The Duke Of Cleveland

Milan Jacovich #6

by Les Roberts

#6 in the Milan Jacovich mystery series … “The wonderful thing about art is that it doesn’t really have to do anything … All that is asked of it is that it be beautiful. It doesn’t work that way with people.” So begins a sortie by Cleveland private investigator Milan Jacovich (it’s pronounced MY-lan YOCK-ovich) into the cutthroat world of fine art. A slumming young heiress, April Delavan, hires Milan to find her most recent boyfriend, a potter who has absconded with $18,000 of her trust fund money. But it doesn’t figure that his disappearance would pique the interest of someone like Victor Gaimari, the elegant and affable mob figure with whom straight arrow Milan seems to be developing a love-hate relationship. Milan soon learns that the former boyfriend may have made a few other enemies, and suddenly, fine art starts looking a little rough around the edges. It turns out truth and beauty don’t always mix well—at least in the art business.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

242 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1995

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

[Jerry B · Rating 4 out of 5]

As we polished off (reading the set in order) the sixth in Les Roberts’ 18-book series, published mostly in the 1990’s, we wondered two things: will leading man, Cleveland-based PI Milan Jacovich be brought into the era of cellphones and computers (apparently not), or will the set stand at 18 total as straightforward, “classic” mysteries in which the gradual unfolding of clues takes precedent over red herrings, sex scenes, graphic violence, and unrelated sub-plots. If anything, “Duke”, a not totally apropos reference to #2 mob-guy Victor Gaimari, exemplifies that almost Ellery Queen-esque style of crime story that follows a pretty straight line from start to end.

The problem: what happened to pottery con man Jeff Feldman, and the $18,000 (big money at the time) a beautiful late teenager with a trust fund loaned to him (and who hired Jacovich to find out)? Is there a virtually priceless piece of porcelain pottery to be found; and if so, who will find it and become the owner? And is the supposed accidental death of another potter in an elevator shaft really unconnected and just misadventure?

It took some dogged persistence, but Milan did a good job of playing Sherlock Holmes and figuring it all out to a very satisfying conclusion – plenty good enough for us, and possibly the best of the lot so far!

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I met Les Roberts many years ago when he spoke to a group in Westlake, OH (about 15 minutes east of Cleveland--where he sets his Milan Jacovich novels). I also remember the dentist of the same name from this area who I'd met before meeting Roberts and remember wondering if there was a connection--there is (as you know if you've read the series).

I only recently decided to read all of the Jacovich series in order.

I liked that this book delved into some of the history of Cleveland, even if some of it was back in the 90s. I like that Cleveland tried to revitalize some of its spaces--I was even wishing some of the suburbs west of Cleveland would try to do the same and hoping Roberts might feature them in a future book--though it seems this series may have ended long ago. I will have to see as I get closer to the book 18 that another reviewer mentioned.

Apparently the "Duke of Cleveland" has mob ties. I'm not well versed enough in true Cleveland history to know if that's a truth or something Roberts made up for his series.

This book delves into the art/porcelain/ceramics world. I'd never heard of Helgenburg--again, not sure if he's real or a fictional character Roberts created for his own use. I did learn a bit more about pottery and ceramics and the black market for such items through Roberts's story.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROTAGONIST: PI Milan Jacovich
SETTING: Cleveland, OH
SERIES: #6
RATING: 3.75
WHY: Milan Jacovich is hired by a young woman to find her boyfriend, Jeff Feldman, who has scammed her of $18,000. He finds that Feldman was a pretty despicable character who delved in shady business in the art world. His latest scheme involved selling an extremely rare vase to multiple people. Even though the plot wasn't all that engrossing, I like Roberts' writing a lot and enjoy the inside look at life in Cleveland.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this novel, Milan Jacovich was hired by a young woman who was ripped off for $18,000 by her late boyfriend. As the story developed, we discover that the boyfriend used the art world to rip buyers off by presenting artwork that was not available to the general public. I had never read a novel about the art world and did not realize that art collectors could be so vicious.

[Dkolacinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine Milan Jacovich novel, this time in the world of fine art, specifically ceramics. Lots of twists and turns, and -- spoiler, sometimes the good guys do win.

[Hugh Heinsohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent entry in the series. Solid writing. Good plot. Great believable characters. Compelling dialogue. Wonderful descriptions of Cleveland.

[Yvonne]

As always, an enjoyable read. Since I live in the suburbs of Cleveland, it is especially interesting to read of places I know and have been to.

[Chad Malkamaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel where Milan doesn't have to engage in fisticuffs and suffer a concussion, it can't be so! Also, Les, why did you commit one of my biggest pet peeves in spelling Eliot Ness with two L's. This book also shows the cultural divide between Baby Boomers and the Gen Xers of the novel. As someone who has hung out in Coventry, it was a little unsettling how Milan continually bashes the people who shop, drink coffee, and sometimes let's be real just do nothing along that street. The first time I read this book I was in my twenties and it really upset me, but now that I'm closer to Milan's age I realize it's the same tings I complain about Millennials so I guess looking back the WWI generation probably said the same about the WWII generation and they were lost and great respectfully (they did have the same disagreements because I've read it in books and for the WWII's complaining about Baby Boomers see Bye Bye Birdie.

So onto the story, an artist is missing, everyone hates him that knows him, only the artist's father in NYC seems to be concerned, and Milan has to interact with Victor Gamari again. This one was okay and is worth reading if you read the series, but is not one of the best in the series.

[Peter Bess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not one who normally reads mystery or detective novels. I probably only read one or two hardy boys growing up, and I never read Sherlock Holmes till just lately when I read a few stories with my wife. Not sure why the genre has never appealed to me other than that the pacing usually feels a little weird.

That being said I enjoyed "The Duke of Cleveland" more than I was expecting. The pace of the plot was still a little off, but I loved Milan. He is a great character. I was constantly envisioning Enrico Colantoni in the show Veronica Mars. He's a great dad, a fantastic detective, and his wit is aged and wise.

I don't know the Cleveland area all that well, but I still enjoyed the great description of the city as Milan makes his way through the main drags and the back alleys.

In the end, even though the plot did not enthrall me, I will more than likely read more of the Milan Jacovich Mysteries just to get a bit more of that great Milan wit.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roberts (or shall I say Jacovich?) does it again. Some collectors will do anything to get the rights to brag ownership, even beyond the girth of their check book. A rare and quite expensive vase is said to be up for sale and a not so scrupulous liaison is playing several eager hands to his advantage and winds up the biggest loser. Milan again sleuths out justice amidst murder, mayhem and klobasa with snarky retorts and an earned sense of bravado. The Rocky Balboa of crime fiction, you just can't keep him out for the count. Vivid characters, many repeat performers, keep you intrigued past the final page where you'll find yourself instinctively reaching for the next edition in this most engaging series. (And I have.)

[La · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think one of the reasons we enjoyed this book so much was because of our knowledge of Cleveland and particularly of Rocky River, "an upscale suburb on the west side." You have to laugh at the self-deprecating PI Milan Jacovich as he takes on the art world and brings some humor to the story. A fun read.

[Larry Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A standard gumshoe novel. It would only get 4 stars, but I give it a bonus star for being set in Cleveland and making the city a detailed part of the setting.

[Mark]

This is a fine series.

[Casey Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

another nice easy read.