Robert Culp, Bill Cosby's old partner, plays a private detective, who tries to blackmail the wife of a client. When she won't to along with his wishes, he bludgeons her. The interesting thing is that her husband hires the murderer to work with Lieutenant Columbo. Our rumpled flatfoot is as perceptive as can be and begins to realize that his partner has some serious baggage. Culp is glib and smooth. Often the Columbo villains are a bit too sure of themselves. Part of the game has to do with a minor slip up and an attempted cover. People don't make mistakes concerning really serious events, especially when it comes to the death of another. Columbo's antennas come out quickly under these circumstances. What's neat about this episode is that the to are comparing notes because they have a similar task. This adds an interesting twist.
Review of Death Lends a Hand
