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dnicole515's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Dez Limerick is a retired mercenary, who now fancies himself an amateur musician. He's currently in Southern California, enjoying the weather and occasionally sitting in a gig here and there. One night, he sees an event about to take place and can't help but intervene. He is then recruited by the would be victim, Petra Alexandris, to help her uncover who has embezzled over a billion dollars from her corporation. Upon which, he stumbles on a conspiracy involving a militia, media manipulation and an attempt to fracture the U.S. Dez is the only one who has the skills and the tenacity to thwart the conspiracy. Dez is a great character and he was a riot throughout the story. I can't wait to read the second installation.
lavanyasbooks's review against another edition
5.0
What a fun amazing ride this has been!
As someone who is obsessed with thrillers, I am always on the hunt for thrillers with interesting protagonist and premise. However, the overarching wish to this endeavour... post the disappointing 25th book has always been this. "Please lord, find me someone to fill Reacher's now boring shoes."
Finally. Finally. My wish has come true.
The premise is my absolute all time favourite.
Right person at the wrong place at the right time.
Our ultra chilled hero, Dez finds himself unwittingly thwarting a kidnapping attempt of the daughter of the biggest military contractor in all of US. He soon finds himself entangled in messy family politics that threatened to bring down the entire country.
Yeah. Yeah. It sounds predictable even as I write it. But here is why it's amazing.
Meet Dez Limerick.
He is insanely well read, well travelled, fun, funny, self-deprecating protagonist of this brand new series. I love that he doesn't take himself seriously and listens to people who are smarter than him. Honestly, it takes a special kind of hero to be in awe of people smarter than him and letting them do their job while he lies in the background. Something even Reacher doesn't do.
And for that alone....
Take a bow James Byrne (It's a pseudonym so a part of me is sooo hoping you are a woman). The writing is brilliant with laugh out loud, clever lines that made me laugh in the middle of tense scenes. The writing is so polished that it almost seems like a seasoned writer dabbling in a new genre. Whoever it might be, I'm just so glad I got to meet Dez and I cat wait to see more of him.
Now come the bummer.
I wish I had waited a year or two before reading this because now I have to wait to read more of the Gatekeeper series. So Jams Byrne, incase you are reading this chop chop... I CANNOT possible go back to Reacher after this.
As someone who is obsessed with thrillers, I am always on the hunt for thrillers with interesting protagonist and premise. However, the overarching wish to this endeavour... post the disappointing 25th book has always been this. "Please lord, find me someone to fill Reacher's now boring shoes."
Finally. Finally. My wish has come true.
The premise is my absolute all time favourite.
Right person at the wrong place at the right time.
Our ultra chilled hero, Dez finds himself unwittingly thwarting a kidnapping attempt of the daughter of the biggest military contractor in all of US. He soon finds himself entangled in messy family politics that threatened to bring down the entire country.
Yeah. Yeah. It sounds predictable even as I write it. But here is why it's amazing.
Meet Dez Limerick.
He is insanely well read, well travelled, fun, funny, self-deprecating protagonist of this brand new series. I love that he doesn't take himself seriously and listens to people who are smarter than him. Honestly, it takes a special kind of hero to be in awe of people smarter than him and letting them do their job while he lies in the background. Something even Reacher doesn't do.
And for that alone....
Take a bow James Byrne (It's a pseudonym so a part of me is sooo hoping you are a woman). The writing is brilliant with laugh out loud, clever lines that made me laugh in the middle of tense scenes. The writing is so polished that it almost seems like a seasoned writer dabbling in a new genre. Whoever it might be, I'm just so glad I got to meet Dez and I cat wait to see more of him.
Now come the bummer.
I wish I had waited a year or two before reading this because now I have to wait to read more of the Gatekeeper series. So Jams Byrne, incase you are reading this chop chop... I CANNOT possible go back to Reacher after this.
librarygirlreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rishixc's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
judithdcollins's review
5.0
A highly entertaining audiobook. A funny and refreshing new leading man!
A delicious taut nonstop hilarious, action-packed suspense thriller by James Byrne, with a leading man and hero you want by your side. With a sexy British/Irish accent to die for and all the dark humor, intelligence, and wit making DEZ, Desmond Aloysius Limerick, (the ultimate) THE GATEKEEPER.
A former mercenary, a musician, and a man who can open any door— physical or digital. He is not too tall, stocky, and bowlegged and buys his black tees from the one place that makes them accommodate fit his broad shoulders and frame.
Dez on Gatekeepers:
People who guard gates.
Not people who open them.
The trick is not opening doors.
Any half-wit can do that.
It is about keeping them open.
Closing them when needed.
Controlling who goes through and who doesn't.
Owning them for as long as needed.
He has left his old life behind and now spends his time in sunny California, playing gigs as an amateur musician. Until he finds himself breaking up a very professional attempt to kidnap the chief legal counsel (Petra, daughter of the CEO) of Triton Expediters—a prominent and influential military contractor.
Petra Alexandris and her family are grateful for the save; however, now she needs his help for more critical matters—who's embezzled billions of dollars from her company.
Dez agrees, slipping back into his old role with ease; however, he and Petra are up against rogue military operators, well-armed militia members, and white supremacists.
Dez is a gatekeeper —one who opens doors, and keeps them open—and this is just a door of another kind. And the door he opens leads to a dangerous conspiracy involving media manipulation, militias, an armed coup, and an attempt to fracture the United States.
Dez learned early during his time as a keeper there are FOUR primary methods for getting through a door:
Bash
Shoot
Explode
Burn your way through.
And every now and then you get invited in.
A highly entertaining refreshing new adrenaline-fueled debut thriller novel and a leading character with wit, charisma, and laugh-out-loud scenes. I hope this will be a series because DEZ is too good to end. More PLEASE!
This was an EXCEPTIONAL first-rate audiobook, and John Keating gave a superb performance. For fans of Lee Child, Greg Hurwitz, David Baldacci, Janet Evanovich, and Vince Flynn. Packed with action, clever dialogue, and some great laughs!
Thank you to #MinotaurBooks, #MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for the invite to read, listen, enjoy, and review an advanced audio copy. #MinotaurInfluencers #SMPInflueners
Excited to receive an ARC for the upcoming [b:Deadlock|61884995|Deadlock (Dez Limerick, #2)|James Byrne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1680078832l/61884995._SY75_.jpg|97563873] coming Aug 8, 2023 —Dez Limerick Novel #2
Blog Review Posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: June 7, 20222
June 2022 Must-Read Books
A delicious taut nonstop hilarious, action-packed suspense thriller by James Byrne, with a leading man and hero you want by your side. With a sexy British/Irish accent to die for and all the dark humor, intelligence, and wit making DEZ, Desmond Aloysius Limerick, (the ultimate) THE GATEKEEPER.
A former mercenary, a musician, and a man who can open any door— physical or digital. He is not too tall, stocky, and bowlegged and buys his black tees from the one place that makes them accommodate fit his broad shoulders and frame.
Dez on Gatekeepers:
People who guard gates.
Not people who open them.
The trick is not opening doors.
Any half-wit can do that.
It is about keeping them open.
Closing them when needed.
Controlling who goes through and who doesn't.
Owning them for as long as needed.
He has left his old life behind and now spends his time in sunny California, playing gigs as an amateur musician. Until he finds himself breaking up a very professional attempt to kidnap the chief legal counsel (Petra, daughter of the CEO) of Triton Expediters—a prominent and influential military contractor.
Petra Alexandris and her family are grateful for the save; however, now she needs his help for more critical matters—who's embezzled billions of dollars from her company.
Dez agrees, slipping back into his old role with ease; however, he and Petra are up against rogue military operators, well-armed militia members, and white supremacists.
Dez is a gatekeeper —one who opens doors, and keeps them open—and this is just a door of another kind. And the door he opens leads to a dangerous conspiracy involving media manipulation, militias, an armed coup, and an attempt to fracture the United States.
Dez learned early during his time as a keeper there are FOUR primary methods for getting through a door:
Bash
Shoot
Explode
Burn your way through.
And every now and then you get invited in.
A highly entertaining refreshing new adrenaline-fueled debut thriller novel and a leading character with wit, charisma, and laugh-out-loud scenes. I hope this will be a series because DEZ is too good to end. More PLEASE!
This was an EXCEPTIONAL first-rate audiobook, and John Keating gave a superb performance. For fans of Lee Child, Greg Hurwitz, David Baldacci, Janet Evanovich, and Vince Flynn. Packed with action, clever dialogue, and some great laughs!
Thank you to #MinotaurBooks, #MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for the invite to read, listen, enjoy, and review an advanced audio copy. #MinotaurInfluencers #SMPInflueners
Excited to receive an ARC for the upcoming [b:Deadlock|61884995|Deadlock (Dez Limerick, #2)|James Byrne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1680078832l/61884995._SY75_.jpg|97563873] coming Aug 8, 2023 —Dez Limerick Novel #2
Blog Review Posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: June 7, 20222
June 2022 Must-Read Books
danubooks's review against another edition
5.0
I picked up the second outing in this series and read it first, but it didn’t matter. Desmond Aloysius Limerick is known to his friends as Dez…but to his opponents, he is a one man force of nature that can throw one heck of a spanner in the works when the need arises. We first meet Dez when he still worked as a “gatekeeper”…a for-hire expert in not just gaining entry into places real and virtual, but controlling those points of entry so that he and he alone ensures that only those he allows may enter, they can stay as long as has been agreed, and all who enter will leave as safely as they entered. The amount of skill sets, tricks, and anticipatory vision that the role requires is mind-boggling. Dez has left that world behind, though, and had come to America to play some music, soak up some sun, and stay away from the dangers of his previous profession. Well, he managed two out of the three. After a gig one night, he sees a spectacularly beautiful woman, way out of his league. When she (and her two bodyguards) end up in his elevator, he summons his most charming smile and asks if she might like to join him for a drink…nothing ventured, nothing gained, after all. She declines, but far more gently than most would. It is that kindness which has him interceding hours later when a group of men try yo take her hostage. That is the first, but far from the last, spanner he throws into a series if connected actions that involve multinational business enterprises, home grown white supremacists, and what might be a plan for part of California to secede.
Dez is a shorter Jack Reacher with a quick tongue and a wicked sense of humor; an Orphan X without all the angst, and all-in-all a new hero where the action never stops, the charm is off the charts, and the moral center is strong as steel. If a mate needs help, he helps; if an opponent plays fair, so will Dez; but make no mistake, if Dez is on the opposing side of your issue, you are in very deep…doodoo. Having finished the sequel, “Deadlock”, I ignored my ever-growing TBR pile and picked up a copy of “The Gatekeeper”…i dint want my enjoyment to end. I won’t tell you to read the two backwards as I did, but do grab them both!
Dez is a shorter Jack Reacher with a quick tongue and a wicked sense of humor; an Orphan X without all the angst, and all-in-all a new hero where the action never stops, the charm is off the charts, and the moral center is strong as steel. If a mate needs help, he helps; if an opponent plays fair, so will Dez; but make no mistake, if Dez is on the opposing side of your issue, you are in very deep…doodoo. Having finished the sequel, “Deadlock”, I ignored my ever-growing TBR pile and picked up a copy of “The Gatekeeper”…i dint want my enjoyment to end. I won’t tell you to read the two backwards as I did, but do grab them both!
vinculis's review against another edition
3.0
This grew on me the more I read. I love Dez's personality and his interactions with all the other characters. Looking forward to more of his adventures!
jlblumenfeld's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75