Hostile Asset

Dane Winter #1

by Sam Cogley

Preorder the first in the explosive, high-octane Dane Winter series from Sam Cogley. Perfect for fans of Lee Child, Robert Ludlum and Vince Flynn! Dane Winter is a soldier. A machine built for death. And he’s out for revenge.

Former US Marine Dane Winter has spent years leading a highly-skilled team of operatives for ‘Redwind’- a global private security conglomerate. His latest assignment in Mexico should have been routine: safeguard a high-ranking official against a potential attack from a local drug cartel. But nothing can prepare him for the slaughter that unfolds.

When the operation spirals into chaos, Dane Winter is left wounded and cut off from everything he knows. Rescued by Maria Pineda, a courageous local who risks everything to smuggle him to safety, the pair must go off-grid to survive.

But Dane Winter can’t be kept down for long, rising from the ashes driven by a need to expose the truth. The ultimate silent predator, every move he makes, and every life he takes brings him closer to a deadly confrontation. Will it bring his downfall, or provide the vengeance he so desperately craves?

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2025

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

After twenty years as a US Marine, Dane Winter called it quits, drifting from place to place as he tried to find his way. When his old Colonel found him, he enticed him into an elite security group called Redwind, and Dane finally found himself once again. Skills honed, his latest operation was to protect a high ranking official in Mexico from the cartel which had taken over everything. Dane and his team arrived at the home of the official, prepared for anything. But the carnage that followed left Dane injured; a friend smuggled him to safety where he could recuperate and work out his next steps.

Gradually Dane worked out the truth: now it was his job to deliver that truth to those who mattered. The cartel had many in its pockets and Dane was determined to oust them all. But could he? He was driven, and he was confident...

Hostile Asset is the first in the Dane Winter series by Aussie author Sam Cogley (whom I didn't realise was Aussie until I read the "About the Author" at the end!) and wow! what a brilliant start to a series! I'll definitely be looking forward to #2 when it comes out, and checking out his other books, of which he has many! Dane is a brilliant character, strong, tough, determined, with no qualms about getting rid of the bad guy. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Terence M - [Quot libros, quam breve tempus!] · Rating 1 out of 5]

1-Star DNF for "Hostile Asset"
I try to love and support Aussie authors, but really, the "action-fiction-crime-thriller" genre has no space for another Johnny-Come-Lately "Jack Reacher"-type character!

[VickydpBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book it’s crime thriller and it’s part of 2 book series called Dane winters . It releases on 6 October and it will £1.99 on kindle.

Blurb

Get ready for the BRAND NEW explosive, high-octane Dane Winter series from Sam Cogley. If you like Lee Child, Robert Ludlum and Vince Flynn, this is for you! 💥
Dane Winter is a soldier. A machine built for death. And he’s out for revenge.

Former US Marine Dane Winter has spent years leading a highly-skilled team of operatives for ‘Redwind’- a global private security conglomerate. His latest assignment in Mexico should have been routine: safeguard a high-ranking official against a potential attack from a local drug cartel. But nothing can prepare him for the slaughter that unfolds.

When the operation spirals into chaos, Dane Winter is left wounded and cut off from everything he knows. Rescued by Maria Pineda, a courageous local who risks everything to smuggle him to safety, the pair must go off-grid to survive.

But Dane Winter can’t be kept down for long, rising from the ashes driven by a need to expose the truth. The ultimate silent predator, every move he makes, and every life he takes brings him closer to a deadly confrontation.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dane Winter is a former marine who now works for a security company and headed off to Mexico for his latest job to protect a man from the local cartel. Their mission has been comprised when they were under attack! 🫢 Can Winter trust anyone and why is he a target?! 🤔

There is plenty of action through the book and this is the kinda version that I would watch as a film and something different from what I normally read! 📖

If you like a fast paced and exciting thriller then this is the one for you! 🤪

I would like to say thank you to Love Books Tour for letting me participate in the ‘Hostile Asset’ tour and I’m looking forward to next one! ♥️

