If you are a Jack Reacher or Jason Bourne fan, get ready to fall in love with Desmond Aloysius Limerick (Dez to his friends). Dez was trained as a gatekeeper. There is no portal that he can not open. He also has to keep it open while the members of his team are inside and make sure that they all exit. When a friend calls from Oregon asking for his help he is on the next plane. Raziah Swann is a singer/songwriter whose sister Jaleh was attacked and is in danger. As a reporter, she was writing an article about the death of a friend who had just completed an audit of an influential tech firm. Something is going on at the company’s campus and as long as the Swann sisters are in danger, Dez is going to find out what that is. Two of the company’s founders died suspiciously. They were replaced by two men who have taken control and are using former convicts and mercenaries for a secret operation. Their influence reaches the highest levels of government, forcing the DEA and US Marshalls to not interfere. Dez, however, is working independently, using his skills against the large security force that is guarding the campus.

Dez is a trained soldier, a scholar, a musician and he has a sense of humor. When he befriends someone, they become mates and he will always be there for them. He has a solid build that is marked with the scars of past encounters. He has played back-up for Raziah’s performance in the past and she is one of his mates. Jaleh’s first reaction to Dez is less than favorable but as the threats increase and the body count rises she sees what he is capable of and is added to his ever growing list of mates. James Byrne’s action scenes will keep you on the edge of your seat and eagerly awaiting Dez’s return. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s/Minotaur for providing this book for my review.

This is a great book from the very start until the very end. I’m definitely eagerly awaiting the next adventures in the life of Desmond Aloysius Limerick (Dez to his friends and close personal enemies).

Highly recommended if you like fast paces, fighting, and snark!

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!

A hero like no other living in the world by his own rules while handing out his own consequences. Dez has some different capabilities, opening doors would not seem like a biggie, but in Dez's hands, the ability to go anywhere when he wants is a plus.

James Byrne has developed a very different character in Desmond Aloysius Limerick. He's the kind of character that will keep this reader coming back for the next book, and the next one.....well, you get the picture. Now get the book!

Are you a thrill seeker? A fan of Jack Reacher or Evan Smoak (Orphan X)? If so, you’re going to want to get to know Desmond Aloysius Limerick, Dez to his friends. He is one unique character! He’s highly skilled former military, trained as a Gatekeeper. He opens doors, keeps them open and closes them after all those who’ve entered have come back out. He’s loyal to those he calls friends and he’ll do what’s necessary to keep them safe. His humor is what truly sets him apart from becoming just another random, run of the mill action hero. This is an action packed thrill ride from beginning to end! Absolutely entertaining!

Non stop action! Dez is an interesting character. He is loyal to extreme when it comes to his friends. So when he gets a call from a friend he goes for a visit. The story is full of intrigue, arm to arm combat and crazy good traps to help one man come out ahead. I really enjoyed this book.

This is my first Dez Limerick novel, and it definitely won’t be the last. Dez seems like a drifter with an “aw shucks" persona, but he's anything but. When his friend, Raziah Swann asks for his help when her sister is attacked, Dez quickly agrees. Before long, Dez has hired assassins, multiple alphabet agencies and a powerful company, Clockjack, on his heels.

With the ease and style of a Jack Reacher, but a little more humor and sarcasm, Dez stays a step ahead as he helps the Swann sisters and gets mired in a plot involving a mind-blowing corporate cover up and shocking government conspiracies. While the plot is riveting, Dez and his antics are what kept me on the edge of my seat reading late into the night. Nail-biting, jaw-dropping, and highly entertaining, this one is sure to please the thrill-lover in all of us.

Deadlock by James Byrne: An Adrenaline-Charged, Action-Packed Thrill Ride! Prepare yourself for an electrifying experience as you delve into the heart-pounding pages of Deadlock. This gripping adventure is a must-read for all thrill-seekers, offering a rollercoaster of twists and turns that will leave you breathless.

This was an unexpectedly "fun" read. If you're into thrillers, a bit of spy craft, and a fast paced read, this might be the book for you.

This book is the second in a series, I have not read the first, but that's okay, it's perfectly fine as a standalone! Dez is a highly skilled and self-employed "fixer" who gets a call from a friend that her sister has been attacked and they are scared. Dez, who is from the UK, happens to be in Los Angeles at the time and moseys on up to Portland. Do I enjoy a book set in the Pacific Northwest? Very much!

Shenanigans ensue, fight, bam, pow, it all works out in the end, which is not a spoiler, that's just how books like this go. If you have ever read and enjoyed a Spenser for Hire novel, you're going to like Dez and his snark and wit.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press,/Minotaur Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Deadlock is a great follow-up to James Byrne's The Gatekeeper, featuring Dez Limerick, a mysterious but very funny former military staff sergeant whose main specialty is gates and doors, one of his many skills. In this book, Dez travels to Portland to help the sister of a fellow musician who is in trouble. From that point, it is non-stop action to the end to rescue friends and stop the "bad guys".

