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Columbo (Tor Series) #5
Columbo: The Glitter Murder
Detective Columbo tackles a case involving the death of famed motion picture director Dunnar Svan, who appears to have been murdered during a routine robbery, but Columbo senses something else behind the baffling mystery. Reprint.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
About the author
William Harrington
52 books10 followersWilliam Harrington is mainly known as the author of Murder at the President’s Door, his specialty was mainly in detective stories. He was a lawyer from 1958 to 1976, an electoral adviser from 1962 to 1965 in Columbus, and finally an attorney from 1978 to 1980. His first novel The Justice Which, Which the Thief, published in 1963, received positive critics. It was a real case story about a couple of jewelry robberies in Ohio.
His other popular book was published in 1982, The English Lady, it is an espionage novel about Winston Churchill and her confidante spying on the Germans during the Second World War. Between 1993 and 1998, he wrote the Columbo series, inspired by the television series American Columbo. He Co-authored with Elliot Roosevelt on the investigations of Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of the US president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Between 1963 and 2001, he has written over 20 interesting and captivating books.
His other popular book was published in 1982, The English Lady, it is an espionage novel about Winston Churchill and her confidante spying on the Germans during the Second World War. Between 1993 and 1998, he wrote the Columbo series, inspired by the television series American Columbo. He Co-authored with Elliot Roosevelt on the investigations of Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of the US president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Between 1963 and 2001, he has written over 20 interesting and captivating books.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 1, 2021
It was Columbo-themed enough to justify the name, I don't think the style of the show translated well into print.
Recommended 14+ for violence, murder, mentions of a threesome, man over the 4-year R&J law sleeping with a 17 year old, and language.
Recommended 14+ for violence, murder, mentions of a threesome, man over the 4-year R&J law sleeping with a 17 year old, and language.
August 5, 2013
I love the show/movies, and this was basically more of what I enjoy. It was much more gritty/violent than what they can show on TV, of course, but still a fairly enjoyable mystery. All the Columbo dialogue was great, and I could completely picture him saying it all. 3 1/2.
September 29, 2012
I love to read these books. I can hear his voice and see his face as he works the clues. Lots more to the books than the TV shows.
April 19, 2015
Decent Columbo story, however an overabundance of side stories dragged it down. I also didn't like the odd Dragnet-like epilogue.
August 15, 2021
Fun book, reads just like an episode of the TV show. Columbo has to investigate the murder of an art house movie director, who happens to be married to a rich woman. He is stealing from her and screwing everything that moves so she kills him in a plan she been thinking about for weeks even sets somebody up, but Columbo is not easy to fool. Also like the TV show I gave nothing away you follow the killing in the first few pages, the story is seeing Columbo work.
Highly recommended, especially if you are a Columbo TV show fan. Even if you are not there is plenty to enjoy in this book.
Highly recommended, especially if you are a Columbo TV show fan. Even if you are not there is plenty to enjoy in this book.
April 25, 2026
#28 corto-circuito letterario. Tutti i punti dalla lista "Questo è Colombo" possono essere spuntati. Risoluzione semplice, però per una volta abbiamo anche lo svolgimento del il processo riportato nel post-credits.
May 4, 2026
28# Corto-circuito letterario. Fan fiction divertente ma pulp (più volgare e splatter)
June 8, 2026
Over nearly a year to be more accurate, I watched the complete run of Columbo, while researching an article I wrote as an overview on the series I discovered this novel and the other 6 in the series. I also found about casebooks, and even a cookbook. I thought I would try tracking down these books and give them a try. They do not disappoint. It was almost like watching an episode, his mannerisms, his process, and even his favourite foods. This was the fifth of 6 I have read in the series. I cannot see any fan of the series not enjoying this book, and if the last remaining in the series are a good I am thankful for some great reads! There is a little sadness that the series is coming to an end. I really wish there were more books available in this series.
The description of this book states:
“For over twenty-five years, Columbo has been the most popular, and persistent, detective on television. New Columbo TV movies are as popular as ever, while the syndicated TV show episodes still appear on cable. Now the lovable LAPD lieutenant is back at work in the land of the powerful and glitzy, armed with his keen wit, rumpled raincoat, and unlit cigar.
Looking at the scene of the murder and the body, it is obvious to everyone that famed motion-picture director Gunnar Svan has been murdered by someone who broke into his house and bludgeoned him to death in the course of a robbery—obvious to everyone but Lieutenant Columbo.
Columbo has a few questions, even one or two for the distraught widow, the wealthy and exotically beautiful magazine publisher Ai-Ling Cooper-Svan.
Set in the glamour spots of Hollywood and in the world of scandal-sheet publishing, The Glitter Murder offers a fascinating background for another effort by the rumpled, distracted detective, who always innocently asks "just one more little question."”
Another description is:
“Looking at the scene of the murder and the body, it is obvious to everyone that famed motion-picture director Gunnar Svan has been murdered by someone who broke into his house and bludgeoned him to death in the course of a robbery - obvious to everyone but Lieutenant Columbo. Columbo has a few questions, even one or two for the distraught widow, the wealthy and exotically beautiful magazine publisher Ai-Ling Cooper-Svan.”
I have started a rewatching of the Columbo Television Series, mainly while cooking or eating to have something on in the background. I remembered I had this volume on my Kindle but had not got around to it. When I picked it up I devoured it in under 24 hours, over 2 sittings. I spent most of a Sunday reading, and my morning coffee on Monday on the porch finished it.
The first three stories in this series are based on real people and real events, even if extrapolated further out in time. This story from my research appears to be completely fictional.
This story follows a business woman who discovers not only is her husband cheating on her, but doing so with a minor a prostitute, and others he is also stealing from her. She comes up with a plan for what she believes will be a perfect murder. And it might have been if Columbo had not caught the case. This story has a lot of intriguing elements and is one of the bets in the series, if not the best. Columbo trying to get a connected criminal Jacky Di Giacomo who got off with murder previously. Adrienne Boswell whom we have encountered in other volumes, is pulled in as an alibi and subplot in the story. And a few young women are taken advantage of at least 2 were under age. Overall an excellent plot with great characters and several elements rolled into a great case.
This is in my opinion the best novel in the series that I have read to date. Unlike the tradition chapter method, each section of the story starts with a date and time or just the time, if on the same date. The story spans from Thursday July 2nd to Friday August 14th 7:11 A.M. The epilogue takes the events at least 7 years out into the future as well.
While researching for the review of the first volume in this series I discovered that there were also 6 Columbo novels in the 1970; 2 new stores and 4 novelizations of episodes and also a collection called The Columbo Collection of 12 stories by William Link. These 6 novels came out overlapping with the 6 of the last 8 episodes of the TV Movie Special Era.
This was a great read, in a good series. Fans of the series or for those who just like a good mystery or crime detective novel. I greatly enjoyed 3 of the other 4 novels in this series far, and I look forward to the remaining story. I can recommend this book and series.
The description of this book states:
“For over twenty-five years, Columbo has been the most popular, and persistent, detective on television. New Columbo TV movies are as popular as ever, while the syndicated TV show episodes still appear on cable. Now the lovable LAPD lieutenant is back at work in the land of the powerful and glitzy, armed with his keen wit, rumpled raincoat, and unlit cigar.
Looking at the scene of the murder and the body, it is obvious to everyone that famed motion-picture director Gunnar Svan has been murdered by someone who broke into his house and bludgeoned him to death in the course of a robbery—obvious to everyone but Lieutenant Columbo.
Columbo has a few questions, even one or two for the distraught widow, the wealthy and exotically beautiful magazine publisher Ai-Ling Cooper-Svan.
Set in the glamour spots of Hollywood and in the world of scandal-sheet publishing, The Glitter Murder offers a fascinating background for another effort by the rumpled, distracted detective, who always innocently asks "just one more little question."”
Another description is:
“Looking at the scene of the murder and the body, it is obvious to everyone that famed motion-picture director Gunnar Svan has been murdered by someone who broke into his house and bludgeoned him to death in the course of a robbery - obvious to everyone but Lieutenant Columbo. Columbo has a few questions, even one or two for the distraught widow, the wealthy and exotically beautiful magazine publisher Ai-Ling Cooper-Svan.”
I have started a rewatching of the Columbo Television Series, mainly while cooking or eating to have something on in the background. I remembered I had this volume on my Kindle but had not got around to it. When I picked it up I devoured it in under 24 hours, over 2 sittings. I spent most of a Sunday reading, and my morning coffee on Monday on the porch finished it.
The first three stories in this series are based on real people and real events, even if extrapolated further out in time. This story from my research appears to be completely fictional.
This story follows a business woman who discovers not only is her husband cheating on her, but doing so with a minor a prostitute, and others he is also stealing from her. She comes up with a plan for what she believes will be a perfect murder. And it might have been if Columbo had not caught the case. This story has a lot of intriguing elements and is one of the bets in the series, if not the best. Columbo trying to get a connected criminal Jacky Di Giacomo who got off with murder previously. Adrienne Boswell whom we have encountered in other volumes, is pulled in as an alibi and subplot in the story. And a few young women are taken advantage of at least 2 were under age. Overall an excellent plot with great characters and several elements rolled into a great case.
This is in my opinion the best novel in the series that I have read to date. Unlike the tradition chapter method, each section of the story starts with a date and time or just the time, if on the same date. The story spans from Thursday July 2nd to Friday August 14th 7:11 A.M. The epilogue takes the events at least 7 years out into the future as well.
While researching for the review of the first volume in this series I discovered that there were also 6 Columbo novels in the 1970; 2 new stores and 4 novelizations of episodes and also a collection called The Columbo Collection of 12 stories by William Link. These 6 novels came out overlapping with the 6 of the last 8 episodes of the TV Movie Special Era.
This was a great read, in a good series. Fans of the series or for those who just like a good mystery or crime detective novel. I greatly enjoyed 3 of the other 4 novels in this series far, and I look forward to the remaining story. I can recommend this book and series.
July 28, 2025
I mean it's Columbo.
I've only just started watching the TV show, but I'm loving this character and his stories. This was a really good representation of the show and what it did. It plays out just like a regular episode, with a murder, the investigation, and the "One more thing."
However, that's also a con. It goes the typical Columbo route with very few surprises. It's basically an episode in book form, so don't expect any breakage of the status quo.
With that said, this book does feel different from a regular Columbo episode. First off, because it's a book, it's able to do a bigger story, a lot more characters, and more twists. I'm not saying it's fantastic, but it does feel different.
Also, it does something that not a lot of episodes do. It fleshes out the murderer. In most episodes, you just hate the murderer, but here I was actually admiring them at the beginning. I thought they were cool and very respectable. So, when they actually commit the murder, I was bummed out, because I liked them. However, as the story went on, the murderer became cocky and arrogant, and then I started rooting for Columbo to catch them. Not only that, but the book also shows what happens to the murderer after they're caught. When the murderer is caught, the episode just ends. Here we see what happens next, and it's a pretty satisfying conclusion.
If you're a Columbo fan, check this one out. Oh, and just one more thing...thanks for reading.
I've only just started watching the TV show, but I'm loving this character and his stories. This was a really good representation of the show and what it did. It plays out just like a regular episode, with a murder, the investigation, and the "One more thing."
However, that's also a con. It goes the typical Columbo route with very few surprises. It's basically an episode in book form, so don't expect any breakage of the status quo.
With that said, this book does feel different from a regular Columbo episode. First off, because it's a book, it's able to do a bigger story, a lot more characters, and more twists. I'm not saying it's fantastic, but it does feel different.
Also, it does something that not a lot of episodes do. It fleshes out the murderer. In most episodes, you just hate the murderer, but here I was actually admiring them at the beginning. I thought they were cool and very respectable. So, when they actually commit the murder, I was bummed out, because I liked them. However, as the story went on, the murderer became cocky and arrogant, and then I started rooting for Columbo to catch them. Not only that, but the book also shows what happens to the murderer after they're caught. When the murderer is caught, the episode just ends. Here we see what happens next, and it's a pretty satisfying conclusion.
If you're a Columbo fan, check this one out. Oh, and just one more thing...thanks for reading.
September 28, 2022
This is the first book of the series that I was kinda disappointed with. In the TV series and these books (up until now) Columbo goes through the motions of investigating all possible leads, but it's really just because he's just dotting his "i"s and crossing his "t"s to make sure the case holds up in court. This book presented a different Columbo, one that didn't know who the killer was, and actually seems to want to pin the crime on a killer who had previously gotten away with murder thanks to a false alibi.
The writing seems to have gotten a bit sloppier too. Early in the story the main character likes to sit with her legs spread open, but only in the presence of close friends, otherwise she is quite demure. About halfway through the books she is doing it all the time "in her habitual legs apart posture". It's like the author had set the book aside for a few months and didn't bother to review his notes on the character and got things totally backward.
Finally, the ending was less like Columbo and more like one of those movies with a large ensemble cast where their stories are all concluded by the narrator... Bobby went to college and Jimmy reunited with his dad kinda stuff.
There's only one book left in the series, I hope it's a good one.
The writing seems to have gotten a bit sloppier too. Early in the story the main character likes to sit with her legs spread open, but only in the presence of close friends, otherwise she is quite demure. About halfway through the books she is doing it all the time "in her habitual legs apart posture". It's like the author had set the book aside for a few months and didn't bother to review his notes on the character and got things totally backward.
Finally, the ending was less like Columbo and more like one of those movies with a large ensemble cast where their stories are all concluded by the narrator... Bobby went to college and Jimmy reunited with his dad kinda stuff.
There's only one book left in the series, I hope it's a good one.
July 7, 2023
I mean, it’s fine. It does feel a little bit like a crime writer read the Wikipedia article for Columbo and then wrote a book - it has all the pieces of a Columbo episode (Columbo eats hard-boiled eggs, talks about his wife and says “just one more thing”) without really feeling like one. Definitely raunchier than a Columbo episode - and why does he keep telling us about how one character sits with her legs open?
February 19, 2026
Columbo ("Just one more thing...) investigates the murder of a womanizing film director. It looks like he's the victim of an opportunist thief, but the evidence doesn't add up to his suspicious mind. More and more evidence turns up conveniently, and that confirms his doubts... A fairly mundane kind of story, with humor supplied by Columbo's opinions.
June 21, 2026
It’s okay. The description and planning of the murder is well done. I thought the killer’s motive was a bit weak, and the “gotcha” moment at the end felt a bit anticlimactic. There are some funny Columbuo moments involving his firearm and hardboiled eggs, and I liked the epilogue that showed what happened to each character.
September 11, 2023
This seems to be written for young adults. The murderer leaves so many obvious clues that an Inspector Clouseau could solve the mystery in a day. There’s no need for Columbo or an adult to point out the obvious.
February 13, 2019
If you like the t.v. series Columbo, this book you will love.
February 14, 2021
Just one more thing, great read. Loved it!
January 6, 2026
Not a huge fan of this one - too many side characters in Columbia circle - felt like the work version of the infamously bad italian wedding episode
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews