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Milan Jacovich #9
A Shoot in Cleveland
Hollywood producer Sidney Friedman has chosen Cleveland as the location for his new hope-to-be-blockbuster film, Street Games.
The “shoot” is just getting underway, and the film’s star is the movie industry’s most notorious bad boy, Darren Anderson. Friedman hires Cleveland private investigator Milan Jacovich (it’s pronounced MY-lan YOCK-ovich) to watch over the unruly young actor and keep him out of trouble. Milan, still suffering from the tragic loss of his friend, has no interest in moviemaking but signs on just to keep himself from going crazy brooding.
Keeping Darren Anderson out of trouble is like keeping your hat dry during a downpour. He’s too rich, too famous, too good-looking, and too young to handle it responsibly. When he’s accused of seducing the fifteen-year-old daughter of a local furniture mogul, Milan gets disgusted and quits the job.
But murder isn’t far behind—and suddenly Milan is elbow-deep in all sorts of things that have nothing to do with a Saturday afternoon at the movies.
The “shoot” is just getting underway, and the film’s star is the movie industry’s most notorious bad boy, Darren Anderson. Friedman hires Cleveland private investigator Milan Jacovich (it’s pronounced MY-lan YOCK-ovich) to watch over the unruly young actor and keep him out of trouble. Milan, still suffering from the tragic loss of his friend, has no interest in moviemaking but signs on just to keep himself from going crazy brooding.
Keeping Darren Anderson out of trouble is like keeping your hat dry during a downpour. He’s too rich, too famous, too good-looking, and too young to handle it responsibly. When he’s accused of seducing the fifteen-year-old daughter of a local furniture mogul, Milan gets disgusted and quits the job.
But murder isn’t far behind—and suddenly Milan is elbow-deep in all sorts of things that have nothing to do with a Saturday afternoon at the movies.
286 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1998
1 person is currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Les Roberts
74 books138 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 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 19, 2017
I thought I had read all of the Milan Jacovich novels to date, but I recently discovered I missed a couple. Finishing this one starts my remedy of that. The fact that I can include it for my Book Riot challenge- for a novel set within 100 miles of where I live- is icing on the cake.This book follows The Cleveland Local, which has an ending that was life-altering for Milan. Milan is still trying to find his bearings when he is asked to take on what looks to be a fairly easy job: make sure a young star doesn't get into too much trouble when the movie he is headlining in works at various locations in the Cleveland area. Naturally this winds up being harder than Milan bargains for, and the young star, Darren Anderson, winds up dead. The dialogue, as always, is fantastic. It's comical watching Milan, who does not suffer fools and is not easily intimidated, try to put up with the Hollywood glitterati. Another thing about this novel (this series has a lot of continuity; I strongly suggest reading them in order) is that the reader really sees Milan's typically black and white view of things get shaken, particularly where Victor Gaimari, the nephew and heir apparent of the local mob, is concerned. I see in this installment a lot of the beginnings of Milan's subtle changes later on.
June 5, 2018
We’re growing ever more fond of Les Roberts’ Cleveland-based PI Milan Jacovich series, which we’re reading in order, with “Shoot” being #9 in a currently 19-book set, which may have ended with the last published in 2016 (?). Milan now has an actual office in a building he essentially inherited; he is using a relatively new PC a little more and has now actually acquired a cellphone. And unlike some reviewers that complain about his numerous references to Cleveland suburbs and highways, Sue Grafton conditioned us for at least that much “unnecessary” detail – so who cares!
In this latest adventure, Milan is hired to “babysit” young movie heartthrob Darren Anderson during a two-week filming in Cleveland. Darren chases just about anything in skirts, but when it appears he has seduced an underage daughter of a local VIP, Milan quits his gig. But then the star is murdered (not a spoiler – it’s in the book blurb) and Milan now feels he owes the guy to find the culprit. What follows is a fairly routine but sufficiently suspenseful and entertaining PI procedural.
