THE CLEVELAND LOCAL
by Les Roberts
The Cleveland Local ($22.95; Nov. 14; 288 pp.; 0-312-16801-2): At least looking into the tropic-island murder of Joel Kerner, Esq., will buy him some relief from the Cleveland winter, thinks shamus Milan Jacovich (Collision Bend, 1996, etc.). He doesn't realize that some fates are even more harsh—including the sad truths he'll have to face about his inescapable hometown before the case is wrapped up.