2026 Reviews – Rosepoint Publishing

Lady Reid’s Legacy by Jean Grainger #BookReview #HistoricalIrishHistory #TuesdayBookBlog

The Dunmara Series – Book 3

#1 Best Seller in Historical British & Irish Literature

Book Blurb:

In 1846, a young bride arrives at Dunmara as the Great Famine tightens its grip on Ireland. Evelyne Reid quickly learns that her marriage is nothing more than a debt repaid, and that her husband, Lord Reid, is as cold and merciless as the hunger stalking his tenants. Powerless by law, Evelyne must choose between obedience and her conscience.
But Evelyne makes a decision in 1846 that will echo across two centuries.

Over 150 years later Dunmara Estate is in grave peril.
On Ireland’s wild West Coast, a ruthless developer has this ancient place in his sights, and those fighting to save it are losing ground with every passing day. The answer to Dunmara’s survival is hiding in plain sight. But first, someone has to see it.
Evelyne’s legacy is all but forgotten, reduced to a whisper as the years roll on.
The question is whether anyone will hear it — before it’s too late.

My Review:

Ah, the third in the series, and my favorite so far, gets ever deeper into Orla’s contemporary fight to save her historic Dunmara House, ring fort and tower. This installment, however, introduces us to Becca who becomes a co-main character with split timeline Evelyne Reid.

I usually enjoy the early portion of the timeline more so than the contemporary one, but in this installment, I found both were pretty fascinating reading, following the author’s expert storytelling as she weaves in the background of Becca and her quest to find her (Irish) roots and that of Evelyne Reid.

Evelyne of the nineteenth century is unfortunate enough to have been married off to Lord Reid as her poverty-stricken parents face losing their home and their lives as well as those of the younger children. Evelyne is nothing more than a means to provide Lord Reid of an heir. What he does with her after she is successful is horrible and my heart sank—trying to help Ms Grainger with ways to save her. Fortunately, Ms Grainger had her own ideas.

As the Great Famine of the time wields a shocking axe to the population and changes forever the path of their lives, the author once again details the agony of hunger and the role of the overlords. Also, there is ample use of, as well as explanation of, folk or Celtic lore, which is usually an eye-opening history of a current tradition.

“…there was a cross on a donkey’s neck where it met their back to remind the world that the noble animal had carried the baby Jesus.”

“Oscar Wilde used to say? I can resist everything except temptation.”

Also, love the colorful turn of phrase, humor, euphemisms, and accents and these are also included in abundance.

Does Orla find proof of help in her fight to save Dunmara House? Does Becca find that missing link that may lead to surprising roots? You and I will both have to wait to find out but I can tell you this saga is heating up beautifully, the tension is building, and is there a possible budding romance or two coming at us in Book 4?

Well! This time, even I hope so.

Many thanks to the author for providing me with the ARC and the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Historical British & Irish Literature, Historical Irish Fiction, Historical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction
Publication Date: September 24, 2026

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Jean Grainger is a USA Today bestselling author with over 100,000 5* reviews of historical and contemporary Irish fiction. She is acclaimed for her authentic portrayal of Irish life and history. Born in Cork, she draws from her experience as a history lecturer, teacher, and tour guide to craft characters that feel like friends, and sometimes foes. Grainger’s works span multiple series and standalone novels, covering significant periods in recent Irish history, but told from the perspective of families, the humans behind the headlines. Her stories often intertwine historical events with personal journeys, exploring themes of family, friendship, and human resilience. Grainger’s writing style, characterized by its warmth and authenticity, has earned her comparisons to renowned Irish authors like Maeve Binchy. Her dedication to research and character development has resulted in a loyal readership who feel deeply connected to her stories and characters.

delighted with book — Delighted with book, graphic courtesy ChatGPT

Secrets of the Artis Zoo by Paulette Mahurin – #BookReview #HistoricalWorldWarIIFiction #NetGalley

An Unforgettable Story of Love, Grief, and Found Family in the Shadow of War

Book Blurb:

During the dark days of World War II, amid Nazi domination and the deportation of Jews, the light of hope shines, often from the most ordinary of people. Such is the case in occupied Holland, where neighbors support one another and where unlikely friendships blossom.

