Please Don't Kill Me: The True Story of the Milo Murder by William Dear

by William C. Dear

Book by Dear, William C.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Dallas-based private investigator. He owns the firm William C. Dear & Associates.

His notable cases include the original steam tunnel incident involving James Dallas Egbert III.

In 1995, he participated as an investigator on the Alien Autopsy a Fox Television program about an autopsy supposedly carried out on an extraterrestrial being.

Reviews

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 3 out of 5]

AMAZING
So the math of murder for hire:
Start let’s say at $10,000 first person
That person finds the guy he thinks will do it price drops to $5000 because well he deserves a cut right? So…
Then that guy was just joking he just needs some quick cash-$2500-for drugs so he finds…
3rd guy who will do it for $2000

I have read many conspiracy to commit murder stories. In fact about two weeks ago, a female doctor was just arrested in my city for offering money to an FBI agent to kill her husband. So dumb…why do y’all think you can just sit in a bar and magically discover some dude who will readily agree to shoot someone for you? Her mugshot has her hand covering her hospital logo on her scrubs. Stupid

Anyway this book has so many good for nothings involved it’s like playing a childhood game maybe hot potato? Here take the money, ok now you! You take the money until all da monnies ga gone. Srsly i don’t think this book could fit in any more lowlifes.

*please forgive any typos. I type quickly and never look back.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an interesting examination of a 1980 murder in Akron, Ohio--but the constant praise of investigator William C. Dear gave me a headache. I get it: he's handsome, he's charming, he's brilliant, he's fabulous; did I mention that he's one of the authors?

[Bettye McKee · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The most bizarre cold-blooded murder"

This is a great true crime story written by two great men about the cold-blooded murder of Dean Milo in his home in Akron, Ohio.

The investigation was intriguing throughout as one lead led to another which led to another until it seemed the trail had no end. The answer was so unthinkable that you had to wonder at the twisted logic of it. In the end, eleven people went to prison for their involvement in a single murder.

The deduction of one star is for the 35 errors and in no way reflects on the quality of the story.

Includes photos.

35

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book that was automatically set as read when I finished it by my kindle. Bought this and the writing was good.I liked the first half but later it did get a bit confusing because of so many people and to be honest I didn't get to know the victim nor his family (glad I did not the latter anyway) but that meant I did not really care.

What I did like was the author describing his sometimes (in my humble opinion very weird ways of trying to solve crimes. The author is a private detective and what he did was sleep in the bed where the man who was murdered slept in.I do not think he changed the sheets so I was going "eek" He did that to get to know what the victim felt he said.Not sure it worked because as I said even in the end no idea what kind of man the victim was.

Then again this author is also the author of a book where he states that OJ Simpson is innocent so there you have it. 3.5 Definitely not a bad book.

[Dan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is just another book which starts great and then descends into nothingness. I quit reading it halfway through. Bland and self aggrandizing. Note the author is writing about himself and how great he is. By the time I quit I could care less who killed Milo.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If it had not been for one Texas private eye this case would not have been solved, he never gave up even when the family/company wouldn’t pay him. The wife said I will pay, but he was willing to move on to find justice for one man and wife who wanted justice at no cost. This is an amazing true story of a family that had it all, all the money they could spend, some didn’t have to work but some were not happy about being cut out. I am thinking are you crazy, give me all the money I can spend and let me set on my butt and you do all the hard work I could be very happy. The family had jobs in the company but the older son wanted all control without having to ask for permission. Dean took a company that was doing very well and made this family billionaires. Someone was hasn’t happy someone wanted him dead, the story starts from the start when he was found dead and the police could not get any answers. That is until Dean’s wife turned to Bill who took this investigation to a new level.

