IQ

by Joe Ide

Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2016

About the author

Joe Ide is of Japanese American descent. He grew up in South Central Los Angeles, an economically depressed area with a largely black population. Gangs and street crime were rampant. Like a lot of kids, Joe wanted to belong and his speech, style, musical tastes and attitudes reflected the neighborhood.

His favorite books were the Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes stories. That a person could make his way in the world and vanquish his enemies with just his intelligence fascinated him.

Eventually, he went on to university and received a graduate degree in education. He worked as a school teacher, a college lecturer, a corporate middle manager and director of an NGO that offered paralegal services and emergency shelter to abused women and children. He went on to write screenplays for a number of major studios but none of the projects came to fruition.

It was then he decided to write his debut novel, IQ, about an unlicensed, underground detective; a character inspired by his early experiences and love of Sherlock Holmes.

Joe lives in Santa Monica, California, with his wife and Golden Retriever, Gusto.

Reviews

[Mark O'Toole]

Quirky, interesting in places but kind of all over the place

[Brad Lucht]

I was drawn to this book by the title, which actually refers to the initials of the main character, Isaiah Quintabe, a young Black kid with extraordinary intelligence. Isaiah was taught by his older brother to use his gift to serve other, so that’s what he does, often for free. But occasionally he needs to pay the rent, so he is always receptive to taking on a wealthy client. And sure enough, one comes along, a wealthy rapper who is convinced someone is trying to kill him. In spite of all doubters, Isaiah figures out who is behind the conspiracy.

Reminds me a bit of Monk and his powers of observation.