Thanks Ted. I swear this book must have only had one owner, and someone who never cracked it open. It smells old and it's pages have yellowed a bit but otherwise it's still as firm as a new book.
I took a quick look on Ebay and it seems the books aren't really worth that much. This one did seem to be the most valuable- bidding was up to $35.

By the way, they had a couple of "Columbo Phile"s there and they were hovering around the $140 mark.

I'll let you know what "Christmas Killing" was like when I read it.

Thanks, Mark, I look forward to reading your impressions of the book. Ebay is fine, but I'm sure it was much more thrilling to find such an old "Columbo" book on a shelf, right in your neighborhood!

I found my christmas killing in an old book shop too - I remember being really excited when first reading it and can only remember the beginning with the characters in the store. I am re-reading the Hoffa book again - I think it is a bit naff but still better than nothing. I got my colombophile from amazon and I swear it was new -still in cellophane - it is one of greatest treasures and only cost about £40 - not sure what that is in dollars! It is worth looking there!!!!!!