What you will find between these pages is true facts that will shock you. A mother and son who didn’t like being cut out but are they willing to kill to get back what they believe is theirs. Wait the brother had a meeting setup for the day after Dean was killed everyone thought they would work out their difference. True there was a lawsuit for the family to gain some control back, but they were working it out. There is talking of an affair maybe in with a man, there is even some talk about drugs, and so much more. You really do not know what to believe, Bill takes it slow and easy working each stage finding answers which only lead to more questions. I think half the state was mixed up in his death, one door opens and then a twist is throw in with new characters that may or may not have anything to do with this killing.

Mr. Bennett’s narration is outstanding as he brings to life the story with strong emotions, confusion, power, control, anger, loss, heartache. He builds each character giving us their strengths and weakness taking us inside a story to see the true characters as you would have never seen them had you read this story. His female and male voices are wonderful you always know who is talking and just what they are feeling. His tones are right on the money bring so much emotion that you feel the wife’s pain as well as the uneasiness of the family. You will find no background noises, no volume changes just a very clean clear audio that really pulls you in. It sounds like he took no breaks and this was read at one setting. What really makes this an outstanding audio is how the narrator really brings it to life, you have no trouble getting lost in his pleasant voice which makes it very easy to picture the scenes in your mind. Mr. Bennett really gives character to the characters as he puts his self in their place. He gives the facts and lets you make of them what you will. I found myself asking questions, and then he would turn around and answer them. I was so pulled into this story when I got home I set for a little while in the car not wanting to put it down. You will have no trouble picturing the scenes as first one family member and then another would give no help. It is always a pleasure listening to anything this narrator publishes, I know it will always be delivered with powerful feeling and emotions, I will always be pulled in and taken away into the story that is delivered with such passion that I become part of the story. I truly enjoy his narration and can’t wait to listen to more of his work.

The author gives you a very complex true story that will hold you spellbound with so many twists and turns that will keep your mind spinning. So much detail is given but I came to expect that from this author with all he was willing to do, some of it very strange if not downright weird. Mr. Dear had me in the palm of his hand from the first page to the last. It was a story I listened to at one setting, filled with every emotion you can think of. I really can’t wait to listen to more of his audios, true crime at its best with facts and a plot that is so vivid you are so invested you won’t be able to put it down. One of the best written true crimes books I have listened to.

[Sue Knighten · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't read the book don't read this review -- if you're like me and find try stories more interesting than fiction then this is a must read book for you and now don't read this review any further. This story was such a complex fanning out as the layering of a giant onion was sawed into over and over by raw determination, grit and just pit bull tenacity. Who killed Dean Mino? How? Why? As a reader I experienced just some of the fatigue of Private Eye Dear and the police detective because of the amount of details provided -- and I'm glad of all of those beleaguering details because it's the way this complicated case was unraveled -- not like on TV but in reality. They struggled on, they persevered when others would throw up their hands in pure exhaustion or lack of funds to keep plugging on. At each twist you'd think, "Okay, here's the key person, we're almost done here to wrap it up but there were many more sleazy characters involved to sift out who the actual killer was. And it always seems a paltry sum ends up actually getting to the killer. It's all so sad, so meaningless, such a waste of a precious life. This story held many intriguing dynamics -- Dear himself is a fascinating person, then there was the friendship that occurred with the Bath Township Detective and Dear -- something in each of them merged and became the Nonstop force, they weren't quitting no matter what and a lot of no matter whats happened. Dean Milo as a person held a lot of interest -- I wonder if he ever had a sense of the danger he was in from his own family? The Milo family and particularly Fred were a significant source of curiosity -- why couldn't his family find some legal way to resolve the business relationship? Why was Fred so obsessed in his every day life with thoughts of how to get rid of his brother? As a reader you think how could this tragedy of death, of Cain like hate, of greed, of power, been avoided? If it hadn't been for Dean's wife staying the course and providing the finances to find the truth, I think Fred would have gone free. I wonder what lessons the Milo family has learned if any? Did Dean's wife ever get any money from the family after she won the civil suit? I found this book to be a classic example of the old adage, "Truth is stranger than fiction." I hope there is an update for such lingering questions. A+ book.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"Up to your skinny a** in alligarors."
On August 11th, the body of wealthy businessman, Dean Milo, was found in the hallway of his luxurious home. He had been shot twice in the head. Nearby, there was a blank telegram paper. Nothing seemed to have been stolen Milo had been alone in the house, his wife and children holidaying in Florida.

