The Lake Effect

Milan Jacovich #5

by Les Roberts

“Packed with unusual heroes, villains, and political twists and turns … a mystery which defies predictability.” — Midwest Book Review #5 in the Milan Jacovich mystery series … Every Clevelander understands the lake effect, a weather condition that brings plenty of snow, especially in November when election time rolls around. Milan Jacovich (it’s pronounced MY-lan YOCK-ovich), the genial Cleveland private eye, has never been a political animal. But he owes a favor to mobster Victor Gaimari, and Milan always pays his debts. So he agrees to play watchdog over a mayoral election in suburban Lake Erie Shores in which dowdy housewife Barbara Corns is challenging incumbent Gayton True. Everything seems calm on the surface—until True’s wife, Princess, is run down in the street just outside downtown Cleveland’s Tower City. It becomes obvious that there is more at stake than the mayor’s chair in a quiet suburban city hall. And when he discovers that the True campaign has employed his old nemesis, disgraced ex-cop Al Drago, who carries a grudge a mile wide, Milan knows he’s in for a lot rougher time of it than simply poll-watching. “A real treat … If you've somehow missed this series, definitely give it a try . . . If you're already a fan, this book will delight you even further.” — Mystery News “Every Jacovich adventure is better than the last, and this one is no exception. An outstanding entry in an outstanding series, and a must for every mystery collection. (Starred review)” — Booklist “The story is nicely fleshed out with characters so vivid you could probably pick them out on the Cleveland Roberts describes them so well, even an out-of-towner knows where he stands.” — Publishers Weekly

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Book Club

276 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 1994

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."

Reviews

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

PROTAGONIST: PI Milan Jacovich
SETTING: Cleveland, OH
SERIES: #5
RATING: 3.25
WHY: PI Milan Jacovich owes mobster Victor Gaimari and agrees to serve as security for the candidate for mayor in Lake Erie Shores, a wealthy, mostly white community in northern Ohio. Barbara Corns is timid and ineffective; Milan can't figure out why Victor wants to help her. A large part of the book deals with the nasty politics involved in the campaign. Corns' opposition is the current mayor who is not very well liked but has influence. His wife is the victim of a hit and run; Milan is almost run down, and an enemy of his is run down as well. Although I like this series, I didn't much care for this book. There was a surplus of unlikeable characters. The focus on politics meant not much action. Milan issues a lot of threats and ends up in a bruising confrontation late in the book. However, on the sunny side, he has a new love interest.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was well written, and had a colorful, humorous cast of characters. The portrayal of the local mob on Murray Hill was especially entertaining. I also enjoyed reading a novel set in Cleveland; the familiar locations made the story more relatable. I did feel, however, that the mystery plot was lacking and the ending was anticlimactic.

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhere I read that someone told Les Roberts they were glad to see a title that didn't have to do with Cleveland, which made me laugh. Those who live near Cleveland are well acquainted with the words "Lake Effect". I'm not sure but perhaps the term is used elsewhere as well. If you're not familiar with the term, Roberts provides a good explanation of it late in the book. I also regard these books fondly because the main character's name is taken from that of a Cleveland area dentist (with a slight spelling change to reflect ethnicity).

Milan repays a favor he owes to Victor Gaimari by watching out for Lake Erie Shores mayoral candidate Barbara Corns. Of course, things are never as simple as they seem for Milan. The one bright spot for Milan is meeting Kellen in the course of Barbara's campaign. It also seems that the end of the campaign gives Barbara more of a backbone.

[Jerry B · Rating 3 out of 5]

We would describe “Lake Effect”, the fifth in Roberts’ Cleveland-based PI Milan Jacovich series, as a fairly typical entry in this 18-book set, perhaps having ended with no further stories beyond 2015. Having accepted a favor from a number-two-type mob guy in the third novel (“Deep Shaker”), Milan is summoned to return the favor (although a nice fee awaited) to play bodyguard and advisor of sorts to Barbara Corns, a dark-horse candidate in a mayoral election for upscale suburb Lake Shores. Ms. Corns seems totally inept at public speaking, and it seems the slightest adversity reduces her to a nervous wreck. Milan spends half his time wondering why he has even been hired, when it seems Corns has virtually no platform (except “stop the growth”) nor any chance at beating the current incumbent Mayor True. But the plot thickens when the mayor’s wife Princess is victim of an unsolved hit and run, and shortly thereafter an attempt to snuff out Milan seems the same hit and run vehicle was involved. To make matters worse for our hero, the mayor has a bodyguard also, former bad cop Al Drago who was fired from the force after Milan turned evidence against him. Before it’s over, these two would get into a life-threatening fight.

So – will the election results have a surprise? Will the two hit and runs get solved?; and will Drago get the best of Milan? All will be settled by book’s end in a reasonably suspenseful tale marred only by some boring parts mid-book involving the political machinations of the campaign.

[Tom Barko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this in my Free Little Library, and I gave it a try. I was pleasantly surprised. As a NEO resident, the references to the area made me chuckle more than once, the story was intriguing, and the main character (Jacovich) was well fleshed out. I thought it flowed nicely, the character and personality descriptions were well done, and I felt tense through many parts of the novel. I liked it, and will look for others in this series.

[Arielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this at all! The story felt didactic and it just never felt like a fun read. I slogged to get through it. If you're excited about the Cleveland, maybe that'll be nice to see? But it felt clumsy to me, while spending more time on the explanations than the "mystery," such as it was. But I also came in to book 5 of a series! Maybe if I started from the beginning, I'd love Milan and his world.

[Dkolacinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoy the Milan Jacovich novels, in part because I once lived in Cleveland Heights and reading these novels take me back to a place which will always be an important part of my life. To drive along with Milan makes the novels extremely realistic for me. More importantly though is that, even after revisiting the novels after decades of separation, Milan is a real human being to me, with qualities and flaws which only come into clarity as I face the "end of the road."

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read but there were aspects to the writing that I didn't care for. The ending was probably the best part of the book (last couple of chapters) but getting there seemed slow and compared to the "Memory Man" series which I have been reading, it just didn't measure up. I did enjoy the many references to places around Cleveland. It was fun to visualize where things were taking place.

[Howard Kass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable PI story about Cleveland-based Milan Jacovich, who repays a favor by taking on a gig providing security for a suburban mayoral candidate. Lots of twists and turns, but a fair amount is formulaic and aspects are predictable. Nonetheless, a good read.

[Vicki Bishop · Rating 3 out of 5]

I live in Lake County Ohio where the book takes place. So many mentions of places I'm familiar with. Good story line too.

[David W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better job on CLE this time - fun.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this series years ago. And for some reason, I only read a few of the books. This was enjoyable. Not a hard-biting detective story, bu still quite enjoyable.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: Milan, the Cleveland PI, agrees to play watchdog for a mobster by keeping an eye on a local mayoralty election. Problems start.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Private investigator, Milan Jacovich owes the mob family in Cleveland a favor and they are ready to collect. They assign Milan to protect and help a candidate for mayor in an upscale Cleveland suburb. Barbara Corns is a terrible candidate and with a week before the election Milan knows there isn’t much he can do but stay close and put in his time. The other candidate and current mayor of the city is slick and he has plans for a casino on Lake Erie that would benefit the city. Things are pretty tame until the mayor’s wife is run down and killed. Then Milan uses his police contacts and detective talents to investigate the many people surrounding the campaigns.

I love this series. The mystery is always good and Milan is a great main character. He’s a divorced middle-aged man with two teen boys that he sees every other Sunday and a lonely lifestyle between girlfriends. He is a Clevelander who is proud of his Slovenia heritage and knows the streets and the people well. As for the mystery this time around I had a suspicion, but I was wrong so another successful book by Roberts! Any mystery lover will love this series and most Clevelanders have already discovered it. I got started a little late so I’m just catching up, but I haven’t read a dud yet.

there's more on my blog http://stacybuckeye.wordpress.com/201...

[Chad Malkamaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one only had one giant, knock em out, drag out, Sonny Corleone style beat down (okay it wasn't as one way as Sonny beating up Carlo) so Milan probably only got the one concussion in this book. As far as the story goes, it meant a lot to me as Milan's first case in Lake County in a fictitious town called Lake Erie Shores, that seems to be part Willoughby, Willoughby Hills, and Mentor. That's where I grew up, so again a lot of connections while reading this book. For the caper, eh, not one of the better ones--in fact not too much sleuthing for Milan, this time, he's hired as security guard for a woman running for mayor, trying to unseat the long term mayor of this little suburb. Milan's hired by his old pal (add Mickey Doyle laugh) Victor Gamari who has an outsiders interest in the election. Add in Al Drago, the cop that Milan got kicked off the CPD and you have some bad times in old Lake County. As always even if the case isn't the greatest, Roberts' descriptions of the greater Cleveland area is spot on.

[R.L. Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story, especially since it takes place generally right around my hometown in northeast Ohio. Very familiar scenery in this one! I was also pleased with my own mystery solving skills, as I was able to pick out the murderer right away. It helped spark my interest in mysteries and inspired me to try my hand as a mystery writer myself. I would recommend it very highly; however my one criticism of Les Roberts is that he tends to spice his writing with liberal doses of adult language and adult situations, so it is not for someone who is sensitive to that style of writing.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star character, Milan Jacovich gets hired as a body guard for a small-town mayor hopeful and inevitably solves two murders, barely escapes his own and finds romance while entwined in the run. Sprinkle in some snow, child pornography, & local mafioso and in no time, there's nothing usual about these politics. With a conclusion that unsleuthed me, Roberts has again awed me with his adeptness at titillating another snarky and tenacious episode of all that is Jacovich.

[RICK D'AMICO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each of these Les Roberts crime novels gets better as I continue to read them in order of written. "The Lake Effect" was especially gripping and suspenseful. The pictures in my mind as Roberts describes the action were better than being in the movies.

[Chowhound88 (a.k.a. Ralph) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, well-written story. I wish the library had all of his books.

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I will not be reading any other books in the series.

[Joseph Britton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read with lots of familiar Cleveland landmarks to keep it interesting. Nice surprise ending.

[Casey Hickman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good thing I didn't start the series with this book. Was plan boring. Hopefully the series doesn't continue like this one.