This is the second book in the Dez Limerick series, and having read and loved the first one, I was really happy to jump into this new adventure with Dez. And this one did not disappoint. Dez is an interesting guy - a jack of all trades, and master of many - especially the important ones like, oh, saving the world. In his past professional life he was what's known as a "gatekeeper" - excelling at opening doors (both physical and virtual doors) and keeping them open long enough to complete the job at hand. In his "retirement" he enjoys traveling and improving his amateur musical skills, but somehow still finds ways to use those professional skills from his past life. He's the kind of action hero I like - he has a distinct moral compass, he's fiercely loyal, he has a quirky sense of humor. His adversaries here are part of a company that's supposedly all on the side of good - but underneath the shiny altruistic surface, they're a completely different beast. The powers that be in the company make a gross tactical error when they threaten one of Dez's friends and her sister, and that fiercely loyal side of him kicks in. Fun read - can't wait to see what lies in store for Dez in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

DEADLOCK by James BYRNE
Publication: 8/87/2023 by St Martin’s Press/ Minotaur Books
And Macmillan Audio
Narrated by: JOHN KEATING


Better than James Bond! A complex multilayered high octane thriller with non-stop action, intrigue, and menace. Our intrepid hero is Desmond Aloysius Limerick (“my friends call me Dez”) , who looks nothing like an action hero. Dez is five-eight but built like a tank, with a barrel chest, thick arms, short bowed legs, and oversized hands riddled with scarred knuckles. His scars, burns, and bullet wounds paint a road map of the world’s hot spots.
His past and training is shrouded in mystery, but he obviously was a seasoned veteran of black ops and clandestine ventures. On the inside of his right forearm is a tattoo of Janus, the two-faced Roman god of doors, gates, and transitions …. the patron for duality - life/ death , war / peace, beginning / ending…. holding the metaphorical key to doors or gateways between what was and what is to come.
Dez was an expert at opening doors that others couldn’t and keeping them open as long as necessary. A small part of his skill set involved hacking into security and information systems, as well as physically picking locks. His crew gave him the nom de plume of “The Gatekeeper” His mongrel accent is reflective of his upbringing in Liverpool, Ireland, and Scotland. Much like Nelson DeMille’s John Corey character, Dez cannot help but pepper his conversation with quips and wisecracks .. somewhat shrouding his true guile and mental acuity. He can quote writers and philosophers, yet is an expert at throwing and taking punches.
Dez was attempting a retirement and finds himself in Los Angeles, when he receives a frantic phone call from a long time musician friend,Raziah, fearful for her sister, Laleh, a journalist who was brutally attacked and lies in the hospital severely injured. This may have been related to a story she was working on. She recently reported on the death of an auditor for a highly influential tech firm. When he comes to the hospital, he is immediately called into action as he confronts several thugs intent on completing Laleh’s demise. This high tech company is known as Clockjack, and has reached the level of recognition of a Google or Microsoft,,,, and their reach extends into the U.S. government … making them virtually untouchable. Two of the founders have died under suspicious circumstances. They have been replaced by two other men who have taken over control of the company. They are employing former convicts and mercenaries for a covert operation, under the guise of normal corporation workings. As Dez becomes involved the body count and turmoil exponentially increases.
This sequel can be devoured as a standalone, as Byrne expertly weaves into the narrative the necessary backstory. James Byrne proves to be a marvelous storyteller as he weave a complex ant twisted tale of intrigue, menace, and mounting tension that escalates into a taut and unpredictable roller coaster denouement. With his impeccable character building, the multilayered actors seem to jump off the page. I personally alternated between the kindle and the audiobook version narrated by John Keating, The wonderful narration brings to life the full charm and wit of Dez, along with his empathy and sense of justice. This intriguing tale will appeal to aficionados of Lee Child’s “Jack Reacher” and Gregg Hurwitz’ “Orphan X” series, as well as Nelson DeMille’s “John Corey/“

I haven’t read the first book in the Gatekeeper series, but this second book stands on its own. In fact, I didn’t realize that there was a first book until after I’d read this one. And what is a gatekeeper? He (or she) is an action hero who would be a match for Rambo, John Wick, John McClane (Die Hard), etc.

Dez Limerick is a gatekeeper, and when a good friend’s sister is in trouble, he is happy to help. What he uncovers is so much more than one attempted murder! Dez is up to the task, though, and with his unmatched skills, he shows that he can take on just about anything.

The characters are well-developed, and I like how the villains are each evil in their own way. Along with the characters, the humor and the relationships Dez has with others on top of the action make this a great read.

Now, I need to read the first book!

A crazy good plot with non stop action.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved this book, it was a totally fun read. Another amazingly clever and skilled guy, rides into to town to rescue damsels in distress, and does so with both violence and charm. With some of the skills and body type reminiscent of Jack Reacher ( the earlier iterations) he kicked butt and even better, thought way ahead of everybody. That is the part of Des I really enjoyed, although his capacity for snark is pretty impressive as well.

Most of these stories follow a predictable, if successful pattern, this one was really a pleasure to read, Can't wait to read more.

really good book and kept me on my on my toes of what would happen. really enjoyed the characters and their journey and would read this author again.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the copy of Deadlock by James Byrne. The first time I tried reading it, I gave up. I waited a few months and tried again,and I ended up liking it., although it took a while because I didn’t like Dez at all. The book reminded me of the “men’s adventure” books from the 80s, where the men were smart, big, and strong, and women were only described for their appearance and bodies. The story was really good, though, so the book was really readable. If you can put up with how "alpha male-centric" the book is you will enjoy it. I don’t think it’s a series I will continue, because I like it, but not enough.

#

Dez Limerick is truly a fascinating individual. With his multitude of talents, including his past as a mercenary, it's no wonder that he has a reputation for being both handsome and a great friend. He also possesses a quick wit that can leave you doubled over with laughter or moved to tears in the middle of a sentence.

Despite retiring and completing his last task, Dez's life takes an unexpected turn when he receives a call from his friend Raziah, who urgently needs his help with her injured sister Lelah. Little did Dez know that this simple act of kindness would put both Raziah and Lelah in danger, as they were being followed and watched. The hospital scenes that follow are truly shocking, and leave you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next.

Although the plot may seem unrealistic, it's easy to get lost in this story and become invested in the characters. As the authorities get involved, the action intensifies, and we see just how many connections Dez has - he truly is a nice guy who people are willing to help.

As the story progresses, a large corporation becomes involved, and it quickly becomes clear that people are dying. The suspense builds, leaving you wondering who will be next, and whether Dez can stop this dangerous domino effect. Overall, this book boasts a fantastic plot, strong and well-developed characters, and is an all-around wonderful read that I highly recommend. With Dez as the main character, it's no wonder that readers are drawn in - he truly is an interesting individual with so much to offer. I really really like Dez.

I received an ARC of this book. This second book was just as intense as the first. A thrilling suspense story with a great main character. Jump in and you have to hang on until the end!

