The Cleveland Connection

Milan Jacovich #4

by Les Roberts

The return of the P.I. who revealed Cleveland, Ohio, as one of the country's most interesting cities. Private eye Milan Jacovich was born in the U.S., but he considers himself a Slovene. He finds himself mixed up in ethnic tensions when he is convinced to search for a Serbian man by his beautiful granddaughter. An ominous secret and a mobster hit-man complicate the suspenseful story.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

294 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1993

About the author

Les Roberts is the author of 15 mystery novels featuring Cleveland detective Milan Jacovich, as well as 9 other books of fiction. The past president of both the Private Eye Writers of America and the American Crime Writer's League, he came to mystery writing after a 24-year career in Hollywood. He was the first producer and head writer of the Hollywood Squares and wrote for the Andy Griffith Show, the Jackie Gleason Show, and the Man from U.N.C.L.E., among others. He has been a professional actor, a singer, a jazz musician, and a teacher. In 2003 he received the Sherwood Anderson Literary Award. A native of Chicago, he now lives in Northeast Ohio and is a film and literary critic."

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the quintessential detective mystery. Milan Jacovich is the perfect blend of seasoned ex-cop; divorced, older, pragmatic and wise, Milan grew on me, page after page. Pretty soon, I was chuckling along with him as he dispensed his witty observations. However, the story itself was also serious. It centered around the subculture of Slavic people living in Cleveland and touched on the history and strong ties that led them there and kept them separate. Milan shows you the city like a native and effectively transports you there. He is very good at depicting characters, giving each of them their own voice and personality. I recommend it.

[John Bastin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Les Roberts writes some good stories, set in Cleveland with great descriptions of the city and great development of characters, good and bad, to populate the tale. This one, though, is absolutely top shelf, with great descriptions of Cleveland as always, and great characters, and a background that goes 50 years back into history with wonderful descriptions of the civilizations that were pummeled in World War II and the memories that don't go away, even after all that time.

We learn about the Serbs, the Slovenians, the Croations and others who suffered in the War, and how crimes that occurred during that war, committed by individuals against other individuals in the concentration camps, just to try to stay alive, are still not forgiven or forgotten. As a result, many are still seeking revenge and many families are still suffering.

This is one that you really can't put down, cannot let it go until the mystery is resolved.

[Jerry B · Rating 3 out of 5]

We seem not quite as enthused as most reviewers with “Connection”, the 4th (and our 4th, reading in order) in Roberts’ 18-book Milan Jacovich series. Our Cleveland-based PI has been hired to track down a missing elder of the Serbian community, but a paucity of clues leaves Milan little to do but interview old cronies and visit the bars the man frequented. A new spell is cast when a notorious hitman comes to town, which prompts Milan to begrudgingly seek out some mob types with whom he has occasional encounters to see what’s up. Eventually the tale unearths dark matters about Nazi concentration camps in the old Yugoslavia – which leads to solving a couple of puzzling affairs.

It’s now fairly clear what to expect from this set. Roberts writes a straightforward procedural with few red herrings to annoy or deceive. We spend a little more time in Milan’s head than we might prefer, as his life as a mostly lonely divorcee tends to depress both him and to some extent we readers. Recurring characters are few, with just infrequent exposure to his ex-wife and two sons, except for a police lieutenant, a long-time best friend, who helps Milan get information or lookup records or car tags (etc.) that would otherwise slow down or stump the current case at hand. So one will mostly find a solid, possibly slightly dated, crime mystery, with a likable enough leading man, but maybe not the thrills and suspense of more modern tales along these lines.

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is supposedly the first book in the Milan Jacovich series that Roberts wrote after moving to Cleveland. I can tell. Compared to the previous 3 books, the detail seems to be much more. Though I didn't recognize all the places Roberts mentions, there were enough that I did know to keep it interesting. I'd just seen the Lorenzo Carter cabin from the Goodtime III boat, so I was able to picture that and I appreciated learning more about what it was (since for some reason that wasn't mentioned in the spiel from the Goodtime III).

I did know that Cleveland was once "neighborhoods" but I didn't know all the details between the Serbs, Slovenes, Czechs, etc. I don't know if the atmosphere in Cleveland was truly how Roberts portrays it or if it was somewhat manufactured for the purposes of the plot. I suspect there must be some truth to it or many readers would cry foul! I also didn't know the history of that area around the time of WWII so that was interesting to read (and I appreciated it not being as in depth or dry as a history text would have been.)

[April Helms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fair warning- I know the author and consider him a friend. I'm also a fan of the Milan Jacovich series of mystery novel's Roberts is probably best known for. Strangely, this one I'd never read until now. I'd recommend any of the Jacovich books, which are murder mysteries set in the Cleveland area, but this one was one of the best. Not only did it keep me guessing until nearly the end but went into a part of World War II history I'd never heard. In this story, Jacovich, who is of Slovenian heritage, goes into the Serbian neighborhoods after he is contacted by a family about the disappearance of their elderly father. He winds up meeting several colorful characters from the community. Meanwhile, one of his closest friends, Ed Stahl, a newspaper columnist, is getting death threats after publishing a column on the impropriety of a contract.

[Dkolacinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the strongest entry in the Milan Jacovich series, perhaps because Les Roberts wrote it while actually living in Cleveland Heights. It is certainly darker than the first three, with the 40 year old Milan beginning to experience the angst of early middle age, along, in love yet always gone from his ex-wife, having no emotional support from his family, from his friends from the past, from those he meets in the future. I don't remember the pessimism when I first read this book, perhaps because I was in the early 40's, and now I look back on it with the view of someone in his 70's, strugging to still believe, to reject the cynicism of old age, still trying to keep on keeping on.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was very engaging and unique. I liked getting to know Cleveland more. However, all the female characters were one demensional. If you want an example of writing women from the male gaze, this is it.

[Patrick C Donahue · Rating 5 out of 5]

another in a series of great mystery novels!

I started this series purely for local color, having spent a lot of time in my youth in the Cleveland area. Robert’s story-telling sold me on continuing. I thought I had this one figured out, but he surprised me at the end.

[Lynn Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first “Cleveland book“ I‘d read. Turns out it’s #4 in a series of 18! Great hometown references. Looking for #1 now!

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is much more introspective than the first three. Milan is single and lonely and it has made him melancholy. Milan is a great character who is always trying to do the right thing, but the right thing is not always black or white. I never know for sure what side Milan will come down on in complicated issues and that makes him a very interesting character.

I love this series and think it only gets better with each book. Roberts manages to keep many storylines going at once without ever confusing the reader and I appreciate that I can never see how it’s all going to come together until the end.

there's more on my blog http://stacybuckeye.wordpress.com/200...

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love his attention to details. This is book 4 in the Milan Jacovich mystery series (tho more crime fiction, me thinks.) Roberts really cares about his readers and his characters. Every scene, conversation, scenario is vivid and believable. I want Milan for my uncle, that big, cuddly galoot with a heart of gold. This book was rather evoking, given it's references to the Holocaust and on page 153, I honestly had to stop, compose myself, dry my eyes, before I could continue. I'm positive I will read every book Sir Roberts has written now, he's just that good. I have already purchased the prior editions to the series and will reread this one when it's placement arrives.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lot like the earlier books in the series.

Milan is missing his family, but keeps on trucking with his Security business. He is asked to look into a missing persons case, which turns out to be a whole other investigation.

He also is trying to keep his poker buddy out of trouble and his wife's live in away from temptation.

There are several plot lines which are all nicely tied up at the end.

Unfortunately, Milan is badly attacked as usual and must use self defense at every turn.

I enjoyed this adventure.

I read a library copy of this book.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought this was going to be a super cheesy detective novel, and in some ways it was. I guess the author is was trying to create Milan's persona, but some things went a little over the top. But once I got into the storyline, I got hooked! I suspected something of how it turned out, but there were a lot of little points that all came together quite well actually. I read this book because my mom is from Cleveland, I've been there often and have a soft spot in my heart for it. The author also mentioned Dobos Torte!

[Chad Malkamaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

We'll say our big Slovenian hero has a three concussion book that deals with a missing Serbian, the unofficial leader of the Cleveland Serbian community, an Italian garbage collector that's harassing Ed Stahl, Milan's PD reporter buddy, and too much time with Joe, Milan's ex-wife's new beau. The middle of this one dragged a little bit, but a good ending. Milan hits all the Cleveland spots including the Old BP building downtown and the West Side Market.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love his attention to details. He really cares about his readers and characters. Every scene, conversation, scenario is believable. I want Milan for my uncle, he being such an asset to any family. This book was rather evoking, given it's references to the Holocaust and on page 153, I honestly had to stop, compose myself, dry my eyes, before I could continue. I'm positive I will read every book Sir Roberts has written now, he's just that good.

[RICK D'AMICO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Mr. Roberts,
The ShoreGate Shopping Center is not in Wickliffe, Ohio. It is in Willowick. I'm from Wiclkiffe and drove to ShoreGate many times. I'm living in Phoenix and reading your stories because they take place in my home town, kind of. However, having said that, I'm enjoying this one even more then the previous 3 because I'm getting to like, very much, Milan. So far so, so good. Rick D'Amico

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's why I like it, it taps into a kind of Cleveland that I know little about, the Cleveland of ethnic Europe very much shaped by the old country and the trauma of World War II. An African American kid educated at a prep school isn't going to learn much about that :)

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book but especially liked that it takes place in CLeveland and visits many places from where I grew up. Decent story too.

[Madelon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's fun reading a book set in my hometown. Love the characters, especially Milan.

[4d · Rating 2 out of 5]

Average at best. Fun to see Cleveland locations

[Natalie DiPietro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm probably a little biased since I grew up in Cleveland so it was fun reading about various streets & landmarks. Great mystery!

[Casey Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

this guy getting beat up, is starting to get repetitive. good series. like reading about the area I live in. although he makes it out to be much older than early 90's.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 3.5

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm definitely looking for more of these books. I his character Milan the detective...