Hostile Asset (Dane Winter 1) by Sam Cogley-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 6, 2025

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 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?

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REVIEW: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

Reviewed by Sandy