sisters, who have come into a bit of a situation.
This is an action-packed book, that is thoroughly entertaining, and like the first book I found myself laughing out loud many times, with this bigger than life character and story.
This book is great fun!
3.5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley, James Byrne and St. Martins Press, Minotaur Books for my advanced copy to read and review.
#Deadlock #NetGalley #minotaur_books #stmartinspress
This is the second book in the Dez Limerick Series.
The main character is Desmond Aloysius – Dez. He is colourful and not at all boring.
This storyline takes place in Portland Oregon.
Dez has been asked to help a couple of sisters – The Swann sisters, who have come into a bit of a situation.
This is an action-packed book, that is thoroughly entertaining, and like the first book I found myself laughing out loud many times, with this bigger than life character and story.
This book is great fun!
3.5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley, James Byrne and St. Martins Press, Minotaur Books for my advanced copy to read and review.
#Deadlock #NetGalley #minotaur_books #stmartinspress
April 7, 2025
Awesome character and intriguing story.
April 30, 2023
I had seen the name James Byrne previously but not reacted to it. Now after reading his first two books I almos regret not doing so earlier. Deadlock is the second book about Dez Limerick and it's out in August. I will tell everyone that this series should be read, the stories are great and the characters as well and it's not only suspense and action it's a lot of humorous dialogue also. I can say without a doubt that Byrnes books are one of the most pleasant surprises for me this year. I also can say that I didn't see that twist coming in the end of book two. Now I eagerly await book three. A big thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur books and Netgalley for letting me read this advance copy.
July 29, 2023
DEZ IS BACK!!! Love Dez!!! This is another one of those new series that I discovered recently that I have become hooked on. It has a lot of what I love in a crime thriller: smart, savvy, bad@$$ MC(s) that kick @$$ and take names for any villains that make the mistake of crossing paths with them or trying to hurt those they love and protect. Plus, it’s funny and, so far, has provided a lot of entertainment and amusement for me.
From the prologue, we get another glimpse into Dez’s past where we meet more of Dez’s accomplices/partners in crime from a job from two years earlier, where Dez got almost everyone out. The book summary pretty much lays out the first half of the story (part1) so I’m not going to repeat it here. As usual, all the bad guys (corrupt DEA agents and US Marshals and Clockjack mercenary bozos) underestimate Dez and in typical Desmond Aloysius Limerick style (Dez to his mates), he makes mincemeat of all of them and even killing one – by throwing a ball bearing at him. Dez doesn’t like guns. Lol😊 Who says murder and mayhem can’t be funny? Yeah, that’s right, killing bad guys/killers is funny to me.
Besides Clockjack’s corrupt extortion and blackmail of US and foreign politicians for their own gain, they are also snatching DEA witnesses (the most despicable of the lot) from WITSEC along with a group of other psychotic mercenaries with the help of insiders in both agencies for the sole purpose of creating a huge mercenary army. Additionally, what the book summary doesn’t mention is that a couple of characters from the first installment come to Dez’s rescue around the halfway point (part one). I like it when characters from previous installments make cameo appearances in later installments. The series characters kind of become an ensemble cast.
In the second half (part two), Dez and the Swann sisters are in hiding and Dez starts working with a former partner, Arabella, that was introduced in the prologue. Dez discovers that he and Arabella may have a common enemy in an associate of the Clockjack mercenaries. As terrorist mercenaries headed by psychotic bozos are wont to do, they did something (won’t reveal any spoilers) that was so despicable that Dez just couldn’t leave without responding in kind.
The ending comes fast in another one of Dez’s expertly planned and calculated, and synchronized to perfection plan that results in spectacular chaos and mayhem. However, that epilogue!!! OMG!!! The lead into the next installment promises more intrigue and, I’m sure, murder and mayhem for Dez and friends!
Byrne is a good writer and storyteller. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, John Keating, was really good and I love the voice he has created for Dez. It suits his persona so well. Dez is hilarious and I enjoy his smart@$$ attitude and personality. I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #Deadlock
From the prologue, we get another glimpse into Dez’s past where we meet more of Dez’s accomplices/partners in crime from a job from two years earlier, where Dez got almost everyone out. The book summary pretty much lays out the first half of the story (part1) so I’m not going to repeat it here. As usual, all the bad guys (corrupt DEA agents and US Marshals and Clockjack mercenary bozos) underestimate Dez and in typical Desmond Aloysius Limerick style (Dez to his mates), he makes mincemeat of all of them and even killing one – by throwing a ball bearing at him. Dez doesn’t like guns. Lol😊 Who says murder and mayhem can’t be funny? Yeah, that’s right, killing bad guys/killers is funny to me.
Besides Clockjack’s corrupt extortion and blackmail of US and foreign politicians for their own gain, they are also snatching DEA witnesses (the most despicable of the lot) from WITSEC along with a group of other psychotic mercenaries with the help of insiders in both agencies for the sole purpose of creating a huge mercenary army. Additionally, what the book summary doesn’t mention is that a couple of characters from the first installment come to Dez’s rescue around the halfway point (part one). I like it when characters from previous installments make cameo appearances in later installments. The series characters kind of become an ensemble cast.
In the second half (part two), Dez and the Swann sisters are in hiding and Dez starts working with a former partner, Arabella, that was introduced in the prologue. Dez discovers that he and Arabella may have a common enemy in an associate of the Clockjack mercenaries. As terrorist mercenaries headed by psychotic bozos are wont to do, they did something (won’t reveal any spoilers) that was so despicable that Dez just couldn’t leave without responding in kind.
The ending comes fast in another one of Dez’s expertly planned and calculated, and synchronized to perfection plan that results in spectacular chaos and mayhem. However, that epilogue!!! OMG!!! The lead into the next installment promises more intrigue and, I’m sure, murder and mayhem for Dez and friends!
Byrne is a good writer and storyteller. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, John Keating, was really good and I love the voice he has created for Dez. It suits his persona so well. Dez is hilarious and I enjoy his smart@$$ attitude and personality. I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #Deadlock
August 7, 2023
I was happy to see that this book's main character, Dez Limerick, had returned in a follow-up to his first appearance in the debut novel, The Gatekeeper. I couldn't wait to find out what kind of trouble he was going to get into, and out of, this time.
The narrative comes off as a little choppy in its delivery at first, but very soon after that the story takes the reader on an escapade of chills and thrills. I didn't remember Dez having such a thick brogue in the first book, which can be hard to adjust to, but it soon became almost an endearing aspect of this character's personality.
As is his way, Dez jumps in to help a friend whose sister, a journalist, has just experienced an attack and attempt on her life. Without regard to his own safety or life, Dez sets out to uncover and destroy a tech corporation that is filled with an underhanded administration and a plethora of mercenaries. Dez never quits and either does this book in providing a fast-paced and action-packed military type thriller that is laced with humor.
I liked this book even more than the first and this author and his characters will definitely be on my radar awaiting the next sequel. I believe that it can be read as a stand-alone, but it is definitely a must read for fans of Jason Bourne, Evan Smoak, Jack Reacher, Mitch Rap or Jack Ryan.
My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books for the DRC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The narrative comes off as a little choppy in its delivery at first, but very soon after that the story takes the reader on an escapade of chills and thrills. I didn't remember Dez having such a thick brogue in the first book, which can be hard to adjust to, but it soon became almost an endearing aspect of this character's personality.
As is his way, Dez jumps in to help a friend whose sister, a journalist, has just experienced an attack and attempt on her life. Without regard to his own safety or life, Dez sets out to uncover and destroy a tech corporation that is filled with an underhanded administration and a plethora of mercenaries. Dez never quits and either does this book in providing a fast-paced and action-packed military type thriller that is laced with humor.
I liked this book even more than the first and this author and his characters will definitely be on my radar awaiting the next sequel. I believe that it can be read as a stand-alone, but it is definitely a must read for fans of Jason Bourne, Evan Smoak, Jack Reacher, Mitch Rap or Jack Ryan.
My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books for the DRC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 26, 2023
Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers and the author for an advanced copy for my honest review.
Firstly I must mention I have fallen behind on my large collection of books on Net Galley and will do my best to catch up. After a year of reading physical autobiographies and biographies.
It's great that a publisher excepts your request to read a book, sends you a advanced copy, sadly, this is great, but I did not know this was book two in the series, partly my own fault.
But very happy to say I really enjoyed the book, great character, hints of humour, good action, strong story, although would have enjoyed slightly more if I had read book 1.
Great pace, really builds up pace halfway through and never stops.
Desmond Aloysius Limerick ("Dez" to his friends and close personal enemies) is a man with a shadowy past, certain useful hard-won skills, and, if one digs deep enough, a reputation as a good man to have at your back. Now retired from his previous life, Dez is just a bloke with a winning smile, a bass guitar, and bullet wounds that paint a road map of past lives.
Jaleh Swann, a business journalist hot on the trail of an auditor who was mugged and killed, lands in the hospital just one day after her Portland apartment is ransacked. When Jaleh’s sister, Raziah, reaches out to an old friend for help, Dez has no choice but to answer. The Swann sisters have been pulled into a dizzying web of cover-ups and danger. At the centre lies an insidious Oregon-based tech corporation, Clockjack, which has enough money and hired guns to silence just about anyone—including this rag-tag trio. Luckily, Dez’s speciality is not just to open doors, but keep them open—and protect those working to expose Clockjack’s secrets.
More stands in the way of the truth than just one corporation. When hired thugs come to the finish the job and attack the Swann sisters at the hospital, Dez does what he does best. Now, the two captured men (and the corpse Dez left behind) attract the attention of not just Clockjack, but of the Portland police, the D.E.A, and the U.S. Marshalls. Dez and the Swann sisters are on the run from powers beyond their control and means. Outnumbered, under resourced and outgunned, Dez must use all his skills to keep his friends safe and stand up to corporate conniving. After all, the one thing Clockjack didn’t count on? A good man with a simple job to do.
JAMES BYRNE is the pseudonym for an author who has worked for more than twenty years as a journalist and in politics and lives in Portland, Oregon.
As easy four stars
Firstly I must mention I have fallen behind on my large collection of books on Net Galley and will do my best to catch up. After a year of reading physical autobiographies and biographies.
It's great that a publisher excepts your request to read a book, sends you a advanced copy, sadly, this is great, but I did not know this was book two in the series, partly my own fault.
But very happy to say I really enjoyed the book, great character, hints of humour, good action, strong story, although would have enjoyed slightly more if I had read book 1.
Great pace, really builds up pace halfway through and never stops.
Desmond Aloysius Limerick ("Dez" to his friends and close personal enemies) is a man with a shadowy past, certain useful hard-won skills, and, if one digs deep enough, a reputation as a good man to have at your back. Now retired from his previous life, Dez is just a bloke with a winning smile, a bass guitar, and bullet wounds that paint a road map of past lives.
Jaleh Swann, a business journalist hot on the trail of an auditor who was mugged and killed, lands in the hospital just one day after her Portland apartment is ransacked. When Jaleh’s sister, Raziah, reaches out to an old friend for help, Dez has no choice but to answer. The Swann sisters have been pulled into a dizzying web of cover-ups and danger. At the centre lies an insidious Oregon-based tech corporation, Clockjack, which has enough money and hired guns to silence just about anyone—including this rag-tag trio. Luckily, Dez’s speciality is not just to open doors, but keep them open—and protect those working to expose Clockjack’s secrets.
