Desmond Aloysius Limerick (“Dez”) is a retired mercenary from Ireland or Scotland or some other British related country. He considers himself a gatekeeper - one who opens the gates and keeps them open. He is currently in California, and returning to his hotel, comes upon a plot to kidnap Petra Alexandris, the daughter of the CEO of Triton Expeditors, a multinational military contractor led by her super rich father, Constantine. Dez rescues Petra, and their new found friendship leads to her asking him to help with another problem - the embezzlement of $1.3 billion from the company. What evolves is a complex scheme involving the military, the media, foreign nationals, and American fringe groups, and Dez must use all his physical training and mental acuity to outwit the many enemies on the playing field. I could not put this book down! Dez Limerick is a humorous Jack Reacher, Dewey Andreas, Mitch Rapp and so many other thriller leads. The action is pretty much nonstop and the plot is complex yet drops enough clues as to exactly who are all the bad guys. I am pretty sure Byrne telegraphed another book featuring Dez and I can’t wait. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the ARC of this novel.

This book has a Jack Reacher vibe to it but with a Scottish/Irish hacker with a sense of humor. It's action-packed with some good fight scenes. The problem with the book is that the plot is so far-fetched and convoluted that it was hard to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and James Byrne for a copy of "The Gatekeeper" in exchange of an honest review.

Overall, this book was fast paced and kept the pages turning. My favorite part of this book - the main character, Dez, the gatekeeper. When Dez decides to interfere with an attempted kidnapping it turns into far more for him and the woman he saved, Petra. The plot of Petra’s father and staff at Triton to work with the Russians to leave the union from California was a bit much for me but the action with Dez to bring forth justice kept me motivated to keep reading.

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A solid 4.5 for me. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance review copy of this adventure. Unfamiliar with James Byrne (a pseudonym so who knows?), I wasn’t sure as I started the book. But it quickly picked up and I actually could not put it down. This is an action-packed thriller featuring Desmond Aloysius Limerick “Dez”, an enigmatic “mutt” of a man. Dubbed “The Gatekeeper”, “he doesn’t believe in God but he does believe in the Roman god Janus: beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doors, passages, and endings”. Dez is drawn into a complex conspiracy when foils a kidnapping attempt. The potential victim is a member of a very powerful family and Dez is drawn into helping her unravel a mystery of missing money in her family’s business. This story would have seemed extremely far-fetched read a few years ago but with today’s political climate, not so much. I liked the quick pacing, the nuance, the humor, and I found Dez an utterly compelling character.

*4+ stars! A great new character joins the thriller genre! Desmond Aloysius Limerick is the eponymous gatekeeper which he says is 'one who can open any door, keep it open, and control who goes through and who doesn't. This time around he's the one who's about to break through.'

Dez is just 5 foot eight, bow-legged, but built like a tank with a massive chest and hands the size of catchers' mitts. He has a British accent but no one can quite pin him down to say exactly where he's from. He's newly retired from some sort of military and/or intelligence work and spending time in California playing bass guitar with various bands. His current gig comes with a room comp at the Hotel Tremaine in Los Angeles. He is getting on the elevator to go to his room when a beautiful woman and her bodyguard step on. He tries to flirt with with her but she politely says no as she gets off the elevator on the floor below his but gives him a lovely smile as she leaves.

Later from the window in his room, he spots a sniper on the roof across the way and sees a van with four more armed men pulling up to the hotel. He notes the phones and fire alarm have been taken out. There's no earthly reason for Dez to get involved in what's going down but that lovely woman smiled at him as she got off the elevator so...

Exciting action from start to finish with a plot that's totally believable in today's crazy political climate. Dez is really quite likable, often amusing and amazingly smart and efficient at getting the job done. I'm really looking forward to reading many more of his adventures to come.