The police investigation was intensive but went nowhere. Milo had not been a popular man and the list of suspects was - practically everyone. After several weeks, when it became obvious that police time could not continue to be consumed with the investigation, the widow requested that a private detective be brought in, able to dedicate all of his attention to the case. Enter William Dead who, working with the various police departments, throws himself into solving what turns out to be a crazy story with numerous trails, twists and suspects as well as revealing jealousy, greed, misguided loyalty, dedication, addiction and despair. I'm tempted to say that if this were fiction, I might have had trouble believing it all. But it is based on the files and interviews collected at the time together with court records and personal recollections. Told, however, with the intrigue of a crime thri!ler, this book also gives an up close and personal look at the tasks, constraints and procedures of the detectives.

The story of this long and comp!ex investigation is performed well by narrator, J.Scott Bennett, who is able to combine a news delivery tone fitting for the subject with a warmth tinged with amusement which holds the reader's interest. Individual voicing of the many protagonists is also a bonus. Both book and narrator fit together very well.
True crime, it seems, can be as bizarre as any fictional construct. This is one such story. Recommended to crime lovers everywhere be they followers of fiction or nonfiction.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received the audiobook free in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not sure what to make of this book. It gives the reader an insight into the process of what detectives (and private investigators) have to do in order to find their man.

Bill Dear, a private investigator, is brought into Akron, Ohio to solve the case of the murder of Dean Milo. The police had been unable to find the killer and had to move on to more current cases. With the help of his team of investigators, and a few police officers, Dean painstakingly delves into the murder, into the lives of those involved, and slowly unravels the murder plot.

The writing style was interesting enough, not just a recitation of the dry facts of the case, but no huge descriptions to pad out the story. J. Scott Bennett narrated the story well, as always.

[Rabid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always find true crime murder stories a bit creepy because you know they are the retelling of an actual event, and this one is definitely a bit bizarre. This is an intriguing story that gives the reader insight into the investigative process and shows well the thrill of new leads and the frustration of dead-ends. It was fascinating to hear how the investigators dug into the murder and the lives of those involved, following one lead to another, until they finally unraveled the plot. The narrator of the audiobook did a great job of delineating the numerous characters and making the story easy to follow. This is an interesting true crime story that is well narrated and, though a bit slow in the beginning, it is well worth the listen.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greed and Jealousy at Work Again

Well written book about a horrendous crime committed due to greed and jealousy within a rich family. Dean Milo had taken his family's business from a small mom and pop shop to a major competitor in the beauty supply business, while at the same time making each family member extremely rich. Unfortunately, that wasn't good enough for some of the family members who wanted Dean out of the business and out of their lives. It's a very sad story about a wealthy dysfunctional family where greed and jealousy took over and resulted in the needless death of a sibling. Very disturbing.

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

True crime or a novel?

In the I dialog was merely the stretch of the writer's literary imagination. Although perhaps interesting for the reader, to my thinking I began to doubt the veracity of many "so called" facts cited in this book.

I finished reading the book but lost faith in its authenticity. It became like reading and interesting novel but not a "true" crime. Also considering the number of characters supposedly in involved in this the "construction" of this crime (murder), the story became so convoluted it started to seem like I was watching a "Keystones Cops" skit.

[Dorthea Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down

This true crime story kept me turning the pages. I couldn't put it down. There were so many shady characters involved, yet the author somehow managed to unravel this convoluted story in a concise manner. This was good ole fashion police work. The cooperation of several jurisdictions helped with the outcome. Without P.I. Dear, this case would probably be sitting in a dusty unresolved cold case file. That man is a beast with incomparable tenacity. Bravo!

