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Milan Jacovich #11
The Indian Sign
#11 in the Milan Jacovich mystery series … “Page turner of the week … a nifty spin on a classic P.I. formula.” — People Magazine Veteran private eye Milan Jacovich (it’s pronounced MY-lan YOCK-ovitch) is rarely surprised. But his attention is grabbed one day by a Native American man wearing traditional clothing and waist-length, iron gray braids, sitting across the street from his suburban Cleveland apartment for twelve hours in a driving snowstorm. When the old man is found murdered and floating in the river the very next day, Milan feels the unsettling urge to do something about it. He’s already working on another case—a simple one, he thinks. The CEO of a local toy company has hired him for a background check on his new accountant, David Ream. Milan quickly learns Ream is not at all what he seems to be, and the case gets very messy, very fast. Dancing dangerously between the two cases, Milan runs into more murder and a suspense-filled finish including a shoot-out in the fountain plaza at downtown Tower City. “A solidly paced narrative . . . recommended to readers who enjoy the modern PI knight-errant.” — Booklist
248 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2000
1 person is currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Les Roberts
74 books139 followersLes 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."
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 2, 2012
It took me a while, but Milan Jakovich grew on me. I love the character. He's a twist on the classic hard-boiled private eye, but with a bit more heart. He's more vulnerable, too, but that doesn't make him soft.
I finally got to read a novel all the way through without rolling my eyes at the over-writing, implausible plot or too self-conscious characters. Good stuff, Les. I'll be reading more.
I finally got to read a novel all the way through without rolling my eyes at the over-writing, implausible plot or too self-conscious characters. Good stuff, Les. I'll be reading more.
April 6, 2025
The old Indian man sat across the street from Milan Jacovich’s office for an entire day in a cold February in Cleveland. Jacovich, a private investigator, noticed the guy sitting there and wondered why he sat outside stoically on such a cold day. But the next day, he was gone, and the paper carried a story of the murder of an unidentified native American. His conscience pricked because he did nothing to help the old man who sat on that bench a day earlier, Jacovich notifies his nemesis at the Cleveland police Department that he might be able to identify the old man, and he does.
On the same day he saw the old man on the bench, Jacovich received a visitor who said he was head of a toy company. The guy felt his company was the victim of industrial espionage, and he asked Jacovich to find the spy. Jacovich agrees.
You get two excellently written mysteries in this book. It’s highly readable, and it kept me entertained and appreciative of the author’s talents over a sleepless Saturday night into an early Sunday morning. It was time eagerly and well spent.
Jacovich ultimately connects the dead Indian to a small Michigan town not far from the upper peninsula. In that town, he finds a family getting by on welfare and grieving for the loss of their apparently kidnapped tiny son, Andrew. It is the boy’s grandfather who brutally died after spending a cold day on a Cleveland park bench.
The toy company case is engaging as well. The company is about to manufacture a tricycle it knows is shoddy and unsafe.
I’ve dipped into this series at random for years. I would have enjoyed it even more had I read it in order. The book lounged insouciantly on my books drive since the summer of 2013. It was well worth the wait.
On the same day he saw the old man on the bench, Jacovich received a visitor who said he was head of a toy company. The guy felt his company was the victim of industrial espionage, and he asked Jacovich to find the spy. Jacovich agrees.
You get two excellently written mysteries in this book. It’s highly readable, and it kept me entertained and appreciative of the author’s talents over a sleepless Saturday night into an early Sunday morning. It was time eagerly and well spent.
Jacovich ultimately connects the dead Indian to a small Michigan town not far from the upper peninsula. In that town, he finds a family getting by on welfare and grieving for the loss of their apparently kidnapped tiny son, Andrew. It is the boy’s grandfather who brutally died after spending a cold day on a Cleveland park bench.
The toy company case is engaging as well. The company is about to manufacture a tricycle it knows is shoddy and unsafe.
I’ve dipped into this series at random for years. I would have enjoyed it even more had I read it in order. The book lounged insouciantly on my books drive since the summer of 2013. It was well worth the wait.
