Murder by the Book is the first episode of the first season of Columbo and the third episode of the series overall following the previous two pilots Prescription: Murder and Ransom for a Dead Man. It first aired on September 15, 1971 and was directed by Steven Spielberg. In addition to Peter Falk as Columbo, the episode stars Jack Cassidy in his first of three appearances as the murderer on the show as well as Rosemary Forsyth and Martin Milner.