More stands in the way of the truth than just one corporation. When hired thugs come to the finish the job and attack the Swann sisters at the hospital, Dez does what he does best. Now, the two captured men (and the corpse Dez left behind) attract the attention of not just Clockjack, but of the Portland police, the D.E.A, and the U.S. Marshalls. Dez and the Swann sisters are on the run from powers beyond their control and means. Outnumbered, under resourced and outgunned, Dez must use all his skills to keep his friends safe and stand up to corporate conniving. After all, the one thing Clockjack didn’t count on? A good man with a simple job to do.
JAMES BYRNE is the pseudonym for an author who has worked for more than twenty years as a journalist and in politics and lives in Portland, Oregon.
As easy four stars
April 27, 2023
Most of what I think can be summarized by saying: this is everything I want in a summer thriller. Some characters from book one make guest appearances and provide some continuity to the storyline, although these can totally be read as standalones.
Between the character stories and the action things are happening nonstop. I flew through this book and even though it’s not out until August I had wanted to check it out asap!
The stakes are high and Dez is back with his bag of tricks. He starts out just trying to protect his friend and ends up stumbling into an international conspiracy that of course, he is in a unique position to stop. With some help from MI6 and the U.S. Marshalls. Overall it was exciting and easy to follow: AKA a perfect summer read.
It has some darker elements too as we got some history of Dez and his soldiering days. He’s funny with this happy go lucky persona, but Byrne didn’t let us forget that the guy tends to leave a wake of corpses behind and some are innocent.
Brits trying to make sense of America (and vice versa) was another fun element. I stopped trying to we understand them too. Plus all the American carbs ha ha it’s true. Like you know while reading that it is an American author but he’s spot on sometimes.
Overall:
Totally recommend for fans of action books that don’t take themselves too seriously. I learned a lot looking up words and phrases as I went so I felt like I got something educational out of it too.
The surprising end sets the tone for book three – like what! I can’t wait until hopefully next year when it comes out. I have a feeling that I’ll be reading this series for as many books as Byrne writes
Between the character stories and the action things are happening nonstop. I flew through this book and even though it’s not out until August I had wanted to check it out asap!
The stakes are high and Dez is back with his bag of tricks. He starts out just trying to protect his friend and ends up stumbling into an international conspiracy that of course, he is in a unique position to stop. With some help from MI6 and the U.S. Marshalls. Overall it was exciting and easy to follow: AKA a perfect summer read.
It has some darker elements too as we got some history of Dez and his soldiering days. He’s funny with this happy go lucky persona, but Byrne didn’t let us forget that the guy tends to leave a wake of corpses behind and some are innocent.
Brits trying to make sense of America (and vice versa) was another fun element. I stopped trying to we understand them too. Plus all the American carbs ha ha it’s true. Like you know while reading that it is an American author but he’s spot on sometimes.
Overall:
Totally recommend for fans of action books that don’t take themselves too seriously. I learned a lot looking up words and phrases as I went so I felt like I got something educational out of it too.
The surprising end sets the tone for book three – like what! I can’t wait until hopefully next year when it comes out. I have a feeling that I’ll be reading this series for as many books as Byrne writes
July 30, 2023
If I knew "gatekeeper" Desmond Aloysius Limerick personally, I'm sure I'd be smacking him upside the head at least once an hour. He's so used to being physically bashed about that he wouldn't feel anything, of course - and he's so amiable that all he'd say in return is something like, "Aye, love - ye caught me nappin' on that one!"
And also of course, I'd forgive him for whatever transgression he made and we'd start the cycle all over again, just because he somehow manages to be so endearing (and funny enough to make me giggle) while irritating the heck out of everyone around him - at least when he's not beating them to a pulp, blowing them up, or outright killing them. I fell in love with the guy in The Gatekeeper, the first book in the series, and if anything, I love him more after reading this one.
Basically a retired mercenary who's loyal to the core and has a side gig as a musician, Dez is now in Los Angeles and basically retired. But when he gets a call from old friend Raziah Swann claiming her reporter sister Laleh is in trouble (in fact, she's in the hospital after being attacked), he heads north to Portland to offer assistance. There, he learns that Laleh was writing a story that involved a local technology company - second in size and influence only to Nike - called Clockjack. Could that somehow be related to the attack?
Dez sure thinks so - but suspicion and proof are two different animals. But it seems the powers-that-be at this behemoth company, including an influencial female CEO, have more than enough power to put the cabosh on formal investigation by all federal agencies. If Dez is going to get to the truth and, if necessary, bring down the bad guys and gals, he'll have to go it alone (well, with some help from old friends and yes, even enemies).
There's no shortage of murder and mayhem here, much of it coming by way of Dez himself (yes, he rather often exceeds the limits of human capability, but then that's half the fun - apparently, for him as well as for readers). The ending is satisfying and leaves fodder for the next book, for which I'm already chomping at the bit. At any rate, this one is a hoot and a half - and once again, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the privilege of reading and reviewing a pre-release copy.
And also of course, I'd forgive him for whatever transgression he made and we'd start the cycle all over again, just because he somehow manages to be so endearing (and funny enough to make me giggle) while irritating the heck out of everyone around him - at least when he's not beating them to a pulp, blowing them up, or outright killing them. I fell in love with the guy in The Gatekeeper, the first book in the series, and if anything, I love him more after reading this one.
Basically a retired mercenary who's loyal to the core and has a side gig as a musician, Dez is now in Los Angeles and basically retired. But when he gets a call from old friend Raziah Swann claiming her reporter sister Laleh is in trouble (in fact, she's in the hospital after being attacked), he heads north to Portland to offer assistance. There, he learns that Laleh was writing a story that involved a local technology company - second in size and influence only to Nike - called Clockjack. Could that somehow be related to the attack?