If you are a fan of Orphan X, the Gray Man and other action heroes, you will love this series. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy.

I enjoyed it and to be honest I was worried I might not be able to follow the story. It written in the old-school ways of mystery, crime suspense.
Dez was the main character and he was something else. Confident, calm and a brilliant spy of sorts. He was a likable character and the action parts kept me glued. A lot happens in this story and it had a clever ending. The writing was good and I’m looking forward to book 3.
The audiobook was narrated by John Keating and he was perfect for it.
Thanks St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.

Dez is hands down one of my favorite characters ever. Strong, fiercely protective of his people , and funny as hell.

I cannot say enough good things about this series. It’s got so many twists and turns I’m never sure which way is up until the author wants me to! And I can’t emphasize enough how witty this character is. Love it. Can’t wait for the next book!

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.

It should be noted that this story actually begins in Chechnya where Dez is ordered to help a US/UK group to retrieve notes, computers, and sample from a chemical weapon facility. It should be noted that I mention this because one of those characters, Arabella Satti, of MI5, will return later in this story to assist Dez with a problem that he encounters. Also, another character, who I won't spoil, also returns leading to a heart racing finale to the story that leads into the next installment. Thank you James!

If you haven't yet started reading this series, let me kindly introduce you to Desmond Aloysius Limerick. Dez is what's called a Gatekeeper. He opens doors to let people in to do their jobs, he holds the doors to make sure nobody can interfere in his job, and he closes the door behind making sure nobody is left behind. But in Chechnya, Dez had no choice but to exfil with his team after one of the members disappears without a trace, much to the chagrin of Arabella. Fast forward....

Jaleh Swann, is a business journalist in Portland 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 and all her research is stolen. It seems that someone doesn't want what Jaleh uncovered about a powerful company to go public. 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 specialty is he can open any door, keep said door open as long as necessary, and ensures no one enters or exits without his express permission. Now Dez takes on the job of protecting Jaleh & Raziah while exposing 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.

The two captured men (and the corpse Dez left behind) attract the attention of not just Clockjack, but the Portland police, the D.E.A, and the U.S. Marshal's who somehow lost track of the men involved in the attack on the sisters. The conspiracy may be deeper than Dez could imagine. 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.

Thoughts: Dez has quickly become one of my favorite characters, and I am happy that James Byrne took time out of his busy schedule to let me know that yes, a third book is in the works. Dez is a curious character in that he is a rather small man with a big physique. He talks the talk, and walks the walk. Dez always seems to find himself at the right moment at the wrong time which leads to some action packed scenes that will leave you blown away. I do want to see what happens next between Dez and Arabella since she was really made at him for such a long time, and now they kind of got squared away. Just in the nick of time!! No spoilers!

As a sequel, "Deadlock" successfully builds upon the foundation set by "The Gatekeeper," offering readers a deeper exploration of the characters, their motivations, and the intricate connections that bind them. With the same pulse-pounding tension and masterful storytelling, this installment proves that James Byrne has crafted not just a sequel, but a continuation of a gripping saga that captivates, intrigues, and leaves us yearning for more.

In conclusion, "Deadlock" delivers a triumphant follow-up to its predecessor, skillfully maintaining the momentum of the series while introducing new layers of complexity and suspense. This book is a testament to the power of friendship, the resilience of the human spirit, and the unwavering determination to stand against the forces that seek to silence the truth. Fans of thrilling suspense and dynamic characters will find themselves thoroughly engrossed in the world of "Deadlock," eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Dez's journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for this advanced copy

Desmond Aloysius Limerick (“Call me Dez.”) is back in all his glory. I’ve been anxiously awaiting this book. As expected, I was not disappointed.

Dez was a gatekeeper, skilled at opening doors and keeping them open. Retired now, he spends his time in the US, roaming a bit, sitting with a band here and there, playing his base guitar and generally taking it easy. Somehow, though, he always finds a bit of trouble.

In this fast moving, action packed adventure, Dez finds himself facing off against a multimillion dollar tech company with a supposed humanitarian mission. Sure they’ve done some good in some underserved parts of the world. But something sinister is hiding beneath all that benevolence. When business reporter Laleh Swann is attacked, her sister Razieh enlists the aid of her friend Dez. Always happy to help a friend, he heads to Portland. When the attackers return to finish the job, Dez puts the kabosh on the attempt. Now he’s in the cross hairs of Clockjack. They may be sure they have the upper hand, but they don’t know Dez. He may be outmanned and outgunned, but brains beats brawn any day.

I loved Dez’s character from the first chapter of the first book, Gatekeeper. Dez is unflappable. Even when the situation seems hopeless, he keeps his cool. His calm demeanor and straight forward logic is often in direct contrast to action. And his wisecracks keep his adversaries off balance. Written in short, crisp sentences the story moves at a rapid pace. You’ll love to hate the villains and root hard for the good guys. And sometimes even laugh aloud. This story is a great escape, but be warned. Once you start you may not want to stop until you reach “The End”.

