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King of the Holly Hop
A Milan Jacovich Mystery
by Les Roberts
- Format: Softcover, 272 pages, 5.1 x 8 inches
- ISBN: 978-1-59851-054-6
- Price: $13.95
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Description
Now in paperback, #14 in the Milan Jacovich mystery series . . .
Going to your high school reunion is never fun. But this time, it's murder.
When Cleveland private eye Milan Jacovich reluctantly attends the fortieth reunion of his St. Clair High School graduating class, he gets a rude surprise: one of his classmates is found shot dead and another quickly becomes the main suspect.
The suspect, successful playwright Tommy Wiggins, draws Milan into the case—and puts him in a very awkward position. Investigating his former schoolmates is an uncomfortable task for Milan, as he soon discovers the dark secrets of people he only thought he knew.
The deceased Dr. Phil Kohn, it turns out, was a cad who managed to make more than a few enemies during his abbreviated life. But did a forty-year-old grudge really lead to his death? Or was it something more recent—a jealous spouse, a shady business partner?
Milan's hunt for the real killer leads him through the oddly intertwined worlds of Cleveland's medical community, organized crime, polite suburban society, and hard-core drug dealers.
It's a tough investigation in which Milan could lose many friends—and, if he's not careful, his life.
In the fourteenth book of his Milan Jacovich series, Les Roberts once again delivers a dose of real Cleveland characters and settings that bring the city to life on the page.
Reviews
Les Roberts has never let us down. He is a consistent, careful author who knows Milan [Jacovich] better than many of us know ourselves. He stays true to this character, and as always, he writes a fascinating story with superb character development. You will find yourself rethinking your own high school days and wondering what you might have overlooked then, and what your friends are doing today . . . This book could either make you attend your next reunion, or run like the wind in the other direction. King of The Holly Hop is a must read - whether you are new to the Milan Jacovich stories or have followed him throughout his previous 13 adventures . . . The only remaining question is - when is No. 15 in the Milan Jacovich series coming out? — clevelandseniors.com
A must-read for any Cleveland mystery lover or displaced Clevelander. If you're new to the series, don't worry; the book stands wel alone even as it reminds fans of previous Milan adventures. — About.Com
After a six-year hiatus from his popular Milan Jacovich mystery series, Cleveland's favorite wordsmith, Les Roberts, is back with a vengeance — vengeance being an integral part of “King of the Holly Hop” . . . This Roberts novel is, as always, well written and completely thought out. It has humor, some genteel sadness and, of course, a mystery that will keep readers pondering. — Medina County Gazette
An enjoyable whodunit with a deep realistic look at Cleveland now and a nostalgic surreal look at the city in the 1960s though the distorted lens of memories. — Midwest Book Review
Roberts has a real talent for character development giving Milan an interesting cast to work with and play off of. That Milan is aging, sort of gracefully, sort of not, is all the more appealing. He must rely more on his wits and intellect than on mere physical prowess, not that he was ever short on the former, and build bridges instead of burning them . . . [the book] is a real treat, whether this is the reader's first introduction to the Cleveland PI or one merely catching up with an old friend. — Mysterious Reviews
Part of the charm of Roberts' books to Northeast Ohioans is his Cleveland setting. To a Clevelander, Scranton Road, The Flats, Cleveland Heights, Parma, The BP Building, the bar/restaurant Nighttown give the story a greater sense of reality. More important characteristics of Roberts' work include his technical skill: he writes crisply with a knowing pace that moves the story along and he deftly creates interesting scenes and characters. [Milan] Jacovich is a descendant of the hard-boiled school of PIs-- no Sherlock Holmes here!--but his civilized, occasionally tender treatment of the people he encounters and investigates is an appealing trait . . . Roberts knows his people; he brings them to life out of his experience and craft and imbues them with instant credibility. — Ohioana Quarterly
[Milan's] beating the bushes gives Roberts' loyal fans what they like best--lots of Cleveland color, from gritty warehouses to old-money mansions, and true-to-life characters and dialogue. — Akron Beacon Journal
Roberts writes exciting, well-paced mysteries, which is why his fans wanted more, but in this part of the country their appeal has a lot to do with the locale. When murder mysteries are set in places you know, they immediately become more compelling. — News Journal
Really a fun read, with nicely building tension and interesting character relationships. It's a good, solid mystery. — Record Courier
A fresh and original mystery, highly recommended to those looking for a classic whodunit with new ideas. — Small Press Bookwatch
It's such a great feeling to encounter a friend of long-standing whom you've not seen for a while. Milan Jacovich is a tad older, a tad tetchier, a tad more profane than the last time we encountered him, but he's still welcome to share my space with me! — coolcleveland.com
About Les Roberts
Les Roberts is the author of 14 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. More About Les Roberts