Lieutenant Columbo, played with average Joe charm and unshowy, easy-to-miss dexterity by Peter Falk, is more than meets the eye — to the bad guys, not us, because we know how things will turn out.

What comes to mind when you think of murder mysteries? Cozy cottages? Maybe silly satire? Or the sweet and often safe crime-solving exploits of women in bygone eras? Well, we’re here to suggest ...