We have no doubt we’ll read this entire set, even though several of the books are now a little difficult to procure – if necessary, we’ll resort to shopping that popular auction site! {3.5}
In this latest adventure, Milan is hired to “babysit” young movie heartthrob Darren Anderson during a two-week filming in Cleveland. Darren chases just about anything in skirts, but when it appears he has seduced an underage daughter of a local VIP, Milan quits his gig. But then the star is murdered (not a spoiler – it’s in the book blurb) and Milan now feels he owes the guy to find the culprit. What follows is a fairly routine but sufficiently suspenseful and entertaining PI procedural.
We have no doubt we’ll read this entire set, even though several of the books are now a little difficult to procure – if necessary, we’ll resort to shopping that popular auction site! {3.5}
July 19, 2012
Lovers of murder mysteries, good writing, and Cleveland, take heed: Les Robert's Cleveland detective series, starring his hard-boiled blue-collar Slovenian-American Cleveland-born private dick Milan Jacovich (pronounced ""My-lin Yock-o-vitch"") is one of the best detective series being published. Roberts knows how to tell a good story and tell it well. If you're into authors like Robert Parker and Harlan Coben, check out Roberts. The first book in the series is ""Pepper Pike"". This one, "A Shoot in Cleveland" is the ninth in the series. You probably don't need to read them all in order as each book stands alone as its own story, but he does often refer to events and characters in previous books.
August 2, 2020
3.5 to 4.0 stars (rating shown may vary depending on whether the site allows half star ratings).
I read the previous book in the series just before the libraries shut down due to coronavirus. I remember being irked that I couldn't request the next one in the series (this book) when I tried to do so. (Well, I could possibly have requested it, but not to any library near me.)
So . . . was it worth the wait? Yes and no. I do enjoy reading these books that are set near where I grew up even though I don't always recognize the landmarks and places that Roberts chooses to highlight. I can tell that this was written after Roberts chose to make his home here by the details he includes which are much more plentiful than some of the early books in the series. This one travels more to the west side of Cuyahoga County and even into Lorain County and so featured some areas that I am more familiar with than when it just stays downtown. I liked the details about the salt mining. I'd known we have it but didn't really realize how that had come about.
It's interesting that this book features a movie being filmed in Cleveland. I'm not sure if there really was a movie filmed in Cleveland around the time that this is set but I know several have filmed here in recent years (Captain America for one, which I know closed down a bridge near Fairview Hospital to film).
To answer my question from my review of the previous book in the series, yes, a major character did get taken out of the series. Part of this book covers Milan's reaction to that event.
Another reviewer mentioned that in later books, we do see some changes in Milan and that there are hints of that in this book. For example, we see Milan's black-and-white worldview being challenged by the new lady in his life, Connie.
I read the previous book in the series just before the libraries shut down due to coronavirus. I remember being irked that I couldn't request the next one in the series (this book) when I tried to do so. (Well, I could possibly have requested it, but not to any library near me.)
So . . . was it worth the wait? Yes and no. I do enjoy reading these books that are set near where I grew up even though I don't always recognize the landmarks and places that Roberts chooses to highlight. I can tell that this was written after Roberts chose to make his home here by the details he includes which are much more plentiful than some of the early books in the series. This one travels more to the west side of Cuyahoga County and even into Lorain County and so featured some areas that I am more familiar with than when it just stays downtown. I liked the details about the salt mining. I'd known we have it but didn't really realize how that had come about.
It's interesting that this book features a movie being filmed in Cleveland. I'm not sure if there really was a movie filmed in Cleveland around the time that this is set but I know several have filmed here in recent years (Captain America for one, which I know closed down a bridge near Fairview Hospital to film).
To answer my question from my review of the previous book in the series, yes, a major character did get taken out of the series. Part of this book covers Milan's reaction to that event.
Another reviewer mentioned that in later books, we do see some changes in Milan and that there are hints of that in this book. For example, we see Milan's black-and-white worldview being challenged by the new lady in his life, Connie.
January 18, 2024
You don’t have to read this in series order to appreciate the excellence of this book or the series. You can pop in, read this, and bow out of the series without wandering through the pages trying to tell yourself your confusion doesn’t matter. Of course it matters, but you won’t experience that. Roberts does well at explaining important things from previous books you need to know to fully enjoy this one.
