Mystery Writer Les Roberts Is Coming to Mentor

Les Roberts, the author behind the Milan Jacovich series, will be speaking and signing copies of his newest book, The Cleveland Creep, from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at .

Creep is Roberts' 15th book following Jacovich – a Stroh's-drinking private investigator from the streets of Cleveland who seems to function as magnetic north for trouble.

His latest case starts with a missing person but complications begin to pile on, including a collection of voyeuristic videos, an organized crime connection and a dead body.

It also introduces Kevin O'Bannion, a military veteran with a bad temper, as Jacovich's assistant.

"Like me, Milan is getting older," Roberts said. "He can use a hand. I had to shift the situation so it would not only be more realistic, but also add a character to appeal to younger readers."

Creep also differs from many of Roberts' books in that it leaves the streets of Cleveland, where most of Jacovich's adventures take place, for some familiar Lake County landmarks. Roberts name-checks both Gavi's Restaurant in Willoughby and the Great Lakes Mall in Mentor.

"I like the idea of getting Milan out of Cleveland proper now and then," Robert said. "I'm not going to send him to Canada or anything, but I still like to keep him in Northeast Ohio. The only times I sent him out of the area were for a short time in Duke of Cleveland and again briefly in The Lake Effect. Otherwise, he's a local guy, just like I am."

Before Roberts created Jacovich, he wrote for The Andy Griffith Show, The Jackie Gleason Show, The Man from U.N.C.L.E and was the first producer for Hollywood Squares.

Roberts will talk about his career – both in Hollywood and Cleveland – as well as sign copies of Creep when he speaks at the library Thursday.

While the program is free to attend and open to the public, space is limited; so people need to register beforehand. They can sign up on the library's website or by calling 440-255-8811.

When asked if he planned to write more Jacovich books, Roberts replied, "There will be another Milan book. I can only tell you it has a lot of characters who are local, corrupt politicians. You can do the math yourself."