From Publishers Weekly
Everyman's detective is just as dogged as ever in his pursuit of justice. Grant Kellogg, the most successful defense attorney in L.A., comes to the annoying realization that a million dollars doesn't go as far as it used to. In fact, after his last acquittal, it's the defendant who inks a book contract and makes out like a bandit. So Kellogg decides to build his own trial of the century?but this time, he'll have a piece of the action. Six years earlier, game-show hostess Erika Bjorling's daughter, Tammy, was kidnapped and murdered and the culprit was never found. The glamorous Bjorling is now hurting for money. Sharklike, Kellogg tells her the killer was Tammy's father, beloved western star Tim Wylie, whose indiscretions have been one of Hollywood's best-kept secrets. Next, Kellogg tells her his plan: she kills Wylie, gets caught, goes to trial, is defended by Kellogg and acquitted, after which the two of them clean up on a book deal and some pay-per-view. As it turns out, Columbo is the steepest slope of all in this lightning-fast read. Still clad in his rumpled raincoat, still endearing and untroubled, he takes on greed and cynicism in his droopy, inimitable way. The prose is thin?Harrington doesn't waste time on complex characterizations?and there's barely a whiff of suspense, but readers will come away as satisfied as the tourists who gather to watch Old Faithful spout. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
True to the format of the television series, this latest Columbo novel begins with the perfect murder and then follows the self-effacing LAPD detective around as he pieces together motive and method. Revered elder statesman of the screen Tim Wylie is murdered in his home with no sign of forced entry. A note seems to implicate Erika Bj" rling, a former game-show hostess with whom Wylie had an illegitimate child two decades earlier. There's also some evidence of blackmail on Bj" rling's part or even revenge: Bj" rling and Wylie's love child was murdered years ago, and many felt Wylie may have been responsible. Perplexed as always, Columbo is confused further when Grant Kellog, Bj" rling's highly regarded defense attorney, begins selling her story before the trial begins. The fun in this profit-by-murder caper comes in watching Columbo, clearly a man of simple tastes, try to understand the machinations of the profoundly greedy. Wes Lukowsky


From Kirkus Reviews
Lt. Columbo must have complained about having to solve all those high-profile historical crimes (Columbo: The Helter Skelter Murders, 1994, etc.): The homicide in his fourth outing is actually fictional rather than fictionalized. Grant Kellogg, frustrated at the pennies he takes home from defending celebrity criminals, plots with Vanna White look-alike Erika Bj”rling to kill Tim Wylie, the big star who secretly fathered the daughter she lost to a killer six years ago--planning to plant enough clues against her to give the case seven-figure publicity value the two of them can milk, but to fake an 11th-hour alibi for her at the same time. As the killers methodically concoct misleading evidence, rumpled Columbo follows, tirelessly dismantling the case piece by piece. Kind of a drag not only for Columbo, who spends most of his time wading through red herrings, but for all except his most devoted fans. -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Review
"That rumpled raincoat is as convincing in the mind's eye as it is on the small screen."--New York Daily News

"Mr. Harrington seems to know everything....He knows how to write too...cleanly and unobtrusively, letting his material have its way."--The New York Times Book Review

"Harrington write admirably and takes pains to develop his characters as real people."--St. Louis Post Dispatch



Book Description
For over twenty-five years, Columbo has been the most popular , and persistent, detective on television, drawing millions of viewers a week. William Harrington's compelling new novel pits the famous TV detectives against one of the most brilliant and flamboyant lawyers in the country. It may seem like the perfect murder, but if there's the tiniest flaw, the famous Lieutenant Columbo will find it.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

William Harrington's compelling new novel in the successful Columbo series, The Game Show Killer, pits the famous TV detective against one of the most brilliant and flamboyant lawyers in the country. Realizing that an acquitted celebrity, even a minor one, can be worth millions, high-powered LA defense attorney Grant Kellogg decides to create his own. He enlists Erika Bjorling, who was the co-host or "squealer" for "Try It Once," a popular prime-time game show that ran for nineteen years. Since the show's recent cancellation her career has been in a tailspin. If she can survive a few months in jail, Kellogg guarantees Bjorling an acquittal and enough money for both of them to retire in luxury. When she finds out who the victim will be, she readily agrees to the plan. Legendary film star Tim Wylie has a sterling public image and millions of adoring fans. Privately, though, he has seduced hundreds of hopeful young actresses, including Erika Bjorling. Twenty years ago, she had fallen in love with Wylie and had his child. On learning of her pregnancy, Wylie dumped Bjorling - something for which she has never forgiven him. Enter the famous Lieutenant Columbo, with his cigars and wrinkled raincoat, asking, "Who got dead?" Wylie's bullet-ridden body on the floor and the missing paintings point to a simple robbery. But as Columbo begins the methodically slow investigation he's noted for, he finds the parts of this case fit together too neatly, almost seamlessly. It seems like the perfect murder, but if there's the tiniest flaw, the tenacious Columbo will find it.

FROM THE CRITICS

BookList - Wes Lukowsky

True to the format of the television series, this latest Columbo novel begins with the perfect murder and then follows the self-effacing LAPD detective around as he pieces together motive and method. Revered elder statesman of the screen Tim Wylie is murdered in his home with no sign of forced entry. A note seems to implicate Erika Bj" rling, a former game-show hostess with whom Wylie had an illegitimate child two decades earlier. There's also some evidence of blackmail on Bj" rling's part or even revenge: Bj" rling and Wylie's love child was murdered years ago, and many felt Wylie may have been responsible. Perplexed as always, Columbo is confused further when Grant Kellog, Bj" rling's highly regarded defense attorney, begins selling her story before the trial begins. The fun in this profit-by-murder caper comes in watching Columbo, clearly a man of simple tastes, try to understand the machinations of the profoundly greedy.

Kirkus Reviews

Lt. Columbo must have complained about having to solve all those high-profile historical crimes (Columbo: The Helter Skelter Murders, 1994, etc.): The homicide in his fourth outing is actually fictional rather than fictionalized. Grant Kellogg, frustrated at the pennies he takes home from defending celebrity criminals, plots with Vanna White look-alike Erika Björling to kill Tim Wylie, the big star who secretly fathered the daughter she lost to a killer six years ago—planning to plant enough clues against her to give the case seven-figure publicity value the two of them can milk, but to fake an 11th-hour alibi for her at the same time. As the killers methodically concoct misleading evidence, rumpled Columbo follows, tirelessly dismantling the case piece by piece.

Kind of a drag not only for Columbo, who spends most of his time wading through red herrings, but for all except his most devoted fans.

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