Deadlock, the 2nd of the Dez Limerick series, is the first James Byrne novel I have read. It’s a suspense action thriller about a man who works with a special ops team to be the man who opens and guards the door while the rest of the team finds chemical weapons and more. Love, love, love Dez’s character! He is witty, quick, sarcastic and smart. He takes on a case in Portland when his friend’s sister is attacked. During this he utilizes the assistance of his previous team, built from people around the world. This page turner is full of action, including, some violence and a whole lot of guys who skirt the edges of legality in the name of figuring out a case and bringing justice to the situation. Even though I have not yet read the first novel in the series I didn’t feel lost in this novel so it is fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Deadlock (Dez Limerick #2)
By: James Bryce
Pub date: today! 8-8-23
Publisher: Minotaur Books

Desmond Aloysius Limerick aka Dez has retired and has been bumming around, playing his guitar, enjoying his time in LA. Until a friend calls from Oregan needing help Raziah’s little sister Laleh has been attacked on the street.
Laleh is a reporter she has been writing about Connor O’Meara. Connor had been doing an audit on a phone maker and something didn't seem right. But now Dez is on the case.

Dez definitely fits in with the Jack Reacher-Jason Bourne high action but still humorous crowd. He’s resourceful and it feels like everyone is living in Dez’s world. Can’t wait for the next one!

Would that Desmond Aloysius Limerick was my friend! This is a whirlwind of a thriller about a Gatekeeper- a man trained to open a door, hold the door, own the door- who goes to Portland when a friend calls because her sister has been attacked. Des untangles a massive corporate conspiracy and fraud with the help of one of the sisters, a Deputy US Marshal, an MI-6 agent, and random others, including a hacker in Hong Kong. It is impossible to explain this one but know that there's violence (wait, just wait for what he does with a ball bearing) and there's a single minded effort to stop the bad guys, even at great personal risk. Dez is nothing less than awesome and the villains are all vivid characters. I read this straight past when I should have put it down because it's one heck of a page turner. Don't worry- it might be the second in a series but it's fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Great read - and no spoilers from me.

Desmond Aloysius Limerick, aka Dez, is back in another high octane thriller. Described as “five-eight but built like a tank, with a barrel chest, thick arms and short, bowed legs” he’s not a traditional James Bond type lady killer. He’s a very smart, cheeky Brit, covered in scars with a laconic sense of humour and a fine sense of justice. He’s also an ex-soldier, trained as a ‘Gatekeeper’, an expert in opening doors (both real and virtual), holding them open and closing them when required. The prologue shows him on a mission in Chechnya two years before, one that didn’t quite go as planned and would have far reaching consequences for Dez.

Recently retired, Dez is now in California, getting ready to move on from his last adventure, when he receives a call from his musician friend Raziah Swann in Portland saying she needs his help. Her sister Laleh, a business reporter, has been brutally attacked and only just prevented from being killed when some witnesses happened by. Her apartment has also been ransacked and she has no idea why any of this is happening. Laleh has been working on a profile of a recently murdered auditor who was carrying out an audit on local tech company, Clockjack Solutions. Started by four academics in the 90s, two of whom have recently died, Clockjack is massively successful in software and telecommunications, with a huge R&D campus in Portland and a popular ethos of using their profits for improving the planet and people’s lives.

Taking Raziah to visit Laleh in hospital, Dez spots three thugs set on doing further harm to Lelah and does what he does best to incapacitate them. Now he has attracted the attention of a powerful and corrupt group intent on neutralising both him and the Swann sisters and it will take all his skills to find out why and keep them all safe.

This sequel to ‘The Gatekeeper’ is another fast paced, action packed thriller, which should also work well as a stand alone novel. Dez is a one-man army up against an international conspiracy involving some very bad men indeed. Applying unique, often quirky and sometimes humorous solutions to problems others couldn’t possibly have predicted, Dez leaves a trail of mayhem and havoc behind him. Also, quite often a very high body count, although he only metes out his brand of short, sharp violence only as needed and kills only when necessary to remove an immediate threat. In Dez, James Byrne has created a uniquely imagined, larger than life action hero who is sure to delight fans of the likes of Jack Reacher, Jason Bourne and Orphan X and and those who enjoy a fast paced suspense driven thriller with a good serve of fun.

This is an action-packed sequel featuring Desmond Aloysius Limerick. What a great character! Dez is called to help a friend, Raziah, in Oregon whose sister Laleh was attacked and lays in the hospital. Laleh is a business reporter/journalist and was working on a story about the death of her friend Conor who was doing an audit on the biggest phone and software corporation in Oregon. An action-packed crime thriller that follows Dez as he protects the two sisters and takes on this huge corporation. Thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely will go back and read the first novel The Gatekeeper.

I received an eARC from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.