In Minichino's diverting seventh entry in her periodic table series (after 2004's The Carbon Murder
), Gloria Lamerino, who's part Mary Worth and part Jessica Fletcher, finds that even a simple California trip for a close friend's wedding involves her in murder. When the work partner of the groom's daughter, an EMT, is shot dead, apparently by a mugger, Gloria gets suspicious because the groom, Philip Chambers, has too much information about the crime. After learning that the thief was after a briefcase connected with Chambers's secret government research on nitrogen, she conjures up a broad conspiracy with implications both for national security and the bride's happiness. Gloria and her own significant other, Massachusetts homicide detective Matt Gennaro, make an engaging couple. Cozy fans who don't require a twisty solution to the whodunit will be well satisfied. Agent, Elaine Koster. (May 9)
