Rehearsal for Death

There is also gossip columnist who loves Peggy and who threatens to expose something in Phil's past life. At the crucial point in the "play" Phil is supposed to shoot Stella

The gun goes off and the columnist is dead. It is surmised that the bullet was meant for Stella. The police inspector finally gets the maid to confess she knows the killer's identity and Phil is booked on suspicion of murder

With the others gone the murderer tries to get Peggy to take an overdose of pills, but she is saved. Her guardian is the murderer. He confesses, tries to escape but is cornered and commits suicide