After the death of his wife leaves Karl alone and bereft, the elephant Vrij at Amsterdam’s Artis Zoo, where Karl is employed, becomes his closest companion. Soon, he strikes up a friendship with a Jewish family named Wolff, who have a little boy named Daniel. Karl is touched by the plight of the family, and he fears for the future of the little boy. But dark clouds loom on the horizon, and the family is threatened. Because of his close bond with the Wolffs, Karl too is in danger. There seems no way of escape, until fate takes over.

Based on the remarkable true story of the role the Artis Zoo played in helping refugees during World War II, Secrets of the Artis Zoo is a testament to the power of ordinary people to perform extraordinary acts of courage. In the worst of times, love and loyalty transcend all boundaries-even between species.

His Review:

Nazi Germany held no safe places for Jews. The maniacs in leadership followed the hatred of their leader for these individuals everywhere. There were no places for Jews to hide and if they were caught both the person or family hiding the individual were killed. The zoo seemed to be an answer because there were places in the zoo that had openings where the fugitives could be hidden.

The zoo was also a place loved by Hitler and enjoyed by his chief followers. Visitations were scheduled around the needs of the habitats for the animals. Large boulders and other structures were hollow and in some cases whole families would hide within these enclosures. Many of the staff were helping to hide these unfortunates and if caught were sent to the gas chambers along with their friends.

A quick bullet in the head was considered too expensive and a waste of ammunition. Therefore, elaborate alternatives were developed. This author captures the terror and desperation of these times. Well written and very suspenseful. C E Williams I recommend it as an empathetic and well-researched and written narrative. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this ebook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Historical World War II Fiction, Historical World War II & Holocaust Fiction
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Publication Date: October 22, 2026
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble

Paulette Mahurin - author — Bio photo courtesy Goodreads

The Author: Paulette Mahurin is an award winning international best selling literary fiction and historical fiction novelist. She lives with her husband Terry and two dogs, Max and Bella, in Ventura County, California. She grew up in West Los Angeles and attended UCLA, where she received a Master’s Degree in Science. [Amazon]

Her first novel, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, made it to Amazon bestseller lists and won awards, including best historical fiction 2012 in Turning the Pages Magazine. Her second novel, His Name Was Ben, originally written as an award winning short story while she was in college and later expanded into a novel, rose to bestseller lists its second week out. Her third novel, To Live Out Loud, won international critical acclaim and made it to multiple sites as favorite read book of 2015. Her fourth book, The Seven Year Dress, made it to the top ten bestseller lists on Amazon U.S., Amazon U.K. and Amazon Australia. Her fifth book, The Day I Saw The Hummingbird, was released in 2017 to rave reviews. Her sixth book, A Different Kind of Angel, was released in August, 2018.

Semi-retired, she continues to work part-time as a Nurse Practitioner in Ventura County. When she’s not writing, she does pro-bono consultation work with women with cancer, works in the Westminster Free Clinic as a volunteer provider, volunteers as a mediator in the Ventura County Courthouse for small claims cases, and involves herself, along with her husband, in dog rescue. Profits from her books go to help rescue dogs from kill shelters. [Goodreads]

Reading couple

Every Secret Thing by Susanna Kearsley #BookReview #HistoricalWWIIFiction

Book Blurb:

Some secrets refuse to die.

When journalist Kate Murray is approached by a stranger desperate to reveal the truth about a long-buried crime, her life is upended, and a dangerous journey begins. A tangled web of betrayal, loyalty, and courage draws Kate in as she follows the trail from present-day London to the shadowy alleys of wartime Europe. The answers lie in her own family’s hidden past, but with every step, she awakens powerful enemies. To bring a killer to justice, Kate must risk not only her career—but her life.

My Review:

When Andrew Deacon is killed right in front of Canadian journalist Kate Murray, she is drawn into who and why. Kate is in London covering a murder trial when an elderly British gentleman approaches and engages her in a quick invitation to meet regarding a murder story that never saw justice. He is killed by a hit and run driver as he’s walking away.

Every Secret Thing by Susanna Kearsley — Every Secret Thing – US cover

Perhaps she would not have given the man the time she did except that he asked after her grandmother.

