Grippando has a knack for writing suspenseful scenes,
but his novel "Under Cover of Darkness" has too many flaws
to merit recommendation.

The characters are inconsistent and the plot just plain
doesn't work. In fact, this one reads like a first draft of a
novel and is badly in need of major editing.

Grippando has some talent as a writer, but badly need to be
taken in hand by a good editor.

I'm feeling charitable today, otherwise I might have given
this one only a single star.

If you like Ludlum, read one of his later works.
"The Scarlatti Inheritance" showcases all his flaws as
a writer.
Ludlum can indeed handle certain techniques of a suspense
novel -- the buildup of tension, the explosive scene, etc.
Unfortunately, his flaws ruin the pleasure of reading this book.
* His characters are paper-thin.
* He's sloppy with background details. In this particular book,
for example, historical details are wrong and/or misinterpeted,
and the German dialog is grammatically and/or idiomatically incorrect.
* Excess reliance on "deus ex machina" plot devices.

Summary: If you like the type of suspense Ludlum writes,
you'd be better off reading someone like Trevanian.