Somehow it seems out of character to call a story with this much mayhem, murder and malicious monkey business a "fun" read, but after finishing it, I can't come up with a better description. The near-superhero, Desmond Aloysius Limerick, or Dez, brought physical abilities and mental insights to the table, not the least of which is a sense of humor that elicited a giggle now and again. A retired mercenary with a side gig as a musician, he makes the whole thing work (and me eager to encounter him in the next go-round, assuming there is one).

As he's readying to leave his California hotel, he encounters a beautiful (of course!) damsel in extreme distress and quickly decides to take a short but bloody detour to save her. Turns out she's in distress for another reason: She's learned that someone at her father's uber-profitable company, Triton Expeditors (where she's gainfully employed), has been siphoning off billions of dollars but so far has escaped identification. Dez being between assignments at the moment (and Dez just being Dez), he agrees to help her find the culprit. He is, after all, a gatekeeper; he's the best at opening doors - actually, just about anything - and keeping them open as long as necessary.

What he finds, though, it far more complicated and dangerous (and, if I'm honest, more far-fetched, even though parts are ripped from the headlines). Dez encounters biased media, a clandestine militia operation that's intent on taking over and the threat of nuclear disaster - bulldozing his way through them all and leaving bloody messes in his wake as he looks for, and tries to bring down, the bad guys and gals. The ending is fairly predictable, but satisfying - including Dez's ride off into the sunset.

In short, only one thing nearly ruined the whole experience: I absolutely detest reading books written in the present tense. And no matter how good this one is, that got in the way and stomped on my enthusiasm. But that's just me; others, in fact, may find it a refreshing approach. In any event, many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get to know this character and author by way of a pre-release copy.

This will make perfect travel reading. It's over the top, totally implausible, incorporates multiple topical tropes and is still a page turner. Dez, our hero, can do everything from opening doors (or gates), play music, cook, investigate financial fraud, and save a woman from evil kidnappers. Petra, the woman in question, hires him, and together (and apart) they find all sorts of villains out there trying to cause problems. It's next to impossible to describe. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Its a guilty pleasure.

The Gatekeeper is a great new story and character by James Byrne.

"Desmond Aloysius Limerick (Dez to his friends) thwarts an attempted kidnapping of Petra Alexandris. She is Chief Legal Counsel of Triton Expeditors, a major military contractor. She asks Dez to help her find some money missing from her company - $ 1.5 Billion. Dez is a Gatekeeper - he opens doors and keeps them open - and he's in between jobs now so he agrees to help. He finds a massive conspiracy threatening the US and becomes the only one standing between them and success."

Great character from Byrne. Dez is not a superman - there's a couple of times where he takes some licks. But he seems like a fun guy. And with Byrne's descriptions and Keating narration you can see him easily.

The story is suspense/thriller/humor. There's a big conspiracy that's easy to believe. But Dez is right there in the middle of it. (And his "perfect American accent" is hilarious)

This is a fast-paced narrative - you'll want to keep reading or listening. Add this to your summer beach reading list

This is an author I've never read before but can't wait to read more from. The setting for this thriller begins in Algeria with the primary character, Dez. He's a contract "Gatekeeper", the for-hire muscle, responsible for entry and exit of a team on various unsanctioned missions. Next Dez is retiring to LA. His retirement is delayed as he becomes involved in a shoot out before he even settles into his luxury hotel suite. All to aide the beautiful woman he just rode up the elevator with.
It took awhile to ascertain where Dez was from, the UK. He has quite the interesting vernacular, had me in stitches! He's very much a world traveler, very polite, a brute, but cunning and can plan complicated missions on the fly. He has a good moral compass and is loyal.
Petra Alexandris is the gorgeous, brilliant business woman from the elevator. She co-owns Triton Expediters, a military contractor, with her father, Constantine. She has discovered money missing from the company's billions. Petra retains Dez to track the money.
The ensuing discoveries about the missing billions leads Dez to tangle with Triton's top management, various dissidents, violent racists, White supremacist, and generally misguided revolutionaries.
Without giving away plot twists, suffice it to say the action is fast and fierce, a non-stop race to avoid impending disaster. There may be international consequences.
The individuals involved in taking the money have a plan that would change the world. The players range from ordinary redneck muscle types, the  police, the FBI, U.S. Marshals, the Secretary of the Navy a Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a Russian ambassador. Oh, and throw in a military base and a nuclear power plant. Add to that some crazed Patriot Media televised propaganda and diplomatic immunity.
There is a good mix of action, suspense, high finance, International intrigue, subtle humor and even some romance. It's a thrilling read, probably the best I've read this year. It was not at all what I expected, so much more.
There was a time when I would have said this plot was far fetched and implausible. With the current political unrest and divisive opinions, sadly it no longer seems unrealistic. The story was insiteful without being preachy or political. I highly recommend!
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the advance digital copy of "The Gatekeeper" by James Byrne and to Minatour Books. These are my personal and honest thoughts and opinions.

