Joe Ide: IQ (Paperback, 2017, Mulholland Books)
Paperback, 352 pages
Published Sept. 19, 2017 by Mulholland Books.
"A resident of one of LA's toughest neighborhoods uses his blistering intellect to solve the crimes the LAPD ignores. East Long Beach. The LAPD is barely keeping up with the neighborhood's high crime rate. Murders go unsolved, lost children unrecovered. But someone from the neighborhood has taken it upon himself to help solve the cases the police can't or won't touch. They call him IQ. He's a loner and a high school dropout, his unassuming nature disguising a relentless determination and a fierce intelligence. He charges his clients whatever they can afford, which might be a set of tires or a homemade casserole. To get by, he's forced to take on clients that can pay. This time, it's a rap mogul whose life is in danger. As Isaiah investigates, he encounters a vengeful ex-wife, a crew of notorious cutthroats, a monstrous attack dog, and a hit man who even other …
"A resident of one of LA's toughest neighborhoods uses his blistering intellect to solve the crimes the LAPD ignores. East Long Beach. The LAPD is barely keeping up with the neighborhood's high crime rate. Murders go unsolved, lost children unrecovered. But someone from the neighborhood has taken it upon himself to help solve the cases the police can't or won't touch. They call him IQ. He's a loner and a high school dropout, his unassuming nature disguising a relentless determination and a fierce intelligence. He charges his clients whatever they can afford, which might be a set of tires or a homemade casserole. To get by, he's forced to take on clients that can pay. This time, it's a rap mogul whose life is in danger. As Isaiah investigates, he encounters a vengeful ex-wife, a crew of notorious cutthroats, a monstrous attack dog, and a hit man who even other hit men say is a lunatic. The deeper Isaiah digs, the more far reaching and dangerous the case becomes"--
If at all possible, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook production of this book. The narrator, Sullivan Jones, does a phenomenal job bringing all of the characters to life.
This is a well-constructed complex story with great characters and great mostly Ebonics dialogue; alternately tense and funny.
4.5 Stars.
A very different detective story.
I almost gave up mid first chapter, but as you go on it sucks you into the story and the environment.
3.5 stars? 4? I'd read the next one.
This book was FUN. Like a modern-day Sherlock Holmes - on the edge of gang-life in LA. Admittedly, I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator (Sullivan Jones) was awesome. The dialogue was fantastic, and he really brought it to life. Nothing better than a talented writer teaming with a solid actor. I'm just bummed that there's only one other book in the series - for now! C'mon, Joe Ide!
A fun Sherlock by way of Hiaasen journey through Long Beach.
http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2016/12/straight-outta-baker-street.html
Isaiah Quintabe's whole world fell apart when his brother Marcus died leaving teenaged Isaiah on his own. In order to make his rent he gets a local drug dealer and petty criminal named Dodson as a room mate. It changes both of their lives.Now years later Dodson has a case that he thinks Isaiah would be interested in. It has a huge paycheck attached and Dodson has decided to help out to get his cut - whether Isaiah wants him around or not.This book reminded me a lot of a Carl Hiaasen novel. The mystery is convoluted. The characters are quirky and unexpected. The book is laugh out loud funny at times.
Isaiah Quintabe's whole world fell apart when his brother Marcus died leaving teenaged Isaiah on his own. In order to make his rent he gets a local drug dealer and petty criminal named Dodson as a room mate. It changes both of their lives.Now years later Dodson has a case that he thinks Isaiah would be interested in. It has a huge paycheck attached and Dodson has decided to help out to get his cut - whether Isaiah wants him around or not.This book reminded me a lot of a Carl Hiaasen novel. The mystery is convoluted. The characters are quirky and unexpected. The book is laugh out loud funny at times.
The story is told through dual time lines.
Present Day
Cal is too depressed to leave his house and go into the studio to record his contractually obligated next album. Anything he writes is way too depressing to record anyway. He is attacked in his house by a gigantic dog. He only gets away by falling in the pool and making so much noise that the neighbor calls the police. A man comes out of the woods to get the dog and lets Cal live. Isaiah takes the case.
In the Past
Dodson has just moved in with a grieving Isaiah. He realizes that he has a genius as a room mate and that genius is in need of money. He decides to put Isaiah's brain to use to think up better criminal activities.It is interesting to see what happens in the past to make Isaiah the detective that he is today. This is supposed to be the start of a series and I can't wait to see what Isaiah gets up to next.My only quibble is that at one point they rob a pet store and take feline epilepsy test strips. I wish they would have gotten me some. Those would be handy since nothing like that actually exists. The author probably meant feline diabetes test strips. Sorry, that's my veterinarian side coming out.First come first served and if you want to throw in a few dollars for shipping that would be great but not required.This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story
