Dez is back and better than ever. I normally don't care for books where one of the main "characters" is a storm and the rest of the cast is trapped for days in a small area. This was the exception. Though the start was a bit slow, James Byrne has crafted a novel with memorable characters and an intriguing plot. It is entertaining with all the prerequisites required of a thriller. The bad guys don't necessarily stay bad and the good guys don't necessarily stay good. As Dez navigates his way through the story, learning more and more about who is who, his delightful attitude and repartee never changes. He is consistently humble despite being smarter and more talented than his adversaries realize.

There is plenty of action, some brutally graphic killings, many surprises and the introduction of a secret society from whom I am sure we will hear more in future books. Speaking of which, I can't wait.

What a great read!! Wow, great plot, unseen twists and turns, and my favorite character in Dez. This is definately my favorite read of 2026! Can't wait for the next chapter!

It’s fun, funny, action-filled, and engrossing. The author mostly manages the complex plot, though some overly fanciful elements strain one’s credulity. On the whole, though, it’s an exciting thrill ride and another fun Dez Limerick read.

I just loved this book, and I’ve loved the series. I just finished this book and already want the next one. The storyline is great, with enough believable surprises. The characters are very well developed. It was a real page turner.

Absolutely love this series. It has intrigue, suspense, romance and there are always twists that are unexpected. However, you would think this being the 4th book in this series that the manuscript would be proofread before publication. On one page the main character’s name is Dez and on the next it is Des. Doesn’t the author know how to spell his character’s name?

Then on page 154, Dez says “Let’s to it, then.” Instead of “Let’s do it, then.”

Other than the grammatical errors that should not happen in the fourth book of a series, a very enjoyable book.

This one had a surprise twist ending that left me thinking. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Dez is such a unique character , and I am always impressed with how he handles obstacles, like a much much deadlier MacGyver. After a couple really disappointing books from usually reliable authors, I was thrilled at how engaged I was with this book. I devoured it in less than a day. Can't wait for the next installment!

Loved this Dez series. Action upon action, where you have to read closely to keep up with the plot. Excellent

Okay, first of all, I need to apologize to this book for walking in like a hot mess at book four with zero backstory and full audacity. Dez Limerick? Never met him. Gatekeeper? Cool word, no clue what it means. But now? Now I’d follow this bass-playing, lock-picking, chaos-magnet of a man into a snowstorm and ask no questions.

“Storm Warning” throws us headfirst into a blizzardy thriller with the energy of a "Mission Impossible" movie that took a left turn into Newfoundland and forgot to tell Tom Cruise. The vibe is: mysterious underground neutrino lab goes dark, people trapped, weather is awful, and Dez is pulled out of his chill chef slash musician retirement life to go play hero again. Is he annoyed? Absolutely. Does he still show up and dismantle an international crisis like it’s a Sunday crossword? You bet your dramatic, locked-door heart he does.

The man is a walking contradiction. Dez is both the human embodiment of a shrug and also the person you call when you want a heavily guarded facility breached with minimal casualties and maximum sarcasm. He’s got this whole British chill thing, like James Bond if he wore flannel and actually had friends. And thank god he’s got humor, because otherwise this would just be another testosterone-drenched action-fest. Instead, we get delightful lines mid-standoff like he's cracking jokes in a pub, not dodging bullets.

Also, can we talk about the assassin? Ash. Tiny, lethal, mysterious, and potentially way more interesting than several governments involved in this plot. She shows up in tight corridors and kills with elegance and terrifying efficiency, and honestly, I want her to get her own series and a skincare line. Dez and Ash have this great energy, like reluctantly respectful coworkers who might kill each other or grab a pint together depending on the time of day.

Plot-wise, this book is a multi-layered nesting doll of bad guys. Mercenaries? Check. Corporate psychos? Obviously. Shady Russians? You know it. Even the snow feels hostile. It’s like every flavor of villain was tossed into a blender and then shot out of a cannon straight at Dez and his poor, outnumbered rescue team. And through it all, Dez is just trying to not get frostbite or murdered, and maybe save his maybe-more-than-friend Petra, who’s locked inside with the secrets and science.

Honestly, there were a few moments where the action hit a level of intensity that had me yelling “I JUST GOT HERE, JAMES,” but in a good way. Like, how are there this many booby traps? Why is everyone so well-armed? Who gave the blizzard a vendetta? But I was eating it up. Dez is MacGyvering his way through tunnels, dodging snipers, and solving layered betrayals like it’s just another Tuesday.

The one tiny burr under my boot? Dez’s dialogue sometimes grated like a dude who thinks he’s a little too clever at brunch. I could hear the wink in some of his lines and wanted to toss a snowball at him. But then he'd go save five people with a wrench and a protein bar and I’d be back on board.

Four stars for a high-octane, locked-in thriller that somehow blends espionage, banter, explosions, and an unexpected amount of emotional competency. I still don’t fully know what a gatekeeper is, but I’m ready to submit my resume.

Whodunity Award: For Making Me Distrust Everyone Except the Blizzard, and Even That Had Murderous Intentions

Massive thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC and for handing me a brand-new series like, “Here, take this emotional support chaos gremlin and run.” Challenge accepted.

Des Limerick has become my favourite hero; a Gatekeeper extraordinaire.

We meet Ash, an assassin extraordinaire; the tale becomes more complicated.

Love the tale that Byrne has crafted, there are many layers. This is the fourth adventure Des is part of; I look forward to many more.

Five stars