First, I’d like to say thank you for the opportunity to read the book.
And I can’t wait for the second(hoping there is one :)
I’m a sucker for witty, fun, sarcastic bad ass characters.
Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. Read till my eyes blurred. Thinking this is just silly it will still be here tomorrow.
The lady was no slouch herself.
Wonderfully well rounded in my opinion had a little bit of everything.
Now, I have one more to add to my favorite look out list
The book was wonderful You are a wonderful writer
And I thank you forever. Cause without words to read What would I do..

Sometimes you just need and appreciate a romp. That's what this story delivers, in spades.

There's not much character development--who cares? The good guys are good and tough, the bad guys are nasty and get everything they deserve. Our hero Dez, who was introduced in the Minotaur Sampler Vol. 5, can really take a punch and keep on fighting. He is often like a lower-class Bond, then like a MacGyver in finding creative solutions to nasty situations. I particularly like the effectiveness of dish detergent as a defense weapon. Send at least 4 men to get him--and he'll still prevail. He has a soft side, too, but doesn't spend too much time on that . . . it would merely detract from the action.

Yes, the sex is described as "calisthenics" and he's never going to bare his soul to the perfect ice queen who is our heroine. Again, who cares? They enjoy their time together and he'll be riding off into the sunset. Can't wait to read his next adventures.

I am grateful to the author and Minotaur Books for making this digital ARC available to me. 4.5 stars rounded up because I enjoyed the romp.

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. I loved this book! It has everything: totally flawed characters, an incredibly thrilling, yet witty, story, a remarkable, self-effacing male and a no-holds-barred lively female determined to get it all done her way. I recommend this story to readers who enjoy a thriller with a touch of humor and a timely, credible plot.

What a great main character. Dez is, a unique person with a unique set of skills. Just the right person to save Petra from a kidnapping. He is such a heartwarming, fun, full of surprises, main character. I enjoyed his wit and admired his skills to make things happen - his way. He goes to work for Petra to find out who tried to kidnap her and where has one point three billion dollars disappeared to. Whom in her and her father's multi-billion-dollar company stole it. A refreshing new character Dez is but don’t underestimate him, he is deadly. Just the kind of person you want on your side. I can’t wait for more books starring Dez. This is a very good read I highly recommend it. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers Minotaur Books New York for this delightful read.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book! This is not my usual genre, but the publisher invited me to review an ARC because I’ve reviewed multiple ARCs for Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X series and enjoyed them. I may have enjoyed this series opener even more!

Similar to Evan Smoak in Orphan X, Dez Limerick is an unlikely hero with a shady past. I rooted for him shamelessly because he is a badass who is also kind, charming, respectful, and inclusive. This action genre is not so far removed from fantasy in that the plot is far-fetched and the character development is light, but it is just so fun to read. I look forward to more entries in this series.

James Byrne introduces a new challenger for “most hilarious” protagonist in the thriller genre. Dez Limerick is every bit as cheeky as he is deadly. The Gatekeeper is a witty, action packed, and utterly enjoyable read.

With a past as cloudy as tea from a dirty kettle, Dez is trying to put career as a “gatekeeper” behind him. Fancying himself a guitarist, he heads to find the sun and fun in southern California. While playing a gig, the skills and instincts he spent a lifetime cultivating come in handy when a team of operators infiltrate his hotel, attempting to abduct the woman he’d just been flirting with.
When he thwarts the attack with a brutal rescue, Dez cannot possibly know how deep his decision will force him down the rabbit hole of an insane white supremacist conspiracy within the US Military and the large scale plans they have.

A British Isle man by birth, Dez’s time globetrotting has produced a vocabulary and vernacular as unique as his professional skill set. His quick wit and charming personality are as persuasive and endearing to the characters in the story as it is to the readers fortunate enough to be reading the story.

What makes this book so great is besides a fun, intelligent, and well rounded cast of characters, the action and storylines are every bit as engaging. While you may think the Neo-Nazi plot in the military is enough to carry the book, Byrne adds in additional layers of intrigue and misdirection that make this book fly by. It really is everything you’d want in a lighter, entertaining read.

The Gatekeeper will definitely be on one of my “Best of” lists for 2022.

This is the best thriller I've read in a while. It introduces a new hero, Dez Limerick, who is funny, clever, charming, resourceful, and apparently indestructible. In some ways, he is reminescent of Charteris' Saint, but updated for our coarser times.

The plot moves fast enough to keep you from overthinking its outrageousness, the writing is breezy and even cheerful, the characters are satisfyingly good or evil, and the action scenes are frequent and well choreographed.

It's pretty much everything I ask for in a thriller. Count me in for the sequel.

This was a fun and fast-paced thriller reminiscent of James Bond but with a very different sort of hero. Dez is a former mercenary who is currently in LA playing bass in a variety of bands. When he stumbles on an attack on a woman he rode in the elevator with, he manages to throw the attack in disarray and rescue the lady.

Petra Alexandris is the chief legal counsel for Triton Expeditors, a major military contractor. She's also the daughter of the CEO and heir apparent to the company. She calls on Dez to help her investigate when she learns that more than a billion dollars is missing from the company's books. She doesn't trust her own company's security to look into the problem.

Dez's investigation leads to a major conspiracy including corrupt media, some members of the armed forces who are both right wing and racist, and an attempted coup. It is up to Dez to break up all the various plans and solve the problems.

I liked Dez who is an intriguing character. He's smart and talented at his former profession. He's also a man of mystery who is trusted by the Secretary of the Navy but who doesn't show up in any sort of database.

I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot and the exciting action.

I received an ARC of this book. This action-packed story kept me turning the pages until the very end. I loved the main character and would enjoy finding him in another story. Great suspense!

The Gatekeeper

#TheGatekeeper #JamesByrne #MinotaurBooks # St.MartinsPress #NetGalley

I received an ARC of The Gatekeeper in exchange for my review. Dez Limerick is the Gatekeeper. He specializes in opening, controlling and closing doors, entry points, access, etc. He is kind of a mix of Sun Tzu, Bill Gates and an orangutan. He knows military tactics and strategy, has a bit of detective about him, above average hacker, and can knock your lights out if he feels so inclined.

He gets drawn into an investigation which winds up having him and his allies trying to thwart a rather interesting (though perhaps a bit farfetched) scheme. Dez and his compatriots follow the clues and eventually confront the challenge. The result is satisfactory though comes off as a bit lukewarm as is intended by one of the protagonists. I enjoyed the tale and recommend it.

While I enjoyed the beginning scene and the first chapter, I had a hard time getting fully absorbed in this book. Dez seems like he is the perfect operative, cool under pressure, and always has a plan, he plays the guitar and can cook too. Honestly, he seemed too cool, other than the fact he doesn't look like Hugh Jackman or Chris Helmsworth he is the perfect man. Even without the looks, he can still get any woman he wants. When he and the woman he saved Petra ended up hooking up I didn't believe it, they had no chemistry, and only a mild bit of flirting on his part between them. While I didn't feel like it had much of a plot that made a lot of sense to me, I enjoyed the action scenes quite a bit.