Dark Cargo

Rogue Warrior #8

by Ian Loome

Bob’s taking one killer vacation.

When his friend Jasmine’s brother is arrested for drug smuggling, Bob is convinced he‘s innocent and sets out to find the real bad guys. A search that leads him to a lawless town in Colombia where he comes up against a ruthless cartel.

With the help of a local journalist, Bob discovers an international conspiracy to use a charity to import tons of cocaine into the US.

Back in America, he tracks the cocaine and realizes that a powerful Silicon Valley player is working with the cartel, masterminding the smuggling operation. Even worse, he’s kidnapped Jasmine and is holding her hostage.

Battling a tech baron with limitless resources including a team of highly trained killers, Bob knows that this may be his toughest battle yet. But he’ll do whatever it takes to save his friend.

Silicon Valley is about to meet a new kind of player.

Dark Cargo - the eighth in the thrilling Rogue Warrior action thriller series. Perfect for fans of Jason Kasper, Jack Carr, and Lee Child.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Action

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 16, 2025

About the author

Have you reviewed one of my books?

I formerly wrote under the pennames "Sam Powers" and "LH Thomson". I was offline for most of the last five years! Send me an email at ian@ianloome.com if you're interested in a review copy of my latest.

Would you like to try my writing?

Grab a couple of free novels at https://ianloome.com/readergroup/

Ian Loome originally published novels as 'LH Thomson' and 'Sam Powers' before consolidating them under his own name in 2021.

He grew up in Africa, England and Canada. A former journalist, he was born in Libya and spent much of his youth in Africa in a communist dictatorship. A weekend tennis match was often against a member of the KGB or East German Stasi. He has lived around the world and covered stories ranging violent crime to features and celebrity interviews.

He served several stints as a legislature reporter, assignment editor and newsroom manager.

He writes the Liam Quinn Mysteries, the Joe Brennan spy novels and numerous stand-alone titles. In his spare time, he plays blues guitar and has toured with a radio charting blues band.

On the autism and ADHD spectrums, he lives with his partner Lori in Canada.

Reviews

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the lone man constant on the road but not Reacher then Bob Singleton is your guy. Dark Cargo by Ian Loome is the eight book about this character and it's great fun to read. Just like Others in this category he finds himself helping people in a new town in every book but Bob also tries to keep himself hidden from his old employer. I was hooked with the first installment in this series and now I wait eagerly for the next one. I must thank Netgalley and Inkubator Books for giving me an advance copy.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Cargo by Ian Loome
Rogue Warrior #8

Intense, action-packed, excellent addition to the series ~ Can’t wait to find out what happens next!

What I liked:
* Bob Singleton: ex-military, ex-CIA assassin, recovering alcoholic, strong, lethal, has his own moral compass, protective, willing to do what it takes, intriguing, reminds me of a cat with nine lives
* Adam Renton: Freelance mission handler for Bob and others, former NSA, spook and signals intelligence expert, intriguing
* Abigail “Abi” Sanchez: journalist, mother, assists Bob in this story
* Jasmine Williams: Bob’s boss, worked for charitable organizations, her innocent brother in jail, Bob rescues her from thugs
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* Being able to dislike the bad guys and eagerly await them being taken down or out by Bob
* The way Bob seems to find people willing to work with and help him no matter where he is
* Eddie Stone and Andy Kennedy are still after Bob, and I am curious about why they want him to disappear permanently
* That all the threads of the story were tied up by the end of the book
* Thinking about where Bob will end up next and what issues and people he will have to deal with
* All of it except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Anderson Rowe-billionaire, Sebastian Krug who works for Rowe, Daniel Rivas and Poni Alvarez – drug trade bad guys,
* The loss of at least one innocent life

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC through "Booksprout" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The story begins with Bob agreeing to help free her brother who was arrested on drug charges. Initially Bob checks out the local drug scene in San Diego where he learns that there is a new party involved and the group that he followed up with was not involved. Since Jasmine's brother was arrested on arriving from Columbia, Bob travelled there to see what he could find out. While there he received help from Abi, a journalist, to help him learn about the people involved. His hunt wound up putting both Abi and Bob in danger. Bob eventually got evidence and then left to return to Calif.

Learn what dangers Bob had to overcome as he performed his hunt to clear Jasmine's brother. Read the exciting conclusion and get all your questions answered.

This is another winner in this series, don't miss out!

[Emerald Maple · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book description on this one tells you who is behind everything so it is more a story of whether Bob can stop him and how many bodies will pile up in the mean time. You do get to meet his handler which is nice for character growth and of course, Eddie Stone gets a mention as the CIA flag his first international travel since he "retired".

It was a good read, I preferred Body Count but maybe the tech bro billionaire with sociopathic tendencies is hitting a little too close right now (Musk does get a mention in the book too). Also if Catholic school taught me anything, it is that the nuns know everything, no way she was clueless to the goings on as drugs took over.

This one has lots of action, plenty of bad guys to hate on. From tech billionaires and cartels and gangs who mostly end up getting what they deserve. I am just sad that Bob didn't feed him to his beloved shark.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

What about Bob?

As he drifts from one city to another, trying to lead a low-key life, Bob always manages to find trouble and can't resist stepping in to turn a wrong into a right. Meanwhile, he always has to keep one eye out for his former black ops employers who want to wipe him out of existence.

When his boss' kid brother ends up charged with cocaine smuggling, something doesn't pass the sniff test. Fearless Bob has no problem mixing it up with drug bosses and business icons when it comes to seeing justice being served.

Lots of actions, bumps, bruises and some thought provoking scenarios for both Bob and those who still believe in him. It's another satisfying volume in the Rogue Warrior series - I highly recommend it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandra Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual the Author does not disappoint in the next book of the Rogue Warrior Series. They are such fun to read, and it is hard to not read it all in the one sitting, as that's how engrossing it can be. Absolutely love the Character of Bob, flaws and all. Usual busy book, which I love, with Bob full on getting into some hairy predicaments but surviving sometimes by the skin of his teeth. You see more of his personal battles in this one. His soul searching and his painful battle with feelings of guilt. Can't help cheering him on. As always, a great finale and plenty of action and in some cases a fitting end to some of the bad guys.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this latest story, Bob yet again finds himself in deep when he agrees to help a woman whose brother has been arrested for drug smuggling. What initially starts with Bob getting stuck into the local gangs soon brings him to Colombia where things escalate dramatically.

We know from the blurb who is the main person behind things but I really enjoyed the thrill of the hunt and the lengths Bob goes to in order to get justice. We get more involvement from Renton this time around and I enjoyed this in particular. I look forward to what lies in store next for Bob.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another engaging thriller withs lots of action, description of fights, search for justice and revenge against those who are evil. Bob promised to help Jasmine to free her brother from jail, little did he know that he would confront his deepest hidden feelings and almost lose the battle in which he is immersed. He lost people he had learned to care about but realized that he had to continue to do his job in honor of those who were no longer with him. Fast-paced, well-written and with a good and relatable plot.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Reads lotsa stuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wanna try San Diego? Once again as a favor for a friend our hero, Bob steps up to help. Living in San Diego, working for a charity building houses, keeping a low profile so he can just fade into the background. It works until his boss doesn’t show up for work and finding her leads to one thing and then another. The story twists and turns with damsels in distress, secret compartments, a little Semtex just to stay under the radar. Who knows whose watching or trying to locate our hero. Can he stay hidden in plain sight? Can he get to the bottom? Can he save the innocent?

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

While quietly minding his own business in San Diego he is thrown into helping her boss’s brother after she doesn’t show up for work. He rescues her and the goes on a mission in Colombia along with a reporter to uncover what happened to his boss’s brother. Things heat up and bring them back to the states only to find out his boss has been kidnapped.
Some parts of this book just didn’t hold my attention. I didn’t find the first half as intriguing as his previous book. Overall it it was a great read.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by booksprout.

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob and I have very different ideas on what makes a holiday!

Bob has been in his newest base for a few months. He's helping out on a community building project and lends a hand when his boss's brother gets in a pickle. Drama and Bob are old friends and his newest nemesis is a tech bro who would give a Bond villain a run for his money - pet shark and all.

This book is also very timeous as the tech baddie (and even Muskrat himself) are showing the evil they can do with the click of a button. Bob's adventures take him south of the border so that obviously triggers his old handler into his whereabouts so you know things are about to get tres ugly!

Cartels, drug dealers, hoodlums of all flavours - Bob has eradicated them all and I love the way he handles business. He never wants to find trouble but it always knows where he is!

Now to wait and see what situation Bob finds next!

[Bren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally gripping, page turning, action-packed with many twists you won't expect or see coming. Bob Singleton gets caught up in more trouble every time he helps anybody with a problem this time it's a young man who's been set up for a crime he didn't commit and ends up in jail and that doesn't sit right with Bob so he's going to fix that. I'm addicted to the Rogue Warrior Thrillers they are a definitely 5 star books.

[Robert Foland · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Dark Cargo" embodies all the qualities of an exceptional thriller. Ian Loome presents a refreshing original storyline, enriched by expertly crafted characters. The lead charcters is relentless and uncompromisingly determined. This novel is an engrossing literary achievement—exciting engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a little bit of everything: conspiracy, drug smuggling, a cartel and a high level Silcon Valley operator. When Bob's friend, Jasmine's brother is arrested for drug smuggling he knows he must jump in and help. The investigation leads Bob to Columbia and a conspiracy that no one saw coming.

[Genesia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I love the book. From the first page, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. Bob is my hero, and I'm going to read all the previous books in the series. With great characters and a fantastic plot, this is a page-turner to remember.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jan Martindale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bob’s humanity guts him, despite the results

Doing good deeds for others often leave Bob with the well known cliché, “no good deed goes unpunished”. Unfortunately, fighting drug dealers & conglomerates to prove one young man’s innocence leads to many deaths, some innocents included.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good. I really liked the characters. At least the good guys. I didn’t expect the twist. I can see this being made into a movie.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[T Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written book, easy to read and with very good characters. As usual, the action scenes are over the top, but this is still entertaining.

[Ian J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book, I hated the series so far and enjoyed all of them

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

[Dale (Aus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice read

These books fill the gaps in my reading list and they never fail to be a great read. Always looking for more Bob action.

[Jim Cerone The Perfect Host DJ MC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid Action

Author Loome’s hero Bob Davis is standard issue, the plot here moves quickly, the dialogue occasionally hokey but overall this is a good vacation read.

[ShanDizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bob busts a drug ring that’s run through a charity organization.