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Marc Portman #4
Dark Asset
Deep cover specialist Marc Portman uncovers a secret deal that could make billions in oil revenue … or topple two governments.
Portman’s latest assignment is providing back-up for a French intelligence agent sent to recover a hard drive from one of the most dangerous cities on the Mogadishu in Somalia. What he hasn’t been told is that the device records secret negotiations between two leading western nations and a hardline terrorist organisation responsible for killing thousands of innocent people.
When the decision is taken to abandon the talks, anybody in the know immediately becomes a target to be silenced.
And Portman finds himself at the top of the list …
Portman’s latest assignment is providing back-up for a French intelligence agent sent to recover a hard drive from one of the most dangerous cities on the Mogadishu in Somalia. What he hasn’t been told is that the device records secret negotiations between two leading western nations and a hardline terrorist organisation responsible for killing thousands of innocent people.
When the decision is taken to abandon the talks, anybody in the know immediately becomes a target to be silenced.
And Portman finds himself at the top of the list …
- GenresSuspense
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2017
240 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Magson
48 books100 followersAdrian Magson is a British crime-writer, his books often involve conspiracies, and have two repeating main characters - Riley Gavin, a young female investigative reporter, and Frank Palmer, a former RMP (British Royal Military Policeman) now a private investigator.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 17, 2018
A top author who writes great stuff and deserves better recognition.
This “Watchman” series is about an independent operative that undertakes jobs for the Western intelligence agencies. Mainly he is a multi-skilled background guy giving an extra pair of eyes or over-watch as necessary.
Here he goes to one of the most dangerous places on Earth, Mogadishu, to help a French asset recover a hard drive containing something that could be very damaging should it get into the wrong hands. So our “Watchman”, Marc Portman, has to deal with dangerous locals, a team of black ops guys out to kill him and the politics and changing agendas of the international intelligence agencies.
Fast paced intelligent writing with plenty of action and tradecraft but also some clever ideas and twists. The only downside to the author’s books are they are usually short (300 pages) and a little expensive but they are really worth making the effort to dig out and try.
This “Watchman” series is about an independent operative that undertakes jobs for the Western intelligence agencies. Mainly he is a multi-skilled background guy giving an extra pair of eyes or over-watch as necessary.
Here he goes to one of the most dangerous places on Earth, Mogadishu, to help a French asset recover a hard drive containing something that could be very damaging should it get into the wrong hands. So our “Watchman”, Marc Portman, has to deal with dangerous locals, a team of black ops guys out to kill him and the politics and changing agendas of the international intelligence agencies.
Fast paced intelligent writing with plenty of action and tradecraft but also some clever ideas and twists. The only downside to the author’s books are they are usually short (300 pages) and a little expensive but they are really worth making the effort to dig out and try.
October 8, 2025
Average of Series
Author Magson has written a very solid series so far. In comparison, this book is just average, with somewhat more exposition and a little less action. The plot suffers from a hyper focus making it difficult for the reader to see and care about the big picture.
Author Magson has written a very solid series so far. In comparison, this book is just average, with somewhat more exposition and a little less action. The plot suffers from a hyper focus making it difficult for the reader to see and care about the big picture.
June 20, 2017
Severn House Publishers and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Dark Asset. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.
Dark Asset is the fourth novel in a series featuring main character Marc Portman. As a close protection specialist, his job is to evaluate risk in hostile situations and run security measures to keep the principal safe. Asked by French intelligence to provide help to one of their operatives, Portman finds him dead with a hard drive hidden on his person. Having to make his way away from the meeting site with minimal detection is difficult at best, seeing that there is an assault on the building. Nothing is ever as easy as it seems and Portman becomes embroiled in a dangerous game involving a valuable commodity. Espionage pays ... if you can stay alive long enough.
Author Adrian Magson has once again skillfully weaved a spy thriller worthy of adaptation to the silver screen. Marc Portman is everything I like in a main character for a novel in this genre: he is highly intelligent, street smart, resourceful, and knows how to extricate himself from many dangerous situations. Joining him on his journeys, from afar, are familiar characters from previous books and I like the interactions that the Watchman has with them. Dark Asset is fast paced with well developed characters and a great story. Readers who are new to the Mark Portman series should not turn away, as it is not essential to have read the previous novels. Of all of author Adrian Magson's characters, Marc Portman is my favorite, so I eagerly anticipate the possible dangers that he may face in the future.
Dark Asset is the fourth novel in a series featuring main character Marc Portman. As a close protection specialist, his job is to evaluate risk in hostile situations and run security measures to keep the principal safe. Asked by French intelligence to provide help to one of their operatives, Portman finds him dead with a hard drive hidden on his person. Having to make his way away from the meeting site with minimal detection is difficult at best, seeing that there is an assault on the building. Nothing is ever as easy as it seems and Portman becomes embroiled in a dangerous game involving a valuable commodity. Espionage pays ... if you can stay alive long enough.
Author Adrian Magson has once again skillfully weaved a spy thriller worthy of adaptation to the silver screen. Marc Portman is everything I like in a main character for a novel in this genre: he is highly intelligent, street smart, resourceful, and knows how to extricate himself from many dangerous situations. Joining him on his journeys, from afar, are familiar characters from previous books and I like the interactions that the Watchman has with them. Dark Asset is fast paced with well developed characters and a great story. Readers who are new to the Mark Portman series should not turn away, as it is not essential to have read the previous novels. Of all of author Adrian Magson's characters, Marc Portman is my favorite, so I eagerly anticipate the possible dangers that he may face in the future.
August 24, 2017
“Dark Asset” eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Adrian Magson (https://www.adrianmagson.com). Mr. Magson has published 25 novels. This is the fourth in his “Mark Portman Thriller” series.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence and Mature Language. The story is set in today’s Middle East. The primary character is deep cover specialist Marc Portman.
Portman is contracted by French Intelligence to protect a Frenchman who is in deep cover within Mogadishu. All Portman has to do is protect the frenchman’s back while he recovers a hard drive with sensitive information and then turns it over to his superior. Things do not go as planned.
The information on the hard drive, Portman finds, would implicate officials in the US and France for trying to negotiate an oil deal with terrorists. Now the terrorists and intelligence agents from both countries are out to get the drive and take care of loose ends.
When he finds a mutilated body instead of his contact, Portman struggles to stay alive and get out of Mogadishu. But he has to go back to see if he can recover the missing drive, while avoiding all of those who are out to get him.
I enjoyed the 7+ hours I spent reading this Fiction Thriller. I have read one of the other books in this series and I like the character developed for Marc Portman. The plot was good and the novel read well as a stand-alone book. The cover art is OK. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence and Mature Language. The story is set in today’s Middle East. The primary character is deep cover specialist Marc Portman.
Portman is contracted by French Intelligence to protect a Frenchman who is in deep cover within Mogadishu. All Portman has to do is protect the frenchman’s back while he recovers a hard drive with sensitive information and then turns it over to his superior. Things do not go as planned.
The information on the hard drive, Portman finds, would implicate officials in the US and France for trying to negotiate an oil deal with terrorists. Now the terrorists and intelligence agents from both countries are out to get the drive and take care of loose ends.
When he finds a mutilated body instead of his contact, Portman struggles to stay alive and get out of Mogadishu. But he has to go back to see if he can recover the missing drive, while avoiding all of those who are out to get him.
I enjoyed the 7+ hours I spent reading this Fiction Thriller. I have read one of the other books in this series and I like the character developed for Marc Portman. The plot was good and the novel read well as a stand-alone book. The cover art is OK. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
May 19, 2017
A fine addition to the Marc Portman series. I like to think of Portman as a milder, less amped up, more credible Mitch Rapp character. The story lines, characters, action scenes, and Magson's portrayal of the world of dark ops in this series of books is quite believable. I really enjoyed the book and look forward to the next installment.
January 14, 2019
DARK AS NIGHT
Action non-stop and enough twists to make Deus. ex Machina look like child's play. I love Portman and his humanity mixed with pragmatic violence is central to the story. The context is Somalia and it's dark but smacks of real life drama and hypocrisy especially of governments.
Action non-stop and enough twists to make Deus. ex Machina look like child's play. I love Portman and his humanity mixed with pragmatic violence is central to the story. The context is Somalia and it's dark but smacks of real life drama and hypocrisy especially of governments.
October 8, 2025
Classy and gripping
Marc Portman is instantly likeable as the main character and the stories are gripping and,at time,nerve,wracking without being overplayed. The world of close protection is revealed to the outsider making this interesting and exciting with none of the coarse and gratuitous favoured by many writers
Marc Portman is instantly likeable as the main character and the stories are gripping and,at time,nerve,wracking without being overplayed. The world of close protection is revealed to the outsider making this interesting and exciting with none of the coarse and gratuitous favoured by many writers
November 6, 2025
Well now we know that The Watchman is human. I was beginning to think that he never put a foot wrong. And it just goes to show just how easy it is to let something slip by, when concentrating on something else. But this was something he almost certainly wasn't expecting. But I like him all the more for it.
December 13, 2025
Great read
Exciting as all the previous tales. Edge of the seat , so much double crossing I'm feeling quite dizzy. Very descriptive. Highly recommended for any fans of Reacher, Jason Trapp, John Milton , Beatrix Rose and all the other heroes/ heroines I've been following. Looking forward to the next exciting installment.
Exciting as all the previous tales. Edge of the seat , so much double crossing I'm feeling quite dizzy. Very descriptive. Highly recommended for any fans of Reacher, Jason Trapp, John Milton , Beatrix Rose and all the other heroes/ heroines I've been following. Looking forward to the next exciting installment.
May 28, 2017
Good, solid writing. Fast-paced thriller. A quick read. Enjoyable
October 11, 2025
James Bond on steroids!
Loved this book for the action and intrigue. Read it in two days-couldn’t put it down. Aiming to read the other Magson books next.
Loved this book for the action and intrigue. Read it in two days-couldn’t put it down. Aiming to read the other Magson books next.
December 21, 2025
Unlike the previous three books, I'm having trouble getting into this one...I don't think I'll finish it.
January 7, 2026
Readable.
Read
July 28, 2017Booklist
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews