I thought FADE IN TO MURDER was a very good episode of the Columbo show. The thing that you'll either love or hate about this is William Shatner as the guest villain. He plays a movie detective and is so larger than life that he dominates the whole thing. Shatner has never been so mannered as he is here and yet his character is completely likable throughout; in fact he plays one of the most likable characters of his whole career. I loved the bizarre interludes in which he gets interviewed by Columbo and adopts his TV detective persona, helping out the crumpled detective.
The rest of the production is above average. The opening murder sequence is surprisingly violent and arresting and unlike any other in the show. There's a fantastic little cameo from Walter Koenig which STAR TREK fans will love, and Columbo himself seems to be particularly bashful here and awed by Shatner's exuberance. The ending is one you won't see coming and FADE IN TO MURDER as a whole has the feel-good factor which makes it a delight to sit through.