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HELIUM MURDER, THE by Camille Minichino Avalon, September 1998 192 pages $19.95 ISBN: 0803492987 Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Some years ago, at a party, I was awed to hear a number of friends start singing "there's antimony, arsenic, aluminum, seleniumŠ" The unnerving part was that while these friends of mine were, in fact, smart, educated science fiction fans, so it would stand to reason they'd know Tom Lehrer's "The Elements" to the end, none was a physicist like author Minichino. Her character Gloria Lamerino might be able to sing the song but she's spent her working life as a physicist, so at least she has an excuse.

In The Helium Murder, Camille Minichino has provided a darn good read. This series is almost a cozy, but with enough attitude to cross the line. It's a series to recommend to your mother who likes mysteries, but doesn't know what to read next and isn't ready to take on The Tough Guys.

Once again, retired physicist Lamerino pitches in to assist the Revere, Massachusetts police - primarily Matt Gennaro - with the technical aspects of the murder. Congresswoman Margaret Hurley is killed by a hit and run driver and while the death might be accidental, Hurley served on the House Science and Technology Committee. In that capacity, Gloria's expertise once again comes in handy. I tend to think she's often too nosy, but that's easily explained; in part, it's necessary to the plot of almost any amateur detective series and in part, a research scientist needs to be curious to maintain her interest in her field.

I like what I can learn and understand in Minichino's books. I can't quite wrap my mind around the image of mining helium because what sticks in my non-scientific brain is that helium is the stuff you use to make balloons float and when you want to sound like a munchkin. It is in fact, used in dozens of manufacturing and medical applications. Who knew?

The "b" story here is Gloria's need to understand what happened years ago, before she left Revere. Gloria is researching her fiancé Al's death in a car crash. He was apparently involved in unsavory, probably criminal activity, and his death caused Gloria to up and leave Revere - a very smart move I think, as she learned to act for herself, found satisfying and challenging work and new friends, people who judged her for herself, not based on her childhood.

I still think Gloria needs to tell her best friend to grow up. Rose who declares in Chapter 1 "A grown woman. How can you not like shopping?" needs to get it. Lots of "grown women" have better things to do. It's not unwomanly to dislike shopping. It would be nice if she could respect who her friend was and stop trying to change Gloria into some image of Glorious American Womanhood and her own interpretation of success.

And it's about time, after two books, that Peter get the hint that pushing Gloria is unlikely to succeed. She's interested in better, and has it with Matt, who at the very least, seems to appreciate and like being around a smart woman. There's a bit too much filler on what snacks she prepares and which outfit Gloria chooses and what pin she's going to wear, and yet, these things do offer insights into her pride in her culture and background and education. If Gloria could tell her dead mother's rude voice to shut up (and Gloria? At age 50, you can't still be blaming everything on your mother), she should continue to do well.

"Š and thulium and thallium."