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.

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.

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

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!

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.

Les Roberts' Cleveland settings were what attracted me to him in the first place: I went to college near Cleveland, and have family there. But having been attracted, I found myself delighted as well: this is a great series of detective novels...good plot, interesting characters, and some very masterful writing. I recommend the whole series--highly.

Ce livre de Robert Joule s inscrit dans la lignée de tous ses autres ouvrages. En effet, ce chercheur s'efforce de montrer et de donner des moyens mal connus du public. Ce livre repose sur des analyses psychologiques impressionnantes! Ainsi, on constate surtout à quel point nous sommes tous plus ou moins manipulés par notre entourage (plus ou moins proche), de façon délibérée ou indélibérée, car beaucoup de personnes ont acquis inconsciemment des techniques basiques de manipulations. Ce livre est donc fort utile pour parvenir à être sur de ce qu on désire, donc à mieux se connaitre pour mieux appréhender son univers. C'est un bon moyen de se réconcilier avec l'extérieur, et de s'affirmer un peu plus! D'après moi, ce livre n est surtout a ne pas laisser trainer entre toutes les mains...car son utilisation peut s averer néfaste ! C'est, j en suis persuadé, la raison principale pour laquelle il n est pratiquement pas possible de trouver ces ouvrages en libriairie classique.

En résumé, c'est une expérience à faire, car on ne l'oubliera pas...

Bravo...mais attention!

A lire aussi: "Petit traité de manipulation à l attention d honnêtes gens"

En Français: le grand livre un du meilleur de sa sorte personne écrivent si bon aujourd'hui. un classique moderne en effet.

This book is difficult to find but worth the search. It was about Saxon going back to his hometown to his friend's funeral, but Roberts was able to make me remember a similiar time in my life. He so captured the feelings that they became mine. This book is truly extraordinary, and I recommend you hunt it down.

What happens when one of the most successful advertising agents in Cleveland disappears from his posh home in Pepper Pike without a trace? After being called by a frantic Richard Amber in need of a bodyguard, Milan Jacovich drove directly to Mr. Amber's elegant home, only to find that he was not there. After a night of waiting and wondering, Jacovich received a phone call from Mr. Amber's wife, Judith Amber, asking for his assistance, not as a bodyguard, but as a private investigator. Mr. Amber had disappeared.

The Ambers were an apparently happy and well-off couple, or that is how they appeared. In actuality, their marriage was one of convenience. Richard Amber's success had been arranged by his wife, Judith; he owed his success to her financial and social status. When Richard Amber disappeared, Judith Amber chose to keep his disappearance a secret from all but those closest to the situation.

Milan Jakovich, a private investigator, was permitted to question Richard Amber's girl friends (current and past) and colleagues (Jerry Stendall, Senior Vice-President of Marbury-Stendall; John Marbury, owner of Marbury-Stendall, and Jeff Monaghan, supposed best friend of Richard Amber). His attempts to question Walter Deming, Judith's uncle and owner of Deming Steel (both Richard's and Marbury-Stendall's largest account), were discouraged and, when eventually permitted, involved at attempt on Jakovich's life.

After having his life threatened, Jacovich was determined to find the man who both attempted to kill him, and who was Amber's killer. The outcome is shocking, and will make you think twice about every person you meet for the rest of your life.

Given that I practically grew up in Cleveland and have friends from Pepper Pike, this was an interesting and enjoyable read. This is Roberts first effort in the Milan Jacovich series. I fortunately read his latest effort (The Dutch) first and then had to backtrack and read the first effort. Most of the plot seemed straight out of a TV special, but the richness of the characters, the setting and the all around likability of Jacovich made this a fast, fun read.

You can expect that I will read the rest of the series!

Pepper Pike is truly a great book. It displays great character development to go along with great plot development. The main character of this story is Milan Jacovich, a Slovenian. He is an ex-cop, ex-military police officer, and ex-football player. He uses all of his jobs and experiences is his private investagation work. The story starts with a call that he recives from someone needing his services. Richard Amber. He accepts the job, but the man he is working for is missing. It is now Milan's job to find this man and find out about his past and present. He has to find every friend, associate, partner, and friend of Richard Amber. He is successful in finding mistresses and possible accomplices to this enigma. He is successful in finding someone very important to whom I will not reveal. This book is a must read.

Boring! Cliche, trite, what else can I say. It baffles me how this book got into print. The main character is one dimensional. The plot is weak with obvious red herrings. Watch out! You'll be dropping this one off at the used bookstore pronto!

Local detective Milan Jacovich is a big, square kind of guy. In more ways than one. He tends to see things in black and white, strongly filtered through his own unique sense of ethics. Would there more people everywhere like him.

This book, in particular, also abounds with terrific philosophical sayings such as: "Michael Jordan says that you always miss the shot you don't take." Yup. You do. Which ought to convince folks to make more attempts at the things that mean the most to them. Six pages earlier was my favorite: "A very wise Clevelander once told me that gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all the others."

As a devoted reader of this series, I was very upset when, in the previous book, Milan's boyhood pal, Lt. Marko Meglich took a bullet intended for Milan. (Not that I wanted to lose Milan, because I certainly didn't. I just didn't want to lose Marko, either.) It was somewhat appeasing that six months later, Milan is also still suffering the loss. It is in order to shake him up some that another old friend, the newspaperman Ed Stahl, recommends Milan for a job with a Hollywood film company that's shooting in Cleveland. The job is as a glorified baby-sitter for the young male star of the film - the 24 year-old Darren Anderson.

Darren, however, resents the 'tending' and point blank tells Milan to leave him alone for one particular Sunday, the end of which sees Darren in a new role--that of corpse. Milan takes it personally, and sets out to find the killer, even if he no longer has a real client. Along the way, we meet some familiar folk from previous books, as well as a new love for Milan. This is good, as he definitely needed one.

If you've ever wondered about Cleveland, the Milan Jacovich books will show you the real thing, warts and all, but subtly mixed in with the rest of the cityscape that those of us who live here, love as much as Milan does. His descriptions of the places he visits should endear him to the Chamber of Commerce, while the taut story lines, unique characterizations and marvelous writing should endear him to readers of all kinds of books.

By juxtaposing the glitz and glitter of a major Hollywood film shoot with the no-nonsense, working-class city of Cleveland, Les Roberts has managed to blend tension, action, and humor into a most enjoyable reading experience.

His Hollywood-type characters ring true, and he manages to make the spoiled young movie star, Darren Anderson, sympathetic and appealing all the while he is being a louse. And hulking, tattooed muscle-for-hire Albert Wysocki is one of those indelible bad guys you love to hate - - quirky and funny while being chillingly sinister.

It is Cleveland private op Milan Jacovich, in his ninth and best-yet outing, whose presence is the glue that holds it all together. His wry wit is in full throttle, and his often rigid principles cost him dearly here, as they usually do, and we find ourselves rooting for his budding relationship with a bright, funny woman who matches his strength and determination.

A fast-action and highly entertaining entry in a superior series.

It's a shame that Les Roberts' Cleveland mysteries are not more widely available. The series is growing in complexity and depth. His detective, Milan Jackovich, is a hard-boiled detective with a heart of gold who can compete with the best of them. Best of all is his portrait of a complex city in transition. I recommend!

A must read for any mystery novel fan, but even more so for fans of Milan Jacovich. A Marvelous tour of Cleveland's Slavic neighborhoods and its people. Any of the characters including Milan could be in my own Slovenian family. A dramatic yet touching ending left me wondering "what next?".

THE CLEVELAND LOCAL is perhaps the "darkest" of Les Roberts' novels about Cleveland private eye Milan Jacovich. It's about families - that of a young man shot down on a secluded Caribbean beach, of a Holocaust survivor who guards her daughter with Draconian intensity, of Jacovich's own family, the "family" of blue-collar union workers who band together in search of a better life, and the all-important extended family of friendships and loyalties.

The city of Cleveland, with its working-class milieu and its stately mansions and sweeping lawns, comes so vibrantly alive that it's almost one of the characters.

Much has been said of the shocking ending. It is unexpected, sad, and completely unforgettable. Only a writer with Les Roberts' craft, control and confidence could have carried it off. He's at the top of his form here.

This is the 13th book in the Milan Jacovich series, which is set in Cleveland and once again showcases the city to its best advantage while Milan does his investigative work. Milan is a middle-aged, clear-thinking, single and sensible private investigator who always seems to get things done with a minimum of fuss.

Although there's a minimum of fuss, there's still plenty to enjoy about this latest book in the series. Milan explores the unfamiliar territory of Irish bars when hired to track down a conman posing as an Irishman who is new to the country, He preys on Irish ex-pats, taking them into his confidence before disappearing with a modest haul. He oversteps the mark when his prey is Judge Maureen Hartigan and she demands a chance at a shot of revenge, using Milan to find him. Things become a bit more complicated when it is revealed that the judge hasn't been completely forthright about what was stolen. When Milan works out what some of the items were, their significance changes the tone of his investigation completely.

This is another enjoyable private investigator story, which I would term as semi-hardboiled. It's not going to offend any sensibilities with Milan remaining a gentleman throughout the entire case. As it's part of a series, I would recommend that a couple of the earlier books could be read to give you a bit of an insight into Milan and the other regular characters.

Maybe there's something wrong with me (many people would wholeheartedly agree), but I liked Les' newest book. It didn't tax my brain and I read it over one weekend. Milan Jacovich has become like an old pair of shoes--the one's you keep going back to when another pair beats up your feet and you're dying for something familiar and comfortable. There's no stomach-churning gore, the sex is so-so, and the plots aren't revealed in the first few pages. Les enjoys writing mysteries and making people think. As long as he keeps writing, I'll keep reading his books.

I cannot say too much about an author who has become my favorite. I stopped reading mysteries many years ago and then discovered the Milan Jakovich novels (my first ten years of life were spent in Cleveland and I was curious) and the Saxon novels set it LA. No other detective writer makes his characters as human as Les Roberts does and he is one of the few authors who causes me to go back and reread what he has written. He is articulate, he is concise, and he knows who and what he is writing about. This is as true of The Irish Sports Pages as of all his books. I would encourage mystery fans to read all his books and challenge non mystery fans with the belief that one Les Roberts book will get them hooked on all that he has written. Believe me, I went to old book stores and the net once I found I had missed the first few and the prices were well worth it.