Book Review: The Oxygen Murder

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Oxygen Murder     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Camille Minichino
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural   Woman Main Character   Amateur Sleuth   Scientific based
Series: Gloria Lamerino # 8
Dunne, Aug 2006, $24.95

Four months married physicist Dr. Gloria Lamerino accompanies her husband Boston homicide detective Matt Gennaro to New York City where he is attending a police conference and when he is free they plan to enjoy the Manhattan Christmas season. While Matt attends a conference session, Gloria visits his niece, award winning documentary filmmaker Lori Pizzano on West Forty-eighth. However instead of Lori being there, to her shock, the scientist discovers the corpse of camerawoman, Amber Keenan and she believes the culprit just left via the window.

Gloria worries about Lori’s safety when she learns that she was collaborating with the victim on a new project about the ozone layer that has led to threatening encounters with corporate suits who allegedly are ignoring governmental environmental regulations. She begins investigating and learns that Amber also worked as a photographer for Tina Miller, Private Investigator. Gloria ponders whether one of Miller’s targets killed Amber or was it one of the suits that had her murdered.

The eighth Periodic Table Mystery is a fun cozy in which scientific sleuthing is combined with tours of New York City. The story line is fast-paced as Gloria takes Manhattan while Matt and NYPD plead with her to not provide the Lamerino solution. THE OXYGEN MURDER is a fabulous whodunit that will send newcomers searching for the backlist gas tales and long time fans looking forward to The Fluorine Murder.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner