Fantastic novel, the author has a talent for portraying and naming characters. It's the type of book that you want to read without unnecessary breaks. A blend of humor and thrilling action keep your attention drawn to the page.

Honestly did not realize this was a sequel going in, but was able to find my way along well enough. This book was thrilling and fast-paced. I liked the characters and thought they were super well done. I'll be backing up to read book one (The Gatekeeper) and will be looking for more books from this author.

This is not my typical book, and I was given this as book mail from the publisher.

Dez Limerick traveling to the Pacific Northwest to offer his services and protection to a pair of sisters in need. Laced with humor, action, violence, and a little corporate espionage, if you enjoy a good spy novel you can’t go wrong. Dez is essentially The Equalizer meets Jason Bourne meets Sterling Archer. A fantastic and fast read.

James Byrne has created one of my favorite characters in the last decade. Dez sarcasm and wit is what brings me back to the series, but Byrne provides more than enough action and intrigue for any thriller fan.

Fast-paced action plot that reminds me of the original/classic Bond paperbacks. The protagonist’s physique is nothing like that of OG James Bond, but he’s clever with a nimble mind. Sure, I prefer Orphan X and Reacher, but in the future I’ll also look for Dez Limerick books.
One caveat: “Aloysius” rankles, because to my mind, the very pale, almost cadaverous Agent A.X.L. Pendergast is or should be the only Aloysius. But that’s just me. 3.5 stars bumped up to 4.

Deadlock is the second novel of the series and was as good as “The Gatekeeper”.
Well crafted thriller and comes together well at the end.

This is the second book in the Dez Limerick series. I have not read the 1st book in the series but did not feel like I missed out while reading this one. I will, however, probably go back and read the first one. Dez is such an interesting character.
Dez is a "Gatekeeper". Gatekeepers can open any door, keep the door open as long as necessary, and ensures no one enters or exits without his express permission. Dez receives a call from Raziah, a friend, that her sister, Laleh, was attacked and is in the hospital. When Dez arrives, he discovers three shady dudes there to finish the job and stops them. Laleh is digging into a story about a friend of hers who had been doing an audit for a company when he was murdered. After the three men at the hospital are discovered as known criminals, several Federal agencies get involved and everyone is told to "stand down", which leaves Dez there to protect the sisters.
This was a fun read. It was fast-paced with enough action and twists to keep one engaged. I truly wanted to know what would happen next. Definitely a must-read!
My sincere thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Deadlock!

The descriptions were perfectly written so as not to overpower the story itself. I like reading a book where most of the visual is your imagination and this book did that for me. I enjoyed the story itself; it was a fast thriller. I thought the main character was well developed. I had not read any books by this author before but will definitely do so again.

I.enjoyed this second book in the.series.stightly more then the first.
The.character is like a.foul mouthed James.Bond and I love it
I can't wait for another

I found this book to be very interesting and intriguing. I would recommend this a friend because this is a book for everyone.

Dive into the heart-pounding world of espionage and high-stakes action with James Byrne's gripping thriller, "Deadlock."

Dez Limerick, a former soldier and expert hacker, is back in action, this time facing off against a ruthless group of mercenaries with a deadly agenda. When a series of targeted attacks threatens to unravel a covert operation, Dez is tasked with protecting two women with crucial information.

As Dez delves deeper into the conspiracy, he uncovers a web of deceit and betrayal, where everyone has something to hide and no one can be trusted. He must rely on his cunning, his wit, and his unwavering determination to keep the women safe and prevent a global catastrophe.

Byrne masterfully crafts a suspenseful narrative that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. The plot twists and turns keep the pages turning, and the action sequences are adrenaline-fueled and exhilarating. Dez is a captivating protagonist, his sharp intellect and unwavering loyalty making him a force to be reckoned with.

The supporting cast is equally well-developed, each with their own motivations and secrets to unravel. The characters' interactions are a source of tension and intrigue, adding depth and complexity to the story.

"Deadlock" is a thrilling ride through the world of espionage and high-stakes action. Byrne's writing is engaging and suspenseful, his characters are relatable and well-developed, and the plot is full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

The second book in the series which can be read as a standalone. I enjoy the main character Dez Limerick - a loyal and intelligent person with unexpected skills. As I read, I could not help thinking that the story would make a good movie. An enjoyable read.

My second book by this author and his writing and characters continue to be entertaining. Dez continues to put himself in situations that it seems no one else would for their friends. He gets a call from his friend who’s worried about her sister. He goes to protect both Swann sisters and starts to uncover a major corporation in the area isn’t who they seem to be. How is this connected with his friends? Well Dez is determined to figure it out.

I enjoyed this sequel much more than the first book in the series. It feels a little less misogynistic and Limerick feels a little less skeevy. The writing is compelling, fast-paced, and action-packed. I enjoyed watching Limerick outsmart the bad guys. I'm still not sure that there is enough here that is special, that sets this series apart from other thrillers on the market, to make it memorable, but it's an enjoyable way to escape reality and kill some time. I wouldn't object to reading more of the series.

Dez is back and he’s funnier, wittier, cleverer than ever. Book 2 was nonstop action and humor and it was the perfect balance. Dez answers the call to help a friend whose sister was attacked for no known reason. From there, with the help of the sisters he starts to uncover the motive and bests every person who comes across his path. The ending left quite the little cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read book 3 to see what happens next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.

Deadlock follows The Gatekeeper in James Byrne's military thriller series starring retired mercenary soldier Desmond Aloysius 'Dez' Limerick

In this 2nd in the series, Dez answers a call for help from a friend and ends up facing a mercenary army! The action is explosive and the dialogue consistently entertains.

Published by Minotaur Books on August 8, 2023

It would be difficult to find a more likeable tough guy protagonist than Desmond Limerick. He isn’t a pacifist, but he prefers to avoid violence when he can. Unfortunately, he has a tendency to make enemies who want to kill him. He might kill to solve a problem on occasion, but he has a moral compass that limits his use of violence for retribution. He can be creatively nonviolent when people need to be punished. There are nevertheless times when he concludes that threats must be eliminated to protect people he cares about.

Deadlock is the second novel about Dez, a former soldier from the UK who attained the legendary status of gatekeeper. He opens locks and gates and holds them open until the mission is complete. He’s retired from a military life and isn’t seeking similar work in the private sector. Rather, he’s moved to the US where he plays his guitar and enjoys his life. At least, that’s the goal.

A young woman named Raziah, whose band Dez occasionally joins, asks him to help her sister, who has been facing threats in Portland. Laleh was writing a profile of a forensic auditor who was looking into Clockwork, a Portland tech firm that does all sorts of good around the world. After the auditor died, someone apparently worried that Laleh learned something from him that she shouldn’t know.

Dez goes to Portland, thwarts thugs who plan to kill Laleh in her hospital room, then makes a plan to keep the sisters safe. In the long term, that plan requires him to learn why Laleh has been targeted so he can eliminate the threat. As he unlocks various doors, he learns that Clockwork has been infiltrated by criminals who have a clever scheme to gain and shelter ill-gotten wealth. I won’t discuss the details but I will say that, while some of their criminal tactics are familiar, the ultimate criminal goal it’s a surprisingly original. Kudos to James Byrne for coming up with something new.

Dez endeavors not only to keep the sisters alive, but to help the older sister understand her younger sibling. He makes a new female friend (a Russian bar owner named Veronika) and patches up a relationship with a British SIS agent whose career he might have destroyed during his gatekeeping days. The novel’s plot and subplots arrive at tidy resolutions. Is there anyone who doesn’t enjoy a well-crafted thriller?

Dez’s attitude, reflected in snappy and very funny dialog, contributes to his likeability. He has other traits that make him a terrific thriller hero, including humility, a sense of fair play, and fierce loyalty to his friends. Laleh is astonished that Dez hasn’t tried to sleep with Raziah, but she’s only nineteen and Dez sees her as a talented singer/songwriter, not as a conquest. He isn’t sanctimonious about right and wrong — he’s able to make flexible moral choices — but he always does the right thing, even when that he does morally questionable things for the right reason. There’s enough nuance in his character to make him interesting and enough integrity to make him admirable.

Byrne keeps the story in constant motion. Action scenes are more inventive than readers encounter in standard thrillers. Dez is often the target of shootings but he tends not to use guns. He prefers to settle disputes by outthinking his enemy but he has no problem using his fists. One powerful punch is typically all he needs to subdue a foe. He improvises weapons as needed to win battles. Dez's ability to think and plan sets him apart from action heroes whose idea of thinking is to decide which gun to use next.

Deadlock is every bit as good as The Gatekeeper. At a time when most tough guy series have gone stale, it’s good for action novel fans to have a new thriller hero keeping the genre fresh.

RECOMMENDED

Fast-paced and action-packed thriller. The main character, Dez Limerick, is a unique and resourceful type who does what has to be done and is supremely loyal to his friends. I had a lot of fun reading this one.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

Dead Lock is the second book in James Byrne's Dez Limerick series, I found this to be an enjoyable read. Fast paced and it kept me turning the pages. I would recommend it to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

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.