Chain Reaction by James Byrne

How can you not love a character named Desmond Aloysius Limerick?  He is as charming as his name implies and he is featured in a series of thrillers by James Byrne, the latest of which is titled CHAIN REACTION. In its review, Booklist said, “This one can easily be read as a stand-alone, but once readers have finished it, they’ll almost certainly want to read the others.” I strongly concur. Dez, as he is known to friends and some longtime enemies, is a highly trained and highly skilled gatekeeper, someone who “Can open any door. Can keep it open as long as necessary. Can control who does - and who don't - get through.” This mystery is packed with action, double crosses, and even some wistful romance. A favorite part, though, is the many quips that Dez offers and the depth of his connections to professional law enforcement and espionage. For example, when trying to track an adversary: “Then he boots up his tablet, and an app invented by the Israeli Mossad. …The app takes nearly 90 seconds, then gives Dez the exact GPS coordinates for that mobile. Personal privacy isn't really one of things the Mossad loses a lot of sleep over.” And don’t forget, Dez first gets involved with taking down Russian terrorists at a New Jersey Convention Center because of his part-time gig playing bass for Kansas Jack and the Blacktop (another fabulous name!). Readers will enjoy the unique mix of wry humor, twisty suspense, and fast paced adventure. Highly recommended.