It devolves into a split time line—that of WWII involving her grandmother—and a more recent somewhat hazy decade. Complexity ramps up with the sense of time and multiple locations and the transition is not always as smooth as it might be. How does a journalist afford to traipse all over the world, chasing clues, entirely on her own?

There is a mystery that works hard on suspense, with a side helping of a small but impactful romance. Oh, and I enjoyed that part, very poignant. For his very short appearance in the book, I grew to love Deacon.

Suddenly we are in a complicated novel of espionage spilling out of a WWII British embassy in Lisbon. There were occasions of disbelief—okay—just go with it. Decades after the war, suddenly Kate becomes the hunted and those around her at risk, including her grandmother. Hers was just the first of the body count. Still, that wasn’t Kate’s clue to stop interviewing people possibly associated with either the present or the murder never brought to justice.

The good guys and the bad guys, neither of whom could be wholly explained or examined as it was all national security, hush-hush. Parts I liked (the romance—yeah, me, liked that part—and parts I didn’t. Why the extensive confession—the long explanation—which still didn’t cover all the unexplained threads?

I think I was supposed to love this novel more than I actually did. Sorry about that but when you catch yourself dosing between chapters, there is bound to be something missing. Hard to know the bad guys; seems like all have an agenda and difficult to decipher which one was a positive.

Not just themes of war, but of disease, suicide, theft, and loss. Profound loss. If you love historical fiction and appreciate the spy game, you may very well enjoy this more so than I.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Three point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Historical World War II Fiction, World War II Historical Fiction, Historical World War II & Holocaust Fiction
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: November 17, 2026

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Susanna Kearsley - author — Susanna Kearsley – author

The Author: I’m a former museum curator, avid amateur genealogist, and writer of modern gothic novels that interweave contemporary suspense and romance with historical adventure, meaning they don’t fit neatly into any category and are therefore a marketer’s nightmare.

The Bookseller once said of me, in a review, “She has a poetic sensibility and a sense of mystery; she could write the modern Rebecca.”

So that’s what I strive for.

How to Kill a Crime Writer by Sarah Lotz #BookReview #AmateurSleuths #TuesdayBookBlog

Book Blurb:

After the untimely death of her bestselling crime novelist mother, a young woman teams up with the fictional “ghost” of the heroine from her mother’s series in order to solve her mother’s murder.

After the tragic death of bestselling crime writer Annie Morrisey, her daughter, Niamh, moves into her mother’s country cottage to take care of her mother’s estate. Shut away from the world, Niamh doesn’t actually have to deal with the grief of her mother’s untimely passing. Until the day that two things happen: the advance copy of her mother’s final book lands on the doorstep and Leah Rebecca Overton appears in the kitchen.

Having a stranger show up in your house would be concerning at the best of times, but Leah isn’t a stranger—she’s the ultra-competent sleuth heroine from Annie’s novels. The antithesis of Niamh in every way, she’s lived in the fictitious character’s shadow for years. But why (and how) has Leah turned up now? And why can only Niamh see her? Leah is the last thing Niamh wants in her house or in her head, but she can’t ignore the sleuth…especially when Leah suspects there may have been more to Annie’s death than first suspected.

My Review:

I love it when I find a novel with a refreshing and unique plot line…at any rate, this was a new one for me. Of course I was attracted to the title, but even then, the title doesn’t really give away the storyline characters. I started to imagine a kind of Roger Rabbit scenario. Except Leah Overton is no Roger and Niamh is no private investigator.

How to Kill a Crime Writer by Sarah Lotz — How to Kill a Crime Writer – US cover

After best-selling author Anna Morrissey is found dead, her daughter Niamh moves into her cottage to take care of business and quietly grieve. But the circumstances of her mother’s death keep nagging at her. If there is no such thing as a coincidence, then this wasn’t just an accident.

As her anxiety ramps up, she confronts Leah in her kitchen. In the beginning of her mother’s exploration with her new series private investigator, Niamh was included in the forming of Leah, the loner, competent private investigator protagonist of her mother’s new bestsellers. Leah has confidence and skills Niamh could only dream of, and sure her manifestation is her increasing angst, she tries to dismiss it. Explain it away. But Leah won’t be explained away.

A character so well developed, could she actually take on a persona?

Leah is a strong personality. And she’s also sure that her Anna didn’t have an accident.

Trying not to visualize a ghost type appearance, I greatly enjoyed the character of Leah, blithely coming and going when she felt like it, issuing ultimatums, suggesting points of investigation, people of interest. Leah is rough on Niamh, forcing Niamh out of her shell and, (gasp) pro-active? She has to be to perform some of the tasks Leah has proposed for her.

How to Kill a Crime Writer - UK cover — How to Kill a Crime Writer – UK cover

The two characters couldn’t be more opposites. A total wussy as opposed to kick-ass Leah. They are so well developed you can’t help but like both and it’s fun to follow their dialogue and amusing to watch as Leah begins to mellow (just a bit, mind you) and Niamh grow.

The author threw a curve when she introduced a fantasy character in the life of a grief-stricken dropout mouse of a daughter. The sense of humor and plot line weaving in the villages’ characters and possible perps threw in enough twists to keep the reader dying to know what Leah would be doing next.

It’s a fun, fast read. Yeah, I know I’m among the minority here (what’s new?), but this time I apparently appreciated it more so than some of those who read before me. I thought it stirred the imagination. Recommended if you love the suggestion of fantasy, sense of humor, emotive characters and an engaging and entertaining novel.

Many thanks to my favorite library for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Amateur Sleuths, Women Sleuths, Cozy Mysteries
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: July 21, 2026

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Sarah Lotz is a novelist and screenwriter with a fondness for the macabre. She is the author of The Three, and lives in Cape Town with her family and other animals.

Recommendations

Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan #AudiobookReview #crimethrillers

Book Blurb:

New York Times bestseller Allison Brennan delivers a pulse-pounding thriller about one family fighting for their land against both human enemies and Mother Nature.

After the sudden death of her husband, Ellen McKenna is doing everything she can to keep her Texas farm afloat. She and her family hope to expand their operation, but times are tough and making ends meet is more expensive than she imagined, much less trying to grow. Many of their neighbors in Cooke County have thrown in the towel and agreed to sell their farms to a local businessman, but despite similar pressure, Ellen refuses to let her dreams die.

On top of the usual hardships, a series of recent storms has left the region partly flooded, and as the heavy rain begins again one morning, all the members of the McKenna family jump into action to protect their land and animals. Ellen’s oldest son discovers an injured dog—and the dog leads him to a man barely clinging to life, the apparent victim of a brutal home invasion. Then, Ellen’s younger kids go to check on a nearby neighbor and walk into a threat none of them saw coming.

Before anyone can figure out what’s really going on in their idyllic rural valley, the storm picks up again in intensity, and the McKenna kids find themselves in over their heads with no way to call for help. To protect her farm–and her family—Ellen must face down all the forces trying to tear them apart.

Allison Brennan’s talent for twisty, tense pacing combines with a deeply drawn family drama and the unforgiving power of nature in this compelling standalone thriller.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books

My Review:

It’s a farm. Accidents happen.

This one was fatal and Ellen McKenna found herself a widow with four children and a teetering farm. Many of the local farmers of Cooke County, Texas, are struggling and there is a businessman who is more than happy to pick up failing farms for ten cents on the dollar. She continues to refuse. It was her husband’s legacy. Their land. Their home.

In fact, a string of suspicious accidents are happening that has put everyone on edge.

The constant storms and threat of floods doesn’t help. She is separated from the kids, each on missions of their own and caught in serious circumstances with pounding rain, the loss of county bridges, and imminent flooding. The descriptions of the dark and howling storm lends to the tension of the storytelling and ramps up suspense.

As each of the McKenna family members wrestle with complex situations of their own, layers of the storyline meld to complete the picture and leads to a satisfying conclusion.

I’ve read a number of the author’s books, the last one being Don’t Open the Door in July, 2025. The plot is a good one and she wrote an atmospheric one this time but repeated circumstances a bit too much for me and lost a bit of momentum.

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Three point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Crime Thrillers, Suspense
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Narrator: Amanda Stribling
Release Date: June 23, 2026

Title Links:

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Allison Brennan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award winning author of more than forty thrillers and numerous short stories. She was nominated for Best Paperback Original Thriller by International Thriller Writers, had multiple nominations and two Daphne du Maurier Awards, and is a five-time RITA finalist for Best Romantic Suspense. Allison believes life is too short to be bored, so she had five kids and writes three books a year. Originally from northern California, in 2019 she and her husband relocated to Arizona where they enjoy baseball Spring Training, hiking, and spending time with their kids, grandson, and assorted pets.

Audiobooks with headphones — Graphic books and coffee courtesy Freepik.com

Fighting Edge by Margaret Mizushima #BookReview #policeprocedurals #TuesdayBookBlog

A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery

Book Blurb:

Major crimes intersect in this nail-biting installment of the Timber Creek K-9 mysteries by award-winning author Margaret Mizushima.

A routine welfare check becomes a nightmare when Deputy Mattie Walker finds a young mother dead and a hysterical toddler, possibly the only witness to a brutal crime. Before the investigative team can start piecing together what happened, Mattie discovers another criminal act in Timber Creek.

During a traffic stop for speeding, Mattie observes a nervous driver and a teenage passenger frozen with fear. A quick sweep of the car with her K-9 partner, Robo, reveals a dangerous mix of drugs and suspected human trafficking, providing Mattie with grounds to arrest the driver. After she places the teenager in protective custody, the sheriff’s department hands the case over to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

As the team gathers evidence and information, Mattie’s husband, veterinarian Cole Walker, notices suspicious activity during ambulatory calls at dog kennels, indicating yet a third crime lurking in the shadows. What begins as isolated incidents quickly reveals a chilling truth: Organized crime has infiltrated their rural mountain community.

Every clue leads to more questions, and each answer brings them closer to greater danger. Do Mattie and her law enforcement partners have what it takes to shut down this criminal ring before it claims more victims? And could its next victim be someone Mattie loves?

My Review:

I don’t miss a chance to read the latest Timber Creek K-9 Mystery by Ms. Mizushima. I love the characters and have watched their growth almost from Book 1. The protagonist is Deputy Mattie Walker, of course, but the star (at least for me) is Robo, the German Shepherd.

This installment starts right off with a welfare check of a young mother who is found dead with her toddler crying nearby. As always, however, these K-9 stories are layered in between Mattie’s home life. She and the local veterinarian Cole Walker married and created a ready-made family with her step-daughters Sophie and Angie. Sophie is the youngest and easiest as Angie has progressed to sullen teen. The family recently underwent a collective trauma for which they are now consulting a therapist. Maddie’s job creates a bit of tension by duties that keep her from family sessions.

I love the parts where not only Robo, but Cole are used in her police investigations and procedures are often explained. It’s interesting how Mattie gets Robo psyched up for a pursuit, but usually just the Kevlar vest means that Robo is going to work. His demeanor changes instantly and he’s all business. Serious business.

The author has a talent for storytelling, describing her well-developed characters and tackling topical issues such as human trafficking as well as domestic issues. The people seem real—we’ve watched them grow and meld. The pacing doesn’t waver or slow and the plot builds tension and suspense as each episode thread is tackled.

It’s a series where each book can be read as a standalone, but also as an old friend when read from the beginning

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Police Procedurals, Women Sleuths
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: September 8, 2026

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Margaret Mizushima writes the internationally published Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries. She served as a past president of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America and was elected Writer of the Year by Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. She is the recipient of a Colorado Authors League Award, a Benjamin Franklin Book Award, a CIBA CLUE Award, and two Willa Literary Awards by Women Writing the West. Her books have been finalists for a SPUR Award by Western Writers of America, a Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award, and the Colorado Book Award. She and her husband recently moved from Colorado, where they raised two daughters and a multitude of animals, to a home in the Pacific Northwest. Find her on her website, Facebook, X, BlueSky, and Instagram.

Rosepoint Publishing--book haul — Graphic courtesy ChatGPT

Deserters: A Novel by Jerry Gabriel – #BookReview #TravelAdventureFiction #NetGalley #AcreBooks

Book Blurb:

An immersive adventure story set during the American Civil War follows four travelers as they escape toward the Western territories.