[Victoria Haugen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's very well written, narrated wonderfully, and was suspenseful throughout. I love true crime books, and this was very well done, lots of detail, it really brings you in, and feel like you're a part of the action. It's easy to follow with a lot of complex detail, but easy to understand and follow. Really shows how an investigation is put together, lots of twists & turns. Bill Dear rocks! Just stay out of trunks, man! :)

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Ralph Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a great book

Well told, well organized book. This is a damn good book. True crime books are sometimes hard to read because the are "True crime", & so the author doesn't have luxury of adding color to what can often be a fairly black & white story. Fortunately, this one didn't need any of that. Wow, what a damn sad story, and what a horrible family. Really impressed with the author though, it's so easy to screw up a good story...... impressive!

[Lisa Millett · Rating 5 out of 5]

True Crime thriller

Well written, detailed true murder case from 1980 in Ohio. This case has greed, hate and secrecy in spades. It involved true determination and diligence on the part of the police and private detective William Dear from Texas. Without the dogged determination of these men this case would have gone unsolved. I highly recommend this book to all true crime aficionados.

[Lorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

This true story reads like a novel of fiction. The account flowed so naturally, I checked twice to confirm I'd purchased a non-fiction novel. The private detective, Dear, was tireless in his pursuit. The only problem I had was keeping track of the cast of characters, which apparently was part of the problem in solving the case. Who wasn't involved! Great read.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooh, what a good book. I love true crime - it is my favourite genre and this book was an excellent example of less is more. Some authors will insist on stretching a story out and filling pages with useless information - this book does not do that. It is well written, concise and completely absorbing.
If ever I need a private detective - Bill Dear is the man I will be calling :)

[Susan C Bompadre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story of murder, greed and the lust for power

I am still amazed that the long list of law enforcement officers and private detectives were able to solve this very convoluted murder. Given the number of players involved from such far reaching geographic locations, it is truly a miracle they were successful. William Dear simply refused to accept failure.

[Jane Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

True Crime

An interesting and good book. It is useful for showing how a private detective works. It is also a good true crime story. The rather low score is attributal to the many typos and other mistakes in the book.

[Steve Parcell · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok but a little strange.

Had it been told from a third party point of view rather than from the outlook of the detectives it would have been much better. As a result it comes across as a rather cliched 70's detective novel.

[Aaron E. Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, best read that I had this year.

This story was told with extreme clarity and a detailed description of the investigation. There was natural suspense but no extra added to the characters of dialog.

[John Lyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting story, albeit complicated due to so many people being involved. Fulfilling to see the culprits serving the time they deserve. I wonder how much of an asshole Dean Milo really was? Great true crime book.

[Betty Jo Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Reading

Great book about an innocent man who was the victim of a murder for hire.
Well written and very interesting. The police had an extremely had time finding this killer and those who were responsible for his murder.

[Evelyn Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

True detective drama

A lot of true crime books spend a lot of time on the trial and going over all the details that have already been told leading up to the trial.
This book told of how a great detective works. It was fascinating.

[Marilyn E. Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating! I love this book!

What a cast of characters! This book should be made into a movie, and Brad Cooper should play the role of private investigator Bill Dear! It was a heartbreaking murder in so many ways. Had it not been for Mr. Dear’s tenacity, & his unconventional methods it’s likely the case may have never been solved, and a cold blooded killer free.

[Debbie Sloane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Incredible

Loved this book. I read true crime books a lot and this one did not disappoint. I really liked the authors style a lot. A must read for everyone really.

[Mom24dogs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good.

[Renika Jacobs · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok

This book was free and I'm glad that it was. It was an ok read but not a true crime thriller or anything. His books read like textbooks.

[JON L. NORINSBERG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Read

An truly unbelievable real-life mystery. Outstanding book in every respect. Impossible to put down once you start. I strongly recommend.