The Best-Kept Secret: A Milan Jacovich Mystery (Milan Jacovich Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Les Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Series: Milan Jacovich Mysteries | Publication Date: June 15, 2000

For Cleveland P.I. Milan Jacovich, murder is still just a living...he hopes.

A debt to an old friend puts Milan Jacovich in the middle of a sensitive case that's hurting his bank account and his love life. Jason Crowell, an eighteen-year-old college freshman, is accused of rape by a mysterious group called the Women Warriors. But who exactly is the alleged victim? Who are the Women Warriors? And why is Jason Crowell being skewered without evidence?

The case turns into a giant dead end, especially when Milan's only lead-- a college official-- is found brutally murdered. Then Milan discovers Jason has a secret, a secret he'd rather do jail time for than reveal. But he's not the only one willing to go to desperate lengths to keep ugly truths and dangerous games from seeing the light of day. Because sometimes the best-kept secrets are the most deadly...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"His Cleveland stories get better and better, offering far more than regional insights and pleasures."--Publishers Weekly

"Roberts writes with sharp wit, creates action scenes that are drawn with flair, and puts emotional life into a range of people."--The Washington Post Book World

"Boston has Spenser. Detroit has Amos Walker. And Cleveland has Milan Jacovich."--The Cleveland Plain Dealer

About the Author

Les Roberts, a native Chicagoan, lives in his adopted hometown of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He moved there from Hollywood, where, among other things, he was the producer of The Hollywood Squares. Past president of the Private Eye Writers of America, Roberts won the initial PWA/St. Martin's Press Best First Private Eye Novel Contest in 1986.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (June 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312971265
• ISBN-13: 978-0312971267
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,263,450 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

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pretty Frightening Freshman Year, August 20, 2000

By 

Daniel J. Maloney "Daniel J. Maloney" (Saint Paul, MN United States) - See all my reviews

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

Jason Crowell, a freshman living away at college is accused of rape on campus. The only problem is that he doesn't know who is doing the accusing. One of Jason's former teachers calls on old friend, Private Investigator Milan Jacovich to look into what's going on at Jason's school. It's pretty likely Jason didn't do it. There's something Jason hasn't told too many people about himself! The Best Kept Secret is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Jason is a very believable innocent who is being taken in by something larger on campus, something he doesn't understand. Milan Jacovich, a continuing character in Les Roberts' stories is a strong and even investigator. A good read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Novel, October 29, 2000

By 

Ricky N. "Ricky C. Nelson" (Commerce, GA) - See all my reviews

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

The Best Kept Sectet was my first Milan Jacovich novel by Les Roberts, and I enjoyed it so much that I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series. The Best Kept Secret is a term that refers to the city of Cleveland. Reggie Parker, a friend of Milan's who is also a principal of the high school that Milan's oldest son Milan, Jr. attended, asks Milan to look into allegations of rape by one of his former students, Jason Crowell, a freshman at Sherman College. The group calling themselves Women's Warriors have posted fliers about Jason being a rapist. The administration at the college believes he is guilty of rape including Dorothy Strassky, the counselor for sexual harassment at Sherman. Strassky calls Jacovich to set up a meeting with him to give him information that she has learned. Before their meeting, Strassky is murdered. Jason Crowell becomes the prime suspect in her murder. Then, a large quantity of heroin is found in the house that Jason lived in, and he is charged with possession with intent to distribute. It becomes apparent to Jacovich that Jason is being framed. Only he and Reggie Parker believe that Jason is innocent. Even Jason's father believes his son is guilty. There are many secrets here: Who was raped? Who are the Women's Warriors? Why has Jason not told Jacovich that he is gay? Who is framing Jason? It is up to Jacovich to answer all these questions. I really like the character of Milan Jacovich. The Best Kept Secret is an excellent novel!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good premise - slightly weak execution, October 13, 2003

By 

Cheer Mom "cheermom" (Voorhees, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best-Kept Secret (Audio Cassette)

This review covers the abridged audio version read by the author. Usually a book is weakened by having the author read his or her own work - while Les Roberts does an adequate job, he still stumbles over many words and voices the male characters much better than the female characters. Still, he has a commanding personality and Milan Jacovich sounded real coming out of Mr. Roberts' mouth.

The premise of this book was very good. Flyers are found all around Sherman College's campus proclaiming Jason Crowell as a rapist by a group called the Women Warriors. The victim does not go to the police but but accuses him anonymously through the flyers. He is thought by everyone, including his own father, to be guilty. Then, a murder occurs, tied into Jason and a large amount of heroin is found in Jason's apartment - he is beginning to look like a really bad guy. He continues to declare his innocence and Milan Jacovich, former cop, now a private investigator, takes on the case as a favor to his best friend.

I had no problem with anything happening in the plot until Jacovich finds the alleged rape victim and interviews her. At that point, Mr. Roberts totally insults the reader/listener by not doing the obvious - asking the rape victim to describe her attacker. He asks if she remembers what kind of car he drove and what happened, but at no point during the interview does he ask her to describe Jason or does he show her a picture of him. The case could have ended right there if he had done what any third grader would have done -- asked the right questions.

This is a quick listen (only 4 tapes) - probably a full length version of the story is the better way to go if you want to do the audio instead of the read.