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IQ #3
Wrecked
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2018)Isaiah Quintabe--IQ for short--has never been more successful, or felt more alone. A series of high-profile wins in his hometown of East Long Beach have made him so notorious that he can hardly go to the corner store without being recognized. Dodson, once his sidekick, is now his full-fledged partner, hell-bent on giving IQ's PI business some real legitimacy: a Facebook page, and IQ's promise to stop accepting Christmas sweaters and carpet cleanings in exchange for PI services.
So when a young painter approaches IQ for help tracking down her missing mother, it's not just the case Isaiah's looking for, but the human connection. And when his new confidant turns out to be connected to a dangerous paramilitary operation, IQ falls victim to a threat even a genius can't see coming.
Waiting for Isaiah around every corner is Seb, the Oxford-educated African gangster who was responsible for the death of his brother, Marcus. Only, this time, Isaiah's not alone. Joined by a new love interest and his familiar band of accomplices, IQ is back--and the adventures are better than ever.
So when a young painter approaches IQ for help tracking down her missing mother, it's not just the case Isaiah's looking for, but the human connection. And when his new confidant turns out to be connected to a dangerous paramilitary operation, IQ falls victim to a threat even a genius can't see coming.
Waiting for Isaiah around every corner is Seb, the Oxford-educated African gangster who was responsible for the death of his brother, Marcus. Only, this time, Isaiah's not alone. Joined by a new love interest and his familiar band of accomplices, IQ is back--and the adventures are better than ever.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 9, 2018
962 people are currently reading
5587 people want to read
About the author
Joe Ide
11 books1,125 followersJoe 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 657 reviews
November 20, 2018
“Get ready, son,...Cause Karma’s about to kick your ass.”
Blackmail, conspiracy, and an awkwardly sweet romance are at the forefront of Wrecked, the third book in the IQ series. This is a fast-paced, action-packed mystery filled with quirky loveable characters and intriguing cases.
The 3rd book in the IQ series finds Isaiah Quintabe, a.k.a. Sherlock from the Hood, no longer consumed with avenging his brother’s murder. Now business partners with Dodson, Isaiah’s attention is diverted by a woman named Grace, whom he briefly encountered in the previous book. When Grace hires IQ to find her missing mother, Isaiah doesn’t realize he’s about to get drawn into a case that involves a private military firm and former Abu Grahib guards.
Dodson has his own worries as he is being blackmailed by a mysterious man. Deronda is brought in to help, which leads to even more trouble.
We see a softer side of Isaiah, as he no longer all-consumed by avenging his brother’s murder. HIs infatuation with Grace highlights his insecurities as well as his loneliness. No longer fueled by anger and pain over Marcus’s murder, Isiah realizes his life is emptier than he realized and solitude takes its toll. He is desperate to connect with Grace, which makes him even more awkward than usual. His infatuation throws him off his game and causes him to make careless mistakes that jeopardize both his and Grace’s lives.
Like Isaiah's character, Dodson has also grown...well, somewhat! I enjoyed seeing a softer side to Dodson--I love his relationship with his newborn son and his wife, Cherise. Desperate to keep Cherise from finding out even more sordid details from his past, he almost makes the mistake again of putting his wife and newborn son in danger...Thankfully, Cherise is smarter than Dodson!
Wrecked is a dark, brutally violent, and intelligent read. The violence is extreme, so much so that I had to take breaks to recover. Thankfully there’s a lot of humor woven in to lighten the tone. Despite the violence, the overall tone is lighter than the previous books in the series. The plot moves quickly, almost too quickly as one of the cases spirals out of control.
I love Isaiah--his character is the reason I read this series. His pain and loneliness are palpable. It was nice to see him try his hand at romance and connect with another human being. His character is evolving and I hope he continues to grow.
I recommend this series to those looking for something that goes outside of the box. Be forewarned: the language is raw and violence fills the pages. However, the characters and writing make it worthwhile!
Blackmail, conspiracy, and an awkwardly sweet romance are at the forefront of Wrecked, the third book in the IQ series. This is a fast-paced, action-packed mystery filled with quirky loveable characters and intriguing cases.
The 3rd book in the IQ series finds Isaiah Quintabe, a.k.a. Sherlock from the Hood, no longer consumed with avenging his brother’s murder. Now business partners with Dodson, Isaiah’s attention is diverted by a woman named Grace, whom he briefly encountered in the previous book. When Grace hires IQ to find her missing mother, Isaiah doesn’t realize he’s about to get drawn into a case that involves a private military firm and former Abu Grahib guards.
Dodson has his own worries as he is being blackmailed by a mysterious man. Deronda is brought in to help, which leads to even more trouble.
We see a softer side of Isaiah, as he no longer all-consumed by avenging his brother’s murder. HIs infatuation with Grace highlights his insecurities as well as his loneliness. No longer fueled by anger and pain over Marcus’s murder, Isiah realizes his life is emptier than he realized and solitude takes its toll. He is desperate to connect with Grace, which makes him even more awkward than usual. His infatuation throws him off his game and causes him to make careless mistakes that jeopardize both his and Grace’s lives.
Like Isaiah's character, Dodson has also grown...well, somewhat! I enjoyed seeing a softer side to Dodson--I love his relationship with his newborn son and his wife, Cherise. Desperate to keep Cherise from finding out even more sordid details from his past, he almost makes the mistake again of putting his wife and newborn son in danger...Thankfully, Cherise is smarter than Dodson!
Wrecked is a dark, brutally violent, and intelligent read. The violence is extreme, so much so that I had to take breaks to recover. Thankfully there’s a lot of humor woven in to lighten the tone. Despite the violence, the overall tone is lighter than the previous books in the series. The plot moves quickly, almost too quickly as one of the cases spirals out of control.
I love Isaiah--his character is the reason I read this series. His pain and loneliness are palpable. It was nice to see him try his hand at romance and connect with another human being. His character is evolving and I hope he continues to grow.
I recommend this series to those looking for something that goes outside of the box. Be forewarned: the language is raw and violence fills the pages. However, the characters and writing make it worthwhile!
September 18, 2019
It's a joy to return to East Long Beach, Los Angeles and our black, from the hood, Sherlock Holmes, aka IQ , Isiah Quintabe, in this, the third in the series by Joe Ide. Isiah is famous in his neighbourhood for solving cases for the community, but his clientele are poor, so it is rare for him to be paid in cash, instead he is rewarded with a range of bartered goods and services. His Watson, Juanell Dodson, has sold his half of the food van business to his partner, Deronda, who has turned it into a runaway success, much to his dismay. With his partner, Cherise, he has a baby, he has responsibilities and must provide for his family. He is reluctant to return to a past of illegal enterprises and cons, making the decision to turn IQ's detective skills into a business with a firmer financial footing, chasing debts, endeavouring to persuade Isiah to only accept cash payments for his services whilst promising to bring in big clients himself.
Isiah has moved on from his need for vengeance at the murder of his brother, Marcus, by Seb, the Oxford educated African gangster, but Seb has not forgotten him, blaming IQ for the downturn in his fortunes. Isiah, whilst brilliant at deductive skills, is socially awkward, perhaps on the Autism spectrum, and is feeling desperately lonely. He has fixated on Grace Monarova, an abstract artist, for his romantic attentions, but he has not a clue how to go about attracting her, although she does have a thing for his dog, Ruffin. Grace wants IQ to find her mother, Sarah, a wanted woman she has not seen for years. A besotted Isiah takes the case, although he finds it hard to keep focused, as he drops his game to well below par, with his mind much too occupied by Grace. This is to land him and Grace in danger as it turns out Sarah is being hunted by the sinister ex-CIA agent, Stan Walczak and his motley crew of disgraced felons. Stan will do anything, including murder, to prevent the publication of incriminating photographs of his unspeakable actions at Abu Ghraib. Dodson finds his and IQ's past comes back to haunt him as he finds himself being blackmailed, he tries to deal with the threat by himself, only to find himself out of his depth and needing Isiah.
