IQ
Summary:
Ten years ago, Isaiah Quintabe’s brother was killed in a hit-and-run, and the search for the killer nearly destroyed Isaiah’s life. Now, even with a flourishing career and a new dog, he must begin the hunt again—or lose his mind.
A case takes him and his dubious sidekick, Dodson, to Vegas, where a DJ and her boyfriend went missing and will be murdered by Chinese gangsters if Isaiah doesn’t find them first. Fraught with menace and startling twists, Isaiah’s quest leads him to the mastermind behind his brother’s death. [summary from https://www.joeide.com/]
Group Reviews/Comments
Our group is no longer using a standard rating system. Each member gives comments and using whatever rating system they want! I’m sorting them here by Liked/Didn’t Like
Liked:
Effortlessly weaving the past, IQ’s “creation” story, with the current case. I am not a fan of the bouncing back and forth between two timelines–but this was coherent and easy to follow.
Unique and memorable characters, superb plotting, Depth of characters done so well–even stereotypes are multifaceted.
Real ear for dialouge. Entertaining, humorous, at times poignant.
Liked it. Reminded me of Walter Mosley. Seemed like it could have been accurate to a modern rap star. I would read more. The language realistic. Liked pre-story. Liked development of character.
Liked it. Second one more reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes. And-you didn’t have to go through the back story. Really a unique, interesting and different character. This is a really observant, clever, smart person—IQ. A very interesting character.
Thumbs up. Liked character, setting and pacing…the pre-story—getting annoyed being in the mind of killer. Almost gave up because of that. Even though “off the grid” still entertaining. Not a fan of the pre-story. But liked Dobson and friction of Dobson and Isaiah. Some stretched my willingness to believe…but still looking forward to next one.
Liked it, liked the main character, looking forward to second story where not reliant on back story. Really unique character.
I liked it a lot. Thumbs up. Really slow at start, but on second try…really liked having it set in place I know nothing about. I would definitely read the second one.
I really liked it. Always nice to see person of color as main character. Very real sense of place. Really rooting for IQ from the beginning. Liked how the back story presented. Liked the dog stuff and how it was incorporated.
I really enjoyed it. Didn’t pick up on the Sherlock Holmes stuff. Couldn’t put it down. Liked the relationship between the men. Really liked the back story of brother Marcus.
I liked the main character a lot. How his past created him. Liked that he believed in repentance. Japanese American writing about a different culture questionable. Back and forth between time frames somewhat confusing.
I loved it. Felt like Marcus was his guardian angel. Very poignant. As you read about him, you see him as a caring person.
I liked it. I liked the back story. I liked IQ. Didn’t really like the rest of the characters. There were no other positive characters besides him…everyone else had flaws…skated on the edge of being stereotypical…some realism..but still questionable. Dobson showed himself to be caring at the end. Liked this.
I liked it. Thumbs up. Not into it in the beginning. A slow burn. Once they got into the dog part I was hooked. Very vivid. Liked the setting. Did get some Sherlock Holmes vibes. Not so much Dobson to Watson but IQ to Holmes parallel seen.
Didn’t Like It:
Thumbs down—hated it. Audio book, didn’t like the reader or the written world at all.
Constant change of narrators and perspective—really bothered me. Liked Isaiah and Dobson, saw the parallels with Sherlock Holmes, but the sexual assault pre-case SO long too.
Started it, hated it.
Started it, hated it. Forced myself to read it by skimming it. Expected more intellect (vs. observational skills). Didn’t feel culture was realistically portrayed…felt appropriated. Didn’t feel genuine, felt strained and pushed. Even though he lived in the area, the author was Japanese American, not African American. Felt appropriated.
And the inevitable middle of the road:
Thumbs in the middle, three stars. I felt so neutral about this. Just filling time reading it. IQ was the only character I liked, but the story didn’t grip me. No mystery. IQ was unrealistically amazing.
