Camille Minichino, The Nitrogen Murder

Camille Minichino, The Nitrogen Murder - Retired scientist Gloria Lamerino and her fianc Matt Gennaro are in Berkley California to attend the wedding of her close friend, scientist Elaine Cody, to retired chemist Phillip Chambers, a consultant to Dorman Industries. Phil's daughter Dana is still traumatized by seeing her EMT partner gunned down while bringing their patient Lakesh Patel to the hospital. Mr. Patel dies in the hospital and the killer makes off with his duffel bag but Dana brings home his briefcase that contains several ID's under different names, including access to Dorman Industries.

When Phil and Gloria meet, she isn't impressed with him, but her mild feelings of disdain turn to severe anxiety when Dana confides that somehow the briefcase wound up in her father's apartment. Patel and Phil collaborated on several papers involving nitrogen weapons research. When Phil disappears, Gloria and Matt work together to try and figure out the connection between the dead scientist, the stolen research and the multiple identifications that Mr. Patel carried.

There are very few mystery authors today who can incorporate a lot of scientific data into the story and make it part of a one-sitting thriller as Camilla Minichino consistently does. She makes the science understandable so readers can learn while they are being entertained. The protagonist of THE NITROGEN MURDER is spunky, strong-willed and totally loyal to her friends, which endears her to the audience. The relationship between Gloria and Matt is believable and affirms that there is life after retirement.

Harriet Klausner