Ide has succeeded in establishing IQ as a charismatic, honourable, unique and intelligent central protagonist in a series that I adore. He and his partner, Dodson, make for a fascinating partnership, so different from each other, yet somehow they click. This contemporary reinterpretation of Sherlock works so well amidst the larger than life background of the hustle and bustle of life in LA. The return of the supporting cast of great characters, such as Cherise and Deronda, add colour and vibrancy to this marvellous series. This is a highly entertaining, intense, and suspenseful addition which I loved reading. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
Isiah has moved on from his need for vengeance at the murder of his brother, Marcus, by Seb, the Oxford educated African gangster, but Seb has not forgotten him, blaming IQ for the downturn in his fortunes. Isiah, whilst brilliant at deductive skills, is socially awkward, perhaps on the Autism spectrum, and is feeling desperately lonely. He has fixated on Grace Monarova, an abstract artist, for his romantic attentions, but he has not a clue how to go about attracting her, although she does have a thing for his dog, Ruffin. Grace wants IQ to find her mother, Sarah, a wanted woman she has not seen for years. A besotted Isiah takes the case, although he finds it hard to keep focused, as he drops his game to well below par, with his mind much too occupied by Grace. This is to land him and Grace in danger as it turns out Sarah is being hunted by the sinister ex-CIA agent, Stan Walczak and his motley crew of disgraced felons. Stan will do anything, including murder, to prevent the publication of incriminating photographs of his unspeakable actions at Abu Ghraib. Dodson finds his and IQ's past comes back to haunt him as he finds himself being blackmailed, he tries to deal with the threat by himself, only to find himself out of his depth and needing Isiah.
Ide has succeeded in establishing IQ as a charismatic, honourable, unique and intelligent central protagonist in a series that I adore. He and his partner, Dodson, make for a fascinating partnership, so different from each other, yet somehow they click. This contemporary reinterpretation of Sherlock works so well amidst the larger than life background of the hustle and bustle of life in LA. The return of the supporting cast of great characters, such as Cherise and Deronda, add colour and vibrancy to this marvellous series. This is a highly entertaining, intense, and suspenseful addition which I loved reading. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
September 21, 2021
In this 3rd book in the 'IQ' series, the sleuth is hired to find a woman who ran off ten years ago. The book could be read as a standalone but it's much better to read the novels in order.
*****
Isaiah Quintabe - nicknamed IQ - is a self-styled, black sleuth in the Los Angeles hood. IQ's cases usually involve things like thefts, break-ins, runaway children, domestic violence, bullies, and conmen, and he often gets paid with homegrown vegetables, cookies, house cleaning chores, and the like.
IQ is now ready to take his detective business to the next level, and acquires a business partner - his longtime friend Juanell Dodson.
Dodson - a new husband and father (with a family to feed) - is a savvier businessman than IQ and insists the agency get paid with money.....no more bartering for window washing and blueberry muffins.
IQ is a softie however, and when an attractive artist named Grace Monarova hires him to find her mother Sarah - who skipped town ten years ago - IQ accepts a painting as remuneration. IQ would have been better off not taking the case at all.
It turns out that vanished Sarah is the object of a manhunt by Stan Walczak, a former CIA agent who now owns a high-tech security company.
Sarah has pictures of Walczak and other interrogators perpetrating horrendous atrocities at Abu Ghraib (torturing and humiliating prisoners; raping women; making prisoners do sexual things with each other; and more) and she's threatening to publish unless she gets a million dollars.
Walczak and his cronies are horrified at the idea of being international pariahs, and Walczak desperately wants to keep his wife and kids from learning about his past. Thus the former interrogators set out to find Sarah and kill her. To achieve this goal, they use drones; high-tech gizmos; fake FBI badges; government contacts; etc. The slimeballs also plan to kidnap Grace for leverage. Of course IQ gets in the way.....and becomes a target!!
Meanwhile Dodson has troubles of his own. His friend Deronda - a former business partner who expanded her food truck business into a chain - is constantly sassing him;
His mother-in-law derides him at every opportunity;
And a knife shop owner called Chester - who needs money and knows things about Dodson's past - is trying to make Dodson rob a drug dealer.
To me, this book isn't nearly as good as previous novels in the series. The earlier books had a good dose of humor and featured IQ using 'Sherlock Holmes' methods of deduction. This story has almost no fun and has very few Sherlockian moves.
Moreover, the novel feels repetitive, with scene after scene of Walczak making nefarious plans, and cat and mouse maneuvers between Walczak and IQ. And the torture scenes.....OMG! I also didn't like the budding romance between IQ and Grace, which strikes a false note and feels inauthentic in the circumstances.
In future books, I hope the author goes back to his original formula, with humorous scenes and IQ making clever deductions.
You might want to read this if you're an avid IQ fan, but temper your expectations.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
February 1, 2019
I really enjoy this series and find it one of the most refreshing to listen to. Sullivan Jones just does a superb job as the narrator.
Dodson and IQ are now partners. In my mind, Dodson comes across as a young Kevin Hart. He steals the scenes. There’s a lot of humor in these books and more often than not, it involves Dodson.
IQ is lonely. As luck would have it, the gal he is interested in, who doesn’t seem at all interested back, hires him to find her mother. Things quickly heat up and things get very nasty fast. There is a lot of very gruesome violence, especially in the backstories, and anyone who is squeamish might want to give this one a pass.
There are lots of moving parts in this story and attention must be paid to keep track of all the characters, especially the villains. I enjoyed this but not as much as the first two books in the series. Still, if there is a book four, I will definitely check it out.
April 20, 2024
This was a bit darker than the previous books.
Isaiah is making an attempt to come out of his shell and do real person things. Maybe he can even find love?
Dodson is (as always) my favorite and trying to figure out how to be a dad. It's sweet. And funny.
The main mystery concerns this big conspiracy where Isaiah and Dodson have to figure out why Grace's Dad is dead and her mother took off like she was the guilty party.
And...ok.
This is my least favorite of the IQ novels so far. I don't know but I didn't really like the ending of this one. Here's hoping the next book brings things back on track.
Isaiah is making an attempt to come out of his shell and do real person things. Maybe he can even find love?
Dodson is (as always) my favorite and trying to figure out how to be a dad. It's sweet. And funny.
The main mystery concerns this big conspiracy where Isaiah and Dodson have to figure out why Grace's Dad is dead and her mother took off like she was the guilty party.
And...ok.
This is my least favorite of the IQ novels so far. I don't know but I didn't really like the ending of this one. Here's hoping the next book brings things back on track.
November 10, 2018
Isaiah Quintabe (aka IQ) can be likened to a modern day Sherlock Holmes, such is his superior intellect and heightened powers of deduction which are comparable to the renowned PI of early crime fiction. While his sidekick, Dodson isn't quite Sherlock's Watson, he's a great character and a perfect fit for IQ; both in his ability to help (and at times hinder) an investigation while also providing a humorous outlet for the often dire situations the duo find themselves in.
In Wrecked, the third IQ novel, author Joe Ide dumb downs IQ a little which casts the urban sleuth in a new light; showcasing his insecurities and vulnerabilities, which ultimately transforms the character into something more real-world. His struggles and failures are gains for the reader and the supporting cast who pay a more pivotal role in the plot (this being Dodson, Gloria, and the bad guys).
Wrecked reads perfectly well as standalone but is much better with the added context of the previous novels in IQ and Righteous.
My rating: 5/5 stars. This series continues to grow from strength to strength. Highly recommended.
