The Best-Kept Secret: A Milan Jacovich Mystery (Milan Jacovich Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Les Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Series: Milan Jacovich Mysteries | Publication Date: June 1999

Since winning the St. Martin's Press/Private Eye Writers of America Best First Novel Contest, Les Roberts' books have grown with astonishing popularity. In his eleventh mystery, Roberts once again displays his deft hand at creating an engaging plot set in a Cleveland alive with everything from its ethnic neighborhoods and its flavorful food to a believable cast of characters.

When Jason Crowell, a freshman at nearby Sherman College is accused of the rape of a fellow coed, Milan is called upon to investigate. A group calling themselves the 'Women Warriors' has posted signs all over campus unjustly accusing Jason of the crime. However, Milan finds right off that several things are very wrong with the case. First, no one seems to know who these women are or who the victim is. Second, he learns that Jason prefers men to women, and has always exemplified only the best behavior and a quiet, easy demeanor.

The vindictive sexual harassment counselor wants to press charges, and the dean of the school wants to suspend Jason. It is up to Milan and his infallible sixth-sense to prove Jason's innocence before the student's whole life is destroyed. But when the one woman who knows the truth is murdered, the Slovenian shamus must really put his sleuthing skills to the ultimate test before an innocent young man is unceremoniously crucified.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Signs plastered around Cleveland's Sherman College campus identify Jason Crowell as a rapist. They don't bother to identify his victim. Poor Jason is reviled, suspended from classes and desperate. His best friend is convinced of his innocence, but his belligerent father is less sure. Soon Cleveland's own Slovenian-American PI, Milan Jacovich (The Cleveland Local, etc.), joins Jason's select circle of supporters as he tries to clear the young man's name. Milan's job isn't made any easier by the discovery of heroin in Jason's bathroom, or by the sudden death of a college adviser. Is the frameup about sex or about drugs? Is it even a frame? The best-kept secret turns out to be that Jason is gayAa fact that Milan is much more willing to accept and understand than is the boy's father. Despite Roberts's enlightened intentions, he seldom manages to get beyond the roughest of stereotypes. His feminists are strident, his academics are smug and the relentlessly ethnic Milan is always moral, even when defending an accused rapist might just lose him the affections of Connie, his newest lady friend. This is a story driven more by Milan's gruff voice than by any plot surprises or psychological exploration. (Aug.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Private investigator Milan Jacovich investigates the case of a college man falsely accused of rape by a group of militant women. Subsequent murder exacerbates the situation. The tenth in a long-running and successful series.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031220499X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312204990
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,354,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More 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.

Visit his web site at www.lesroberts.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow - A new mystery writer discovery !, January 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Best-Kept Secret: A Milan Jacovich Mystery (Milan Jacovich Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Being a lover of mysteries, I had never heard of Les Roberts until a relative of mine gave me this book. It gripped me from the beginning, introducing Milan Jacovich as not only a good detective but a dedicated friend coming to the aid of someone who once saved his life. As the story progresses and the characters develop, the possibilities of "whodunit" became wider, with the reader never really knowing which character was behind the crimes - yes, the crimes multiplied as the story went on. Once this reader got to the fifth or sixth chapter, putting the book down became difficult. The last hundred pages went very fast as the guilty parties were revealed. This is a good, fast-paced, involving story that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery and a central character, who in most ways, has a conscience.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cleveland is no longer a secret due to this superb series, June 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Best-Kept Secret: A Milan Jacovich Mystery (Milan Jacovich Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Cleveland private investigator Milan Jacovich owes his life to Dr. Reginald Parker. Strangely it did not occur when the two were grunts in Nam as their paths never crossed in Southeast Asia. Instead, the high school principal rescued the sleuth in an East Cleveland crack house. Milan knows that he owes Reginald so when the educator calls in his chips, the detective responds.

A former student, Jason Crowell attends Sherman College located in the western suburbs. An anonymous group, the Women Warriors, accuse Jason of rape, plastering flyers all over the campus. The media is playing the story. Milan agrees to look into the situation and learns some strange facts. No one knows who are the members of the female activist group. The alleged victim has never surfaced. Jason has always been squeaky clean and his sexual preference tends towards males. As the school administration wants to hang Jason as a sexual predator, a related murder occurs in which the freshman serves as the prime suspect. Milan believes the lad is innocent and plans to uncover the identity of the real killer.

The Milan Jacovich mysteries remain an entertaining treat as they strip away the image of a burning Lake Erie and a rusted city to provide a tour of the real Cleveland. The latest novel, THE BEST-KEPT SECRET, is an interesting tale as Milan investigates the ugly atmosphere of a nearby campus. The story line seems far-fetched that Jason would come under such a blitz attack based on almost nothing. However, the fact that indiviudals serving hard time have been freed due to DNA testing prove otherwise. Les Roberts has kept fresh his down to earth sleuth in a tale that fans will enjoy.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Best Kept Secret, July 15, 1999

By 

E. Arthur (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best-Kept Secret: A Milan Jacovich Mystery (Milan Jacovich Mysteries) (Hardcover)

The Best Kept Secret by Les Roberts is a wonderful book. Often I think Les Roberts is the best-kept secret in writing today. The Milan series has been flawless, and The Best Kept Secret is no exception. This book was extremely entertaining and thought provoking. I was captured by the first page and read it in one day. I highly recommend this book and all the rest of the books written by this talented man.