A popular romance novelist who is involved with a young, ambitious womanizer, is found shot to death in her Malibu home. Lt. Columbo is on the case.

Romance author Theresa Goren has finally been convinced of the truth: her lover, gigolo Wayne Jennings, loves her money, not her. That means their planned wedding is off, not to mention any hope Jennings has of getting his hands on her money. When Goren turns up dead, Jennings is suspected, but is apparently cleared by later evidence. But Lt. Columbo watches as Jennings turns his eye to Goren's sister, and begins wondering if he's really so innocent after all.—Leaper