In Wrecked, the third IQ novel, author Joe Ide dumb downs IQ a little which casts the urban sleuth in a new light; showcasing his insecurities and vulnerabilities, which ultimately transforms the character into something more real-world. His struggles and failures are gains for the reader and the supporting cast who pay a more pivotal role in the plot (this being Dodson, Gloria, and the bad guys).
Wrecked reads perfectly well as standalone but is much better with the added context of the previous novels in IQ and Righteous.
My rating: 5/5 stars. This series continues to grow from strength to strength. Highly recommended.
October 30, 2018
This is Ide’s third offering in the IQ detective series. Welcome to East Long Beach, a desolate part of Los Angeles dominated by liquor stores, auto shops, and taco places. IQ uses his deductive reasoning, a la Sherlock Holmes, to solve crimes for the poor people in the neighborhood. In return, they pay him in goods and services versus hard cash.
Ide has chosen to move away from the neighborhood and pits Isaiah Quintabe against a CIA sadist who took part in Abu Ghraib. As you may have guessed, torture—both past and present—takes on a significant role in the plot. [Consider yourself warned!] Wolczak has become wealthy by heading up a Blackwater-type paramilitary operation, and is vulnerable to blackmail as Sarah has compromising pictures of his involvement in Abu Ghraib torture. Sarah happens to be Grace’s mother and IQ has a soft-spot for the artist Grace. Of course, Grace hasn’t seen her mother in years, but Walczak is not convinced.
There are other subplots—the drug dealer Junior is back. And what a character he is! He has a zebra-themed living room where “the sofa looked like the dominant stallion”; and speaks dictionary-gibberish—“If you’re wasting my time your oblivion is irrefutable”.
Indeed, Ide’s Elmore Leonard-like characters are wonderful. Motormouth Dodson, and Dodson’s wise-cracking ex-girlfriend Deronda help IQ with his investigations. And then there are the unusual chase scenes: one through a junkyard and one that uses a half-dozen drones. Cool.
Unfortunately, Ide does not have Isaiah using his famed deductive reasoning as much as he did in the first two books. Let’s hope Ide corrects this in his next offering in the series.
Ide has chosen to move away from the neighborhood and pits Isaiah Quintabe against a CIA sadist who took part in Abu Ghraib. As you may have guessed, torture—both past and present—takes on a significant role in the plot. [Consider yourself warned!] Wolczak has become wealthy by heading up a Blackwater-type paramilitary operation, and is vulnerable to blackmail as Sarah has compromising pictures of his involvement in Abu Ghraib torture. Sarah happens to be Grace’s mother and IQ has a soft-spot for the artist Grace. Of course, Grace hasn’t seen her mother in years, but Walczak is not convinced.
There are other subplots—the drug dealer Junior is back. And what a character he is! He has a zebra-themed living room where “the sofa looked like the dominant stallion”; and speaks dictionary-gibberish—“If you’re wasting my time your oblivion is irrefutable”.
Indeed, Ide’s Elmore Leonard-like characters are wonderful. Motormouth Dodson, and Dodson’s wise-cracking ex-girlfriend Deronda help IQ with his investigations. And then there are the unusual chase scenes: one through a junkyard and one that uses a half-dozen drones. Cool.
Unfortunately, Ide does not have Isaiah using his famed deductive reasoning as much as he did in the first two books. Let’s hope Ide corrects this in his next offering in the series.
October 23, 2018
I still like IQ, the colorful characters and the sharp, fast dialogue, but this book is a hyper violent torture fest. The first book was so good, but I think the prospect of filming this series has hurt it. There is too much emphasis on action. I realize that a lot of people love that, but I am not one of them.
March 3, 2019
The interesting start is wasted by fraying off into many directions and culminating to a tragic end. 3 of 10 stars
January 31, 2020
IQ Returns For A Third Adventure
Some private eyes are cool, calm, and collected like Humphrey Bogart. Others are like Mike Hammer with an outstretched arm and a .45 ready to explode in violence. Isaiah Quintabe (aka IQ) is yet a third type of private eye. He’s a young, unworldly, deductive genius who helps out folks in his east Long Beach neighborhood. In this third IQ novel, there are both strains of IQ’s unique computer-like deductive reasonings, action-Packed thriller parts with a team of highly trained ex-soldiers as the bad guys, and other urban crime scenes. Ide’s writing has matured through these novels and once again he offers the readers a thrilling ride.
Some private eyes are cool, calm, and collected like Humphrey Bogart. Others are like Mike Hammer with an outstretched arm and a .45 ready to explode in violence. Isaiah Quintabe (aka IQ) is yet a third type of private eye. He’s a young, unworldly, deductive genius who helps out folks in his east Long Beach neighborhood. In this third IQ novel, there are both strains of IQ’s unique computer-like deductive reasonings, action-Packed thriller parts with a team of highly trained ex-soldiers as the bad guys, and other urban crime scenes. Ide’s writing has matured through these novels and once again he offers the readers a thrilling ride.
May 23, 2018
It doesn’t usually take me this long to finish an IQ mystery. I tore through the two previous books in a day or so.
“Wrecked” was different.
From the very beginning, this was obviously a very different book than “IQ” or “Righteous.” It’s a wild ride, of course, which we’ve come to expect from Joe Ide: Isaiah solves complex problems in his inimitable fashion, Dodson tries to solve a problem on his own, and as always, we have a fascinating ensemble of supporting characters — we all know the drill. But Isaiah’s character is fleshed out in unexpected ways. Whereas the first two books basically announced his character attributes, here we see him as a fully-fleshed character with few friends, responding to stress and doubt by turning inward and closing himself off. It’s heartbreaking, yet absolutely true to the character.
The plot seems straightforward at first, but don’t let it fool you; Joe Ide is a master of the plot twist. M. Night Shyamalan *wishes* he could play the viewer the way Ide plays his readers. Subplot after subplot emerges, only to be resolved in the last few pages.
The pacing and imagery are cinematic, testament to Ide’s background in screenwriting.
Of the three (so far!) books, “Wrecked” might be the best for a newbie to begin with. And the title is sadly appropriate, though not in the way you might expect.
A solid five stars for a solid writer. Long live Isaiah Quintabe.
Edited to add: I received an advance copy with no expectation of, or obligation to review. I’m simply a Joe Ide fan who got lucky with an ARC galley.
“Wrecked” was different.
From the very beginning, this was obviously a very different book than “IQ” or “Righteous.” It’s a wild ride, of course, which we’ve come to expect from Joe Ide: Isaiah solves complex problems in his inimitable fashion, Dodson tries to solve a problem on his own, and as always, we have a fascinating ensemble of supporting characters — we all know the drill. But Isaiah’s character is fleshed out in unexpected ways. Whereas the first two books basically announced his character attributes, here we see him as a fully-fleshed character with few friends, responding to stress and doubt by turning inward and closing himself off. It’s heartbreaking, yet absolutely true to the character.
The plot seems straightforward at first, but don’t let it fool you; Joe Ide is a master of the plot twist. M. Night Shyamalan *wishes* he could play the viewer the way Ide plays his readers. Subplot after subplot emerges, only to be resolved in the last few pages.
The pacing and imagery are cinematic, testament to Ide’s background in screenwriting.
Of the three (so far!) books, “Wrecked” might be the best for a newbie to begin with. And the title is sadly appropriate, though not in the way you might expect.
A solid five stars for a solid writer. Long live Isaiah Quintabe.
Edited to add: I received an advance copy with no expectation of, or obligation to review. I’m simply a Joe Ide fan who got lucky with an ARC galley.
June 29, 2022
Ide out-does himself here. His Sherlock-Holmes character ‘IQ’ is clever, charming, and deeply human. IQ is sustaining himself with detective work, using his clever brain to solve people’s problems. Unlike the Sherlock of 19th-century London, IQ grew up in the hood, so he knows the players, the gangs, and the problems of those struggling to make a better life in sometimes tough surroundings. But really he’s the same: the process of detective work is one part knowing people (and reading whether they are truthful) and one part intelligent inference. This is where Conan Doyle was wonderful: he put his own intelligence into his character, and I’m sure Ide has done the same. There have been many attempts to imitate Doyle over the last century; nearly all of them are terrible, as the writers are NOT the geniuses they think they are.
Here, IQ takes the case of the junkyard girl he was mooning over in the previous book. Her mother abandoned her ten years ago, following the murder of her father. Her father had served as an MP in Iraq; it turns out he saw things powerful bad guys didn’t want him to reveal. Now the bad guys are after junkyard girl’s mom and it’s a race to see who will find her first, IQ or the killers. There’s loads of action, clever detective work, and plenty of humanity and humor as IQ deals with his shady and sometimes pushy partner, Dotson.
Here, IQ takes the case of the junkyard girl he was mooning over in the previous book. Her mother abandoned her ten years ago, following the murder of her father. Her father had served as an MP in Iraq; it turns out he saw things powerful bad guys didn’t want him to reveal. Now the bad guys are after junkyard girl’s mom and it’s a race to see who will find her first, IQ or the killers. There’s loads of action, clever detective work, and plenty of humanity and humor as IQ deals with his shady and sometimes pushy partner, Dotson.
October 22, 2018
I liked the first two books in the IQ series, IQ and Righteous, but this one was a lot harder for me to like because of the repeated, detailed descriptions of torture. I’m also a mystery lover, and there really wasn’t much of any mystery in this book. It starts out as a missing-persons case, but it’s not really about that, because it immediately explodes into nonstop violent action, with a dangerous group of disgraced former military and law enforcement coming after Isaiah’s client and, of course, Isaiah himself. There is no mystery to solve, because it’s made clear right from the get-go what this group’s motivation is.
The plus side of the book is getting to know Isaiah better and having him recognize, after years of shutting himself off as a result of his brother’s murder, that he wants to connect to other people. I enjoy the Isaiah character and his quirky circle of helpers, so I don’t want to give up on the series just yet.
To be absolutely clear, my disappointment is because of the level of violence in the book and, less so, the lack of a mystery. Aside from that, it’s a well-written book and manages to be both character-driven and full of action and thrills. A lot of readers will be enthusiastic about the book and understandably so.
The plus side of the book is getting to know Isaiah better and having him recognize, after years of shutting himself off as a result of his brother’s murder, that he wants to connect to other people. I enjoy the Isaiah character and his quirky circle of helpers, so I don’t want to give up on the series just yet.
To be absolutely clear, my disappointment is because of the level of violence in the book and, less so, the lack of a mystery. Aside from that, it’s a well-written book and manages to be both character-driven and full of action and thrills. A lot of readers will be enthusiastic about the book and understandably so.
December 24, 2018
Best in the series. But you have to read the first two outstanding entries before starting this. Characters from the earlier entries reappear, plot threads from the previous entries are neatly wrapped up. Justice prevails.
I’ll try to write a more coherent review post-Christmas Holidays.
Highest recommendation!
I’ll try to write a more coherent review post-Christmas Holidays.
Highest recommendation!
September 7, 2020
EDIT-- I went snooping around the reviews on Hi Five hoping to get a glimpse for whether or not to continue the series. Not only did at least one review point out that the blatant political commentary gets worse AND repetitive (so apparently not just me reading into it), but Ide also used DID with five personalities as a plot point. I get super cranky when the entertainment industry not only exploits DID, but does so with extreme inaccuracy. Laziness, sirs! So there's my answer. It's time for IQ and I to part ways.
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Hands down, Wrecked is my least favorite installment of the IQ trilogy thus far. While elements of Joe Ide's writing style still sucked me in, huge sections either drug on or rubbed me the wrong way.
I love the character arc we see in Dodson as his paternal connection to his son deepens. Also, Ide has a knack for giving his characters their own voice. For example, one particular character had a quirk of speaking in oh-so-close-to-the-right-word synonyms; he had me cracking up as he tried to use every 3+ syllable word he could think of and managed to miss the mark every time by a fraction of an inch.
As the series progresses, the story themes become increasingly brutal and psychological. Torture, rape, and execution casually get tossed around, and yet oddly this installment seemed slower and more plodding than the first two books in the series. The pay-off was a gradual build-up to an OK Corral finish.
My biggest issue with this book was, admittedly, very personal. I'm over political subtext in fiction. If I want political commentary, I'm well aware of where to find it. When I pick up a fiction book, the author can kindly keep their personal political views to themselves. Again, this opinion is very personal and likely wouldn't be a deterrent to lot of readers. Maybe I'm being crabby. But when an author goes out of his way to point out repeatedly that the rapist torturer has very specific political aspirations, yes, call me pissed off and singled out. I'm over the political, nonsensical double standard.
For the reasons of politics and general decline in story speed, I'm questioning if I'll continue this series. For now, I'm not adding the next book to my "To-Read" list.
I'd rate this an R for strong violence, gore, rape, torture, swearing, drug and alcohol use, sexual scenes, and racial slurs.
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Hands down, Wrecked is my least favorite installment of the IQ trilogy thus far. While elements of Joe Ide's writing style still sucked me in, huge sections either drug on or rubbed me the wrong way.
I love the character arc we see in Dodson as his paternal connection to his son deepens. Also, Ide has a knack for giving his characters their own voice. For example, one particular character had a quirk of speaking in oh-so-close-to-the-right-word synonyms; he had me cracking up as he tried to use every 3+ syllable word he could think of and managed to miss the mark every time by a fraction of an inch.
As the series progresses, the story themes become increasingly brutal and psychological. Torture, rape, and execution casually get tossed around, and yet oddly this installment seemed slower and more plodding than the first two books in the series. The pay-off was a gradual build-up to an OK Corral finish.
My biggest issue with this book was, admittedly, very personal. I'm over political subtext in fiction. If I want political commentary, I'm well aware of where to find it. When I pick up a fiction book, the author can kindly keep their personal political views to themselves. Again, this opinion is very personal and likely wouldn't be a deterrent to lot of readers. Maybe I'm being crabby. But when an author goes out of his way to point out repeatedly that the rapist torturer has very specific political aspirations, yes, call me pissed off and singled out. I'm over the political, nonsensical double standard.
For the reasons of politics and general decline in story speed, I'm questioning if I'll continue this series. For now, I'm not adding the next book to my "To-Read" list.
I'd rate this an R for strong violence, gore, rape, torture, swearing, drug and alcohol use, sexual scenes, and racial slurs.
January 17, 2019
This is the 3rd installment of the IQ series. IQ is a young man in South Central LA who solves crimes as a private detective. He is the
Sherlock Holmes of the hood. Fun, fresh series.
Sherlock Holmes of the hood. Fun, fresh series.
October 23, 2018
I really enjoyed the first two IQ novels, but this one was different right from the start. I don't want to say I'm a sucker for what was obviously a ploy for kindling some fan kinship, including a quote from Walter Mosley in the beginning of the book. But I am a sucker for all things Mosley, and, yes, Ide including that quote made me, from the very first words, approach this book with a different mindset.
On the other hand, this is, simply put, a great suspense tale and miniature character(s) study. There are expertly crafted action sequences. There is real, to the bone, soul searching and 20-something angst. Too many laugh-out-loud moments to count.
In the end, this is a book that any fan of mysteries, suspense, action, urban, and/or just plain good writing should enjoy. Maybe not quite five full stars, but definitely more than 4 stars.
On the other hand, this is, simply put, a great suspense tale and miniature character(s) study. There are expertly crafted action sequences. There is real, to the bone, soul searching and 20-something angst. Too many laugh-out-loud moments to count.
