The Nitrogen Murder

Periodic Table #7

by Camille Minichino

In the latest installment of Camille Minichino's fun, fast-paced Periodic Table mystery series, retired physicist Gloria Lamerino and her fiancé, homicide detective Matt Gennaro, attend the wedding of Gloria's best friend in California. Unfortunately, the groom has disappeared along with some top-secret research on nitrogen.

As Gloria and Matt try to figure out a connection between the missing groom and the absent classified nitrogen research, the body count rises.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2005

About the author

Camille Minichino is also known as Ada Madison and Margaret Grace.

Reviews

[Linnae · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit slow--at times too much dialogue and not enough action. I did enjoy the relationship between our protagonist and her fiance. I may try one more in the series before moving on.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nitrogen Murder by Camille Minichino is the 7th book in the Periodic Table Mystery series featuring Gloria Lamerino. Retired physicist and scientific police consultant, Gloria Lamerino is visiting Berkeley for the upcoming wedding of her friend Elaine, when she becomes involved in the murder of a scientist involved in nitrogen research as well as the shooting of an EMT who was transporting him to hospital. I have been gradually working my way through this series in order and love to see the various relationships between the characters develop. I enjoy learning new facts about the various elements. The only thing I find a little ambiguous is that for such a clever, intelligent lady, Gloria makes some silly decisions putting herself in danger. An enjoyable read.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The protagonist goes off the rails a little bit here; you start to wonder about her motivation a bit. But it does serve to draw her into an interesting murder mystery, so, I guess busy-body detectives will be busy-body detectives?

I do appreciate how Minichino has interjected commentary on the state of women in science in some of these books. It is interesting to me to read - how much has NOT changed.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great scientific mystery again, but too many narrators

Once again, Gloria and Matt are in California with Elaine. And glorious friend. Elaine is going to get married again. But of course there are complications and two plot threads. One plot thread involves Elaine’s fiancé’s daughter. The thing I did not like about this mystery, and why I didn’t give it five stars like the others in the periodic table mysteries so far is that Minino has that daughter narrate some of the chapters and our protagonist Gloria narrate the others in the first person. I think this is a little disjointed.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoy this cosy mystery series. Gloria is an older, retired (research physicist) heroine. Matt (police detective) is her fiancé.
The setting is Berkeley,CA as they are attending a friend’s wedding. They came early to enjoy the area but are quickly drawn into a murder situation involving the groom and his adult daughter. It takes most of their two weeks to solve the murder and the wedding is at the end of this tale.

[Jen Watkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice idea, but I wasn't feeling it. I don't think I am in the intended age group for this one.

[Carroll Ericson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent book but alot excess details

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this could be a fine series. I may just be out of the cozy mood. I liked the characters. I liked the chemical concept-- which was handled really, really well (if you shy away from scientific characters, you don't need to here. The science is handled gently and well-- kudos on that!). But it took me a long time to get the the magic point in the book where I couldn't wait to find out what happened next --- and even after I got there I still had points where I was perfectly content to put the book down... that's not a good sign with me. Oh, and the tie up of that last character seemed forced and frankly odd.

In short, I might read more of these (because I want to know more about Gloria, and Matt, and Rose, and life above a funeral home as well as life as a chemist), but there are a lot more book sabove them on the need-to-read pile.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved all the science that was in here, but it was a rather bland little mystery. Perhaps my problem was that I came in midseries. This is a great read for anyone who doesn't want a gory murder mystery (just a murder mystery)!

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like a good mystery book. This one kept me guessing.

[Stephanie Boyle Mays · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. and a great vacation read. This was really a 3.5 but I decided to err on the side of generosity.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A library find. Second read January 2024.
Interesting concept.
Engaging characters.
A fun, easy, lazy day read.