July 2, 2018
It was almost a relief (after our prior brutal thriller) to settle back with a more “normal” mystery without an overdose of killings and torture. “Indian Sign” is the 11th (and our 11th) in Roberts’ Cleveland-based Milan Jacovich set, about a middle-aged divorced PI with a strict moral code, a love for klobasa (the Slovenian spelling) and Stroh’s, and relationship troubles with women who don’t always care for his work habits and choices.
Milan is hired to investigate a toy company’s new head accountant who seems “fishy” to the CEO. That part of the tale heads into somewhat unexpected territory. In a major second plot, a Native American baby is missing – without a client or really any business pursuing the matter, Milan uncovers what appears to be a baby-selling scheme that is pretty woeful – and leads to his current troubles with girlfriend Connie, who would prefer he mind his own business. Milan pairs up for part of this “case” with another female PI, humorously posing as a married couple to get a low-down on the “adoption” ring.
Both plots were fun and reasonably suspenseful. We feel bad that Milan’s scruples seem to drive away the women – he’s a pretty good egg with whom we plan to spend his every adventure. {3.5}
Milan is hired to investigate a toy company’s new head accountant who seems “fishy” to the CEO. That part of the tale heads into somewhat unexpected territory. In a major second plot, a Native American baby is missing – without a client or really any business pursuing the matter, Milan uncovers what appears to be a baby-selling scheme that is pretty woeful – and leads to his current troubles with girlfriend Connie, who would prefer he mind his own business. Milan pairs up for part of this “case” with another female PI, humorously posing as a married couple to get a low-down on the “adoption” ring.
Both plots were fun and reasonably suspenseful. We feel bad that Milan’s scruples seem to drive away the women – he’s a pretty good egg with whom we plan to spend his every adventure. {3.5}
May 27, 2018
PROTAGONIST: Milan Jackovich, PI
SETTING: Cleveland, Ohio
SERIES: #11
RATING: 3.5
WHY: PI Milan Jacovich is hired by a man he doesn't much like to investigate a security leak at a toy company. The case ends up opening a slew of moral issues for Milan who uncovers much more than a security leak. Meanwhile, he has notice an older native American man sitting outside on a bench all day in Cleveland's wintry weather. When he is later found dead, Milan is approached by his family to look into the kidnapping of a Native Amercian infant, another situation with multiple moral dilemmas. As always, the plot is well developed. However, Milan's personal relationship issues are beginning to get in the way of my enjoyment of the series.
SETTING: Cleveland, Ohio
SERIES: #11
RATING: 3.5
WHY: PI Milan Jacovich is hired by a man he doesn't much like to investigate a security leak at a toy company. The case ends up opening a slew of moral issues for Milan who uncovers much more than a security leak. Meanwhile, he has notice an older native American man sitting outside on a bench all day in Cleveland's wintry weather. When he is later found dead, Milan is approached by his family to look into the kidnapping of a Native Amercian infant, another situation with multiple moral dilemmas. As always, the plot is well developed. However, Milan's personal relationship issues are beginning to get in the way of my enjoyment of the series.
June 9, 2011
His best yet, good descriptions - I could feel that February Cleveland cold. I read very few mysteries, I read this one because it is set in Cleveland & I have met Les Roberts.
August 15, 2020
If you see a book set in Cleveland with Indian in the title, you'd probably think it has something to do with baseball--not the case in this book. In this book, PI Milan Jacovich takes on two cases. Both end up having something to do with exploiting children.
As always, one has to wonder how Milan stays in business. He starts out with a paying client, but then voids the contract. So he ends up with no paying client for all the work done in this installment of the series--though he does get some press mention in one of the cases, so maybe getting his name out there will lead to more paying clients.
Much is made of Milan's black-and-white view of the world. He loses another girl over it. Somehow he seems to gain two more female admirers in this book though, one of whom may end up as his next love interest--we'll see.