It is fall 1864, and Robert Riley has deserted his Army of the Potomac unit outside Petersburg, Virginia. Exhausted from years of war and worried about his motherless sons in Ohio, he returns to collect thirteen-year-old Michael and Sean, three years older, and flees to the Western territories. Along the way, he encounters Janey, an orphan at sixteen, who is also eager to go West. When Riley sees in her a quickness of mind, a brand of cunning that mirrors his own, he is persuaded to take her along.

Crossing the lower Midwest on horseback with little money and few possessions, the four are pursued by a wily private detective after the reward for turning in Riley. He manages to thwart the ragtag group, who abandon their plan of crossing the plains. They slip away by train to Chicago, and there, in that cold, stinking, dangerous metropolis, just before the 1864 election, they meet with problems beyond Riley’s ability to resolve. All four find themselves alone, at the mercy of fortune . . . and the fortune hunter, who finally gets the chance to face down his nemesis.

Deserters alternates between the perspectives of the four major characters as their relationships grow and shift, and as each of them strives to forge their way forward in the late war’s murky upheaval. A book whose antecedents include Charles Portis’s True Grit and Paulette Jiles’s News of the World, Gabriel’s immersive novel is an adventure story with psychological intricacy, emotional intensity, and historical heft.

His Review:

The tragedy that was the American Civil War took more American lives than any other conflict in history. The issue was the northern states fighting a group of southern states. Sometimes even brothers within a family were split between their loyalties to the area they were born and the flag they chose.

This book concentrates on the misery that was felt on both sides and the young people who decided that they did not want to fight in that war. One of the facts of this conflict was that it was illegal to avoid conscription into this war. Either on the side of the north or the south, avoiding being conscripted was punishable by death or immediately being sent back to the front, sometimes without a weapon.

Jerry Gabriel explores the paranoia and fear that any deserter had. Escaping this turmoil was fraught with danger. Even young children were employed to help find the deserters. Bounty hunters made a living capturing these individuals and getting them back to their respective armies.

The time was brutal and vicious and avoiding capture meant never going into a town if it could be avoided. Bounties being paid during times of economic tragedy resulted in hundreds of thousands of people being put back into inhumane prisons with no future. Read this story and witness the many facets of the Civil War not taught in schools. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this ebook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Travel Adventure Fiction, Action & Adventure Literary Fiction, Literary Fiction
Publisher: Acre Books
Publication Date: May 15, 2026
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Jerry Gabriel is the author of two books of fiction, Drowned Boy and The Let Go. His first book, Drowned Boy, won the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction and the Towson Prize for Literature. He lives in Maryland with his wife and children, where he teaches writing at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Reading couple — Graphic courtesy ChatGPT

The Gatekeeper: A Thriller by James Byrne #BookReview #AssassinationThrillers

Dez Limerick Book 1

Editors’ pick Best Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense

Book Blurb:

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.

His Review:

The Gatekeeper by James Byrne — The Gatekeeper – UK cover

Dez Limerick is not your poster hero. The fact is that this 5’ 5” man who can be described as a barrel is anything but the standard hero. However, Dez has experience and talents that most men can only dream of. He has a quick wit that measures situations and response needs like an orchestra conductor.

A splinter group has decided to stage a coup and change a section of the California coast into a separate country; and a state that will declare itself a separate country and request membership in the United Nations. This is being accomplished during a heat wave and by a very large group of itinerant hippies. Dez is not willing to see a group of dissidents change the shape of the country and our freedoms.

Dez is a likeable character with a guitar in one hand and a questionable demeanor that seems to attract a certain kind of woman. Can he prevent a kidnapping and the plans of the separatist group? His demeanor is a serious addition to the believability of the story. I found it very enjoyable and a quick read. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to our local library for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Assassination Thrillers, Vigilante Justice Thrillers
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
Source: Local Library

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: James Byrne lives and writes in one of the coolest cities on Earth: Portland, Oregon. Under various names, he has published nine other novels in the realm of thrillers and mysteries. Find out more about James and “The Gatekeeper” at jamesbyrnemystery.com