Under Cover of Darkness [Paperback]

James Grippando (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 2000

As the head of Seattle's most prominent law firm, Gus Wheatley has usually dealt with the law from a position of strength, or at least with the cool detachment of a very expensive hired gun. Then the tables are turned when his wife vanishes, possibly the newest victim of a terrifying serial killer.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A workaholic attorney is forced to examine his priorities when his wife disappears amid a spree of serial killings in the Pacific Northwest. Grippando's fifth thriller (The Pardon; Found Money) springs energetically from the gate, creating tension and pace before a few unbelievable plot twists cause it to lose traction. Attorney Gus Wheatley, general partner of one of Seattle's biggest and most prestigious law firms, is interrupted from his busy schedule by a call from his daughter's dance instructor: his wife, Beth, failed to pick up six-year-old Morgan after class. At first merely annoyed, he next assumes his wife is having an affair (they have been experiencing marital problems) but soon calls police when he realizes Beth has disappeared without a trace. Ambitious FBI agent Andrea "Andie" Henning believes Beth may have fallen victim to a serial killer. In the days following her disappearance, Gus is stunned to learn that his wife suffered from bulimia and kleptomania, conditions pointing to extremely low self-esteem. Her emotional condition and other cluesDstrange phone calls, a tip from a prison inmateDeventually tempt investigators with another theory: Beth may have joined a local cult that includes murder among its group activities. The most successful component of this story is Gus Wheatley's growing awareness of his emotional separation from his family. Former trial lawyer Grippando displays expertise in police and legal procedures, but the connection between the killings and the cult strains credulity. Several key characters are not drawn convincingly, and the finale is more of an ambush than a surprise. (July)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In this latest from Grippando (Found Money), the marriage of high-powered attorney Gus Wheatley and his insecure wife, BethDalready unfamiliar terrain to both partnersDis invaded by a serial-killer. Beth seems to have it all: the perfect home and a precious young daughter. Yet she vanishes one afternoon without taking a single piece of her life, including her child, who is left waiting all evening at private school. Rookie FBI agent Andie Henning has recently ditched her loser of a fianc at the altar and welcomes the opportunity to work on what turns out to be a high-profile serial-killer case. Gus's world continues self-destructing, as his daughter, sister, and colleagues judge and reject him, the killer piles up Beth lookalike victims, and eerie telephone clues indicate that she may be alive and in the killer's clutches. In the meantime, Gus learns some rather sad and unsavory things about the wife he thought he knew. Another riveting tale of suspense from Grippando.
-DSusan A. Zappia, Paradise Valley Community Coll., Phoenix
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd (August 30, 2000)
• ISBN-10: 0732268257
• ISBN-13: 978-0732268251
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)

More About the Author

After twelve years as a trial lawyer with Miami's most prestigious law firm, James Grippando is now a national best-selling author of thirteen suspenseful thrillers in as many years, including Lying with Strangers, When Darkness Falls, Got the Look, Hear No Evil, Last to Die, Beyond Suspicion, A King's Ransom, Under Cover of Darkness, Found Money, The Abduction, The Informant and The Pardon. His first novel for young adults, Leapholes, was published in 2006, as well as his first short-story, Operation Northwoods, which appeared in the critically acclaimed Thriller anthology. His novels are enjoyed worldwide in twenty-four languages.

James's first job out of law school plunged him headlong into death penalty cases. That experience was an inspiration for his 1994 debut novel, The Pardon, a legal thriller that critics heralded as a "bona fide blockbuster." Beyond Suspicion (2002) was the long-awaited sequel to that first novel, and it launched an exciting new series that features Miami criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck and that critics have heralded as "John Grisham meets Robert Ludlum."

As a lawyer, James was an avid writer. His numerous scholarly articles appeared in some of nation's top law reviews, and they are frequently cited with approval by the courts. His trial practice ranged from complex corporate litigation to class actions on behalf of chicken farmers. As a frequent volunteer in Florida's guardian ad litem program, he helped provide legal representation to neglected children in family court proceedings. He was a faculty member with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and an adjunct professor of trial advocacy at Nova Southeast University. He was named by Florida Trend Magazine as one of Florida's emerging leaders, and in 2006 he received the Distinguished Author Award from Scranton University. His alma mater is the University of Florida, where he graduated second in his undergraduate class and earned his law degree with honors. He now serves Of Counsel to David Boies' law firm, Boies Schiller & Flexner, LLP.

James lives and writes in Coral Gables, Florida, and he is married to Tiffany, who has been his unofficial editor since book one.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A COMPLEX,NAIL-BITER, July 26, 2000

By 

Nick G - See all my reviews

This review is from: Under Cover of Darkness (Hardcover)

Gus Wheatley has success, money, power, a loving wife, and a beautiful daughter, until one day his world shatters.

Gus's wife, Beth, disappears.

FBI profiler, Andie Henning, is investigating a series of killings, the strange beginning of a serial killer. As Andie investigates the murders, she believes Beth may be a victim of the vicious killer.

Gus begins his own investigation, and as he uncovers certain "truth's" about his wife, he realizes he did not know her at all.

"Under Cover Of Darkness" will keep you turning the pages and guessing all the way to the end. The twists and turns come fast and furious, pulling the novel to it's shocking climax.

James Grippando has consistently written great book after great book. He has quickly become one of my favorite authors. With his new book he keeps the pace fast while juggling various characters, and shifting the plot twists into high gear. This is great entertainment.

A MUST read!

Nick Gonnella

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Could have been better, November 27, 2000

By 

Pangloss "soldierblue" (Woodstock, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Under Cover of Darkness (Hardcover)

This book had a great, suspenseful story concept but seemed to end too abruptly without explaining the motive of the killer. I would have liked to have seen more development of the story in that area. Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. I have read one previous book by this author, "The Informant", which was a very good story.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easily one of my top 5 ever!, November 2, 2000

By 

Rachel B. "Rachel" (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Under Cover of Darkness (Hardcover)

This book was fantastic! I have read all of his books, and he is an amazing writer! This book scared me - I was tip towing around my apartment for a week! Fabulous story - great, strong characters and an amazing ending! Nothing lacking in this book! A MUST READ!!!