As always, one has to wonder how Milan stays in business. He starts out with a paying client, but then voids the contract. So he ends up with no paying client for all the work done in this installment of the series--though he does get some press mention in one of the cases, so maybe getting his name out there will lead to more paying clients.
Much is made of Milan's black-and-white view of the world. He loses another girl over it. Somehow he seems to gain two more female admirers in this book though, one of whom may end up as his next love interest--we'll see.
October 12, 2017
Another masterful read. Private investigator Milan Jacovich conflicts his morals against a paycheck and prevails as we have come to expect him to. Fighting against greed forsaking safety and the future of a newborn boy, Milan calls in the reserves and tallies up the wins. While he does lose one personal accomplishment (the woman) he gains more. And, nary a scratch to himself. The bodies do pile up around him, with regret, but in the end, there is a rightness in Cleveland again.
February 8, 2021
This entry in the series is much stronger than the most recent entries, with two parallel story-lines running with similar topics. There still is an excessive amount of background information provided, but i guess that's necessary for anyone starting the series somewhere in the middle. The writing is much stronger here, almost as if someone else was writing certain sections. Nevertheless, the book is highly recommended.
December 31, 2025
In this novel, detective Milan Jacovich becomes curious about an old indian sitting across from his apartment, in the snow, for 24 hours. He tries not to become involved per his girlfriend's request but when the indian is found in Lake Erie with his head nearly cut off, he can't resist finding out what happened to the old man.
June 11, 2018
I can’t get enough of Milan. I always finish these books with a smile on my face. Very enjoyable.
June 27, 2022
Long live Milan Jacovich!
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June 23, 2025Another good read from one of my favorite mystery writers. Poor Milan can't seem to keep a relationship going, though. He must be quite a hunk the way the women fall all over him!
March 22, 2017
Alternately depressing and entertaining. The Cleveland scenery makes the books, though I'd love less brooding and more detective work....
August 20, 2011
The Indian Sign by Les Roberts
It’s one of the Milan Jacovich mystery series. My first. My last, most likely. It was sort of a blast to read about all the sights in Cleveland. I used to hang out in the area Milan works and lives when I went to med. School but frankly this wasn’t worth the trip down memory lane.
Milan is a private eye and a PI cliché. That was my biggest problem with this whole novel. Everything is a cliché or cardboard cutout of every other story/idea in the genre. Milan is Slovian which was a little different but he’s obviously Phillip Marlowe or Spenser. His girlfriend exists for the sex and to harangue him about how dangerous his job is (I am so sick of this. There are women who can actually handle danger) and the plots/villains are right out of the dial-a-plot phone book.
There are two plots, the one with his actual client, who owns a toy company and suspects industrial espionage. The other is about an old Native American who he saw sitting across from his apartment one day and was dead the next. The man was in Cleveland from Michigan tracking his kidnapped grand child and another of his grandkids hires Milan to find the baby.
I should have known I was in trouble when some of the opening paragraphs were about the old man and Milan not knowing what Indians usually dress like. Um how about the people that they are? They don’t go around in regalia every day. I about quit when Connie, the girlfriend starting in on about his oh so dangerous job and how dare he tell the cops he actually saw the dead Indian and get involved by doing his civic duty. I about cried when he walked into an Indian bar and everyone started in with the ‘what’s a white man doing in here?’ riff three seconds later. I was a doctor on a reservation. I drank in predominately Native American bars. I was never once harassed and never saw any of the men get it either. From here on I skimmed and it wasn’t even worth that. This one is forgettable.
It’s one of the Milan Jacovich mystery series. My first. My last, most likely. It was sort of a blast to read about all the sights in Cleveland. I used to hang out in the area Milan works and lives when I went to med. School but frankly this wasn’t worth the trip down memory lane.
Milan is a private eye and a PI cliché. That was my biggest problem with this whole novel. Everything is a cliché or cardboard cutout of every other story/idea in the genre. Milan is Slovian which was a little different but he’s obviously Phillip Marlowe or Spenser. His girlfriend exists for the sex and to harangue him about how dangerous his job is (I am so sick of this. There are women who can actually handle danger) and the plots/villains are right out of the dial-a-plot phone book.
