Murder by the Book

"Murder by the Book" from 1971 is the first episode of Columbo with guest stars Jack Cassidy, Martin Milner, Barbara Colby, and Rosemary Forsyth.

When this episode debuted, the next day, everyone was talking about the IBM Selectric with the type ball. Yes, I saw it when it was first on television.

Jack Cassidy and Martin Milner play Ken Franklin and Jim Ferris, a writing team responsible for the Mrs. Merivale mystery series. Milner plays the partner who actually writes the books, and Cassidy does the publicity, including talk shows, interviews, etc.

When Jim decides to break up the team and go off on his own, Ken has a fit -- that happens before the episode begins. Here, he is trying to apologize and lures Jim to his cabin in San Diego, where he kills him.

He's very clever with the arrangements, but then he meets Columbo. Columbo always notices the little things that add up to one word: murder.

Jack Cassidy always made a great sleaze, and here he plays an arrogant monster well. Milner, the victim, has a smaller role.

This was an excellent episode, though sad to realize that Falk, Cassidy, Milner, and Colby are all dead now, Colby at the age of 36. She does a wonderful job here as a flirtatious woman who owns a store near Ken's cabin.

Columbo is my favorite series of all time, and I was so privileged to interview Peter Falk in the late '90s. He was an incredible man. I love what he did with this role.

For those who may not know this, Columbo: Prescription Murder (the first pilot) was based on a play starring Thomas Mitchell as Columbo. It was playing out of town prior to coming into New York when Mitchell suddenly died.

Directed by Steven Spielberg,"Murder by the Book" holds up beautifully today.