Hydrogen Murder

This mystery by a physicist, the first in a projected series, is a fairly simplistic effort in which the science lore is more compelling than the plot. Gloria Lamerino, newly retired from a physics career in California, has returned to her hometown north of Boston to work with the Revere police on science-related cases. Her first involves the death of Eric Bensen, shot in his physics lab. Eric apparently discovered a glitch in the physics research from which he and his fellow workers had expected a lucrative breakthrough. Gloria, who has taken a room above her friend Rose's business, which just happens to be a mortuary, balances an attraction for her police contact, Sergeant Matt Gennaro, with the possessive attentions of old boyfriend, Peter Matrone. The complications of her love life threaten to overwhelm the investigation. Minichino, however, has created a clutch of interesting suspects, including Bensen's co-workers Ralph Leder, Connie Provenza and Jim Guffy, as well as Eric's neglected wife, Janice. Gloria's handling of the complicated data that figures into the case puts both her sleuthing and her scientific prowess to the test, and her love of opera makes for quaint if predictable asides, given her Italian heritage. When a second murder occurs, however, Gloria and the killer meet in an improbable, disappointing conclusion. (Dec.)