In the end, this is a book that any fan of mysteries, suspense, action, urban, and/or just plain good writing should enjoy. Maybe not quite five full stars, but definitely more than 4 stars.
January 6, 2019
Check out my Interview for 2019 with Joe Ide
Story opens with a prologue bringing the reader back to things past, from real world news, ones of past horrors and Abu Ghraib, men and women part of those terrible images of degradation. The first chapter shifts to IQ and his management of business as a pi and trying to get some more monies in, with social media and such, he needs some changes to do and so partnering up with Dodson.
With a new client he finds himself amidst art and trying to feel again, maybe with this case he could have the chances of reigniting some passion and love. This case has him going deeper than he imagined and can he handle it and succeed up against one corrupt nasty Walczak?
For this guy the antagonist there is a big crime sheet and he is ex-CIA, and now with his own seek and destroy and hide, security company.
This time round with Isaiah Quintabe there is only so much time for coffees at The Coffee Cup shop, as there is possible opportunities with romance and the heat is on, and its big, there is a team after his client and himself.
I am happy to say I have been there from the beginning, that is the rise and growth of Isaiah Quintabe on his first episode into narrative in IQ and the second episode Righteous and now here in Wrecked.
Same old IQ, a likeable PI, with style and originality, street smarts, witty dialogue, and this time round wiser, and open for some love, and problem solving with tragedies.
With all the three narratives and chronicles of IQ, the author, Joe Ide has crafted a tale about the alternative American dream, the other side of the fences tale, tales of poetic justice in ways, in pursuit of happiness and what people in the concrete jungle will do for it.
Nicely written modern tragedies, and human terribleness, with some seek out in dangers and correct, saving lives problem solving, in a sharp witty and original style.
Review and Excerpts @ https://more2read.com/review/wrecked-by-joe-ide/
Story opens with a prologue bringing the reader back to things past, from real world news, ones of past horrors and Abu Ghraib, men and women part of those terrible images of degradation. The first chapter shifts to IQ and his management of business as a pi and trying to get some more monies in, with social media and such, he needs some changes to do and so partnering up with Dodson.
With a new client he finds himself amidst art and trying to feel again, maybe with this case he could have the chances of reigniting some passion and love. This case has him going deeper than he imagined and can he handle it and succeed up against one corrupt nasty Walczak?
For this guy the antagonist there is a big crime sheet and he is ex-CIA, and now with his own seek and destroy and hide, security company.
This time round with Isaiah Quintabe there is only so much time for coffees at The Coffee Cup shop, as there is possible opportunities with romance and the heat is on, and its big, there is a team after his client and himself.
I am happy to say I have been there from the beginning, that is the rise and growth of Isaiah Quintabe on his first episode into narrative in IQ and the second episode Righteous and now here in Wrecked.
Same old IQ, a likeable PI, with style and originality, street smarts, witty dialogue, and this time round wiser, and open for some love, and problem solving with tragedies.
With all the three narratives and chronicles of IQ, the author, Joe Ide has crafted a tale about the alternative American dream, the other side of the fences tale, tales of poetic justice in ways, in pursuit of happiness and what people in the concrete jungle will do for it.
Nicely written modern tragedies, and human terribleness, with some seek out in dangers and correct, saving lives problem solving, in a sharp witty and original style.
Review and Excerpts @ https://more2read.com/review/wrecked-by-joe-ide/
February 22, 2019
6.5/10
The concept of a Holmes type sleuth in the ghetto exchanging solutions to mysteries for home baked goods was what drew me to this series, it felt like a unique setting and voice in a densely populated crime/thriller field. However, there was little to no sleuthing in this outing and it felt more like a generic thriller than what I was hoping for.
The characters are still fun to read about but it felt like little to no progression was made with them over this book and the romance aspect felt a bit forced and repetitive the further into the story I got. I wasn’t all that bothered for the mystery either as it felt a bit too far fetched taking on a multimillionaire defence mogul and his team of highly trained army folk when these are just some regular ghetto folk with no real training.
It feels like I’m being harsh on this but I was a bit disappointed as I’ve come to expect good things after a great opening book. I’m not done with the series but I think the next book will sway my opinion on whether I’ll want more.
The concept of a Holmes type sleuth in the ghetto exchanging solutions to mysteries for home baked goods was what drew me to this series, it felt like a unique setting and voice in a densely populated crime/thriller field. However, there was little to no sleuthing in this outing and it felt more like a generic thriller than what I was hoping for.
The characters are still fun to read about but it felt like little to no progression was made with them over this book and the romance aspect felt a bit forced and repetitive the further into the story I got. I wasn’t all that bothered for the mystery either as it felt a bit too far fetched taking on a multimillionaire defence mogul and his team of highly trained army folk when these are just some regular ghetto folk with no real training.
It feels like I’m being harsh on this but I was a bit disappointed as I’ve come to expect good things after a great opening book. I’m not done with the series but I think the next book will sway my opinion on whether I’ll want more.
May 2, 2019
IQ is a poster child for series that start to follow the law of diminishing returs the longer they go on. This is the kind of formulaic, middling book I would have loved a decade ago, tolerated a couple of years ago but don't really have the patience to sift through now. I have read/seen too many versions of this story too many times - Generic hero has to save soulmate from generic villains. The formula can work but it helps if every character in the story is not braindead like they are in Wrecked.
IQ's latest crush Grace is in the bad books of a private military company because her mother is blackmailing them about atrocities they committed in Afghanistan. The premise starts falling apart from the very start. IQ doesn't own a gun and simply is not believable against antagonists who are said to have an army stronger than most countries. And almost every plot development thereafter is stupidity in motion.
IQ knows who is trying to murder him, instead of running to the cops he faces an army with a homemade lighter cum flamethrower and other assorted loony tunes gag items. His logic is that the cops won't act without proof. Let's apply common sense to that without knowing anything about the story - Maybe cops won't arrest a man if I tell them he is trying to kill me but if I drop dead won't he be the obvious suspect? And when the man in question is very wary about his public profile, won't a formal complaint at least put a wrench in his plans? The absurdity is strong on both sides. The private military contractor has every resource at his disposal but he chases IQ with a bunch of has-been drunks suffering from PTSD. His rationale is that the matter is too sensitive. Once again stupid. The whole point of having mercenaries is so that they can handle clandestine issues.
It goes on and on. IQ is almost killed about once a day for a few days and goes on like nothing really happened. The villain has IQ in his crosshairs about five hundred times and some farfetched coincidence saves IQ every time. If they had half a brain between them this would be over in thirty pages instead of three hundred.
The book shows why Ide never really hacked it as a scriptwriter, he throws a lot into the narrative but none of them seems to bear any weight. Grace has a tragic past, dramatic moments fill the gap between action scenes, there is also a tender romance brewing but all of it feels perfunctory. Ide actually reminded me of another bestselling thriller writer - David Baldacci. Every time they try to write moments of genuine pathos or poignance, their limitations appear obvious.
There is a slightly better subplot featuring IQ's friend Dodson being blackmailed. A hanging strand from the previous book (fate of IQ's brother's killer) is wrapped up as an afterthought. It is forced into the narrative unceremoniously and also cheapens the ending of the previous book. It felt very strange to me, like Ide had bigger plans for that character and changed it at the last moment.
Don't get me wrong I am not an old curmudgeon, I like genre fiction. But in stories with plots as ridiculous as this one, the writer really needs to sell me his basic premise. Ide fails at that hurdle, instead making both the hero and villain appear inept to keep the plot moving. Not absolute trash but completely trite. Rating - 2/5.
IQ's latest crush Grace is in the bad books of a private military company because her mother is blackmailing them about atrocities they committed in Afghanistan. The premise starts falling apart from the very start. IQ doesn't own a gun and simply is not believable against antagonists who are said to have an army stronger than most countries. And almost every plot development thereafter is stupidity in motion.
IQ knows who is trying to murder him, instead of running to the cops he faces an army with a homemade lighter cum flamethrower and other assorted loony tunes gag items. His logic is that the cops won't act without proof. Let's apply common sense to that without knowing anything about the story - Maybe cops won't arrest a man if I tell them he is trying to kill me but if I drop dead won't he be the obvious suspect? And when the man in question is very wary about his public profile, won't a formal complaint at least put a wrench in his plans? The absurdity is strong on both sides. The private military contractor has every resource at his disposal but he chases IQ with a bunch of has-been drunks suffering from PTSD. His rationale is that the matter is too sensitive. Once again stupid. The whole point of having mercenaries is so that they can handle clandestine issues.
It goes on and on. IQ is almost killed about once a day for a few days and goes on like nothing really happened. The villain has IQ in his crosshairs about five hundred times and some farfetched coincidence saves IQ every time. If they had half a brain between them this would be over in thirty pages instead of three hundred.
The book shows why Ide never really hacked it as a scriptwriter, he throws a lot into the narrative but none of them seems to bear any weight. Grace has a tragic past, dramatic moments fill the gap between action scenes, there is also a tender romance brewing but all of it feels perfunctory. Ide actually reminded me of another bestselling thriller writer - David Baldacci. Every time they try to write moments of genuine pathos or poignance, their limitations appear obvious.
There is a slightly better subplot featuring IQ's friend Dodson being blackmailed. A hanging strand from the previous book (fate of IQ's brother's killer) is wrapped up as an afterthought. It is forced into the narrative unceremoniously and also cheapens the ending of the previous book. It felt very strange to me, like Ide had bigger plans for that character and changed it at the last moment.
Don't get me wrong I am not an old curmudgeon, I like genre fiction. But in stories with plots as ridiculous as this one, the writer really needs to sell me his basic premise. Ide fails at that hurdle, instead making both the hero and villain appear inept to keep the plot moving. Not absolute trash but completely trite. Rating - 2/5.
July 31, 2018
Isaiah Quintabe (IQ), a young private investigator, is smarter than everyone else. He serves his Long Beach community by solving his neighbor’s problems, and he is very good at it – but not so good at getting paid, often as not accepting trade or goods in lieu of money. While he’s still waiting on a promised reindeer sweater, his long-time running buddy Dodson offers to join the otherwise successful one-man agency and turn it into a profitable enterprise while at the same time solving his own cash-flow problems. Just as IQ and Dodson’s mutual past is catching up with them, IQ’s attention is caught by the artist Grace, a complicated young woman who happens to need a private investigator. Her long-lost mother is wanted for murder.
The story opens with a punch, takes off running and doesn’t let up. I read it in two days.
Each of the IQ novels is unique. The first book, IQ, is a fresh take on traditional mystery and has been nominated for just above every award out there, winning the Anthony, Macavity, and Shamus. RIGHTEOUS, a psychological thriller and second in the series, was aptly described as part Tarantino, part Sherlock Holmes.
WRECKED, the third book, is as gritty as the others, maybe even a grittier, yet also explores more tender topics. Why do people reach out to each other? What makes them resist? What bonds them? What destroys those bonds? Good and evil, love and hate, altruism and avarice, art and atrocity, loyalty and betrayal, and that strange phenomenon when someone recognizes of a kindred soul are all mixed together with two life or death ticking clocks in an ever-tightening web.
Set for publication in October of 2018, WRECKED is a thinking, feeling thriller with plenty of action and a satisfying ending. Five stars.
The story opens with a punch, takes off running and doesn’t let up. I read it in two days.
Each of the IQ novels is unique. The first book, IQ, is a fresh take on traditional mystery and has been nominated for just above every award out there, winning the Anthony, Macavity, and Shamus. RIGHTEOUS, a psychological thriller and second in the series, was aptly described as part Tarantino, part Sherlock Holmes.
WRECKED, the third book, is as gritty as the others, maybe even a grittier, yet also explores more tender topics. Why do people reach out to each other? What makes them resist? What bonds them? What destroys those bonds? Good and evil, love and hate, altruism and avarice, art and atrocity, loyalty and betrayal, and that strange phenomenon when someone recognizes of a kindred soul are all mixed together with two life or death ticking clocks in an ever-tightening web.
Set for publication in October of 2018, WRECKED is a thinking, feeling thriller with plenty of action and a satisfying ending. Five stars.
September 24, 2018
Private Investigator Isaiah “IQ” Quintabe is back for another adventure in Joe Ide’s (Righteous, 2017) exceptional third novel.
IQ’s Long Beach-based PI firm has officially taken off. However, while Quintabe’s popularity soars, his bank account apparently never gets the memo. While solving all the problems in his neighborhood has him well-liked by everyone in the area, IQ’s reputation for taking non-money forms of payment has gotten around. That’s great if you’re in need of a Christmas sweater, which one client offered to trade for his services, but it isn’t exactly paying the bills.
To turn things around financially, Dodson, who is now a full-time business partner, has a vision of taking IQ’s services mainstream, even going as far as to set up a Facebook page and do a little advertising. More of a street hustler than his genius detective counterpart, Dodson adopts a new no-more-freebies policy. Things, though, don’t go according to plan when Grace Monarova enters IQ’s world and needs help.
An up-and-coming artist, Grace approaches IQ and asks him to help her track down her mother, Sarah. In exchange, she offers him a painting, which he accepts . . . more because he’s sweet on Grace, and less because he has a perfect spot on the wall all picked out to hang a new piece of art. As Quintabe goes to work, he learns rather quickly that Grace failed to tell him a few key details about her mother’s current situation. Like, for example, that she’s a . . .
Continue reading this review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2018/09/23...
IQ’s Long Beach-based PI firm has officially taken off. However, while Quintabe’s popularity soars, his bank account apparently never gets the memo. While solving all the problems in his neighborhood has him well-liked by everyone in the area, IQ’s reputation for taking non-money forms of payment has gotten around. That’s great if you’re in need of a Christmas sweater, which one client offered to trade for his services, but it isn’t exactly paying the bills.
To turn things around financially, Dodson, who is now a full-time business partner, has a vision of taking IQ’s services mainstream, even going as far as to set up a Facebook page and do a little advertising. More of a street hustler than his genius detective counterpart, Dodson adopts a new no-more-freebies policy. Things, though, don’t go according to plan when Grace Monarova enters IQ’s world and needs help.
An up-and-coming artist, Grace approaches IQ and asks him to help her track down her mother, Sarah. In exchange, she offers him a painting, which he accepts . . . more because he’s sweet on Grace, and less because he has a perfect spot on the wall all picked out to hang a new piece of art. As Quintabe goes to work, he learns rather quickly that Grace failed to tell him a few key details about her mother’s current situation. Like, for example, that she’s a . . .
Continue reading this review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2018/09/23...
June 25, 2018
Joe Ide was kind enough to send me an ARC of this title. I own his previous two books, with the same protagonist (IQ).
The first two books were fairly quick reads .... the first one, however, had a lot of 'hood slang talk, which I had trouble with at first. By the time this 3rd volume was in my hands, I had the hang of it.
This volume was far more "busy" than the other two. Many subplots, much more "humanness", a developing love relationship, observations regarding racial relations, fatherhood, a mother-in-law,
business partner relationships, even a pet dog is involved.
Although not until the very last 2 or 3 pages is anything mentioned about PTSD, what IS mentioned and described is right on the button accurate. I knew right away what the author was talking about.
Several times, I had to flip back in the book - to remind myself who a certain character was. This is a fast-moving adventure with many side stories. Keeps your interest throughout. I hope that some of the side stories in this book will be expanded upon in future works.
The first two books were fairly quick reads .... the first one, however, had a lot of 'hood slang talk, which I had trouble with at first. By the time this 3rd volume was in my hands, I had the hang of it.
This volume was far more "busy" than the other two. Many subplots, much more "humanness", a developing love relationship, observations regarding racial relations, fatherhood, a mother-in-law,
business partner relationships, even a pet dog is involved.
Although not until the very last 2 or 3 pages is anything mentioned about PTSD, what IS mentioned and described is right on the button accurate. I knew right away what the author was talking about.
Several times, I had to flip back in the book - to remind myself who a certain character was. This is a fast-moving adventure with many side stories. Keeps your interest throughout. I hope that some of the side stories in this book will be expanded upon in future works.
October 8, 2018
Wrecked is pretty much nonstop action the moment all of the main characters are introduced. It packs a punch and had awesome plot progression.
Basically, it’s a battle between a team of giant assholes—who literally raped and tortured and killed on a regular basis—and Isaiah and his team. The baddies are especially bad and my god I wanted all of them dead after what they did and said. The author definitely had a sense of justice because I would’ve rioted if they hadn’t gotten their comeuppance.
Isaiah’s fascination with Grace didn’t do much for me. I might have felt differently if I had read the previous two books, but as a newcomer I didn’t much care about the romance and didn’t feel like it added anything to the overall story. Sans that it was a badass book of near constant action and a fleshed out black man as the lead. It’s a win overall despite the lackluster romance.
Basically, it’s a battle between a team of giant assholes—who literally raped and tortured and killed on a regular basis—and Isaiah and his team. The baddies are especially bad and my god I wanted all of them dead after what they did and said. The author definitely had a sense of justice because I would’ve rioted if they hadn’t gotten their comeuppance.
Isaiah’s fascination with Grace didn’t do much for me. I might have felt differently if I had read the previous two books, but as a newcomer I didn’t much care about the romance and didn’t feel like it added anything to the overall story. Sans that it was a badass book of near constant action and a fleshed out black man as the lead. It’s a win overall despite the lackluster romance.
April 21, 2021
Isaiah and Dodson are back, and more at odds about Isaiah's services and remuneration than ever. Dodson has a child now, and is hellbent on giving Isaiah's services a legitimacy and the feel of an actual business that gets paid in more than just chickens or sweaters.
Almost as soon as Isaiah agrees to what Dodson proposes, he takes on a case to help Grace, the reclusive and secretive young woman he met in the previous book. She wants help finding her mother, and there are several, dangerous people after both women, as Isaiah quickly discovers.
Isaiah and Dodson aren’t together for a lot of the book, and I missed the often aggrieved manner, even while friendly, Dodson displays with Isaiah. Isaiah proves, again, that his big brain is unmatched, and the book was a good mix of sad, shocking, scary and sweet.
Almost as soon as Isaiah agrees to what Dodson proposes, he takes on a case to help Grace, the reclusive and secretive young woman he met in the previous book. She wants help finding her mother, and there are several, dangerous people after both women, as Isaiah quickly discovers.
Isaiah and Dodson aren’t together for a lot of the book, and I missed the often aggrieved manner, even while friendly, Dodson displays with Isaiah. Isaiah proves, again, that his big brain is unmatched, and the book was a good mix of sad, shocking, scary and sweet.
April 24, 2020
I enjoy this series so much! If you haven't tried this series yet and are looking for an audio book that is excellently narrated I highly recommend this series. Ide writing is so smooth and engaging and Sullivan Jones knocks the narration out of the park. This was a fun fast paced story that leads to some pretty big changes for Isiah and I am looking forward to the next installment.
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
November 3, 2018
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
What happens when you share a cup of tea with a person at more than one occasion? You gain knowledge, knowledge on who they are and how they are with you. Through repetition you notice the little things that make them special, whether it is in a good light or not. It’s this process of getting to know the person that becomes valuable as you change in your way of behaving around that person and start to have a better idea of what you can or can’t expect of someone. That’s how I now feel about the protagonist of Joe Ide’s IQ detective series. Meeting Isaiah Quintabe, also known as IQ, was simply magical as his mannerism and understanding of people and the world reminds you of the world’s greatest detective Sherlock Holmes, but with a touch of singularity as he lives in East Long Beach and solves local crime without asking much in return. With a partner who hustles for a living, Dodson serves as his Watson and together they make an unforgettable and hilarious duo.
In this third adventure, Isaiah Quintabe finds himself facing the most dangerous threat yet and that is an understatement. Now that his services are known by just about everyone and their grandmother, his trusted sidekick looks to turn it all into an official private investigation business where Christmas sweaters and favours aren’t the main currency and reward for their crime-solving skills. As they kick things off quickly, IQ is also reached out by a young painter who wishes to track down her missing mother. While she has been an interest for IQ to fill the relationship gap that has been plaguing his life, it also so happens that her mother is linked to a paramilitary organization who have been involved in one of the most controversial event in history that took place in the Abu Ghraib prison. As the mess gets worse by the hour, Dodson is also tossed into an impending disaster as the past comes hunting him regarding a buried murder incident.
This felt like a return to form for IQ. While the first book was a wonderful hit, the second one vainly tried to dig itself out of a hole. But this third book quickly found a wonderful pace and delivered everything else, from character development to plot resolution, just as swiftly. What I liked is how much darker things got in this story as torture, both mental and physical, takes on a living form and becomes a lurking creature throughout the whole mystery. The fact that the stakes where much bigger and the situation much more dangerous for our local heroes made things so much more intriguing, and actually challenged IQ into being the problem-solver that I knew him to be. His deduction skills don’t only showcase his brain power, but also modulates according to his emotions. In fact, romance was such a huge deal in the previous book but it was never executed properly, but in Wrecked, the love interest is intriguing and the connection between the characters are far more authentic and natural.
The use of multiple point of views has been a rocky literary decision for Joe Ide, but it was slightly better done here and I believe it all came down to who’s point of view it was. In fact, the reason why it was such a struggle in the past is because some characters were simply less interesting than others and whenever those characters were given the spotlight, it simply disrupted the reading flow. In Wrecked, the multiple point of views is much more refined and gives us a better understanding of so many characters through past or current events. On top of that, the banter between a lot of these characters are a lot more enjoyable this time around, especially with Dodson and his ex-girlfriend Deronda who just have some of the best repartee in the game.
Wrecked has everything that explains why I enjoy my time with IQ. Clear and vivid story-telling, unique and lively characters, and clever resolutions. With the latest installment delivering a great story, I just can’t wait to see what else Joe Ide is able to deliver with IQ.
Thank you to Hachette Book Group Canada for sending me a copy for review!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
What happens when you share a cup of tea with a person at more than one occasion? You gain knowledge, knowledge on who they are and how they are with you. Through repetition you notice the little things that make them special, whether it is in a good light or not. It’s this process of getting to know the person that becomes valuable as you change in your way of behaving around that person and start to have a better idea of what you can or can’t expect of someone. That’s how I now feel about the protagonist of Joe Ide’s IQ detective series. Meeting Isaiah Quintabe, also known as IQ, was simply magical as his mannerism and understanding of people and the world reminds you of the world’s greatest detective Sherlock Holmes, but with a touch of singularity as he lives in East Long Beach and solves local crime without asking much in return. With a partner who hustles for a living, Dodson serves as his Watson and together they make an unforgettable and hilarious duo.
In this third adventure, Isaiah Quintabe finds himself facing the most dangerous threat yet and that is an understatement. Now that his services are known by just about everyone and their grandmother, his trusted sidekick looks to turn it all into an official private investigation business where Christmas sweaters and favours aren’t the main currency and reward for their crime-solving skills. As they kick things off quickly, IQ is also reached out by a young painter who wishes to track down her missing mother. While she has been an interest for IQ to fill the relationship gap that has been plaguing his life, it also so happens that her mother is linked to a paramilitary organization who have been involved in one of the most controversial event in history that took place in the Abu Ghraib prison. As the mess gets worse by the hour, Dodson is also tossed into an impending disaster as the past comes hunting him regarding a buried murder incident.
