Cold Rain

An unsympathetic lead and a soap operaish plot mar this mystery thriller. Soon after independently wealthy English professor David Albo returns from a sabbatical to his unnamed university in the Midwest, Leslie Blackwell, the attractive head of the affirmative action office, accuses him of sexually harassing two of his students. When Molly, Albo's wife, sees the diary of one of his accusers detailing their encounter, Molly orders him from their home at gun point. With his life falling apart, the academic devotes himself to proving that he was set up, with smarmy TA Buddy Elder, the boyfriend of one of the co-eds, as his prime suspect. Albo's troubles only get worse after one of the women disappears, a possible victim of foul play. Smith (The Painted Messiah) writes smoothly, but many readers will tire of the disagreeable Albo early on. (Feb.)