Des is back! As in Desmond Aloyius Limerick, a Renaissance man slash wetwork guy, what a Korval Scout would call “first-in” as in first in to any dicey situation where someone he likes needs help. He’s officially retired from being a gatekeeper, the guy who can open any door, but friends of his keep getting into trouble that requires his assistance in getting out of.

This outing he is learning how to cook in a restaurant he has cleansed of mob guys trying to extort the chef slash current love interest out of insurance, when word arrives that former love interest Petra Alexandris is at a secret underground neutrino research site in Newfoundland which has mysteriously gone dark. 

And we’re off, into the teeth of not one but two and possibly three (I was blinded by the snow) massive storms blowing in off the Atlantic, so of course the Herc carrying the FBI’s 30-man hostage response team is grounded, leaving only Des’ Herc in the air, until it is forced down with extreme meteorological prejudice at the research site’s airfield. On board are Des, a State Department undersecretary in charge of the operation

Trisha Jean has a strong Southern accent. She says, “Your area of expertise?”
“Of late? Dicing leeks.”

 her bodyguard

“Does anyone here know what the Fuchs Underground Neutrino Collector is?”
Rusty Townsend says, “Oh, sure. Their gift shop is legendary.”
Des thinks he’s going to like the Secret Service lad.

and amazingly only one counterspy. That’s okay, more are waiting for them on the ground and plenty more are on their way, all of whom are extremely well armed.

That’s just, like, the first 100th of this novel, which has multiple beginnings and even more endings and more twists than a Twizzler, including as usual some wonderfully inventive means of dealing with the bad guys

“They chased me out of the goddam sky with a flare?”
“That’s affirmative, boss. It was that big moose of a guy. The one built like Popeye.”

with at long last an actual finale that will rock you right back in your chair. I did not see that coming and neither did Des.

Des Limerick is a great character on the order of the Gray Man and Orphan X, only much more lovable, who will make a gatekeeper addict out of anyone. You don’t have to read them in order, just grab the first copy you find and dive in.

Mini-spoiler: Just so Byrne knows, I am seriously pissed off about the Canadian pilots and he’s going to get an earful the next time I meet him. Dammit.

Book Review Monday Chatter Des Limerick James Byrne Storm Warning