a very high standard columbo story which be actually the first filmed episode of the long running series but be originally transmit second ( after murder by the book ) . robert culp make his first of three appearance a the guest murderer in the series and play the owner of a private detective agency and who blackmail the wife ( patricia crowley ) of a rich and highly influential businessman ( played very sympathetically by ray milland ) after he falsify a report and in her favour and after it be discover she be have an affair . the wife later rebel against the blackmail scheme but be kill in a fit of rage . a very satisfying episode in many respect and particularly a the plot be so strongly set up and subsequently develop and also because of the rare columbo ingredient that the crime be an unpremeditated killing . the whole thing be far enhance when the widowed husband use the murderer to assist columbo in his investigation represent a feature that facilitate numerous good quality scene and particularly in the first sequence when the three central character meet and columbo crucially deceptive quality be wonderfully in evidence . direct with flair by bernard l. kowalski and act to an appropriately high level and this really set the tone for whole series ( since murder by the book be let down by a poor end ) . the script by columbo creator richard levinson and william link be precise and well structure and well think out and be underpin by a steady and productive pace and meaningful sequence which really exhibit the unpredictability of the story . ultimately and the finale fittingly epitomise that columbo have always be one step ahead of the murderer . overall and this be a very fine piece of detective work for columbo and and strongly suggest that the production team have work positively and constructively to render a polished columbo story .