DEADLOCK

5 stars out of 5

If I knew "gatekeeper" Desmond Aloysius Limerick personally, I'm sure I'd be smacking him upside the head at least once an hour. He's so used to being physically bashed about that he wouldn't feel anything, of course - and he's so amiable that all he'd say in return is something like, "Aye, love - ye caught me nappin' on that one!"

And also of course, I'd forgive him for whatever transgression he made and we'd start the cycle all over again, just because he somehow manages to be so endearing (and funny enough to make me giggle) while irritating the heck out of everyone around him - at least when he's not beating them to a pulp, blowing them up, or outright killing them. I fell in love with the guy in The Gatekeeper, the first book in the series, and if anything, I love him more after reading this one.

Basically a retired mercenary who's loyal to the core and has a side gig as a musician, Dez is now in Los Angeles and basically retired. But when he gets a call from old friend Raziah Swann claiming her reporter sister Laleh is in trouble (in fact, she's in the hospital after being attacked), he heads north to Portland to offer assistance. There, he learns that Laleh was writing a story that involved a local technology company - second in size and influence only to Nike - called Clockjack. Could that somehow be related to the attack? 

Dez sure thinks so - but suspicion and proof are two different animals. But it seems the powers-that-be at this behemoth company, including an influencial female CEO, have more than enough power to put the cabosh on formal investigation by all federal agencies. If Dez is going to get to the truth and, if necessary, bring down the bad guys and gals, he'll have to go it alone (well, with some help from old friends and yes, even enemies).

There's no shortage of murder and mayhem here, much of it coming by way of Dez himself (yes, he rather often exceeds the limits of human capability, but then that's half the fun - apparently, for him as well as for readers). The ending is satisfying and leaves fodder for the next book, for which I'm already chomping at the bit. At any rate, this one is a hoot and a half - and once again, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the privilege of reading and reviewing a pre-release copy.

Deadlock by James Byrne (Minotaur Books, August 2023); 359 pp.

THE GATEKEEPER

4 stars out of 5

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.

The Gatekeeper by James Byrne (Minotaur Books, June 2022); 330 pp.