Helen Shaver plays a somewhat "unhinged" realtor who plots the end for Lt. Columbo because she holds him responsible for her convicted husband's death in prison. She devises an elaborate plan to not only eliminate the detective but his wife and her husband's former business partner, a man who "ratted" on her husband, which led to the husband's arrest and eventual incarceration. Shaver does a good job of balancing "normalcy" with an occasional "twinge", hinting at her mental state. As always, Peter Falk portrays the fashioned-challenged detective with his usual flair.
A nice touch is the use of flashbacks from Columbo and the principal guest stars.
One of the highlights is in the casting of Ian McShane as Shaver's romantic interest and the late Roscoe Lee Browne as her psychiatrist. Both actors possess two of the most distinctively mellifluous voices in the business and it's just a treasure to hear them enunciate. It would have been an audible treat if the two had shared a scene or two together.
Another "bonus" is Richard Markowitz'a excellent score, ranking it as one of the best in the history of the series.
A nice touch is the use of flashbacks from Columbo and the principal guest stars.
One of the highlights is in the casting of Ian McShane as Shaver's romantic interest and the late Roscoe Lee Browne as her psychiatrist. Both actors possess two of the most distinctively mellifluous voices in the business and it's just a treasure to hear them enunciate. It would have been an audible treat if the two had shared a scene or two together.
Another "bonus" is Richard Markowitz'a excellent score, ranking it as one of the best in the history of the series.