Collision Bend: A Milan Jacovich Mystery

By Les Roberts

Book Overview

#7 in the Milan Jacovich mystery series . . .

Private investigator Milan Jacovich (pronounced MY-lan YOCK-ovich) goes behind the scenes to uncover scandal, ambition, and intrigue at one of Cleveland's top TV stations as he hunts down the stalker and murderer of a beautiful local television anchor.

Milan has just moved his offices to an old building on the banks of the Cuyahoga River in an area called the Flats. There, he receives a surprise visit from a former love interest, Mary Soderberg, who left him for her influential boss, TV executive Steve Cirini. One of their newscasters, the beautiful Virginia Carville, has been murdered, and Cirini, who was having an affair with her, is the chief suspect.

Mary wants Milan to bail her cheating boyfriend out of the jam--for old times' sake. Milan doesn't like Cirini at all, but takes the case even though he's unsure of the man's innocence. Or is the culprit the obsessive station-manager Nicky Scandalios, the longtime anchorwoman Vivian Truscott, or a survivor of child abuse named Violet Grba? For that matter, could it be Milan's old flame Mary Soderberg herself?

"Another fine entry in an outstanding series, Robert's latest is sure to be a hit with readers and reviewers alike." -- Booklist

"Former television producer Roberts writes knowingly of the medium; newscaster sleeping with sales manager makes a timely metaphor for the ethics of broadcast journalism. Roberts affectionately weaves in the history and rich ethnic mix of Milan Jacovich's Cleveland turf." -- Publishers Weekly

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 159851007X
• ISBN13: 9781598510072
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Gray & Company Publishers
• Length: 239 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Milan is the Man

Mary Soderberg walks back into Milan Jacovich's life when she asks him to help out her boyfriend, the man she left him for, when he is the main suspect in the murder of a high profile television reporter. Milan finds that he still can't resist Mary's pleas and puts himself in what proves to be quite an awkward situation. Milan has to put professionalism ahead of his personal feelings when he agrees to take on the case because, although he hates the man who stole Mary away from him, he is, after all, taking his money to help try to prove his innocence.As far as private investigator series go, the Milan Jacovich is proving to be a very strong and involving one. Milan is a continually developing character that is consistently interesting and likable. For fans of private investigator books, this is a very worthwhile series and this particular episode doesn't let it down.

Another solid entry in Milan Jacovich series

While Sue Grafton's "alphabet" series dominates 90s detective fiction, Les Roberts is giving her a run for her money with his Cleveland-based series of gumshoe adventures. Milan Jacovich is a humane, brooding investigator who resorts to his considerable size and strength only with reluctance; his observations on modern life are oddly hard to disagree with. Roberts plots adroitly, letting the mystery and its solution coalesce slowly and tantalizingly. He also makes Cleveland come alive in a most affectionate and specific way (in a way that Cincinnati does not in Jonathan Valin's Harry Stoner series). Recommended with all possible enthusiasm to fans of the genre.