Chain Reaction is book three in the Dez Limerick series and all these books should be on a must read list. Be still my heart, Dez is a one of a kind character with smoothness and skills to put most leading characters to shame. What is supposed to be Dez playing in a band for an opening gig turns into a terrorist attack and a hostage situation at the venue. A “gatekeeper “, Dez can get in any door and access to any computer network and is never afraid to risk his neck taking on the bad guys. Dez quickly figures out things aren’t what they seem and impossibly someone from his past seems to be back and causing him problems. Chain Reaction is an action packed thrill ride that demands to be read in one sitting. Dez is one of the great characters of all time. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Dez was trained as a "gatekeeper"—he can open any door, keep it open as long as necessary, and control who does—and does not—go through. Now retired from his previous life, Dez still tries to keep his skills up to date.

Knocking around the country, picking up the occasional gig as a guitarist, Dez is contacted by a friend in urgent need of his musical skills. At his behest, Dez flies to the East Coast to a gig at the brand new massive complex, the Liberty Center. But he's barely landed before he finds himself in the midst of a terrorist attack, a group has taken over the whole center and thousands of hostage lives are in danger. With the semi-willing help of a talented thief, Dez takes on the impossible task of outfighting and outwitting a literal army. But that's just the beginning, as Dez learns he was actually lured there under false pretenses, by someone who knows more about Dez, his past and his skills than any living person should.

- I did not realize this was the 3rd book in a series when I picked it up, but I jumped right in anyway. I would recommend reading the first two before going in to this one, but it's not absolutely necessary to get into the story. I enjoyed this one enough and am giving it 3.5 stars. I would be happy to read more books by Mr. Byrne in the future!

Dez Limerick is back!

CHAIN REACTION is the third Dez Limerick thriller, and it had me on edge all the way through.

I love Dez. I want to hang out with him, but maybe only fictionally because this guy gets into some serious jams. In this story, he takes on a domestic terrorist group, plays guitar with his favorite band, does some globe trotting with a badass lady friend, and deals with a nemesis from his past who might just be better at the game than he is.

This might sound like a lot, but the plot is seamless. The pace builds momentum and intensity, while also providing moments of levity that sparkle.

You could read this one as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend starting with book 1. This is truly one of my favorite thriller series.

When I read this author’s second novel last year, Deadlock, I was blown away. His main character in these novels, Dez, is not only a trip to read, but he is the type of main character you did not know you were missing.

I have been reading espionage and crime thrillers for 40 years and trust me when I say this book is no ordinary espionage thriller. Byrne has created a masterful character with an interesting history, a love of music and women, who has a tough time saying no to helping a friend.

Dez is inventive with a sense of humor that comes out in his craft. He is fast on the uptake and brilliant in how his mind works. With fast-paced action and intricate detail that comes at you, Byrne delivers a book that you do not want to put down.

Chain Reaction offers so many twists you find you need to force yourself to slow down and absorb every detail as you might need to remember it later. The secondary characters are fabulous and add so much to the ride. Cat is a fabulous addition and I hope to see her in future stories!

All in all, this book is a treat to read. Brilliant and fun with explosive twists that keep you on your toes and begging for more! The most entertaining thriller you will ever read with the most fun-loving character in Dez. You simply have to check out this series if you love crime thrillers.

I really enjoyed this one but didn’t realize it was a series. I could follow along to what was happening but I think reading the books in order would have been better.

Dez Limerick series #3. This is a great series. Just imagine Jack Reacher with a sense of humor and there you go. Dez is a former military Gatekeeper, a specialist in opening and keeping closed doors of any kind. Between jobs, he's been wandering the country playing his guitar for his keep and making lots of new friends, as he is want to do. He gets an urgent request to fill in with one of those friends' band, and makes it to the location just in time to get locked into a terrorist occupation. Let the fun begin. Naturally it turns out to be far more then mere terrorists, and he has actually been drawn into the mix on purpose, by someone he thought for sure he had already killed. Lots of wild action and Limerick humor. Nothing gets our boy down, physically or mentally. It's all totally preposterous and that's why it's so fun. Enjoy!

I am thrilled to say that Byrne's Dez Limerick series just continues to get better! This outing finds Dez in the center of a terrorist incident at a new convention center complex in New Jersey, but how did he end up there and why? I enjoyed every second of this book and have already told patrons to get on the hold list for it. A huge thank you to Minotaur and NetGalley for the early access for my honest opinion. Here's hoping book four comes soon!

Dez is one of my favorite characters, I’ve read all in the series and you should too – they’re all great! His charm, snappy retorts and extraordinary abilities have served him well. He has occasional gigs in a band, a string of lovers, all stunning, intelligent, wealthy women. He has a background with the exclusive Gatekeepers and an accent that makes me giggle even in the middle of heart-pounding death defying scenes. This Darlin’ swoons with each of his dialect idiosyncrasies. This plot has international implications with nonstop action. Dez has a nonchalant approach to extreme circumstances and handles himself with restraint until pushed beyond limits. The author has penned another hit for me and I can hardly wait to see where Dez finds himself next.
St. Martin’s Publishing, Minotaur Books (via NetGalley) provided an Advance Reader Copy of “Chain Reaction” A Dez Limerick Novel #3, by James Byrne, publication expected 01/28/2025. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

This is the best book in the Dez Limerick series and I’m looking forward to the next one already. Dez is full of his usual charm, humor, and gatekeeper skill, but the other characters in this one really made the book so much better and hope they appear in future books.

Chain Reaction continues the thrills in the previous novel in the series Deadlock. Deadlock was my introduction to the character Des Limerick. Author James Byrne has created a very likable and interesting character in Limerick. He keeps the action coming and there are surprises and twists to add to the pleasure. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I didn't initially realize that this was part of a series. It did make sense as a standalone novel, but it could possibly benefit the reader to read them in order. It turns out that this is the third book in a series. Dez is an interesting and well-developed character. There is a nice mix of suspense and action to keep readers actively engaged, as well as ample twists and turns. Fans of the Jack Reacher series may want to check this one out.

Chain Reaction is an intellectually stimulating and action-packed battle of wits between two highly proficient and violent opposing forces hellbent on beating the other and settling an old score. It’s playful, entertaining, cerebral and fun as hell. Another home run by James Byrne in this fantastic series.

Dez Limerick is summoned to sit in with a band at the opening of the Liberty Center, a massive new commercial complex on the east coast. Shortly after arriving, Dez finds himself a hostage in the middle of a terrorist attack. Not one to sit idly by, he deploys his impressive skillset as a “gatekeeper” to contact law enforcement, thwart the nefarious plot and put a stop to the mercenaries’ violence. However, Dez figures out this attack was much more than it seemed, kicking off a cat-and-mouse game with a ghost from his past who is as capable as he is and highly motivated to succeed. With the help of a beautiful and talented thief, Dez aids the FBI in uncovering the broader conspiracy and finding justice for the numerous victims. And maybe along the way Dez can exercise this particular demon from his past…but he will find out that it’s easier said than done.

In Chain Reaction, Dez continues to be one of the most fascinating characters in the thriller genre. His combination of intelligence, lethality, strategy, disarming nature, humor and animal magnetism are unmatched. He’s the star of the show and someone who has enough pull to keep you enthralled by himself for hours. But he doesn’t have to carry the full load because the other characters are fantastic as well, each offering something different and complimentary. Whether it’s a partner or an enemy, everyone plays their role perfectly, adding depth and intrigue to a brilliantly crafted plot filled with mind games, twists and a plethora of cunning moves. It’s a highly engaging and exciting novel that will have you trying to predict each subsequent move in an intricate and deadly chess match.

If you’re not reading this series yet, it’s time to dive in. No excuses. Just get on with it. Because it’s one of the most riveting and enjoyable thriller series out there today and you don’t want to miss it. Trust me, you need Dez in your life.

This starts off as a riff on Die Hard (which is actually the highest praise I could give a thriller!) and then expands to shed much more light into Dez's background. We've only gotten bits and pieces of Dez's past before in the first two books in this series, and it was nice to explore more. Byrne also does a good job of fleshing out the secondary characters, including a trio-of strong women, some working with Dez, and some against hm. Enjoyably fast-paced and well-plotted.

Desmond Aloysius Limerick ("Dez" to his friends and close personal enemies) is a gatekeeper. He can open anything and keep it open. He is trying to retire. Left England, moved to California and now plays gigs with musicians he favors. He is invited to perform at the opening of a new convention center in New Jersey. He is excited to go because his band will be opening for one of his all-time guitar heroes. However, he finds himself in the midst of a terrorist attack, a Russian dissident group trying to free a battleship that has been appropriated by the US military. Bodies are dropping, but Dez, being Dez, manages to bring the siege to an end with the assistance of one of his former adversaries, who is a master thief. But, out of curiosity, Dez discovers not all of the bodies were killed by Russian guns; some were killed by a different gun. Why? Dez decides to investigate, along with the FBI. Soon, the master thief is back in his life because her home is under siege by the same Russian group. It seems Dez is being stalked and he does not know why. James Byrne writes a stellar book, this is the third in this series and it is just as good as the first two. Dez is complex and complicated man who is trying to do good. He has a very specific skill set that does not translate well into corporate life, so he remains outside of society no matter how hard he tries to blend. Highly recommended, especially if you like adrenaline reads.

An excellent addition to the Dez Limerick series. Deadlock left off with an old foe and a new foe joining up together. In Chain Reaction we see the result of this union and Dez's efforts to stop them.
Excellently written, with good characters, a new setting and new set of problems for Dez to solve.
This series is reminding me of Jack Reacher in a very positive way. The take no prisoner approach, indifference to laws, yet friendly with police and other authorities. Dez will do what he feels is right to get the job done.
I do have to say, his use of ball bearings and bolts is quickly becoming one of my favorite things about these books.
Can't recommend this series and this novel enough.

Dez Limerick has become one of my favorite protagonists and I’m always excited to see a new book by author James Byrne with Dez as the lead. CHAIN REACTION is the third in this series and every bit as exciting as the previous two. Dez is a Gatekeeper, someone expertly trained in doors and time; and in a previously life facilitated the comings and goings of secret military teams. Now retired, he has an amazing ability to put his talents to good use while saving the world from nefarious deeds. Readers can marvel at the many solutions he finds to bad situations. In previous books, his British slang language tended to get in the way of great action but its toned down now and only serves as good entertainment. Come meet your next favorite action hero and start this series. You won’t be disappointed. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book 3 in the Dez Limerick story further cements him as one of the most vibrant characters in the thriller genre. All of these books are one sitting events as the action is non-stop and kept me riveted from beginning to end. The mix of Dez's unique skills, his code of honor, and his hilarious banter make him a must read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. 4-stars!!!

Third book in the series that I’ve read, and each one is better than the previous installment. Desmond is a “Gatekeeper “, a role that is beyond description. His innumerable tricks and skills are put to the test in an opening hostage situation. The action only gets more intense as multiple plots are revealed with the ultimate being his competition with another gatekeeper. The new characters brought into the tale are well-developed and integral to the story’s progress.

Dez Limerick, a man of many skills and a murky past, faces the impossible, a skilled, deadly opponent who anticipates his every move! Great read! This book had great suspense, murder, mystery, intrigue, action, a good who done it and some crazy twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

How often do you read a book and say, “I wonder how they came up with that title?” I love it that I read this third Dez Limerick thriller by James Byrne, and understood how the title Chain Reaction was used. If Dez Limerick hadn’t received a text begging him to sit in as a musician at the opening of a new convention center in Newark, New Jersey, he never would have been on site.

At thirty-five, Dez is retired and living in California where he takes occasional gigs as a bass player and pianist. The request from Kansas Jack and the Blacktop brings him to the Liberty Center. He’s dumped his clothes in his hotel room, and he’s checking out the center when he realizes there are military men scattered around. He’s sitting in a martini bar with Catalina Valdivia, a thief, when the announcement goes out that the center has been taken over by a military group, and they’ll kill any civilians that try to leave. Dez watches a couple people get shot before he decides to take matters into his own hands. He recruits Cat to assist him, although she has no interest in going straight.

In his life before retirement, Dez was a gatekeeper, skilled at getting through doors and locks, and keeping them open as long as he needed. Now, he takes on a group of Russian terrorists. But, he’s also convinced there’s more going on than just Russian terrorists. He noticed one or two people killed by weapons that weren’t Russian, and by the time he gets through this mess, he lets the FBI know about his suspicions.

There are multiple switches in this fast-paced, explosive story. Someone seems to know exactly what Dez will do next, someone who might just understand his training as a gatekeeper.

After I got used to reading Dez’ British accent, I fell right into this book. You don’t need to have read previous books in the series. I already ordered The Gatekeeper, the first, at the library. I’m looking forward to Dez Limerick’s first thrilling adventure.