Les Roberts is a Cleveland Heights-based writer, best known for his detective novels, featuring protagonist, Milan Jacovich. The novels are particularly fun for Clevelanders because of the liberal sprinkling of references to Cleveland and the surrounding area.
I'm rather fond of these books -- all thirteen of them. Like most detective series', they are best read in order.
I'm rather fond of these books -- all thirteen of them. Like most detective series', they are best read in order.
Pepper Pike (1988)
(Courtesy of Gray and Co.)
The first of the Milan Jacovich novels, Pepper Pike finds the Slovenian-American detective called to a suburban home only to find the host missing. His wife hires him to find the missing man and the trail leads all over Northeast Ohio.
Full Cleveland (1989)
(courtesy of Gray and Co.)
The publisher of a start-up magazine is missing -- and so is the money he collected from his advertisers. One such, a local hotelier, hires Milan to get his money back.
Deep Shaker (1991)
(courtesy of Gray and Co.)
One of Milan's old school pals hires him to separate his teenage son from a local drug gang. When the head of the gang is murdered, Milan encounters a host of unsavory, local characters.
Cleveland Connection (1993)
(courtesy of Gray and Co.)
A young Serbian woman hires Milan to find her grandfather, Milan's columnist friend Ed Stahl is threatened, and, of course, there's murder.
The Lake Effect (1994)
(courtesy of Gray and Co.)
Milan is asked a favor by his aquaintence, Cleveland mob boss, Victor Gaimari. He's relieved with the favor is a small, above-board task. But, as always, there are complications -- not the least of which is a "lake effect" Northeast Ohio blizzard.
The Duke of Cleveland (1995)
(courtesy of Gray and Co.)
Milan goes sleuthing in the world of Cleveland fine art after a wealthy young woman hires him to find the ne'er-do-well potter who absconded with a substantial amount of her money.
Collision Bend (1996)
(courtesy of Gray and Co.)
A pretty young Cleveland newscaster is murdered and the station's sales manager is the prime suspect. Of course, he's also Milan's ex-girlfriend's current boyfriend. However, Milan's asked to investigate and the trail leads all over town.
Cleveland Local (1997)
(courtesy of Gray and Co.)
Milan flies off to the Caribbean to find a missing lawyer and ends up getting stabbed and roughed up by an international cop. Back in Cleveland, he asks his best pal, police lieutenant, Marko Meglich for some help -- with tragic consequences.
A Shoot in Cleveland (1998)
(courtesy of Gray and Co.)
Milan is hired to "baby-sit" a temperamental young star during a Cleveland film shoot. Disgusted after a few days with the actor's spoiled ways, Milan returns to the job after murder comes into the equation.
Best Kept Secret (1998)
(courtesy of Gray and Co.)
Milan takes on the case of a college freshman accused of date rape by a campus feminist organization. The kid isn't perfect, but Milan resents the student's being tried by handbills posted all over campus, rather than in court. When murder enters the scene, the situation gets even more tense.