Dez sure thinks so - but suspicion and proof are two different animals. But it seems the powers-that-be at this behemoth company, including an influencial female CEO, have more than enough power to put the cabosh on formal investigation by all federal agencies. If Dez is going to get to the truth and, if necessary, bring down the bad guys and gals, he'll have to go it alone (well, with some help from old friends and yes, even enemies).
There's no shortage of murder and mayhem here, much of it coming by way of Dez himself (yes, he rather often exceeds the limits of human capability, but then that's half the fun - apparently, for him as well as for readers). The ending is satisfying and leaves fodder for the next book, for which I'm already chomping at the bit. At any rate, this one is a hoot and a half - and once again, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the privilege of reading and reviewing a pre-release copy.
May 1, 2023
Dez Limerick is many things. He is a well-educated, brilliant tactician. He is self-deprecating in an aw shucks but British sort of way. Above all, he is loyal to a fault. His word is his bond, and he will make good on a promise at the risk of life and limb. He may not be a tall, dark, and handsome leading man, but he is a beautiful soul. He is a gatekeeper. He knows how to open doors and keep them open.
And did I mention, he's a musician traipsing around the west coast of the United States. He is particularly fond of the singer, Raziah Swann, whose band he plays bass with on occasion. When Raziah tells him her sister is in danger and she needs his help, Dez goes into full gatekeeper mode. He will keep the Swann sisters safe no matter the personal cost. Why? Because she is a mate, and he is loyal.
In DEADLOCK, Dez once again finds himself battling corporate greed, government corruption, and megalomania. Think of Clockjack, a self-proclaimed green company and doer of good, as a direct rival of Apple. Technology is their game. Dez finds himself allied with Chief Deputy Marshal Conroy Sims who uses his own resources, rather than those of the Marshals Service, in an attempt to thwart corruption in high places. Then there is the megalomaniac that want to be ruler of his own country, law and order be damned.
Desmond Aloysius Limerick is a man with a colorful past, only a small part of which we have learned in the first two books in this series. You can probably get away with reading DEADLOCK on its own, but why would you? Through the amazing character of Dez Limerick, James Byrne has given new meaning to the thriller.
And did I mention, he's a musician traipsing around the west coast of the United States. He is particularly fond of the singer, Raziah Swann, whose band he plays bass with on occasion. When Raziah tells him her sister is in danger and she needs his help, Dez goes into full gatekeeper mode. He will keep the Swann sisters safe no matter the personal cost. Why? Because she is a mate, and he is loyal.
In DEADLOCK, Dez once again finds himself battling corporate greed, government corruption, and megalomania. Think of Clockjack, a self-proclaimed green company and doer of good, as a direct rival of Apple. Technology is their game. Dez finds himself allied with Chief Deputy Marshal Conroy Sims who uses his own resources, rather than those of the Marshals Service, in an attempt to thwart corruption in high places. Then there is the megalomaniac that want to be ruler of his own country, law and order be damned.
Desmond Aloysius Limerick is a man with a colorful past, only a small part of which we have learned in the first two books in this series. You can probably get away with reading DEADLOCK on its own, but why would you? Through the amazing character of Dez Limerick, James Byrne has given new meaning to the thriller.
August 9, 2023
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Thriller / Suspense
*Rating* 4 Solid Gizmos
*Thoughts*
Deadlock, by author James Byrne, is the second installment in the authors Dez Limerick series. Desmond Aloysius Limerick ("Dez" to his friends and close personal enemies) is a man with a shadowy past, certain useful hard-won skills, and, if one digs deep enough, a reputation as a good man to have at your back. Now retired from his previous life, Dez is just a bloke with a winning smile, a bass guitar, and bullet wounds that paint a road map of past lives.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Thriller / Suspense
*Rating* 4 Solid Gizmos
*Thoughts*
Deadlock, by author James Byrne, is the second installment in the authors Dez Limerick series. Desmond Aloysius Limerick ("Dez" to his friends and close personal enemies) is a man with a shadowy past, certain useful hard-won skills, and, if one digs deep enough, a reputation as a good man to have at your back. Now retired from his previous life, Dez is just a bloke with a winning smile, a bass guitar, and bullet wounds that paint a road map of past lives.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
August 8, 2023
An explosive thriller with a savvy, devious, and outrageously funny hero….a fantastic read!
If you missed his first outing in “The Gatekeeper” (I did, but am rectifying that matter just as soon as this review is written), then let me introduce you to Desmond Aloysius Limerick, Dez to his friends. Once upon a time, Dez was part of an elite group of individuals called gatekeepers. Their skill sets are highly prized and their exploits are legendary to others in the special ops world, so much so that many an operative thinks that they are urban legends. As Dez himself explains, a gatekeeper’s job on an op is to open doors, “…open ‘em, keep ‘em open as long as needed, an’ close ‘em proper. And to make sure that everyone who enters also exits, a smile on their faces an’ a melody in their heart.” That includes not just actual doors but any gateway, virtual or otherwise. With a ready smile and a decidedly charming aspect to his personality, Dez is underestimated by many….but they do so at their own peril. He’s retired from the profession now, and is kicking back in California, expanding his skills at playing the bass and generally enjoying a sunny life of leisure, when he gets a call from Raziah Swann, a talented young musician with whom he sometimes plays gigs. Her sister Laleh, a business reporter in Portland, has been attacked, and Raziah is afraid that she remains in danger. She has no idea what lurks in Dez’s past, just that he can handle himeself in a tight spot, and she asks him to come help. He heads to Portland straight away….Dez has a strong sense of right and wrong, and an admirably strong moral code. If a mate needs help, Dez will be there, no questions asked. It becomes clear as soon as he arrives in Portland that Raziah has every reason to fear for her sister. While Laleh tries to figure out what exactly she knows that has made her a target, Dez will need every one of his myriad skills and tricks, as well as rely on help from his network of contacts, if he is going to keep these two young women safe. A major tech corporation called Clockjack factors into this mess somehow, and Dez will find himself up against international thugs, government agencies, and someone (or many someones) who has influence in every conceivable sphere, if he hopes to save the lives of the Swann sisters…and his own.
I fell under Dez’s charm before the end of the prologue. He’s a bloke (not a guy, definitely a bloke) who takes his job incredibly seriously, but himself not so much. Self deprecating and inclined to call balls and strikes as he sees them, he is no one’s patsy, His ability to analyze a situation, see ten moves ahead of his opponent, and come up with the best plan to succeed in his mission (while having at least two exit strategies and multiple back up plans) is fascinating to read, and as he does it all with a wink and a grin (and more than a few British expressions that can be a challenge to suss out from those on this side of the pond) it is an entertaining tale to boot. The action is non-stop, and it is nearly impossible to put the book down. Fans of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books, Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X series, or Mark Greaney’s Gray Man absolutely have to grab a copy of “Deadlock” (and trust me….pick up “The Gatekeeper” too at the same time. There is no way that you will read one without wanting to immediately read the other). If Jack Reacher were shorter, British, and had a wicked sense of humor, he’d be a close match to Dez. I honestly haven’t been so absorbed by a thriller that also made me smile (even laugh out loud) in a while. Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced reader’s copy….Dez Limerick has a new superfan, and my Irish ancestry has nothing to do with it! I eagerly await the next installment in the series.
.
If you missed his first outing in “The Gatekeeper” (I did, but am rectifying that matter just as soon as this review is written), then let me introduce you to Desmond Aloysius Limerick, Dez to his friends. Once upon a time, Dez was part of an elite group of individuals called gatekeepers. Their skill sets are highly prized and their exploits are legendary to others in the special ops world, so much so that many an operative thinks that they are urban legends. As Dez himself explains, a gatekeeper’s job on an op is to open doors, “…open ‘em, keep ‘em open as long as needed, an’ close ‘em proper. And to make sure that everyone who enters also exits, a smile on their faces an’ a melody in their heart.” That includes not just actual doors but any gateway, virtual or otherwise. With a ready smile and a decidedly charming aspect to his personality, Dez is underestimated by many….but they do so at their own peril. He’s retired from the profession now, and is kicking back in California, expanding his skills at playing the bass and generally enjoying a sunny life of leisure, when he gets a call from Raziah Swann, a talented young musician with whom he sometimes plays gigs. Her sister Laleh, a business reporter in Portland, has been attacked, and Raziah is afraid that she remains in danger. She has no idea what lurks in Dez’s past, just that he can handle himeself in a tight spot, and she asks him to come help. He heads to Portland straight away….Dez has a strong sense of right and wrong, and an admirably strong moral code. If a mate needs help, Dez will be there, no questions asked. It becomes clear as soon as he arrives in Portland that Raziah has every reason to fear for her sister. While Laleh tries to figure out what exactly she knows that has made her a target, Dez will need every one of his myriad skills and tricks, as well as rely on help from his network of contacts, if he is going to keep these two young women safe. A major tech corporation called Clockjack factors into this mess somehow, and Dez will find himself up against international thugs, government agencies, and someone (or many someones) who has influence in every conceivable sphere, if he hopes to save the lives of the Swann sisters…and his own.
I fell under Dez’s charm before the end of the prologue. He’s a bloke (not a guy, definitely a bloke) who takes his job incredibly seriously, but himself not so much. Self deprecating and inclined to call balls and strikes as he sees them, he is no one’s patsy, His ability to analyze a situation, see ten moves ahead of his opponent, and come up with the best plan to succeed in his mission (while having at least two exit strategies and multiple back up plans) is fascinating to read, and as he does it all with a wink and a grin (and more than a few British expressions that can be a challenge to suss out from those on this side of the pond) it is an entertaining tale to boot. The action is non-stop, and it is nearly impossible to put the book down. Fans of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books, Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X series, or Mark Greaney’s Gray Man absolutely have to grab a copy of “Deadlock” (and trust me….pick up “The Gatekeeper” too at the same time. There is no way that you will read one without wanting to immediately read the other). If Jack Reacher were shorter, British, and had a wicked sense of humor, he’d be a close match to Dez. I honestly haven’t been so absorbed by a thriller that also made me smile (even laugh out loud) in a while. Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced reader’s copy….Dez Limerick has a new superfan, and my Irish ancestry has nothing to do with it! I eagerly await the next installment in the series.
.
July 5, 2023
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Make sure to check out the full review
Make sure to check out the full review
May 19, 2023
Deadlock (Gatekeeper - Book 2) by James Byrne
368 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books
Release Date: August 8, 2023
Fiction (Adult), General Fiction (Adult), Mystery, Thriller, Computing, Action, Adventure, Government Agencies
Desmond Aloysius Limerick, Dez to his friends, is back! He is a Gatekeeper. That means he can open any door, keep it open and/or close it when necessary. The book begins with an operation from the past that goes wrong. When the last man on the mission does not come out, Dez closes the door when the time runs out. Arabella Satti does not like that at all. He has made her look like a fool. Because of how that mission was handled, she has not received a leadership role.
Dez receives a telephone call from Raiziah, the vocalist in the band he sometimes plays guitar with. She asks for his help after her sister is attacked in Oregon. He jumps on a plane and is there. What he finds concerns him. A man conducting a financial audit on a firm is killed and Dez sees a connection to the attack on Laleh. What he doesn’t realize at the time is that this is only the tip of the iceberg.
The book has a fast pace, the characters are well developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. I was able to listen to the audiobook for the first book in the series, Gatekeeper, which helped me really get a feel for Dez. I can picture him as if he is standing in front of me. He is one of my absolute favorite fictional characters. I hope that I am ever in trouble that Dez comes and helps me. If you like action books, like Jason Bourne, except with a quirky Englishman, you will love this book.
368 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books
Release Date: August 8, 2023
Fiction (Adult), General Fiction (Adult), Mystery, Thriller, Computing, Action, Adventure, Government Agencies
Desmond Aloysius Limerick, Dez to his friends, is back! He is a Gatekeeper. That means he can open any door, keep it open and/or close it when necessary. The book begins with an operation from the past that goes wrong. When the last man on the mission does not come out, Dez closes the door when the time runs out. Arabella Satti does not like that at all. He has made her look like a fool. Because of how that mission was handled, she has not received a leadership role.
Dez receives a telephone call from Raiziah, the vocalist in the band he sometimes plays guitar with. She asks for his help after her sister is attacked in Oregon. He jumps on a plane and is there. What he finds concerns him. A man conducting a financial audit on a firm is killed and Dez sees a connection to the attack on Laleh. What he doesn’t realize at the time is that this is only the tip of the iceberg.
The book has a fast pace, the characters are well developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. I was able to listen to the audiobook for the first book in the series, Gatekeeper, which helped me really get a feel for Dez. I can picture him as if he is standing in front of me. He is one of my absolute favorite fictional characters. I hope that I am ever in trouble that Dez comes and helps me. If you like action books, like Jason Bourne, except with a quirky Englishman, you will love this book.
April 3, 2023
Deadlock is the second book in the Gatekeeper series and is probably best read in order. I forgot how much I could love a character until Gatekeeper, Desmond Aloysius Limerick “Des” strolled through the pages of a book. There’s not a door that Des can’t open and won’t keep open until everyone is out of a mission safely. Retired now, Des plays bass and collects friends. Raziah Swann is an awesome vocalist Des plays sets with sometimes and more importantly he considers her a friend. When she calls to ask for help because her sister is in trouble, Des is ready to rage war against a big corporation full of bad soldiers to protect the Swann sisters. Action packed, satisfyingly violent, and heart pounding thrills make this an unputdownable thriller with my new literary crush. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.
April 28, 2023
Thriller lovers rejoice! This one has it all.
Deadlock drops us in the middle of a morally gray zone with an unforgettable anti-hero.
Dez Limerick is my new favorite male protagonist. I love his imperfections, his personality, and his loyalty. And, of course, he’s a total badass!
Pacing is quick, but Dez never seems to rush. He has an easy manner that lets me relax into the book, even when the plot has me on edge.
Deadlock is the second book in the series. While we have a few references to incidents in The Gatekeeper, book one, the plots stand on their own, with solid endings, and each can be read as a stand-alone. But definitely read The Gatekeeper, because it’s way too good to miss!
Now do I really have to wait until next year for book 3? I want more Dez!
*Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the eARC!*
Deadlock drops us in the middle of a morally gray zone with an unforgettable anti-hero.
Dez Limerick is my new favorite male protagonist. I love his imperfections, his personality, and his loyalty. And, of course, he’s a total badass!
Pacing is quick, but Dez never seems to rush. He has an easy manner that lets me relax into the book, even when the plot has me on edge.
Deadlock is the second book in the series. While we have a few references to incidents in The Gatekeeper, book one, the plots stand on their own, with solid endings, and each can be read as a stand-alone. But definitely read The Gatekeeper, because it’s way too good to miss!
Now do I really have to wait until next year for book 3? I want more Dez!
*Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the eARC!*
July 31, 2023
Deadlock is the second book in the Dez Limerick series. Dez is a man with a shadowy past. He has a special set of skills that he uses in many different situations and to help people he cares about. There is a prologue where he is finishing up a case but after that he gets caught up on a more personal level when a young friend and her sister, a journalist, are in trouble.
It seems someone doesn't like what Laleh Swann has been writing about. After being attacked twice her sister reaches out to her friend Dez. From there it becomes apparent there is something big going on.
This is all about Dez. His personality fills the page. He has style and likes to joke. His manner of speaking gets a little old after a while but the character is consistent. It's fun watching Dez go about his business, outsmarting or physically taking someone down.
The author does a good job describing appearances, facial expressions, and body movements. Every scene is fully developed. At times this slows the narrative.
There is a lot going on in the plot. I was confused at times but I think many readers will appreciate the details. I think it's better to read the first book in the series before this one to get a better understanding of Dez's background. Since I hadn't I felt like I was missing something.
There is a lot of high stakes action in this thriller and the ride along is full of adventure. I think a lot is dependent on how much you like Dez. I wasn't able to fully connect with him so this thriller didn't quite thrill me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read.
It seems someone doesn't like what Laleh Swann has been writing about. After being attacked twice her sister reaches out to her friend Dez. From there it becomes apparent there is something big going on.
This is all about Dez. His personality fills the page. He has style and likes to joke. His manner of speaking gets a little old after a while but the character is consistent. It's fun watching Dez go about his business, outsmarting or physically taking someone down.
The author does a good job describing appearances, facial expressions, and body movements. Every scene is fully developed. At times this slows the narrative.
There is a lot going on in the plot. I was confused at times but I think many readers will appreciate the details. I think it's better to read the first book in the series before this one to get a better understanding of Dez's background. Since I hadn't I felt like I was missing something.
There is a lot of high stakes action in this thriller and the ride along is full of adventure. I think a lot is dependent on how much you like Dez. I wasn't able to fully connect with him so this thriller didn't quite thrill me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read.
August 31, 2023
Dez Limerick is my new thriller hero. Dez doesn’t just fix a problem he removes the problem. One of the most interesting characters I have read in a long while. I loved it.
August 7, 2023
James Byrne returns following The Gatekeeper with his second installment in his popular Dez Limerick series with DEADLOCK —another action-packed, witty thriller with an unstoppable main character.
A delicious taut nonstop hilarious, action-packed suspense thriller by James Byrne, with a leading man and hero you want by your side. With a sexy British/Irish accent to die for and all the dark humor, intelligence, and wit making DEZ, Desmond Aloysius Limerick, (the ultimate) THE GATEKEEPER.
A former mercenary, a musician, and a man who can open any door— physical or digital. He is not too tall, stocky, and bowlegged and buys his black tees from the one place that accommodates his broad shoulders and frame.
In DEADLOCK, the Irish ex-mercenary Limerick is off to Oregon from California. Jaleh Swann, a business journalist hot on the trail of an auditor who was mugged and killed, lands in the hospital just one day after her Portland apartment is ransacked.
His friend Raziah Swann, sends out a personal SOS stating her journalist sister, Laleh, has been abducted and beaten by thugs while researching an article on accounting irregularities at Clockjack, a tech conglomerate whose tentacles stretch across entire industries and levels of government.
The Swann sisters have been pulled into a dizzying web of cover-ups and danger. At the center lies an insidious Oregon-based tech corporation, Clockjack, which has enough money and hired guns to silence just about anyone. Luckily, Dez’s specialty is not just to open doors but keep them open―and protect those working to expose Clockjack’s secrets.
Dez learns that Clockjack plans to use its technologies to acquire sensitive intelligence and topple foreign governments—so he infiltrates the company’s headquarters outside Portland, using every tool at his disposal to break up the scheme.
Dez and the Swann sisters are on the run from powers beyond their control and means. Outnumbered, under-resourced and outgunned, Dez must use all his skills to keep his friends safe and stand up to corporate conspiracy.
I love the humor and sarcasm of Dez and enjoyed the mission of helping the sisters while he becomes immersed in a corporate coverup and government conspiracies: murder and mayhem and a fun, zany thriller.
High-adrenaline suspense and twists, packed with action, clever dialogue, and some great laughs! Even though I did not enjoy this one as much as The Gatekeeper, I still found DEADLOCK entertaining and a great setup for #3.
For fans of Greg Hurwitz's Orphan X, David Baldacci, Janet Evanovich, and Elle Cosimano. I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by John Keating for an entertaining and fascinating thrill ride!
Thanks to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for an ARC and ALC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #MinotaurInfluencers #SMPInflueners
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 8, 2023
Aug 2023 Must-Read Books
A delicious taut nonstop hilarious, action-packed suspense thriller by James Byrne, with a leading man and hero you want by your side. With a sexy British/Irish accent to die for and all the dark humor, intelligence, and wit making DEZ, Desmond Aloysius Limerick, (the ultimate) THE GATEKEEPER.
A former mercenary, a musician, and a man who can open any door— physical or digital. He is not too tall, stocky, and bowlegged and buys his black tees from the one place that accommodates his broad shoulders and frame.
In DEADLOCK, the Irish ex-mercenary Limerick is off to Oregon from California. Jaleh Swann, a business journalist hot on the trail of an auditor who was mugged and killed, lands in the hospital just one day after her Portland apartment is ransacked.
His friend Raziah Swann, sends out a personal SOS stating her journalist sister, Laleh, has been abducted and beaten by thugs while researching an article on accounting irregularities at Clockjack, a tech conglomerate whose tentacles stretch across entire industries and levels of government.
The Swann sisters have been pulled into a dizzying web of cover-ups and danger. At the center lies an insidious Oregon-based tech corporation, Clockjack, which has enough money and hired guns to silence just about anyone. Luckily, Dez’s specialty is not just to open doors but keep them open―and protect those working to expose Clockjack’s secrets.
Dez learns that Clockjack plans to use its technologies to acquire sensitive intelligence and topple foreign governments—so he infiltrates the company’s headquarters outside Portland, using every tool at his disposal to break up the scheme.
Dez and the Swann sisters are on the run from powers beyond their control and means. Outnumbered, under-resourced and outgunned, Dez must use all his skills to keep his friends safe and stand up to corporate conspiracy.
I love the humor and sarcasm of Dez and enjoyed the mission of helping the sisters while he becomes immersed in a corporate coverup and government conspiracies: murder and mayhem and a fun, zany thriller.
High-adrenaline suspense and twists, packed with action, clever dialogue, and some great laughs! Even though I did not enjoy this one as much as The Gatekeeper, I still found DEADLOCK entertaining and a great setup for #3.
For fans of Greg Hurwitz's Orphan X, David Baldacci, Janet Evanovich, and Elle Cosimano. I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by John Keating for an entertaining and fascinating thrill ride!
Thanks to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for an ARC and ALC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #MinotaurInfluencers #SMPInflueners
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 8, 2023
Aug 2023 Must-Read Books
July 17, 2023
Dez is back in his next adventure in Deadlock by James Byrne.
"Dez is asked to help protect a pair of sisters after one of them is assaulted and almost killed. Dez soon finds himself up against a renegade mercenary army and a corrupt sotware company with a lot of political pull. But Dez will do anything to protect his mates - especially when his unique skillset comes in handy."
John Keating brings Dez to life. This is one of the outstanding audiobook performances of the year. When Keating is channeling Dez, it feels like you're in the room with him.
Dez is up against a lot of bad guys and doesn't always come away unscathed. He takes his lumps but keeps on coming back. He keeps digging until he's figured out what;s happening and then deals with it - in a way that he does best. There are a couple of times where you wonder if Dez is going to make it. Lots of crazy bad guys and an inventive plot. And the ending is wild. Byrne even sets up another book without making it a cliffhanger.
Some great escapist fiction from Byrne. Dez is a character you should meet this year.
Thanks to Minotaur for the advanced copy
"Dez is asked to help protect a pair of sisters after one of them is assaulted and almost killed. Dez soon finds himself up against a renegade mercenary army and a corrupt sotware company with a lot of political pull. But Dez will do anything to protect his mates - especially when his unique skillset comes in handy."
John Keating brings Dez to life. This is one of the outstanding audiobook performances of the year. When Keating is channeling Dez, it feels like you're in the room with him.
Dez is up against a lot of bad guys and doesn't always come away unscathed. He takes his lumps but keeps on coming back. He keeps digging until he's figured out what;s happening and then deals with it - in a way that he does best. There are a couple of times where you wonder if Dez is going to make it. Lots of crazy bad guys and an inventive plot. And the ending is wild. Byrne even sets up another book without making it a cliffhanger.
Some great escapist fiction from Byrne. Dez is a character you should meet this year.
Thanks to Minotaur for the advanced copy
May 23, 2023
My NetGalley review of Deadlock appears here: https://www.netgalley.co.uk/book/2814...
Desmond Aloysius Limerick, “Dez”, is a Gatekeeper; there is no door on the earth – physical and virtual – that won’t open, stay in the position, and close as per his wishes. Having retired from espionage games and relocated to the USA, Dez plays music and leads a laidback life, occasionally using his prodigious skills to help his friends. When one such friend – twenty-year-old Raziah Swann, a talented musician – calls Dez about the jam her sister, Laleh, is in, he promptly reaches Portland, Oregon, expecting to solve the matter quickly. Laleh is a journalist working on a story – nothing sensitive – about a much-respected billion-dollar technological company, and the intimidation, including a mugging, she faces is inexplicable. Dez finds that the people after her seem extremely professional – unlike what one would expect from the security force of a tech firm – and further investigation reveals that they do not exist on any government database. Some large-scale conspiracy is being perpetrated under the hood of the technological giant, and Dez must employ all his considerable skills to prevent the bad ones from achieving their goal while preserving the lives of Raziah, Laleh, and himself.
Deadlock by James Byrne, the second outing of Dez following The Gatekeeper, is nothing if not entertaining, predominantly due to the hero’s quirky characterisation. Byrne seems to have gathered the qualities of all the much-admired protagonists from the world of fiction and endowed his hero with those and then some. And the result is entertaining for the most part instead of annoying as one would expect. The other characters, especially the female ones, are engaging too, though the males are not much so, barring a couple. The plot of Deadlock is outlandish, and the actions involving Dez are outrageous, but it is tremendous fun watching him serve up surprise after surprise to the villains. The breakneck pace of the narrative does not give much time to the reader to wonder about the plausibility of the happenings, and this is what escapist fiction is all about. Deadlock works well as a standalone despite being the second book in the series, but the intriguing epilogue keeps future adventures for Dez wide open, and I would not be averse to reading those.
My gratitude to St. Martin’s and Minotaur Books for the Digital Review Copy of Deadlock in exchange for my unbiased review through NetGalley!
Desmond Aloysius Limerick, “Dez”, is a Gatekeeper; there is no door on the earth – physical and virtual – that won’t open, stay in the position, and close as per his wishes. Having retired from espionage games and relocated to the USA, Dez plays music and leads a laidback life, occasionally using his prodigious skills to help his friends. When one such friend – twenty-year-old Raziah Swann, a talented musician – calls Dez about the jam her sister, Laleh, is in, he promptly reaches Portland, Oregon, expecting to solve the matter quickly. Laleh is a journalist working on a story – nothing sensitive – about a much-respected billion-dollar technological company, and the intimidation, including a mugging, she faces is inexplicable. Dez finds that the people after her seem extremely professional – unlike what one would expect from the security force of a tech firm – and further investigation reveals that they do not exist on any government database. Some large-scale conspiracy is being perpetrated under the hood of the technological giant, and Dez must employ all his considerable skills to prevent the bad ones from achieving their goal while preserving the lives of Raziah, Laleh, and himself.
Deadlock by James Byrne, the second outing of Dez following The Gatekeeper, is nothing if not entertaining, predominantly due to the hero’s quirky characterisation. Byrne seems to have gathered the qualities of all the much-admired protagonists from the world of fiction and endowed his hero with those and then some. And the result is entertaining for the most part instead of annoying as one would expect. The other characters, especially the female ones, are engaging too, though the males are not much so, barring a couple. The plot of Deadlock is outlandish, and the actions involving Dez are outrageous, but it is tremendous fun watching him serve up surprise after surprise to the villains. The breakneck pace of the narrative does not give much time to the reader to wonder about the plausibility of the happenings, and this is what escapist fiction is all about. Deadlock works well as a standalone despite being the second book in the series, but the intriguing epilogue keeps future adventures for Dez wide open, and I would not be averse to reading those.
My gratitude to St. Martin’s and Minotaur Books for the Digital Review Copy of Deadlock in exchange for my unbiased review through NetGalley!
April 4, 2023
(3 1/2). Seeing as how the Gatekeeper was one of my books of the year in '22, this is a little bit of a sophomore slump. That being said, you gotta love Dez Limerick. A protagonist extraordinaire! While the legacy of Lee Child and Jack Reacher hit new lows, James Byrne and Dez lift us up. This story is all over the place, but Dez is in full flight and he is nothing but a joy. Can't wait for the next one. Good stuff.
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