The Cleveland Connection

Les Roberts

1/19/2002

Milan Jacovich opens his door to a surprise guest. The last person he would expect to visit him is Joe Bradac. Bradac now lives with Jacovich's ex-wife. There is barely cordiality between the two men. But Bradac would like Jacovich's professional help for a friend. A seventy-six year old Serbian man is missing. Could Jacovich try to find him?

So Jacovich starts the search. First he contacts the man's granddaughter and family. He learns about the Serbian neighborhood around Cleveland. Although he is Slav and the two cultures have ties, the differences are major as well. (This book was written pre-Bosnia war.) These two nationalities are still enemies back in Europe. Here in Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America, they tolerate each other and ignore each other.

The murdered man had been in a prisoner of war camp during WWII, then emigrated to the United States after the war. He settled in Cleveland and worked the rest of his life in a local steel factory. His grandson still works there. He has retired and seems to have no enemies. His only social life is with the Serbian communities in Cleveland, Toledo, Youngstown, and Pittsburgh. Where would he have gone? Once his body is found, who would have wanted to kill him?

Again Les Roberts has given us an excellent mystery. Again he makes Cleveland, Ohio, as much of a character in the book as Jacovich and his friends. There is a secondary story included also. His reporter friend, Ed Stahl, has been threatened after writing an expose type column for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Jacovich is now trying to find a murderer for one man and protect another.

This is well crafted, with the two stories intertwined. Are they connected? Or is that coincidental? Does the Serbian community have any importance? His WWII experience? Or his time at the steel company? Why was Bogdan Zdrale killed?

You can find more about this book at .

Pepper Pike
Full Cleveland
Deep Shaker
The Cleveland Connection
The Lake Effect
The Duke of Cleveland
Collision Bend
The Cleveland Local
A Shoot in Cleveland
Best Kept Secret
Indian Sign
The Dutch
The Irish Sports Pages