There are two plots, the one with his actual client, who owns a toy company and suspects industrial espionage. The other is about an old Native American who he saw sitting across from his apartment one day and was dead the next. The man was in Cleveland from Michigan tracking his kidnapped grand child and another of his grandkids hires Milan to find the baby.
I should have known I was in trouble when some of the opening paragraphs were about the old man and Milan not knowing what Indians usually dress like. Um how about the people that they are? They don’t go around in regalia every day. I about quit when Connie, the girlfriend starting in on about his oh so dangerous job and how dare he tell the cops he actually saw the dead Indian and get involved by doing his civic duty. I about cried when he walked into an Indian bar and everyone started in with the ‘what’s a white man doing in here?’ riff three seconds later. I was a doctor on a reservation. I drank in predominately Native American bars. I was never once harassed and never saw any of the men get it either. From here on I skimmed and it wasn’t even worth that. This one is forgettable.
October 23, 2018
Hey, our main man didn't suffer any bodily injuries this go around. Also, I bumped the rating up to a four star review. Initially when I added these books to GR, it was remembering how much I enjoyed the series a decade after having read. I forgot about the final scene that takes place in Tower City, the iconic shopping mall (though it seems to be a glorified food court and rapid train station in the 21st century), in the base of the Terminal Tower in Cleveland. Overall the story of stolen children placed for adoption was entertaining enough, but another of Milan's girlfriends sees the door.
Rereading these books, the three big relationships in the first half of the series, Milan had a terrible choice of women and besides Nicole Archer who is a blip on his radar, the other two ladies are not my cup of tea. Glad they're gone and Milan fan knows he can do better.
Rereading these books, the three big relationships in the first half of the series, Milan had a terrible choice of women and besides Nicole Archer who is a blip on his radar, the other two ladies are not my cup of tea. Glad they're gone and Milan fan knows he can do better.
November 9, 2022
You get what you expect with another Milan Jacovich novel. Unfortunately Les Roberts shows his age a bit more with a diatribe against politically correct language as a Native American man is at the heart of the story. When he turns up dead after sitting outside of Milan's apartment throughout a snowstorm, Milan can't help but get involved. He also does a basic background check on a local toy company. When children are involved in both cases, Milan knows he won't stop until he gets to the bottom of them.
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July 20, 2021Memo to Les Roberts' publishers: you have a fine writer in Mr. Roberts, and you issue, in handsome and sturdy trade paperback editions (I originally read some of these titles in St. Martin's Press mass market paperbacks, so I definitely think you make nicer books), what appears to be his entire list. Why not invest what I imagine is a relatively modest sum in better proofreading and copy editing?
As I said previously, I admire this series, and this novel is one of the high points so far.
As I said previously, I admire this series, and this novel is one of the high points so far.
July 30, 2008
Loved it, now I have to read the rest of the series.
April 28, 2011
Typical Les Roberts book, but it kept me interested until the end. Better than some of his other books... not quite so predictable.
August 20, 2011
I couldn't finish it. The characters were drawn in broad, occasionally offensive, stereotypes and the lead was straight out of the macho man PI cookie cutter.
May 31, 2015
This was another great book by Les Roberts.
September 18, 2012
A private eye in Cleveland accepts a paying client, but spends more time trying to discover who killed the Native American man who was sitting on a bench across the street.
December 31, 2016
another good mystery novel based in Cleveland
May 2, 2017
Another masterful read. Private investigator Milan Jacovich conflicts his morals against a paycheck and prevails as we have come to expect him to. Fighting against greed forsaking safety and the future of a newborn boy, Milan calls in the reserves and tallies up the wins. While he does lose one personal accomplishment (the woman) he gains more. And, nary a scratch to himself. The bodies do pile up around him, with regret, but in the end, there is a rightness in Cleveland again.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews