by Hal Erickson
synopsis
This is one of several seventh-season Murder She Wrote episodes introduced by Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) but starring Dennis Stanton (Keith Michell), a jewel thief turned insurance investigator. Dennis is sucked into the story when a disreputable former associate shows up in San Francisco, possessing what he claims to be a rare original manuscript by Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain. In rapid succession, the manuscript is proven to be forgery by a book expert, the manuscript is torched, and the expert is murdered. As Stanton tries to prove that his old "pal" is innocent, his trail is dogged by the ineluctable Rhoda Markowitz (Hallie Todd) and the irascible police lieutenant Perry Catalano (Ken Swofford).
