BLEEDING MAIZE AND BLUE

It's President's Week at the University of Michigan—a week involving, among other events, a football game, a President's reception, and a tribute to All-American U.M. alumnus Karl Genesko, now a Lieutenant in Ann Arbor's police force (Curly Smoke, 1995, etc.), who shares his life and a house with Anneke Haagen, owner of Computer Solutions. In the midst of all the hoopla comes an ugly rumor, printed in the Michigan Daily under Zoe Kaplan's byline, about an investigation by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) into possible unethical football recruiting by Michigan alumni. Next morning, in the empty stadium, as an alumni committee holds a meeting nearby, the body of NCAA investigator Alvin Greenaway tumbles down the steps onto the field. Greenaway has been stabbed to death. Throughout the ensuing social functions, tagged by Detroit News has-been reporter Charlie Cassovoy, Anneke and Zoe, an undergrad and part-time sportswriter, team up to help Karl find the killer. It takes all of Anneke's computer expertise but they succeed, with a melodramatic flourish of a windup. There may be some fun for football fans here—even more for those at ease in the thickets of computer country. For others, and despite all the chipper dialogue, this ponderous maze is no fun at all.