I pretty much have to agree with you. The more recent stuff with his name on them appears to have been written by a rotating committee of "ghost" or assistant writers. I won't buy anything of his that has a second author listed along with him.
I will say, though, I'm still very partial to most of his earlier work, particularly "Night Probe" and "Sahara". In fact, I even liked the movie version of "Sahara", although it left out most of the best stuff from the book ...
i liked the movie SAHARA too. we may be the only two. it’s just plan fun. i agree with your best picks too.
i think there was a POW escape plan to reach the coast and meet a u-boat. i believe otto kresthmer, a POW and an ardent nazi was involved.