Columbo Season 1, Episode 3 Murder by the Book. Ken Franklin is the untalented writer but skilled PR agent of a mystery book writing team that created detective Mrs. He kills his partner and the real writer, Jim Ferris, because Ferris is planning on breaking up the team and writing on his own. Franklin uses an elaborate scheme to make it appear as if Ferris were killed by mobsters because his next story, an expose on the Mafia, would incriminate them. Franklins plan is perfect except that a fan of Mrs. Columbo The Complete Series By Universal Studios Home Entertainment Buy New 46. Watch Encounter Online Hollywoodreporter here. Columbo Under Glass A critical analysis of the cases, clues and character. Watch Columbo Season 1, Episode 3 Murder by the Book Ken Franklin is the untalented writer but skilled PR agent of a mystery book writing team that created. Melville, Lilly La Sanka, saw him. Directed by Steven Spielberg. With Peter Falk, Jack Cassidy, Rosemary Forsyth, Martin Milner. When one member of a mystery writing team wants to break from his less.