✨ Pub date - 6th October 2025 ✨

[Christine Harman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, fast paced and exciting. I just had to know how it would end. The first in a new series starring Dane Winter, an ex Marine, now working for Redwind security. He and his team are sent to Mexico to guard a high ranking politician. What unfolds is total chaos and Dane is lucky to survive. We follow him in his quest for vengeance. Well rounded characters who are easy to visualise, making them more human. Very atmospheric, you feel totally enveloped in the story. I look forward to hearing more of Dane Winter and his adventures.
With thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Brannigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one reads like a direct-to-streaming action flick—the kind you’d stumble across on a second-tier service late at night. There are explosions aplenty, a gruff one-liner or two, and a hero who refuses to stay down. Dane Winter, a haunted veteran with scars from both the military and his personal life, has shifted into the private sector. When he takes a job protecting a politician in Mexico, the cartel comes calling. Soon enough, a sprung trap leaves him and a local woman on the run. The twist: Dane Winter doesn’t run.

The result is a very cheesy, very loud action adventure. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing—it can serve as a palate cleanser after something heavier or more demanding—but you have to go in with the right expectations. If you’re looking for realism or nuance, you’ll likely be disappointed. One detail that stood out in the wrong way: despite being set in Mexico, everyone spoke English throughout. Even a few Spanish exchanges or moments of translation would have added texture and authenticity.

What works, A fast-paced action, plenty of firefights and chase scenes. Straightforward, no-frills entertainment value. A “comfort food” book if you want something loud and uncomplicated. What didn’t, The cheesy dialogue and stock tropes limit its impact. Lack of linguistic or cultural authenticity in the setting. Predictable plot beats with little surprise.

For fans of pulpy action adventures who don’t mind leaning into clichés. If you want a book that feels like a disposable action movie with popcorn in hand, this will do the trick. A serviceable, over-the-top thriller that delivers exactly what it promises—but not much more.
In short: a loud, cheesy action adventure that earns three stars.

NetGalley.com and the publisher provide me with a free ebook for an honest review.

[BookishDramas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me.
I read this book as an ARC from NetGalley and this review is my honest feedback based on my reading it.

Having received the advance copy of this book, I came away with mixed feelings both of satisfaction and of wanting more. This is the start of a series with Dane Winter, a former Marine turned operator. The story begins amid chaos in Mexico when an operation goes disastrously wrong.
Throughout this adventure, Sam Cogley doesn’t shy away from creating danger or intensity. The action is visceral and the stakes are clearly lethal, which makes for a propulsive read and Sam an author to look out for high adrenaline adventures.

The two best parts of the story are its fight scenes and the vivid glimpses that the reader gets of the dangerous, cartel-controlled terrain. There are moments of tension, desperation for survival, where you feel the pulse of the story. Dane Winter is competent and relentless. Maria provides the emotional tone grounding the violence with real human cost, making Dane’s drive more than just revenge.

But the book is not flawless. Secondary characters are thin and often feel like tools rather than real people. Some betrayals and twists land but others feel predictable or underwritten. Pacing is strong when things are moving fast but becomes uneven in quieter stretches. There are moments when familiar genre tropes take over, dulling the sharper edges of what earlier feels fresh. The prose is clean and it does the job but rarely lingers on description in a way that could deepen emotional resonance.

I think Hostile Asset will appeal to readers who crave grit, action and a hero who is damaged but capable. It sets up a promising series, though its first installment shows both its strength and its beginnings. I’m giving it 3.5 stars. It delivers enough thrills and promise to make me look forward to what comes next.

[Sandy S · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5stars

HOSTILE ASSET is the first instalment in Sam Cogley’s contemporary, adult DANE WINTER military, suspense thriller focusing on former US Marine turned security operative Dane Winter.

Told from omniscient third person perspective (Dane) HOSTILE ASSET follows in the wake of the death of Dane Winter’s entire team while on assignment in Tiapetla Mexico. Hired to safeguard a candidate for governor, Dane and his team of operatives are outmanned, outgunned and under attack. After getting everyone to safety Dane discovers he is the lone survivor of an attack by the local Cartel, and our hero is determined to take down everyone involved.

The fast paced world building is action packed and dark as Dane Winter goes on the hunt for the people he blames for killing his team but from the outset, someone else is directing the hunt, and our hero must come to terms with the possibility of betrayal. Thought provoking in its’ presentation and concept, but an improbability in conflict resolution.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, questionable and desperate secondary and supporting characters including the other four members of Dane Winters’ team, their boss, and numerous members of the Mexican Cartel. We are introduced to Dr.Ruben, Pineda and his sister Maria, a young woman who has caught the eye of our story line hero.

