Picture a Chicago-born storyteller who swapped Hollywood’s glitz for Cleveland’s grit, crafting mysteries that pulse with local flavor—meet Les Roberts! This multifaceted author, once a TV producer for shows like The Hollywood Squares, found his true calling in the Milan Jacovich series, a collection of hard-boiled detective novels that turned Cleveland into a character as vivid as any sleuth. With a knack for blending humor, heart, and suspense, Roberts has carved a unique niche in the mystery genre.
The Making of Les Roberts
Born Lester Roubert on July 18, 1937, in Chicago, Les Roberts grew up with a love for storytelling that sparked at age six. After studying at the University of Illinois and Roosevelt University, he served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1962. His early career took him to Hollywood, where he wrote and produced over 2,500 half-hour TV segments for hits like The Lucy Show and The Andy Griffith Show. But the pull of fiction was strong, and in 1986, a short-term consulting gig in Cleveland changed everything. Inspired by the city’s raw energy, Roberts began his journey as a novelist.
Les Roberts’s Unforgettable Stories
Roberts’s breakthrough came with An Infinite Number of Monkeys (1987), a Saxon series novel that won the inaugural Best First Private Eye Novel Contest. But it’s his Milan Jacovich series, starting with Pepper Pike (1988), that defines his legacy. This Slovenian-American PI, a Stroh’s-drinking, polka-loving Vietnam vet, navigates Cleveland’s ethnic neighborhoods with a working-class grit that resonates deeply with readers. Titles like The Cleveland Creep (2011) and Win, Place, or Die (2013) showcase Roberts’s knack for weaving real Cleveland landmarks—like Johnny’s Bar and the Velvet Tango Room—into taut, character-driven mysteries.
His style is distinctly regional, blending humor and heart with a keen eye for cultural detail. Whether exploring organized crime in Collision Bend or a murder at a harness race in Win, Place, or Die, Roberts crafts stories that feel both universal and intimately tied to Cleveland’s soul. His 19 Milan Jacovich novels and other works, like The Strange Death of Father Candy, highlight his versatility and commitment to authentic, grounded storytelling.
Why Les Roberts Matters
Les Roberts didn’t just write mysteries; he gave Cleveland a literary heartbeat. His Milan Jacovich series captures the city’s diversity, from its industrial Flats to its upscale Heights, earning him the title of “Cleveland’s Favorite Author” by Cleveland.com. A past president of the Private Eye Writers of America, Roberts also won the 1992 Cleveland Arts Prize for Literature and the 2003 Sherwood Anderson Literary Award. His shift to veganism in 2012 and his radio show Greenlight Reviews reflect a vibrant, evolving legacy that continues to inspire readers and writers alike.
- Birth Date: July 18, 1937
- Key Works: An Infinite Number of Monkeys, Pepper Pike, The Cleveland Creep
- Awards: 1992 Cleveland Arts Prize, 2003 Sherwood Anderson Literary Award
Ready to dive into Cleveland’s underbelly with a master storyteller? Snag Pepper Pike and lose yourself in Les Roberts’s thrilling mysteries!