ARC Review: The Gatekeeper by James Byrne

The Gatekeeper
Author: James Byrne
Publication: Minotaur Books (June 7, 2022)

Description: James Byrne's The Gatekeeper introduces Dez Limerick in the most anticipated new thriller in years.

A highly trained team of mercenaries launches a well-planned, coordinated attack on a well-guarded military contractor - but they didn't count on one thing, the right man being in the wrong place at the right time.

Desmond Aloysius Limerick (“Dez” to all) is a retired mercenary, and enthusiastic amateur musician, currently in Southern California, enjoying the sun and sitting in on the occasional gig, when the hotel he's at falls under attack. A skilled team attempts to kidnap the Chief legal counsel of Triton Expeditors, a major military contractor – in fact, Petra Alexandris is the daughter of the CEO – but their meticulously-planned, seamlessly executed scheme runs into the figurative 'spanner-in-the-works,' Dez himself.

After foiling the attack, and with nothing better to do, Dez agrees to help Alexandris with another problem she’s having – someone has embezzled more than a billion dollars from her company and left very few tracks behind. But 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 themselves. There’s only one obstacle between the conspirators and success – and that is Dez, The Gatekeeper.

My Thoughts: 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. 

Favorite Quote:

Now, this is familiar territory to Dez. Do well, and the people above you remember that you delivered. Do poorly, and the people above you feed you to the wolves. Same as it ever was.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.