S1E1: Murder by the Book

Columbo: Murder by the Book – An In-Depth Analysis

Summary of the Episode

Murder by the Book, the first episode of Columbo’s regular series run, aired in 1971 and was directed by Steven Spielberg. It features Jack Cassidy as Ken Franklin, one half of a successful writing duo, who murders his partner Jim Ferris to maintain his wealth and career.

Ferris wants to dissolve their partnership so he can write solo, but Franklin, who has been relying on Ferris’s writing talents, cannot allow this. He lures Ferris to his cabin under false pretenses, kills him, and attempts to stage a plausible alibi. However, Lieutenant Columbo methodically unravels the case, exposing Franklin’s deception and leading to his inevitable downfall.

Key Clues and Their Role in Solving the Case

Columbo, as always, pieces the puzzle together through seemingly minor inconsistencies. Below are the crucial clues that lead him to catch Franklin:

1. The Grocery Store Alibi

Franklin attempts to establish an alibi by making himself visible at a grocery store around the time of the murder. He goes as far as interacting with the store cashier to be remembered. However, Columbo quickly becomes suspicious of how perfectly timed this alibi is, considering Franklin’s knowledge of the murder timeline.

2. The Supposed Blackmail Attempt by Lily La Sanka

Lily, a local woman, claims she saw Franklin with Ferris the night of the murder. Franklin kills her to silence her, but Columbo sees through the motive. The second murder strengthens the case against Franklin by linking him directly to Ferris’s death.

3. The “Lost” Manuscript

Franklin claims to have been unaware of Ferris’s new solo book, yet Ferris’s wife believes he had discussed it with his partner. This discrepancy makes Columbo suspect that Franklin had a motive to kill Ferris—namely, to prevent him from leaving their partnership.

4. The Cabin Phone Call

This is one of the most crucial clues in the case. Franklin forces Ferris to call his wife from the cabin, making it seem like Ferris is working late at his office. However, Columbo cleverly investigates the call’s origin, proving that it came from the cabin rather than Ferris’s office. This destroys Franklin’s timeline and exposes his intricate attempt to mislead the police. The phone call is one of the most incriminating pieces of evidence, as it directly ties Franklin to the location where Ferris was last seen alive.

Possible Overlooked Clues

While Columbo gathers enough evidence to arrest Franklin, a few potential clues could have been explored further:

• Lack of forced entry or struggle: This would indicate Ferris was killed by someone he trusted.

• The way Ferris’s body was disposed of: More forensic evidence could have been used to pinpoint the time of death.

• Witnesses at the cabin’s location: Someone in the area may have seen Franklin with Ferris before the murder.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Case

Strengths:

• Phone Call from the Cabin: This is a damning clue, as it completely dismantles Franklin’s alibi.

• Motive: Franklin had a strong reason to kill Ferris—he was financially dependent on their partnership.

• Lily La Sanka’s Murder: Her death makes Franklin’s guilt even more apparent, as it ties into his need to cover up the first murder.

• The Grocery Store Alibi is Too Perfect: Columbo’s ability to deconstruct Franklin’s alibi is convincing and logical.

Weaknesses:

• Lack of Direct Witnesses: Other than circumstantial evidence, there is no direct eyewitness placing Franklin at the murder scene.

• Franklin’s Courtroom Defense: A competent defense lawyer could argue that the call from the cabin was staged by Ferris himself and that Franklin was being framed.

• No Physical Evidence: No murder weapon or direct DNA evidence ties Franklin to the crime.

Will Franklin Be Convicted?

While Columbo successfully breaks Franklin down, in a real courtroom setting, the case might not be as airtight. The prosecution would rely heavily on circumstantial evidence and logical deduction rather than forensic proof. However, the phone call from the cabin is extremely difficult for Franklin to explain away. Combined with Lily La Sanka’s murder, his premeditation, and his weak alibi, the case would likely lead to a conviction—especially given his inability to provide a reasonable alternative explanation.

In conclusion, Murder by the Book is a masterful episode that showcases Columbo’s ability to find the small cracks in an otherwise well-planned murder. Franklin’s arrogance and overconfidence ultimately lead to his downfall, proving that even the most calculated killers leave behind telltale signs of their crimes.