The Bridegroom Murder — Paul Austin Ardoin

A dead groom. A strange green stain. And a toxic trail that leads deeper than anyone expected.Two weeks before his wedding, Gregory Irsay is found dead in his Oregon condo. There are no signs of struggle-only a bizarre green discoloration in his mouth. Local authorities are baffled, and the case is already drawing media attention. Federal investigator Bernadette Becker is sent to consult-and so is Dr. Kep Woodhead, the forensic toxicologist with the hypersensitive nose. But the deeper they dig into Irsay's life, the more disturbing things become. Irsay wasn't just a charming entrepreneur. He was a seasoned con man with a long list of online scams and aliases. The suspect list only grows longer when Becker and Woodhead uncover new layers of deception. Worse, their investigation is complicated by a local sheriff's detective who seems determined to block their progress. When Irsay's fiancée is arrested, the case appears closed-but Becker and Woodhead are convinced she's innocent. And if she didn't kill him, someone else is still out there. The search for the mysterious green substance takes them from upscale neighborhoods to corporate slaughterhouses, and from sealed evidence lockers to untraceable online identities. With every step, the danger escalates-and the toxin they're chasing might not be a one-time weapon. As Woodhead and Becker fight bureaucratic resistance, buried secrets, and their own personal doubts, they must piece together the truth before the trail goes cold--or the poison is used again. Taut, clever, and full of forensic twists, The Bridegroom Murder is the second gripping entry in the Woodhead & Becker Mystery Series. Ideal for readers who love sharp investigators, high-stakes science, and tight, character-driven thrillers.This book was originally published under the title Everything's Gone Green in March 2022.