This felt like a return to form for IQ. While the first book was a wonderful hit, the second one vainly tried to dig itself out of a hole. But this third book quickly found a wonderful pace and delivered everything else, from character development to plot resolution, just as swiftly. What I liked is how much darker things got in this story as torture, both mental and physical, takes on a living form and becomes a lurking creature throughout the whole mystery. The fact that the stakes where much bigger and the situation much more dangerous for our local heroes made things so much more intriguing, and actually challenged IQ into being the problem-solver that I knew him to be. His deduction skills don’t only showcase his brain power, but also modulates according to his emotions. In fact, romance was such a huge deal in the previous book but it was never executed properly, but in Wrecked, the love interest is intriguing and the connection between the characters are far more authentic and natural.
The use of multiple point of views has been a rocky literary decision for Joe Ide, but it was slightly better done here and I believe it all came down to who’s point of view it was. In fact, the reason why it was such a struggle in the past is because some characters were simply less interesting than others and whenever those characters were given the spotlight, it simply disrupted the reading flow. In Wrecked, the multiple point of views is much more refined and gives us a better understanding of so many characters through past or current events. On top of that, the banter between a lot of these characters are a lot more enjoyable this time around, especially with Dodson and his ex-girlfriend Deronda who just have some of the best repartee in the game.
Wrecked has everything that explains why I enjoy my time with IQ. Clear and vivid story-telling, unique and lively characters, and clever resolutions. With the latest installment delivering a great story, I just can’t wait to see what else Joe Ide is able to deliver with IQ.
Thank you to Hachette Book Group Canada for sending me a copy for review!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
July 12, 2023
Wow. This was a terrific entry in the IQ series and perhaps, the best thus far (although that’s a tough call, as the first two were also excellent).
We return to Long Beach, CA and the local hero, one Isiah Quintabe (hence the IQ), who is a sort of informal private investigator for his community. A lousy businessman, IQ doesn’t demand payment and often accepts gifts in trade instead of money. So when his friend, Juanell Dodson proposes to partner with him and handle the finances and fees, IQ reluctantly agrees. Dodson adds some comic relief to the story, but a rather more compelling character is a female artist called Grace with whom Isiah falls in love. She has some dark secrets that prevent her from freely reciprocating his affections despite wanting to do so. Theirs is a touching and relatable struggle for connection that adds a wonderful layer of depth to IQ.
It wouldn’t be an IQ book without some serious bad guys, and on this count, Ide delivers in spades. These are some seriously evil bastards, all of whom did deplorable things to prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison while in the military. Things for which they are willing to kill in order that some clandestine photos of their activities remain unseen.
The remaining plot lines are well worth the reading and the author has done a great job of imparting tension and a sense of place, making this a true page turner. Read this series in order for the best results and enjoy the ride. 4.5 stars.
We return to Long Beach, CA and the local hero, one Isiah Quintabe (hence the IQ), who is a sort of informal private investigator for his community. A lousy businessman, IQ doesn’t demand payment and often accepts gifts in trade instead of money. So when his friend, Juanell Dodson proposes to partner with him and handle the finances and fees, IQ reluctantly agrees. Dodson adds some comic relief to the story, but a rather more compelling character is a female artist called Grace with whom Isiah falls in love. She has some dark secrets that prevent her from freely reciprocating his affections despite wanting to do so. Theirs is a touching and relatable struggle for connection that adds a wonderful layer of depth to IQ.
It wouldn’t be an IQ book without some serious bad guys, and on this count, Ide delivers in spades. These are some seriously evil bastards, all of whom did deplorable things to prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison while in the military. Things for which they are willing to kill in order that some clandestine photos of their activities remain unseen.
The remaining plot lines are well worth the reading and the author has done a great job of imparting tension and a sense of place, making this a true page turner. Read this series in order for the best results and enjoy the ride. 4.5 stars.
December 15, 2018
Excellent. A little excessively coincidental at times, but that’s uncommon for books of this genre.
December 23, 2018
5-Stars. Terrific fun throughout. Once again Joe Ide thrills and entertains!
Time has passed, IQ and Dodson have had successes, one of which comes back to haunt them in the lesser of the two main plots of Wrecked
The other is a solidly constructed "missing person" case, more complicated than it looks. Ide confidently draws these characters, presents his usual excellent and sharp dialogue, and moves to a very satisfying conclusion for both plots. Toss in some sub-plots with previous villains and you have a delicious mix of action, planning and personalities. Wonderful!
Ide clearly loves his characters, and imbues them with personality and human drives and foibles. As usual, this was a rush for me, reading almost straight through in two sittings.
I particularly like the hesitant romance between IQ and his client... very sweet indeed. Even Dodson grows more real, and even a bit fatherly here. His partner, Cherise, is solid and smart and loving. She sees in Dodson traits that we don't always behold. Very sweet.
Be warned, there are some torture scenes, which you can skim. They are only a 5/10 on the scale of brutality for me.
A thoroughly wonderful, fun and exciting next book for IQ and associates.
Quotes and notes:
Nobody in the top brass got busted. Not a single one. Not the brigade commander, prison commander, operational supervisor, or anybody else above the rank of sergeant. All they got was a reprimand.
She was one of those people who was right about everything and knew the proper way, the only way, to do everything from making a pie crust and removing stains to child-rearing and dealing with the white man.
she saw a story on the news about high-quality fake IDs from China. You could buy them online for two hundred bucks. Same card material, thickness, bar code, photo, font, even the hologram was perfect. They made them for twenty different states.
She had come to believe kindness was the most important quality a person could have, the paucity of it in her life making it all the more cherished.
There were a million other things, meaningless now that they were gone. She wondered why the stuff had mattered at all and why they’d squandered so much of their time on life’s detritus instead of each other.
Time has passed, IQ and Dodson have had successes, one of which comes back to haunt them in the lesser of the two main plots of Wrecked
The other is a solidly constructed "missing person" case, more complicated than it looks. Ide confidently draws these characters, presents his usual excellent and sharp dialogue, and moves to a very satisfying conclusion for both plots. Toss in some sub-plots with previous villains and you have a delicious mix of action, planning and personalities. Wonderful!
Ide clearly loves his characters, and imbues them with personality and human drives and foibles. As usual, this was a rush for me, reading almost straight through in two sittings.
I particularly like the hesitant romance between IQ and his client... very sweet indeed. Even Dodson grows more real, and even a bit fatherly here. His partner, Cherise, is solid and smart and loving. She sees in Dodson traits that we don't always behold. Very sweet.
Be warned, there are some torture scenes, which you can skim. They are only a 5/10 on the scale of brutality for me.
A thoroughly wonderful, fun and exciting next book for IQ and associates.
Quotes and notes:
Nobody in the top brass got busted. Not a single one. Not the brigade commander, prison commander, operational supervisor, or anybody else above the rank of sergeant. All they got was a reprimand.
She was one of those people who was right about everything and knew the proper way, the only way, to do everything from making a pie crust and removing stains to child-rearing and dealing with the white man.
she saw a story on the news about high-quality fake IDs from China. You could buy them online for two hundred bucks. Same card material, thickness, bar code, photo, font, even the hologram was perfect. They made them for twenty different states.
She had come to believe kindness was the most important quality a person could have, the paucity of it in her life making it all the more cherished.
There were a million other things, meaningless now that they were gone. She wondered why the stuff had mattered at all and why they’d squandered so much of their time on life’s detritus instead of each other.
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