My Sister's Keeper

Blatant sexism and hatred plague a university on Canada's west coast in this thought-provoking, smoothly written mystery by the author of In the Shadow of King'sspok . As the fall semester begins, engineering students stage a crude ritual involving female ``slaves.'' Vociferous protests by the campus Feminist Union spark a near-riot, and in the weeks that follow, feminist-bashing becomes commonplace: a female effigy is hung, insulting graffiti proliferates are scrawled and the engineers picket a second women's demonstration. Meanwhile, as history department head Gillian Adams lobbies for a women's studies curriculum, her colleagues pass over a deserving female student and award a fellowship to a less qualified male aspirant. When the unsuccessful candidate dies in a motorcycle crash, Gillian suspects that sabotage may have caused the wreck. Insightful characterization and a plausible wrap-up of the central crime make for an often riveting novel, although some readers may be dissatisfied by Kelly's realistic refusal to tidily resolve the larger issue of sexual harassment on campus. ( Dec. )