Whew! I didn't realize this was a second book in a series but I believe I got the main idea without having read it. However, I may read the first book just for fun. Fast paced,page turner. The dialect of the main character seems more Aussie than British. Would be interesting to know what any Brits think about Dez's tone. A fair amount if profanity but seems ok for the characters. Lots of action,assassinations,murder and mayhem. Not for the faint of heart. Covers gives basics but it's that and more with some comedic moments with government agencies being the target. Quick read. Have fun with it. I was provided an advanced reader copy and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This is my first James Byrne book but will not be my last. Very well written, fast paced and very suspenseful.
Dez is a special ops expert, he was good at “in and out” and kept the teams alive. He has since retired. A young woman, Raziah, calls him for help, Raziah’s sister, Laleh, a journalist was brutally attacked. It appeared to be related to a story she was working on. She is in the hospital when he goes to see her. The seriousness of the attack is confirmed when Dez takes out a pair of thugs going after Laleh during his visit to the hospital.. Dez realizes that Raziah and Laleh are in grave danger.
A tech company called Clockjack has slowly grown to be a mega influence in the area. Their reach goes all the way to the U.S. Government, making them untouchable. The heads of the company have motives. Dez helping his friends brings out local law enforcement along with the DEA and the U.S. Marshals Service. They don’t initially understand what type of man he is. The folks at Clockjack have never gone against Dez so they are in for a surprise.
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Desmond Aloysius Limerick (Dez) is a special ops expert was active, he was good at “in and out” and kept the teams alive. He was a Soldier of Fortune but has retired. When a young woman, Raziah, calls him for help, he answers yes. Raziah’s sister, Laleh, a journalist was brutally attacked. It appeared to be related to a story she was working on. She is in the hospital when he goes to see her. The seriousness of the attack is confirmed when Dez takes out a pair of thugs with designs on Laleh during his visit to the hospital. Dez is not subtle in either his attitude or his methods to help them. Dez realizes that Raziah and Laleh are in grave danger. A tech company called Clockjack has slowly grown to be a mega influence in the area on the level of Google or Microsoft, and their reach goes all the way to the U.S. Government, making them untouchable. The heads of the company have motives. Dez helping his friends brings out local law enforcement along with the DEA and the U.S. Marshals Service. They don’t initially understand what type of man he is. The odds might be against Dez and the people he cares about staying alive. The folks at Clockjack have never gone against Dez so they are in for a surprise. Will Dez survive the interviews done by the DEA and the U.S. Marshall Service? Knowing that a live video feed will be seen by the people he’s going after, Dez buys popcorn and stands in plain sight eating it, ticking off Clockjack. Dex never worries about having “the upper hand” when it comes to Clockjack.

Dez is an amazing character. He is smart, aware, skilled and funny. He doesn’t panic even when things don’t go as planned. The author writes in the international thriller genre and the other in traditional detective fiction, with his generally relaxed, concise style leaning to the latter. Short chapters mark frequent changes of location and a brisk pace, as the plot pings all over the earth. I enjoyed the action -packed novel.. I hope more “dex” books will be written. I will be very disappointed if there are no more.

Fast paced thriller that kept my attention throughout. The parts with humor were just lovely additions. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

I really liked this book and the character Dez. He was funny but a formidable opponent. This had plenty of action, a corrupt organization, mercenaries, ex-military soldiers, mild romance, death, friendship, destruction and more. When Dez makes a promise to protect someone, he will do it until he dies. Great writing, characters and story. Even though it is the 2nd in a series, it can be read as a stand-alone book. Now I want to go and read the first book in the series to learn more about Dez.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Dez is an interesting character with a lot of education and skills. He has worked for various governments as a gatekeeper. He is educated in physics and electrical engineering, but also by life's experiences in various spots around the world. His irreverent attitude is tied up in his own moral code. He sometimes has compassion. He's an equalizer type of guy for the underdogs who are in trouble they didn't start.

Dez is retired now and is visiting California. He's playing music on piano and guitar. A young woman, who is a talented musician he sometimes accompanies, Raziah, calls him for help when her sister is attacked and nearly killed. Dez jumps into action to protect the sisters and help them figure out why she was targeted. She is a business reporter who did a piece on her good friend who recently died, and he was doing an audit of Clockwork. They don't start knowing his skills but are quickly brought up to speed.

Dez, with very little help from the authorities, puts himself wholeheartedly into protecting the sisters, while figuring out the bad guys and fending off attempts to kill him. The action is fast-paced and like the first book, The Gatekeeper, Dez seems nearly insane for the risks he takes on his own. He gets injured plenty and luckily he does have some friends and even a friendly enemy. People from the first book are now friends who come to his aid.

Deadlock is a frightening example of what happens when the world is caught up with technology and political power to the detriment of ordinary people. The bad guys get richer and more powerful. It takes an extraordinary effort and skills to stop them. I really enjoyed watching Dez do his thing. A few threads are open which I hope will come to life in the next book in the Dez Limerick series.

I found this authors debut,The Gatekeeper, to be immensely entertaining. As soon as I finished it I looked to seek when there would be a sequel. I was thrilled to be granted a NetGalley copy pre-release and then I got skeptical about a follow up novel, could it be as thrilling and entertaining and witty as the first? YES it can! I loved every page and the move forward and circle back to inform the reader of what just happened. The story is action packed and had some twist I did not see coming. The best part to me was the epilogue because I think it means Mr. Byrne is already back at writing more chapters.