HOSTILE ASSET is an action thriller focusing on betrayal and vengeance, power and control, secrets and lies, grief and loss. The action packed premise is dramatic and edgy but questionably unrealistic on many levels. The characters are energetic, gritty and tenacious. There is a slight romance developing but for all intents and purposes, virtually non existent.

copy supplied for review

[Jan Mawdesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dane Winter has managed to get himself into a seriously bloodthirsty situation in Hostile Asset as he reluctantly takes on a job in the small but utterly corrupt Mexican town of San Yetaxa, which should have been a simple, straightforward security job. Instead, it becomes a killing field in which he is badly injured and friends of many years, all experts in their field, are killed, leaving him furious and out to balance the scales.
Having met Maria Pineda, a waitress at the one and only café where you can get decent food in San Yetaxa he discovers she is to work at the function where they are to provide security. When the rival faction breaks into the heavily guarded compound, she manages to get Winter away, her brother, a Doctor at the local hospital tending to his wounds.
As the days pass, he and Maria realise they are in danger of also being exterminated but understand that to be able to discover what is really going and who is behind the carnage that occurred they need to stay together.
Bloodthirsty with no holds bared this second book in the Dane Winter Thriller series sees a damaged man working hard to amends, learning to once again face his own demons by helping those less able to seek justice even if the cost is very high.
Hostile Asset tries almost too hard to deliver an edge of the seat thriller which in this instance does not quite gel: but so saying, if you like this type of thriller, you will enjoy the fast paced, well thought out plot line as Dane Winter sets out to even the score, by any means possible, once again. Hostile Asset is book one in a two part series.

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Hostile Asset kicks off the Dane Winter series with high-octane action and relentless suspense. Dane Winter, a former Marine turned elite operative for Redwind Security, is sent to Mexico to protect a gubernatorial candidate in cartel territory—a mission that goes catastrophically wrong. After his team is wiped out and he barely survives, Winter sets out on a solo mission for revenge and justice, facing cartel hitmen, corrupt cops, and hidden benefactors along the way.

Cogley excels at pacing, keeping the tension high from the opening assignment briefing in Nevada to Winter’s audacious maneuvers in Mexico. The plot is audacious but executed with skill: intricate plans, explosive encounters, and a series of twists that keep readers on edge. Secondary characters, especially Maria and her brother, add depth and humanity to the story, balancing the nonstop action with relatable stakes.

Winter himself is a compelling protagonist—highly skilled, determined, and morally grounded despite the brutal world around him. Cogley gives him a backstory that helps explain his drive and adds emotional weight to the violent encounters. The story occasionally leans on familiar military thriller tropes, but Winter’s resourcefulness and the Mexican cartel backdrop give it a fresh, cinematic feel.

If you enjoy Jack Reacher–style lone wolves, fast-paced plotlines, and gritty, high-stakes action, Hostile Asset delivers. It’s an explosive start to a promising new series, and I’m eager to see where Dane Winter goes next.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hostile Asset by Sam Cogley is the first book in a new Dane Winter series and I am hooked! It was fast paced and Full of action throughout that will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next to the main character Dane Winter, who was a Former US Marine he has spent the last twenty years leading a highly-skilled team of operatives for ‘Redwind’- a global private security conglomerate. Now, his latest assignment is in Mexico, safeguard a high-ranking official against a potential attack from a local drug cartel. This should be a routine: assignment . . . . . But nothing can prepare him for the slaughter that unfolds. before them!

The operation spirals into chaos, Dane Winter is Now left wounded, he is alone and cut off from everything he knows. Luckily he is rescued by Maria Pineda, a courageous local and she risks everything to smuggle him to safety, the pair must go off-grid to survive.

But, Dane Winter can’t be kept down for long, rising from the ashes driven by a need to expose the truth. The ultimate silent predator, every move he makes, and every life he takes brings him closer to a deadly confrontation.

Will this be his downfall?

or provide the vengeance he so desperately craves?

