The Best Kept Secret

Rating:
Summary: A Pretty Frightening Freshman Year
Review: Jason Crowell, a freshman living away at college is accused of rape on campus. The only problem is that he doesn't know who is doing the accusing. One of Jason's former teachers calls on old friend, Private Investigator Milan Jacovich to look into what's going on at Jason's school. It's pretty likely Jason didn't do it. There's something Jason hasn't told too many people about himself! The Best Kept Secret is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Jason is a very believable innocent who is being taken in by something larger on campus, something he doesn't understand. Milan Jacovich, a continuing character in Les Roberts' stories is a strong and even investigator. A good read.

Rating:
Summary: A Pretty Frightening Freshman Year
Review: Jason Crowell, a freshman living away at college is accused of rape on campus. The only problem is that he doesn't know who is doing the accusing. One of Jason's former teachers calls on old friend, Private Investigator Milan Jacovich to look into what's going on at Jason's school. It's pretty likely Jason didn't do it. There's something Jason hasn't told too many people about himself! The Best Kept Secret is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Jason is a very believable innocent who is being taken in by something larger on campus, something he doesn't understand. Milan Jacovich, a continuing character in Les Roberts' stories is a strong and even investigator. A good read.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Novel
Review: The Best Kept Sectet was my first Milan Jacovich novel by Les Roberts, and I enjoyed it so much that I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series. The Best Kept Secret is a term that refers to the city of Cleveland. Reggie Parker, a friend of Milan's who is also a principal of the high school that Milan's oldest son Milan, Jr. attended, asks Milan to look into allegations of rape by one of his former students, Jason Crowell, a freshman at Sherman College. The group calling themselves Women's Warriors have posted fliers about Jason being a rapist. The administration at the college believes he is guilty of rape including Dorothy Strassky, the counselor for sexual harassment at Sherman. Strassky calls Jacovich to set up a meeting with him to give him information that she has learned. Before their meeting, Strassky is murdered. Jason Crowell becomes the prime suspect in her murder. Then, a large quantity of heroin is found in the house that Jason lived in, and he is charged with possession with intent to distribute. It becomes apparent to Jacovich that Jason is being framed. Only he and Reggie Parker believe that Jason is innocent. Even Jason's father believes his son is guilty. There are many secrets here: Who was raped? Who are the Women's Warriors? Why has Jason not told Jacovich that he is gay? Who is framing Jason? It is up to Jacovich to answer all these questions. I really like the character of Milan Jacovich. The Best Kept Secret is an excellent novel!

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Novel
Review: The Best Kept Sectet was my first Milan Jacovich novel by Les Roberts, and I enjoyed it so much that I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series. The Best Kept Secret is a term that refers to the city of Cleveland. Reggie Parker, a friend of Milan's who is also a principal of the high school that Milan's oldest son Milan, Jr. attended, asks Milan to look into allegations of rape by one of his former students, Jason Crowell, a freshman at Sherman College. The group calling themselves Women's Warriors have posted fliers about Jason being a rapist. The administration at the college believes he is guilty of rape including Dorothy Strassky, the counselor for sexual harassment at Sherman. Strassky calls Jacovich to set up a meeting with him to give him information that she has learned. Before their meeting, Strassky is murdered. Jason Crowell becomes the prime suspect in her murder. Then, a large quantity of heroin is found in the house that Jason lived in, and he is charged with possession with intent to distribute. It becomes apparent to Jacovich that Jason is being framed. Only he and Reggie Parker believe that Jason is innocent. Even Jason's father believes his son is guilty. There are many secrets here: Who was raped? Who are the Women's Warriors? Why has Jason not told Jacovich that he is gay? Who is framing Jason? It is up to Jacovich to answer all these questions. I really like the character of Milan Jacovich. The Best Kept Secret is an excellent novel!

Rating:
Summary: Good premise - slightly weak execution
Review: This review covers the abridged audio version read by the author. Usually a book is weakened by having the author read his or her own work - while Les Roberts does an adequate job, he still stumbles over many words and voices the male characters much better than the female characters. Still, he has a commanding personality and Milan Jacovich sounded real coming out of Mr. Roberts' mouth.

The premise of this book was very good. Flyers are found all around Sherman College's campus proclaiming Jason Crowell as a rapist by a group called the Women Warriors. The victim does not go to the police but but accuses him anonymously through the flyers. He is thought by everyone, including his own father, to be guilty. Then, a murder occurs, tied into Jason and a large amount of heroin is found in Jason's apartment - he is beginning to look like a really bad guy. He continues to declare his innocence and Milan Jacovich, former cop, now a private investigator, takes on the case as a favor to his best friend.

I had no problem with anything happening in the plot until Jacovich finds the alleged rape victim and interviews her. At that point, Mr. Roberts totally insults the reader/listener by not doing the obvious - asking the rape victim to describe her attacker. He asks if she remembers what kind of car he drove and what happened, but at no point during the interview does he ask her to describe Jason or does he show her a picture of him. The case could have ended right there if he had done what any third grader would have done -- asked the right questions.

This is a quick listen (only 4 tapes) - probably a full length version of the story is the better way to go if you want to do the audio instead of the read.

Rating:
Summary: Good premise - slightly weak execution
Review: This review covers the abridged audio version read by the author. Usually a book is weakened by having the author read his or her own work - while Les Roberts does an adequate job, he still stumbles over many words and voices the male characters much better than the female characters. Still, he has a commanding personality and Milan Jacovich sounded real coming out of Mr. Roberts' mouth.

The premise of this book was very good. Flyers are found all around Sherman College's campus proclaiming Jason Crowell as a rapist by a group called the Women Warriors. The victim does not go to the police but but accuses him anonymously through the flyers. He is thought by everyone, including his own father, to be guilty. Then, a murder occurs, tied into Jason and a large amount of heroin is found in Jason's apartment - he is beginning to look like a really bad guy. He continues to declare his innocence and Milan Jacovich, former cop, now a private investigator, takes on the case as a favor to his best friend.

I had no problem with anything happening in the plot until Jacovich finds the alleged rape victim and interviews her. At that point, Mr. Roberts totally insults the reader/listener by not doing the obvious - asking the rape victim to describe her attacker. He asks if she remembers what kind of car he drove and what happened, but at no point during the interview does he ask her to describe Jason or does he show her a picture of him. The case could have ended right there if he had done what any third grader would have done -- asked the right questions.

This is a quick listen (only 4 tapes) - probably a full length version of the story is the better way to go if you want to do the audio instead of the read.