This book was the first physical ARC I have received and came highly recommended with a letter introducing it written by one of my favorite authors - Gregg Hurwitz. I had high hopes for this book and for the most part they were met. As the book opens, we meet a cast of characters and try to keep track of what’s going on as the action moves fast. Fast forward and protagonist Dez Limerick is trying to relax and enjoy playing music when he is presented with a situation where he is compelled to step in to act, using his specific set of skills. The book takes off from there with a wild story and non stop twists and turns. Some of it was so far out there as to seem completely unrealistic - even for a work of fiction. Compared to Gregg Hurwitz’ writing which features a lot of depth of characters and character development, The Gatekeeper was lacking in that department. Perhaps I am a bit biased as Orphan X/Evan Smoak is one of my favorite protagonists of all time.

Overall, this is a solid debut, and I look forward to seeing continued character development and growth from this author.

Thank you to the publisher Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a free
Advance Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest review.

Dez Limerick is a Gatekeeper - his ability to open doors and close them at the right time is one of his many talents and abilities. After a job in Algeria, Dez decides he might retire in California.
One night after playing the bass guitar in a club, he returns to his hotel and prevents the kidnapping of Petra Alexandris, the daughter of the CEO of Triton . As Triton is a major military contractor, discovering who is behind the kidnapping is vital. In addition, Petra is attempting to uncover who has stolen over a billion dollars from the company.
As the kidnappers' backgrounds are revealed, is there a connection to the stolen money? As different players are identified, the goal is revealed. Question is, however, which side do the different players belong to?
Fast moving story - thanks to NetGalley for a copy.

THE GATEKEEPER

Desmond Aloysius Limerick - “Dez”.
Combination of an Irish Scottish James Bond and Superman, but without the suave or the ability to fly. But possibly in a sequel.

Gatekeeper is just over the top fun reading. With a vaguely sketchy possible Military/Mercenary background, Dez gets things done. A chance encounter with the beautiful Petra Alexandris, corporate lawyer to the Triton company, gives us the opportunity to witness Mr. Limerick’s multitude of talents. A plot involving Triton, missing billions, the Military, the media, and a rogue group of anarchists provides the background for lots of action and excitement. Throw in some international intrigue, a gorgeous California on the ocean setting, and a touch of romance - what more could you want?! Oh, and he has a great sense of humor.

Well written and just plain fun to read, I’m hoping for more Dez in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley, James Byrne, and Minotaur Books and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Retired mercenary who takes on a new job. His background isn't totally clear - you are not sure where he comes from and his whole story. But he certainly has skills. It was fun, it was entertaning, it was a quick, easy read. It was a cross between the Jack Reacher series and Jason Bourne. What wasn't to love?

I can't wait for the next book in this series. I will be one of the first in line..

Thank you to the author #JamesByrne, the publisher and to #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.

This was a well done, fast paced read. The premise is an individual whose background is somewhat mysterious, but who has a definite skill set that designates him as a gatekeeper, who becomes involved overturning a plot to create a separate nation in northern California. The whole book is a stretch of the imagination that borders on the possible in the current environment, but is good and entertaining escapism reading. I am looking forward to more books from this author.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

Dez is a gatekeeper, if he wants in you will not keep him out.
He meets a beautiful woman on an elevator and starts on a wild ride. This book caught me on the first page and didn't let go all the way to the end. The storyline is dramatic, funny, and action packed. I immediately went to look at what other books this author has as soon as I finished the last page. What a read!

This is a fast paced, enjoyable story about greed and insatiable people trying to control the country and world. Great plot (a little more realistic or possible than I’d like to think given the state of the US), great characters who you will love or hate and a captivating story.
I very much liked the protagonist, Dez Limerick. Wisecracking, Irish whiskey drinking, can fix any problem type of hero. He reminded me of Jack Higgins’ Sean Dillon (one of my favorite literary characters).
I wish there was more of a backstory on how Dez became the person he is. Hopefully, this becomes a series of novels where we can learn more about him. I found it distracting that people called him Chef and there was no rationale for the nickname.
If you are looking for an entertaining, quick moving thriller, this would be a great choice.

Thanks so much to the publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this book- a thriller that feels totally- if frighteningly plausible. What initially starts out as a foiled kidnapping evolves into the potential end of USA, and democracy itself. I don’t want to give too much away but Jan 6 2021 was nothing compared to what our conspirators here have planned. Don’t let the politics dissuade you though, this was a fun romp due to the main character: 5’8-bowlegged -wise cracking- muscle man Desmond Aloysius Limerick aka Des. Not sure where he really comes from of where he was trained- but he is very good at calmly using his toaster sized fists, and beating his opponents. He finds himself in the right place at the wrong time and rescues the daughter of a mega corporation from a kidnapping attempt. She- Petra Alexandris is no shrinking violet- she is smart, and quick and a heroine in her own right.

Something bad is going on in her father’s company- to which she is chief legal council- she discovers a trillion dollars is missing. She enlists Dez’s help to find out who is behind it. Fortunately Stirring up trouble and poking the bear is his specialty. I find his character so well written, so cool, three dimensional- everything from his dislike of American beer, his respect for women to his being an excellent house guest. Love him. Looking forward to reading more from this series.

As always I enjoy casting the movie version of a book, and this seems to be have been written for action star Jason Statham.

I gravitate to this genre. The Gatekeeper introduces Dez. A bit of fresh air to the obvious spy culture. I will definitely read the second installation of this series.

I received this book from NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book and I think that is mostly because the main character, Dez Limerick, was exceptionally created and developed. I had a lot of fun with his mannerisms, responses, accent (and how it was written), and just his overall bad-assery.

I could argue the end of the book got a little complex and was tied up too nicely - but at the same time, to create such a story line and figure out to solve it all... I liked it!

This is an excellent debut mystery/thriller. Dez, the gatekeeper, is a compellingly readable character. He’s calm, capable, humble, and at times, humorous, as he leads us through a sometimes-convoluted plot. The fast-paced intro follows mercenaries on a foreign job. Dez (Desmond Aloysius Limerick) is the gatekeeper—he gets the team in and safely out of the job. Watching him here prepares us for the bulk of the book, when he employs Jack Reacher-esque techniques to evade and defeat many, many bad guys. Others have notable roles. But clearly Dez is the multi-talented star. I look forward to seeing more of him in novels by Byrne.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy for an unbiased review.

His name is Desmond Aloysius Limerick. “It’s a perfectly fine name,” he claims when someone hears it for the first time and raises an eyebrow. His friends call him “Dez.” His brothers-in-arms call him “Chief.” And his past is complete mystery. Author James Byrne introduces us to one of the most compelling and endearing protagonists since Lee Child’s “Reacher” or Gregg Hurwitz’s “Orphan X” with his debut thriller, “The Gatekeeper.”

Newly retired from his mysterious pseudo-military, possibly mercenary, certainly black-ops past, Dez has decided to try California on for size. Dez is a skilled guitarist, having learned to play to improve his manual dexterity for effectively disarming bombs, and has landed a gig as a backup guitarist for a Los Angeles bar band. Just as he’s preparing to conclude his time in the City of Angels and move on, the hotel he’d been calling home becomes the scene of a meticulously planned and tactically executed kidnapping. Unfortunately for the kidnappers, Dez is no stranger to violence and easily foils the kidnapping and rescues the target. Impressed with his grace under fire, the intended victim, a billionaire heiress to an industrial empire, hired Dez to uncover the motivations for the kidnapping and the mastermind behind the plot. Dez employs his unique blend of vigilante justice to wage a one-man war on corporate saboteurs, treasonous soldiers, and neo-Nazis in the non-stop thrill ride “The Gatekeeper.”

As a freshman effort, Author James Byrne has delivered everything that makes a terrific and memorable thriller. Smooth flowing and engaging prose, evocative descriptions, compelling characters, and a heart-pounding plot result in a narrative that is more than the sum of its parts. All I can say is Bravo and I can’t wait for the follow-up.

The lynchpin of any terrific thriller is an engaging and dynamic protagonist. To say Dez is a successfully multi-dimensional character is tremendously underselling how well this character comes across on the page. Dez is a puzzle box of complementing yet incongruous personality traits. As funny and engaging as he is brutal and deadly, Dez is a character unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years. He’s not a 6’4” muscle-bound hulk of a man, nor is he a lithe super soldier, but rather he’s a squat, bow-legged brute, “as wide as he is tall… with fists like toasters.” His self-deprecating sense of humor, his unfailingly friendly demeanor, and his merciless brutality blend into such a unique protagonist and action hero that by the second chapter the reader is prepared to willingly follow him wherever he may lead. Narrating from the 3rd person POV from his perspective leaves a vail of suspicion between Dez and the reader and allows for the perfect use of suspense, tension, and questionable motivations.

Dez hails from the United Kingdom, but whether that means England, Ireland, or Scotland is never specified and remains yet another shrouded mystery from his past. That being the case, his character’s dialog with protagonists and antagonists alike reveals speech patterns and colloquialisms that add amazing texture to his characterization. Dialog is distinct and crisp and perfectly compliments the character building for lead characters and supporting cast alike.

The narrative unfolds at a brisk and exciting pace and the novel is a very quick read. An action-packed prologue provides a mysterious glimpse into Dez’s past and sets the pace and tone for the entire novel. The tone is especially distinct and unique considering the subgenre of action thrillers. While the pseudo-military plot elements result in a grisly tone filled with action and violence, Dez’s personality and his lighthearted interpretation of the brutality and violence flips the tonal expectations and adds humorous undertones to an otherwise extremely serious and danger-wrought narrative. The juxtaposition of violence and humor creates a unique and refreshing reading experience.

I enthusiastically recommend “The Gatekeeper” as an amazing debut novel featuring an unforgettable character. I will eagerly await James Byrne’s follow-up novel and look forward to more adventures involving and unwrapping the mysteries surrounding Desmond Aloysius Limerick. Thriller lovers should certainly check out “The Gatekeeper,” you won’t be disappointed.

I found this novel completely by chance and the premise was different enough to peak my interest, I'm so grateful that I did. Dez is not your usual spec op soldier, we actually don't get much background at all from the bowlegged operator, and it makes such an amazing difference from the books I usually read. We don't hear about the years of experience and training that Dez obviously has, all we get is a brief look into the last mission he was a part of and we find he is so well qualified and able that he doesn't feel the need to brag. Dez Limerick is what's known as a gatekeeper, he opens doors and keeps them open, or closed, depending on the mission. He's exceptional at this job but he is ready to retire and spend his time traveling and playing guitar. He happens into a kidnapping of a young woman at his hotel and thwarts it rather easily, they weren't expecting anyone with his skill set, which leads him into looking into the theft of over a billion dollars. Dez sets out to uncover who is behind the theft which soon becomes a battle against right wing soldiers and a group of racists who are threatening the meltdown of a nuclear reactor. What I appreciate most is that Dez isn't the superhuman soldier that is in most thriller novels these days, hell, he isn't even the best fighter as he runs into a Green Beret captain who's combat skills are better by far. Dez is a breath of fresh air, he reminds me of Robert B Parker's Spenser, in that he wades into a mess and uses his fighting skills among other talents to get to the heart of the matter and figure out who the bad guys are and how to stop them. The parallels between the two made this an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to reading more adventures with Dez, and hopefully learning more about his mysterious past. But even if we learn nothing more about him, his exploits are enough to keep me happy for many years to come. I will be looking forward to seeing each new book of this (fingers crossed) series.

This is a new-to-me author. The story is an intense, action-packed thriller with a little humor thrown in. Dez reminds me of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher character (one of my favorites). Dez, a former mercenary and part-time musician, seems to be able to do it all with minimal help, and is a very likable character. He rescues a stranger in a hotel and ends up involved in more than he bargained for. He pays attention to details and doesn’t walk away when the going gets tough. This would make a great series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was very well written and the well written knowledge and description of characters grabbed my attention from the very beginning. This book was a lil more action drama like than my favorite psychological thriller type books. I'm not too much into conspiracy theory type books or movies and that is exactly what this book was. If you are into action packed books and movies and conspiracy theories this will probably be the best book you have read so far this year! Great book awesome author but just not my type of book.

Desmond Aloysius Limrick is gatekeeper. He can get into anywhere and then keep others out. Following an operation in Africa he has decided to retire at 35 and lead the good life in Los Angeles. Weeks later he is staying at a posh hotel where he has been playing guitar when he meets an imposing woman who declines his offer of a drink. Later, looking out his window, he spots some ne’er do wells coming into the hotel. Because the woman has bodyguards he decided they were coming for her. He goes down to her room and manages to get her out an up to his while her bodyguards deal with the kidnappers. This is only the introduction to one of the most action filled and wickedly funny thrillers I’ve read in a long time. Dez is a great character and makes you want to read more. Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for an ARC for an honest review.

Move over, Jack Reacher! A one man wrecking crew and a mercenary with no past, Dez is in the right place at the right place for a potential kidnap victim. Dez considers himself a gatekeeper, one who opens doors others cannot and keeps them open. This time the door leads to a high-level embezzlement and a government conspiracy at a major military contractor. Only Dez has the ability to stop the conspiracy before it becomes a world altering disaster.

Dez calls himself a "gatekeeper". Dez is that and much more. He has "friends" in high places. Maybe not the best looking guy on the planet, but I would match him up with James Bond any day. Although some of the stuff Dez does is illegal, he really is on the side of the angels. As James Byrne eases the reader into the action Dez stops a well planned kidnapping and the main story starts. This is a well plotted thriller. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy to review.

Entertaining Protagonist And Great Action
The Gatekeeper

Dez Limerick is as laconic as Jack Reacher, as capable as Peter Ash, and as tech-savvy as Mitch Rapp. California doesn’t live up to his expectations, Americans think he has a funny name, and he feels that classic beauty should be appreciated, whether in automobiles or in women. He has a mysterious past, a particular set of skills, a low tolerance for BS, a twinkle in his eye, and an innate need to set things right.

The plot, while crazy, no longer seems quite so far-fetched in the current climate. (Anybody who does not believe there are far-right separatists among us has not been paying attention to US politics for at least the last 5 to 10 years.) That being said, some of the details do strain credulity just a bit.

The Gatekeeper has a great protagonist, along with fast-moving and propulsive action that any thriller fan will enjoy. And little suspension of disbelief kinda comes with the territory. Any fan of David Baldacci, especially the Amos Decker, Will. Robie, and John Puller novels, will enjoy this book. Same for fans of Lee Child’s Reacher, Brian Haig’s Sean Drummond, Nick Petrie’s Peter Ash, Joseph Finder’s Nick Heller, Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp, and Steve Hamilton’s Nick Mason, to name but a few. I know I certainly did.

I received a galley of this novel in exchange for a review containing honest opinions.

Review Contains Spoilers: No
# Tags: Action Packed, Quick Read, Couldn't Put It Down

The book drew me in with a fast pace and lots of action! Dez is a gatekeeper - able to open or close any door depending on the task at hand. He decides to check out California after retiring. His sharp eye notices a small event which explodes into a large scale secret event.

I found the story entertaining and well paced. I am curious to know more about Dez and hope to see more character development in the next book.