Excellent Book from start to finish! I highly recommend this New Series and looking forward reading the next on on the Dane Winter Series.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This story introduces Dane Winter who becomes a member of Redwind, a private security conglomerate, and how he came to join. It continues with his latest assignment which was expected to be acting as a security team at a fundraiser. Things do not work out as planned because a cartel force attacked and wound up killing all of the Redwind members working the detail with the exception of Dane. Dane was in a firefight and was wounded, but wound up being saved by Maria, a caterer with the help of Reuben, Maria's stepbrother.

The story continues with Dane being chased by the cartel which also placed Maria and Reuben in danger as well. Follow Dane as he takes it to the cartel because they killed his friends from Redwind as well as targeting Maria and Reuben as well. Learn all of the steps that Dane took and in the end who provided him assistance.

The ending is well worth the read and this book is definitely worth a read, don't miss out.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the privilege of previewing Hostile Asset, courtesy of the author and NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Sam Cogley has proved himself an excellent creator of action thrillers in both his Adam Knight and Penumbra Division books. This new series with a new publisher features Dane Winter, an ex-US Marine now serving as a private security operator. There's plenty of twists and turns in the action south of the border, but as expected, he prevails in the end despite the odds against him when everything seems to go off the rails.

While the wild ride keeps you on the edge of your seat, I look forward to seeing this new character fleshed out a bit more like the protagonists in his other series, as I had a harder time connecting with Dane Winter as presented. This one felt more formulaic than any of Cogley's other books, and that could just be part of exploring how to best set up this new character for success in future volumes, which I'll look forward to as they come out.

[Lynsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Hostile Asset’ is an entertaining and addictive read! This is the first book of this author’s that I have read, and I found it to be quick and easy to read. This is the start of a new series by the author, and I will look out for book two.

Dane Winters is a complicated man. An ex-US Marine, now working for a private defence company. He has some ghosts and heartbreak in his soul, but he is a professional and gets the job done. He is likeable but does seem a bit ‘cookie-cutter’ for this subgenre.

If you suspend your disbelief at how easy his path was to achieve his aims, it was an entertaining story. I did not guess who the antagonist was, so that was a good twist. However, maybe it would have had more of an emotional impact if it had been someone else. Overall, this was an entertaining and fun book, and I would be interested in reading the next instalment.

Let me know if you pick this one up.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam Cogley has become one of my favorite authors. Dane Winter is a new main character, and he is a bit of a rebel. He works for Redwind Security and is ex-military. In this story, he leads a team of four other operatives to provide security for a political candidate in Mexico running for office in a cartel-controlled area. They are there to provide security for an evening fundraiser at the candidate's home.
Things do not go as planned and Dane is out to find out how/why things went so poorly, no matter who tells him leave things alone. Who can he trust, how can he protect those whom help him? Who is the master mind behind this? There are many twists to this tale before it ends. Take a read and hold on to your seat as it will get wild.
I received an advanced reader copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Eunice R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost from the get go, a reader can join in the action, 'guns blazing'. If a person likes guns, weaponry, sleuthing and snuffing out enemies and/or being on protection duty, this story may well appeal to him or her.

The narrative takes a reader on a journey to Mexicao, and to experiencing life lived under drug cartels' thumbs. I was kept guessing who the good and the bad guys were, right along side Dane Winter and Inspector Alvarez.

All in all, it was a satisfying read for me.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

September 2025

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to me by NetGalley and the publisher.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thriller movie in a book. Plenty of action and bloodshed with a superhuman hero who is an ex marine. Set in Mexico with gang warfare, drug distribution and police on the payroll of the local mafia, the plot is fast paced with twists and turns which are perhaps over the top. Nevertheless, lots of energy in the book and I did enjoy it . Some flashbacks to Dane's life in the Marines and a little romance. Characterizations are fairly stereotypical and not particularly deep.
The book is entertaining and predictable. An entertaining read in which, like a film, you are carried along by events where you do have to suspend believability a little; I`d definately like to read more to see how the character/career of Dean Winter develops further
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

[Tripip · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to discover another ex-military, savior of the downtrodden series. Unfortunately, I did not connect with Dane Winter. While there were lots of action scenes as Dane tracks down the leader of a deadly Mexican cartel, his character didn’t really mesh for me. One, he smokes. Yet if he is supposed to be sneaking up to bad guys, cigarette smoke is a dead give away. I also felt the romance was weak. I did like the flashbacks since that gave Dane a background story. I also enjoyed the plot even though I guessed the cartel leader fairly early on.

I received a free copy from Netgalley. this is my unbiased review.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and cannot wait for book 2 in this series.
‘An explosive high octane thriller’, I’ve seen about this book and that’s exactly what it was.
Right from the start the action is top notch, Dane certainly finds himself heading straight for danger, with Mexican cartel as an enemy, this book really keeps you on your toes.
I’m trying not to make any spoilers but it’s safe to say when everything starts to go wrong Dame Winters is the one you would want to save you.
A new author to me but I will be looking at his other books, this was so good.

#Ad #LBTCrew #Bookstagram #FreeBookReview

[Ann-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dane Winter and his team of security experts have been sent to Mexico to oversee the security arrangements for a fundraising party as the candidate is under threat from the local drug cartel. Of course, things don’t go according to plan forcing Dane to flee for his life.

Stunning opening, followed by the aftermath of the party leading to plenty of action as Dane battles those sent to find and kill him. Whilst he plots his revenge to defeat the cartel, top of his list is finding out just why the cartel want him dead.

If you enjoy action thrillers, this is one for you.

Thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for an ARC for my honest review.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like a fast paced, exciting thriller, then this is one for you. The first book in the new Dane Winter series starts off at a frantic pace as Dane and his security team are tasked with protecting a Mexican politician. There are some great characters and a good, believable plotline as Dale hunts down a cartel in a quest for revenge. There are a few twists along the way and a nice, well wrapped up ending leading the way into a second book. I hope we don't have too long to wait! Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️Spoiler Free Review ⭐️

Thanks @netgalley @samcogleybooks & @theboldbookclub for the ARC.

This is the 1st book in the Dane Winter series and what an explosive start & introduction!
Winter is a former Marine who now works for a security company, & is headed off to Mexico's cartel land for his latest job.
It was full of action from start to finish, fast paced, but not rushed, great characters and twists throughout.
If this is the first then I can wait to read the second!

[Vicky Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plenty of action but ultimately a bit like all the others. I enjoyed the action sequences with bombs and explosions galore, but the romance angle was more than a bit cringe as their eyes met across a crowded diner! I felt the ending was brave and also paves the way for further books with this character, but he needs something more to distinguish him from all the other action heroes out there. Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy.

[Sandra Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite an opening chapter and just gets better from there. The protagonist is haunted by the deaths from his life as a marine to private life to his work colleagues. Story of revenge and justice. Full on drama and suspense especially the finale which is absolutely great. This was actually a good story not just an action book. I love the character Dane Winter, and I'll be one of the first in line for book 2. As usual Author Cogley does not disappoint so do not let this book go by.

[Nichole G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down

Couldn't put it down, finished it in 3 days, would've been sooner if I didn't have to work lol.
Sam is a good story teller. Characters detailed enough to keep you interested, but not overly detailed where you want to skip a page to get back to the story.
This new series was engaging and kept me guessing. I could see it playing out in my minds eye like a movie. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

[Samuel murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good military thriller.

A fast moving thriller that has Winter when sent on a security protection job getting injured in a cartel attack and being rescued by a female waitress. A rescue which has his injuries attended to by her brother a doctor in the local hospital. To avenge the death of his comrades Winter sets out on a quest to destroy the cartel that killed them and uncover the mastermind behind everything. A quest that has many twists and turns.

[Emy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dane Winter's latest assignment in Mexico should have been straight-forward, safeguarding a high ranking official, but the operation spirals into chaos. Along with the help from local Maria Pineda, they head off-grid to survive.

This was a fast paced action adventure if a bit in your face. Gritty high stakes drama and a somewhat predictable plot. Despite that it was and enjoyable read.

[Neville Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping action thriller that delivers. The main character Dane Winter is the new hero on the block. A well crafted story with a good cast of chracters and well plotted to keep you reading. This is the first in a new series and I for one will be looking out for the next book. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this review copy.

[T Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is easy and entertaining to read, and the characters and the plot are good. Unfortunately, the story and action are based on mistakes a soldier like the main character never would have made.

[Rosie Raffell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explosive read couldn’t put it down.
Good storyline and excellent characters and plenty of action.
Waiting for the next book on Dale winters.
Well done Sam Cogley.