I once tempted for the dentist whose name inspired Roberts's main character. At the time, I didn't know that fact and remember being somewhat confused by it. Years later, at a writers's conference, Les Roberts spoke and I learned what the relationship between the two names is. That's partly what inspired me to read this series.

This is currently the last book in the series. One of the editions of the series featured a one page letter from Roberts at the end of the book. One of the purposes of that letter was to introduce the next book in the series. In one of the earlier series entries, that letter by Roberts revealed that he intended this series to end with the book we were then holding--but the next story in the series came to Roberts seemingly unbidden. So, I guess we can't really say Roberts won't write any more Milan Jacovich stories (at least until Roberts passes away) but since this was published 4 years ago at the time I'm writing this review, I'm not sure it seems likely that there will be another book.

Though I didn't really rate the books highly, I do find that I will miss the series a bit. I did like that it was set in Cleveland. I learned quite a bit about the city and surrounding area. I do think Roberts got better with the details later in the series than he was in some of the earlier series entries. I am glad that Milan seems to finally have a stable romantic relationship in his life (with Tobe). I'm also glad that Milan and Victor seem to have returned to a semblance of a friendship.

I'm on the fence about the introduction of K.O. to the series. I do think he added some things to the series but his presence also took away some of the aspects of the series that we'd come to expect up to that point. I like K.O. but he does need to work on his temper and his unfiltered comments. I was a bit worried that Roberts was going to take him the way of Milan's earlier romantic life and have Carli and K.O. break up because she couldn't handle his job. For me, that argument never really got resolved. It seemed like K.O. just ignored it because he didn't really know how to deal with it. They never really sat down to discuss her concerns or work things out.

Dan Kennedy returns as a co-author based on his experiences as a motivational speaker and writer. My own thoughts on conventions such as the fictional one portrayed in this book probably fall closer to those of Milan and K.O. than to the attendees and those who put on the conventions. ( )

SPEAKING OF MURDER BY LES ROBERTS. This is the first book of the Milan Jacovich mysteries and I loved it! Very light hearted and the characters are well defined and likeable .

Milan and his cohort, KO (Kevin O'Bannon) are hired by a hotel to help provide security for some very controversial motivational speakers. The most problematic of them, Tommy Triller, who for various reasons, including his popularity, are targets for any would be hit man or wacko follower. Milan & KO find working hotel security not such a hot job as none of the main speakers want them around & they are all asses! When murder occurs on the first night, Milan finds himself nose to nose with his love Detective Tobe Blaine. From there the mystery really unfolds.

Not only did I get a pretty good mystery but I found the characters & the plot entertaining. I think Mr.Roberts just got another fan in me.

I recieved this book free from goodreads in exchange for an honest review. ( )

This nineteenth book in the series finds that a motivational seminar is a perfect place to figure out who had motive to kill. Private eye Milan Jacovich and partner K.O. along with Detective Sergeant Tobe Blaine spend their time interviewing speakers at the annual convocation of the Global Motivational Speakers Association after one extremely pompous high-priced millionaire headliner, Tommy Thriller, ends up on the wrong side of a gun. In an unusual twist, someone followed self-help advice and decided much to private eye Milan Jacovich’s dismay. To solve the murder Detective Sergeant Tobe Blaine must solve the case quickly so that disgruntled attendees and suspects trapped at the hotel can finally depart. Toss in a mob boss, payola, and the fact that Blaine and Jacovich are friends with benefits and you find a plot that moves along to a satisfying conclusion. ( )

Great combination of humor and mystery. I fell in love with Milan and K.O. The setting of a motivational speakers convention mad for some very colorful suspects. I am looking forward to reading some more of this series! ( )

“Speaking of Murder” is a page turner, which kept me guessing until the end. Les Roberts and Dan S. Kennedy have melded the worlds of private investigation and inspirational speaking without either dissolving into cliché. While the authors suggest the characters are completely fictionalized, I identified the self-help speakers with real-life counterparts without any difficulty. I appreciated the authors’ decision not to spend chapter upon chapter analyzing DNA and using other techniques popularized by the CSI and other similar TV shows. This is a simple whodunit—who had the means, the motive, and the opportunity—which is solved by the investigators’ hard work and careful thought. The highest praise I can give a book like this is that I noted with pleasure the list of other books in the series; I will be looking up other Les Roberts mysteries. ( )