Deadlock    by James Byrne Order:  USA  Can Minotaur, 2023 (2023) Hardcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Deadlock follows The Gatekeeper in James Byrne's explosive military thriller series starring retired mercenary soldier Desmond Aloysius 'Dez' Limerick, a gatekeeper, responsible for 'Transitions an' times. Duality an' doors. Passages an' endings.' Dez also plays electric bass guitar. As this episode opens in LA, his friend (young songwriter Raziah Swann) calls from Portland to ask for his help. Her reporter sister Laleh is in hospital after a mugging and is in danger. Of course, Dez rushes to the rescue, and saves them almost immediately from an attack at the hospital. Soon, the US Marshalls Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration are involved, as well as the Portland police. Turns out Laleh was looking into the murder of a friend, who was auditing Clockjack Solutions, 'an economic and political powerhouse.' Now, the dead man's research on Clockjack has gone missing. Dez and Laleh search the auditor's home - and find the research. As Dez and the sisters keep investigating, the attacks continue as well. MI6's Arabella Satti shows up, on the trail of an old enemy - and tells Dez of a compromised US Witness Protection. The plot quickly thickens, the violence escalates, and Dez goes on the attack - using electric maintenance carts! The episode ends with 'A high-tech juggernaut of a company, serving as an exoskeleton for a three-hundred-man mercenary army ... Versus a retired, guitar-playing lunatic'. We know that they don't have a chance against Dez, of course, but it's fun watching it all play out, while the dialogue consistently entertains. Can't wait for the Gatekeeper's next set of exploits! Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews