Arts & Entertainment

Stow Resident's Books 'Best of the Year'

Les Roberts of Stow celebrated the release of his 25th book, "The Cleveland Creep" and now it is featured as one of the best local books of 2011.

The Akron Beacon Journal is featuring "The Cleveland Creep" and "The Strange Death of Father Candy," books by Stow author Les Roberts, as two of the best local books of the year.

"I was very pleased that I made the 'Best of 2011' list with both my books. Now I'd better hurry up and finish my next one," said Roberts.

His next book, "Whiskey Island," is slated to be in stores by the summer — just in time for him to be a guest of honor (along with authors Robin Cook and Mary Higgins Clark) at the major mystery convention of the year held in Cleveland in 2012.

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"The Cleveland Creep"

The book is the 15th in a series featuring private eye Milan Jacovich, who Roberts' publisher, Gray & Co., describes as "a former Kent State University football player and ex-cop with a taste for klobasa sandwiches and Stroh's beer and a knack for finding trouble on the streets of Cleveland."

Cleveland is the center of fictional character Milan Jacovich’s world, as it was for his creator,  Roberts, for nearly two decades. These days, though, Roberts’ personal life centers around Stow and Cuyahoga Falls.

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For 18 months, the award-winning mystery writer had been living in relative obscurity in Stow, where he moved to be closer to his girlfriend of 12 years, Holly Albin of Cuyahoga Falls. That means area residents could unwittingly become characters in Roberts' future novels.

"I never leave the house – not even to go to  – without a notebook,” . "I’m always using what’s called the writer’s eye. Whether it’s conversations I overhear, somebody I see on the street or a building I pass that catches my attention, if it’s interesting I will make a note of it (for future use)."

Want a free taste of Roberts' writing? A free Kindle or Nook download of "A Carol for Cleveland" is offered on his website.


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