A witty and comedic page-turner, Deadlock continues James Byrne's Gatekeeper series with one of the most intriguing, fresh faces in the thriller genre.

Desmond 'Dez' Aloysius Limerick is trouncing around California when he gets a call from Raziah Swann, whose journalist sister in Portland, Oregon, is in the hospital after being mugged. Dez arrives and is immediately thrust into a potential conspiracy behind the tech giant in Oregon, Clockjack. Dez uses his Gatekeeper skills to open and close doors that aren't meant to be opened by the likes of him.

Dez has to use his size and wit to take on Clockjack in this action-packed thriller. It is such a brilliant follow-up to Byrne's debut. Dez is one of the more interesting characters I've read in some time. His hilarity and unique skills make him fascinating, propulsive goof that is a blast to read.

Rarely does a book, especially the sophomore novel, so vastly exceed my expectations, but James Byrne does that with his incredible thriller, Deadlock. Dez is one of the more dynamic characters to cross the page, and Deadlock is a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants novel that will grip readers right out of the gate. It's a must-read for those who enjoy Nelson Demille or a noir-style action novel.

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"Passwords are just locks. I'm good with locks."

"That's just sad really. Nobody teaches the classic skills anymore; cursive writing, how to mix the perfect Rob Roy, picking a basic padlock." Dez mourns for the world.

Desmond "Dez" Aloysius Limerick was hilariously lethal in The Gatekeeper but in his second non stop high octane action thriller, Dead-Lock by movie ready thriller author James Byrne, he's just a devastatingly murderous charmer.

We have a dastardly villain. An international tech corporation, ClockJack, is the perfect corporate citizen but is actually taking over third world countries with assassinations and giving hardened criminals a safe harbor in these strategically hidden in plain sight locations. They might have gotten away with it BUT they messed up when they failed to kill a journalist who stumbled on to something not right with this firm. She just happens to be the sister of one of Dez's band mates. Yes our cheeky hero plays a mean bass guitar.

We can't talk about Dez without the man that brings him from the snarky writing of the author to life on the audiobook. Actor John Keating is Dez! It's not easy becoming a man who can play a bluesy tune, make love to a woman and have her risk everything for him, and then nonchalantly kill a man with a marble, avoid more bullet wounds that map out his life all over his body, and decimate a dam! Yes a dam!

Though the second in the series, it works as a standalone but why not read The Gatekeeper too and get more Dez? I read Dead-Lock. I listened to Dead-Lock. I am locked into my Scottish brogue Dez being the heir to Reacher, Bond, Denzel's Equalizer, and Jason Bourne. I need the TV series now!

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Let me just say, I don’t think I have laughed so much reading a story as I have with this one. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, and wondering what’s going to happen next. This is the second book in the series and I think that you should probably read the first book before you read this one. Both books are excellent reads.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Deadlock by James Byrne is a thriller featuring Desmond Aloysius Limerick. He is a retired gatekeeper. He opens doors and closes them. What goes on inside doesn’t concern him. He is a friend to cops as he is always on the side of law and order. In each new place they view him with suspicion, but he has references. He had been in LA, just knocking around, playin music, and sleeping with friends. That is where he met Raziah, who has just called him from up north. Her sister is in trouble. She is a reporter for a magazine, more a features writer than news, but someone had killed the subject of her current article and someone had come after her and Raziah was scared for her. Of course, Dez, responded immediately and met more cops. more musicians, and more women. It was an enticing tale.

The thing about Dez is: he doesn’t take things to seriously. Oh, don’t mess with him or his friends; he has serious skills. Unlike many other thrillers, Dez has a sense of humor. Like other thrillers, he doesn’t tie himself to one place or to one woman, but keeps moving where ever the wind takes him. It is a fun read, with all the expected beatdowns and occasional deaths, but Dez’s friends come out on top. He is a fabulous character and Byrne’s books are a nice change of pace. I appreciate that and recommend them.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Deadlock by St Martin’s Press, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #JamesByrne #Deadlock