Les Roberts
Milan Jacovich is SO real. He nearly jumps off the pages of the books about him by local author Les Roberts. Of course, he’s real to us because Milan was born and raised here, still lives and works here — and never lets us forget it — but, he’s real because like us, the readers, he’s not made of concrete and steel. When somebody smacks him upside his head, he goes down. At least partly, although he usually doesn’t stay there long, and it might take him longer to get back on his feet. But he does it. He hurts like we do, and is sensitive like us (even when we don’t want to admit it) and has definite ideas about the good and the bad and the ugly that surrounds us on a daily basis.
Most of all, he’s real because he’s aging. Just like us. We can share his unhappiness at being a step or two slower than he was in book number one – Pepper Pike – published in 1990. The Cleveland Creep is number 15 in the series, and a lotta water has gone over the dam in those intervening years.
Milan has definite standards, but a missing-person case shouldn’t mess things up all that much. To be sure, the missing person would seem to be an unlikely sort of guy to just wander off. Earl Dacey’s a shy, geeky 28-year-old with no job and not much of a car — just an over-anxious Mom who begs Milan to please find her son. She scrapes together $500 as a retainer and Milan can’t refuse her.
Almost simultaneously, he’s entreated by another local PI, Suzanne, to take on a helper — a younger guy, just out of the military, who needs a job and wants desperately to be a PI once he learns the ropes. Kevin O’Banion (K.O. for short) is a tough, belligerent, smart young guy, eager to challenge the world. He has two great qualities, however: he listens when Milan tells him something, and he also has good instincts.
It doesn’t take Milan long to discover that Earl did indeed have a hobby — he used a videocam to film unsuspecting young females in shopping malls. From the ground up, one might say.
Years ago, before porn became readily available nearly everywhere, Cleveland was home to the reigning purveyor of it. Lotsa wannabes are still around, and apparently Earl was one of them. Only now, the big boys control it, and there’s little room for beginners.
K.O. proves to be a good assistant, coming up with ideas to enlighten Milan, while going off on his own tangents. Then a body appears and Milan is visited by the FBI and previous antagonist Cleveland Police Lieutenant McHargue. (I love this woman!) A visit to a former friend doesn’t go so well, resulting in Victor Gaimari ending the friendship. (Surely not forever?)
As always, there’s lots of Cleveland scenery – including the burbs to the north and southeast of downtown. There are fights galore, beautiful women of several ages, old and new friends, and some characters you’ll be glad you never had to meet – in person.
Milan and his creator, Les Roberts, might be aging (of course they are – aren’t we all?) but like fine wine, their vintage only improves with time. And anyway – Sixty is the NEW Forty. Right?
You can find more information about The Cleveland Creep recently published by Gray & Company at http://GrayCo.com. Upcoming events where you can meet Les Roberts are also listed at http://GrayCo.com/events.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz, who writes: My most recently published book is Ardenwycke Unveiled (e-book and trade paper). Cerridwen has another contemporary romance from me, But Not For Love, currently available only as an e-book, but perhaps will be in print later this year. I hope to soon get around to completing some of the 30+ incomplete books in my computer!Actually, I’ve just re-issued my very first published book (from Berkley in NY 1993) Secret Shores which is available now in print, plus print and as a Kindle.
By the way, Cerridwen has also accepted two of my short stories in their Scintillating Samples (complimentary reads) area: Song of the Swan and Unexpected Comfort. I love photography as well, as you can see here. Occasionally I teach writing workshops and sometimes do editing or ghostwriting on a free-lance basis. But over and above everything else, there’s always been the writing. I can’t imagine my life without it.
And now, after more than a few requests, I’ve started a blog about writing. You can find it here.
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