Curiosity turns to obsession at the State University of Michigan. Professor Nick Hoffman can't understand how his supercilious new office mate Perry Cross beat out other candidates for a brand new position in the department. How did Cross get hired when he's under-qualified? But Nick's curiosity changes to jealousy when he learns that his longtime lover, Stefan, shares a past with Cross. When Cross is found dead and the verdict is murder, Nick becomes a prime suspect since he was one of the last people to see Cross the evening he was killed. Nick has no choice but to investigate on his own. Only Lev Raphael can spin such a tale of twisted academia.