The Duke of Cleveland: A Milan Jacovich Mystery [Hardcover]

Les Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1995

The sixth mystery starring Cleveland's favorite fictional detective finds Milan Jacovich milling about the artist's quarter, searching for a pottery maker-cum-con man with a beautiful girlfriend and a talent for mayhem.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Slovenian sleuth Milan Jacovich, seen last in The Lake Effect, once again has the run of the city on Lake Erie in this warm-hearted series. Ethnic to the core, loyal to friends, beset by strong views, Jacovich is an opinionated, anachronistic soul who doesn't really approve of his latest client, a rich slacker whose older boyfriend is missing, along with $18,000 she loaned him. Jacovich discovers a trail of pissed-off women with diminished bank accounts who've all had a fling or two with Jeff Feldman, a second-rate artist posing as an art broker. In the hunt for the missing man and a possibly mythical vase, the PI soon crosses paths with disreputable gallery owners and a mobster he's encountered before. A pretty and talented ceramics artist is pushed down an elevator shaft at about the time that Jacovich shows some interest in her, which is representative of his luck in love. Roberts's other bull-headed series hero, California-based Saxon, may be smoother and tougher, but most people would prefer Jacovich's company over a cold beer and a sandwich.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Roberts' Milan Jacovich is a sensitive, nineties-type guy with a keen understanding of human foibles and a set of admirably high principles--neither of which keeps him from getting involved in situations that require quick thinking and quick fists. Milan has been hired by April Delavan, a very attractive, very rich young woman who wants him to find her boyfriend, Jeff Feldman, a pottery artist whose wheeling-and-dealing skills far exceed his talent with the potter's wheel. Feldman has disappeared with $18,000 of April's money, but April is only the latest in a long line of artists, girlfriends, and gallery owners who've been the victims of Jeff's manipulative schemes. Milan's search takes him from the homes of Cleveland's rich and famous to the bohemian haunts of struggling artists and, ultimately, to a confrontation with his old archenemies, Mafia don Giancarlo D'Allessandro and his nephew, racketeer Victor Gaimari. Another fine entry in an outstanding series, Roberts' latest is sure to be a hit with readers and reviewers alike. Emily Melton

Product Details

• Hardcover: 260 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st edition (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312134738
• ISBN-13: 978-0312134730
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,481,571 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

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Ceramic Mystery, July 25, 2001

By 

Untouchable (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Duke of Cleveland: A Milan Jacovich Mystery (Hardcover)

This is the second Milan Jacovich mystery that I've read and I'm finding that he's growing on me. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the first book I read - I did, but as I get to know Milan better, he's becoming like an old friend and I've felt comfortable slipping back into Cleveland to visit him again. "So why should I read this book?" you ask. Well, if you like a good private investigator mystery with little violence, only a bit of swearing (Milan Frowns on it) and interesting, believable characters, I think you'll enjoy this book.

Milan is hired by a beautiful young heiress to find her boyfriend, a middle-aged artist who has also disappeared with $18,000 that she loaned him. When Milan starts asking around, he finds that the guy he's looking for is a hustler and there are quite a few people in town that would also like to get their hands on him. The Cleveland art scene, or more specifically the ceramic art scene, comes under the spotlight as Milan conducts his investigation.

By the way, as Les Roberts goes to great pains to explain, Milan Jacovich is pronounced (MY-lan Yacovich), so make sure you get the pronunciation right.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent mystery about a respected yet unusual friendship, August 27, 1998

By 

Kathleen L. Jozwiak (Cleveland, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Duke of Cleveland: A Milan Jacovich Mystery (Hardcover)

Ethical Milan Jacovich mixes with Victor Gaimari, the Cleveland mob figure. Even though Milan despises what Victor stands for, Milan respects Victor in a strange way. Victor likewise shares the same sentiments about Milan. Their friendship becomes cemented in a delightful, captivating read in "The Duke of Cleveland."