Plot

A publisher hires a bomb enthusiast to murder a bestselling author of detective novels. Lt. Columbo is on the case.

Riley Greenleaf is a publisher and Alan Mallory, a successful writer, is his principal asset. But Alan Mallory has decided to change publishers. Riley threatens to kill Alan. Then he hires Eddie Kane, a Vietnam veteran, to murder Alan and to leave evidence that the killer is Riley himself, who has an excellent alibi. But a key will betray him.—Baldinotto da Pistoia

Riley Greenleaf publishes the bestselling sex novels of Alan Mallory, who is about to leave Greenleaf and sign with a rival firm eager to publish his new novel set during the Vietnam War. But Greenleaf's firm has a life insurance policy on Mallory. Enter Eddie Kane, a bomb enthusiast and Vietnam veteran, who has written a manuscript called "How to Blow Anything Up in Ten Easy Lessons." Greenleaf thrills him with the promise of getting it published; Kane in turn considers doing a hit job on Mallory a trivial favor. But murder is no trivial matter to the rumpled, redoubtable Lt. Columbo.—J. Spurlin

Best selling sex novelist Alan Mallory is about to leave his publisher Riley Greenleaf and take his next novel about The Vietnam War to another publisher, which makes Mallory furious. He hires bomb enthusiast Eddie Kane to murder Riley, promising to promote his book about bomb-making. Kane "frames" Mallory for Riley's murder, but the latter has an iron clad alibi, he had a car accident at the time of the murder. But Mallory doesn't count on Columbo's persistence and doggingness to solve the case.—charmardee-smith

Best selling sex novelist Alan Mallory is all too happy to leave his publisher Riley Greenleaf and take his next novel about The Vietnam War to another publisher, which makes Riley furious. He hires bomb enthusiast Eddie Kane to murder Alan, promising to promote his book about bomb-making. Kane "frames" Riley for the crime, however he has the perfect alibi at the time of the murder. But Greenleaf doesn't count on Columbo's persistence and doggingness to solve the case.—charmardee-smith