Jacovich, who pronounces that J with a Y sound, has been on a downward spiral since the death of his closest friend from childhood. He disconnected temporarily from life generally, and he’s living off what little savings he has as the book opens. A newspaper reporter friend encourages him to take a security job with a filming company who is shooting scenes in Cleveland for an upcoming movie. Seems the lead male star can’t keep his pants zipped, and the film company wants to hire Jacovich to be the guy’s minder. That works for a few days, but the actor essentially gives Jacovich the slip and spends an unchaperoned Sunday seducing the 15-year-old daughter of one of the local investors in the film. So infuriated is Jacovich that he resigns on the spot. The next day, someone murders the star, and no, it’s not the girl’s daddy. That’s too obvious.
The subplots are wonderful here. Could poor Jacovich, after all these years, finally be dating the right woman? One can only hope for his sake. His association with his mob frenemy is always a fascinating study in character, and the fight scenes, where you’re sure someone is going to not only kill but thoroughly dismember Jacovich, are a thrill to read.
Jacovich, who pronounces that J with a Y sound, has been on a downward spiral since the death of his closest friend from childhood. He disconnected temporarily from life generally, and he’s living off what little savings he has as the book opens. A newspaper reporter friend encourages him to take a security job with a filming company who is shooting scenes in Cleveland for an upcoming movie. Seems the lead male star can’t keep his pants zipped, and the film company wants to hire Jacovich to be the guy’s minder. That works for a few days, but the actor essentially gives Jacovich the slip and spends an unchaperoned Sunday seducing the 15-year-old daughter of one of the local investors in the film. So infuriated is Jacovich that he resigns on the spot. The next day, someone murders the star, and no, it’s not the girl’s daddy. That’s too obvious.
The subplots are wonderful here. Could poor Jacovich, after all these years, finally be dating the right woman? One can only hope for his sake. His association with his mob frenemy is always a fascinating study in character, and the fight scenes, where you’re sure someone is going to not only kill but thoroughly dismember Jacovich, are a thrill to read.
October 12, 2017
Still reeling from The Cleveland Local, I had trepidations about reading this one, but am happy to say, aside from the shared sorrow with main character, Milan Jacovich, it was mostly pain-free. (You can't help but get emotionally attached to the intense characters written into these books.) Milan gets nudged back into working and socializing after his time of mourning the death of his best friend. Accepting the job of, basically, a babysitter to a hot shot movie star who winds up murdered takes Milan into a cast of who-could-haves and a new lady interest. I have to admit worry when he started to get along so well with her, but Roberts has allowed Milan some R&R (Redemption & Romance) and all ends well in number #9. Of course there are a couple murders, bodily bludgeoning, and mob tie-ins.. but that's what makes this series so comfortable to read. And dang if they don't just keep getting better. I hope this new woman (Connie) sticks around. I like their rapport and her family. Snarky and savvy, Milan Jacovich is one Helluva man.
February 19, 2020
This book is part of a series of books about Milan Jacovich, PI in Cleveland, Ohio. The characters felt real to me and not afraid to display empathy or personal conflicts which is not what you generally see in action packed novels. The story line moves along but maybe not as fast as some would like. I really enjoyed this book and plan to read the entire series.
January 11, 2018
RATING: 4.25
January 28, 2021
A movie, a murder, a new love interest. The series is getting to be formulaic, but I'm still obsessed with the character ofo Milan Jacovich and the settings in greater Cleveland.
April 19, 2013
Are there books like this in every city?
It's a decent gumshoe novel, borrowing heavily from Mike Hammer and Spenser in places and the story is good enough. Milan Jacovich is the detective mixed up in a murder, which, of course, he feels a moral obligation to investigate for the cost of $1.00. Jacovich lives in Cleveland Heights and the book, like all (or most?) of the author's stories are set in Cleveland. This would be fine, except the author goes into needless and annoying detail, constantly, about Cleveland. He goes so far as to name the Deli on Green Road that's about half a mile from my house (Jack's Deli, by the way). The Velvet Tango Room, Bialy's, I-480, Cedar Road, Nighttown, etc. At one point he describes how the sun is in his eyes as he drives from the east side to the west side, and how long it took him to get to Avon Lake. Living here, it was just unnecessary, doing nothing to move the story forward, and distracting. If you lived elsewhere, you'd probably give up on the book out of sheer confusion. I can see, however, that if you grew up here but lived elsewhere, you might get a small thrill out of it.
But I really want to know: are there books like this in Seattle? Houston? Memphis?
As to the story, it's OK but a bit disjointed in some places but overall decent. Every once in a while there was a good turn of phrase to keep me interested. Most of the main characters just peter out toward the end of the book; those that I half-expected to be the killer were just never mentioned again after some point. A coupla-three hours to read, so no big investment, and distracting enough.
It's a decent gumshoe novel, borrowing heavily from Mike Hammer and Spenser in places and the story is good enough. Milan Jacovich is the detective mixed up in a murder, which, of course, he feels a moral obligation to investigate for the cost of $1.00. Jacovich lives in Cleveland Heights and the book, like all (or most?) of the author's stories are set in Cleveland. This would be fine, except the author goes into needless and annoying detail, constantly, about Cleveland. He goes so far as to name the Deli on Green Road that's about half a mile from my house (Jack's Deli, by the way). The Velvet Tango Room, Bialy's, I-480, Cedar Road, Nighttown, etc. At one point he describes how the sun is in his eyes as he drives from the east side to the west side, and how long it took him to get to Avon Lake. Living here, it was just unnecessary, doing nothing to move the story forward, and distracting. If you lived elsewhere, you'd probably give up on the book out of sheer confusion. I can see, however, that if you grew up here but lived elsewhere, you might get a small thrill out of it.
But I really want to know: are there books like this in Seattle? Houston? Memphis?
As to the story, it's OK but a bit disjointed in some places but overall decent. Every once in a while there was a good turn of phrase to keep me interested. Most of the main characters just peter out toward the end of the book; those that I half-expected to be the killer were just never mentioned again after some point. A coupla-three hours to read, so no big investment, and distracting enough.
August 29, 2018
This is a one concussion read, with Milan going toe to toe with a big, bad, tattooed guy hired by one of the people Milan's investigating for the murder of Hollywood star Darren Anderson. At first, Milan's hired as a bodyguard to watch over the movie star playboy, but when the star ends up dead, the Slovenian Magnum is on the case to help clear his conscious.
This one's pretty straight forward, mixing Hollywood with Cleveland, before we started having films in the city. Milan has a new love interest, and the beat down is two sided, with our man getting his good licks in and coming out the victor.
This one's pretty straight forward, mixing Hollywood with Cleveland, before we started having films in the city. Milan has a new love interest, and the beat down is two sided, with our man getting his good licks in and coming out the victor.
September 30, 2016
Good novel. Kinda knew who committed the murder in the middle of the book. Wasn't much mystery on that. Expected the big bear wrestling match as well. Eventually this old guy is not going to be able to fight, smoke cigarettes and drink beer. That doesn't happen in the real world. LOL. Not too mention getting a smoking hot chick every year too.
Keep them coming Mylan. ;-)
Keep them coming Mylan. ;-)
Read
September 26, 2025Read some mixed reviews of this book, but I really liked it. Milan seems very complex, very real to me. His character doesn't just stay the same, and I like that. Hey, I guessed the killer, too, and I love that.
January 30, 2016
"A Shoot in Cleveland" - written by Les Roberts and published in 1999 by Thomas Dunne Books. One of the better Milan Jacovich novels.
April 9, 2017
Still reeling from The Cleveland Local, I had trepidations about reading this one, but am happy to say, aside from the shared sorrow with main character, Milan Jacovich, it was mostly pain-free. (You can't help but get emotionally attached to the intense characters written into these books.) Milan gets nudged back into working and socializing after his time of mourning the death of his best friend. Accepting the job of, basically, a babysitter to a hot shot movie star who winds up murdered takes Milan into a cast of who-could-haves and a new lady interest. I have to admit worry when he started to get along so well with her, but Roberts has allowed Milan some R&R (Redemption & Romance) and all ends well in number #9. Of course there are a couple murders, bodily bludgeoning, and mob tie-ins.. but that's what makes this series so comfortable to read. And dang if they don't just keep getting better. I hope this new woman (Connie) sticks around. I like their rapport and her family. Snarky and savvy, Milan Jacovich is one Helluva man.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews