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IQ #5
Smoke
In East Long Beach, California, 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.
A high school dropout, Isaiah Quintabe's unassuming nature disguises a ferocious intelligence. Most people call him IQ. Word has gotten around: if you've got a problem, Isaiah will solve it, his rates adjustable to your income or lack thereof.
In this fifth book in the IQ series, IQ is back, with the same larger-than-life characters and pulse-pounding action fans love--all leading up to a twist even a genius can't see coming.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 23, 2021
318 people are currently reading
1166 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 315 reviews
February 21, 2021
Joe Ide writes a fabulously inspired addition to his East Long Beach, LA based series featuring Isaiah 'IQ' Quintabe series, with his Watson sidekick, Juanell Dodson. However, after events in the last book, Isaiah has been forced to leave and head north, having broken up with the love of his life, artist Grace and leaving behind pitbull dog, Ruffin. With vicious and deadly gangs after him, the violence and danger of his life has taken its toll on his mental health, he is anxious, nervous and depressed, suffering severe PTSD symptoms, all of which pushes him to no longer want to be a detective, it is time to move on. However, the universe and fate has other plans in store for him. In sharp contrast, Dodson grows and develops into the space vacated by his friend, IQ, stepping up with panache.
Isaiah finds himself letting the young Billy Sorenson stay with him, not that he is happy with this state of affairs, Billy has a wild and off the rails life behind him, and has escaped from the neuropsychiatric wing of the county hospital. Billy has strong feelings for Ava, the twin sister of the brutally murdered Hannah, and has illegally downloaded the police files on her murder, and sent them to Ava. He and Ava are convinced that she has been killed by the AMSAK serial killer, and they feel they know who he is. However, no-one believes them, and Isaiah himself has doubts, as he reluctantly starts going through the police files. Cherise, Dodson's wife, has reached the end of her tether with Juanell and his continuous unemployed status, she is determined that he should raise his game and become the financial provider she and their young child need. To this end, she has issued an ultimatum, and found him an internship at Apex Advertising.
Dodson has never held down a legitimate job in his life, and his life has been shaped by the hood and its gangster culture, and if he is to hold down a job in a white man's world, he is convinced he needs serious help to help him to adapt. Cherise has that covered, so to great hilarity, Dodson finds himself facing a education and makeover, guided by Gloria, the mother-in-law that has always hated him. To Dodson's surprise, he finds advertising is no different from his hustling and con merchant past, as he proves to have a talent for the business, although is this really what he wants to do with his life? Furthermore, as people in the community find themselves facing serious problems, like Deronda and Grace, it is Dodson that steps into the breach that IQ would have filled, and he is real good, so good that maybe he has a future as a fixer?
There is so much going on in this addition, and a huge cast list to get your head around, as the characters and perameters shift and change, for IQ, but even more so for Dodson and the greater part played by the East Long Beach community. All of these changes serve to re-energise the series and characters with a verve and vibrancy that augurs well for the future of the series, a testament to the remarkable foresight and skills of Joe Ide. This is a unmissable, fun and entertaining read which I loved, the only fly in the ointment, the cliffhanger ending. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
Isaiah finds himself letting the young Billy Sorenson stay with him, not that he is happy with this state of affairs, Billy has a wild and off the rails life behind him, and has escaped from the neuropsychiatric wing of the county hospital. Billy has strong feelings for Ava, the twin sister of the brutally murdered Hannah, and has illegally downloaded the police files on her murder, and sent them to Ava. He and Ava are convinced that she has been killed by the AMSAK serial killer, and they feel they know who he is. However, no-one believes them, and Isaiah himself has doubts, as he reluctantly starts going through the police files. Cherise, Dodson's wife, has reached the end of her tether with Juanell and his continuous unemployed status, she is determined that he should raise his game and become the financial provider she and their young child need. To this end, she has issued an ultimatum, and found him an internship at Apex Advertising.
Dodson has never held down a legitimate job in his life, and his life has been shaped by the hood and its gangster culture, and if he is to hold down a job in a white man's world, he is convinced he needs serious help to help him to adapt. Cherise has that covered, so to great hilarity, Dodson finds himself facing a education and makeover, guided by Gloria, the mother-in-law that has always hated him. To Dodson's surprise, he finds advertising is no different from his hustling and con merchant past, as he proves to have a talent for the business, although is this really what he wants to do with his life? Furthermore, as people in the community find themselves facing serious problems, like Deronda and Grace, it is Dodson that steps into the breach that IQ would have filled, and he is real good, so good that maybe he has a future as a fixer?
There is so much going on in this addition, and a huge cast list to get your head around, as the characters and perameters shift and change, for IQ, but even more so for Dodson and the greater part played by the East Long Beach community. All of these changes serve to re-energise the series and characters with a verve and vibrancy that augurs well for the future of the series, a testament to the remarkable foresight and skills of Joe Ide. This is a unmissable, fun and entertaining read which I loved, the only fly in the ointment, the cliffhanger ending. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
February 27, 2021
Ide’s fifth offering in the Isaiah ‘IQ’ Quintabe series has the East Long Beach neighborhood detective suffering from PTSD and escaping to the relative quiet of Coronado Springs in Northern California. His solitude is promptly disrupted by Billy Sorenson, who has just escaped from the neuropsychiatric wing of the county hospital. Billy is obsessed with tracking down the AMSAK serial killer. But is this ‘real’ or the figment of an over-active imagination?
Meanwhile, back in East LA, Cherise has secured an internship position for her chronically unemployed husband, Juanell Dodson, with Apex Advertising. Cherise’s mom, Gloria, helps with Dodson’s makeover for the job—and it is hilarious. Surprisingly, Dodson’s creativity and street-smart marketing skills are perfect for the job.
Ide’s idiosyncratic novels are chock-full of characters and sub-plots. There is the former hit man and pit bull breeder who is determined to assassinate Isaiah. (Isaiah was the man who put him behind bars.) He has decided to go after Isaiah’s girlfriend, Grace, in order to use her as ‘bait’. There is also Deronda, the food-truck entrepreneur who is beset upon by an extortionist.
IQ rarely uses lethal force himself, relying primarily on his intellect and deductive reasoning skills. Regardless, Ide reminds us that “the consequences of violence are crippling even if it is righteous”. Enjoy this fun, action-packed tale.
Meanwhile, back in East LA, Cherise has secured an internship position for her chronically unemployed husband, Juanell Dodson, with Apex Advertising. Cherise’s mom, Gloria, helps with Dodson’s makeover for the job—and it is hilarious. Surprisingly, Dodson’s creativity and street-smart marketing skills are perfect for the job.
Ide’s idiosyncratic novels are chock-full of characters and sub-plots. There is the former hit man and pit bull breeder who is determined to assassinate Isaiah. (Isaiah was the man who put him behind bars.) He has decided to go after Isaiah’s girlfriend, Grace, in order to use her as ‘bait’. There is also Deronda, the food-truck entrepreneur who is beset upon by an extortionist.
IQ rarely uses lethal force himself, relying primarily on his intellect and deductive reasoning skills. Regardless, Ide reminds us that “the consequences of violence are crippling even if it is righteous”. Enjoy this fun, action-packed tale.
November 29, 2020
I adored the first book in this series, but have struggled with them a little since. I initially put it down to the increased presence of IQ's friend Dodson but in reality in this outing, Dodson's storyline is the highlight. Here he becomes an intern at an ad agency in an attempt to go straight and prove himself to his wife and child, but he ends up being an unlikely source of inspiration for his jaded mentor.
IQ's on the run trying to keep his girlfriend Grace safe and staving off any attention but of course it finds him and he's co-opted into the hunt for a serial killer. Or two. The coincidence of that storyline was perhaps a little too contrived and things worked out a little too neatly.
I must admit, despite my early love for this series I almost put this book down in the early stages. Ide include so many names and so much detail that seems extraneous to the plot that it feels overwhelming. And as he's introduced more central characters my interest becomes more scattered. I tend to shut down or stop caring.
I like the storylines and characters of this series but wonder if more rigour needs to go into the editing process? In addition to the excess detail there were a couple of issues with continuity.
2.5 - 3 stars
IQ's on the run trying to keep his girlfriend Grace safe and staving off any attention but of course it finds him and he's co-opted into the hunt for a serial killer. Or two. The coincidence of that storyline was perhaps a little too contrived and things worked out a little too neatly.
I must admit, despite my early love for this series I almost put this book down in the early stages. Ide include so many names and so much detail that seems extraneous to the plot that it feels overwhelming. And as he's introduced more central characters my interest becomes more scattered. I tend to shut down or stop caring.
I like the storylines and characters of this series but wonder if more rigour needs to go into the editing process? In addition to the excess detail there were a couple of issues with continuity.
2.5 - 3 stars
February 23, 2021
Smoke is the fifth instalment in the East Long Beach, LA based series featuring unlicensed Private Investigator Isaiah ”IQ” Quintabe, with his sidekick, Juanell Dodson. With news that recently paroled hitman, Magnus Vestergard, aka Skip Hanson, is hunting him down, IQ decides not only to flee town but to retire from criminal investigation, too. Heading towards Northern California for a fresh start he's hopeful of relative anonymity and a place to try to heal as he is suffering from severe PTSD. He realises he must focus on his mental health and try to reduce the heightened state of anxiety, depression and skittishness he now associates with his job. He ends up in Coronado Springs, a rural town near Lake Tahoe and rents a one-bedroom house, abandoning partner, painter Grace, and their playful pitbull, Ruffin, and leaving them far behind him in Long Beach but sometimes the hardest decisions turn out to be the best. However, his short-lived peace and chance at recovery is quickly shattered when escaped psychiatric patient Billy Sorensen breaks into his home to steal food. Billy claims that a serial killer, known as AMSAK because his 17 victims were dumped near the Sacramento and American rivers, is headed to Coronado Springs—and that he knows AMSAK’s identity. Reluctantly, Isaiah agreed to investigate.
This is a riveting, compulsive and hard-hitting story and from the very beginning, Ide has you by the throat hanging on his every word. It's exceptionally gritty and authentically realistic in a way that not many thrillers are and the exploration of both IQ’s personal life and strife, and the search for an unhinged serial killer are threads that are both woven superbly complementing each other exceptionally well; I loved every second of it. Ide is a fantastic protagonist who is simultaneously hard as nails and compassionate; he has a heart, is intelligent and is flawed and human making him fiercely relatable and his profound suffering due to all of the symptoms associated with his particularly harsh strain of PTSD is well researched and true to life in terms of accuracy. There is suspense on suspense on suspense, and I found my pulse racing at points when the developments were coming thick and fast. There are a plethora of superbly executed twists throughout that I was not expecting and in places it was heartbreaking hearing the troubles IQ was going through at the mercy of his mental health. A fast-paced, engrossing and well-woven thriller that is so much more than just thrills and kills; it has a deep emotional intelligence and cleverness about it, too. Highly recommended to those who prefer the thinking man’s thriller to anything bold, brash or brassy.
This is a riveting, compulsive and hard-hitting story and from the very beginning, Ide has you by the throat hanging on his every word. It's exceptionally gritty and authentically realistic in a way that not many thrillers are and the exploration of both IQ’s personal life and strife, and the search for an unhinged serial killer are threads that are both woven superbly complementing each other exceptionally well; I loved every second of it. Ide is a fantastic protagonist who is simultaneously hard as nails and compassionate; he has a heart, is intelligent and is flawed and human making him fiercely relatable and his profound suffering due to all of the symptoms associated with his particularly harsh strain of PTSD is well researched and true to life in terms of accuracy. There is suspense on suspense on suspense, and I found my pulse racing at points when the developments were coming thick and fast. There are a plethora of superbly executed twists throughout that I was not expecting and in places it was heartbreaking hearing the troubles IQ was going through at the mercy of his mental health. A fast-paced, engrossing and well-woven thriller that is so much more than just thrills and kills; it has a deep emotional intelligence and cleverness about it, too. Highly recommended to those who prefer the thinking man’s thriller to anything bold, brash or brassy.
March 20, 2021
Joe Ide steers his marvelous character Isaiah Quintabe( I Q) in a different direction in this fifth offering. Afflicted with PTSD as a result of his activities in his East Long Beach hometown, I Q heads north for a remote town outside of Sacramento, California. His purpose is twofold. He wants to escape from the vengeance seeking gangs of Long Beach while re-examining his life, hoping to discover a more peaceful way to live. He has left behind his girlfriend Grace and is not in regular contact with his best friend Juanell Dodson.
This geographical separation sets up the two major storylines. Isaiah,despite his desire for a contemplative life, gets involved with two young people who are searching for a serial killer. His efforts to protect the young people lead him into the danger and violence so familiar to him, requiring the street smarts and deductive skill that have defined his core. Dodson,a natural born street hustler, is issued an ultimatum by his long suffering yet loving wife Cherise. She is worn out by the uncertainty of Dodson’s life style and demands that he step up to be a better provider and role model for their young son.
Isaiah’s arc in this story is filled with his usual panache but laced with ever present contemplation in hopes of altering his life path.Dodson’s path is filled with humor and is incisively described as he adapts his street hustling skills to the corporate world of advertising .At the same time, he still is able to use his long developed neighborhood skills to help recurring characters Deronda and Grace with problems in their lives.
At its core, this book is a coming of age novel about these disadvantaged urban millennials as they employ their capabilities to create a coherent life. Joe Ide has an uncanny eye for setting and a remarkable ear for dialogue. At the end of a satisfying day, Dodson sits down to enjoy a bowl of his beloved cereal,Cocoa Puffs. As he eats, he contemplates the best type of bowl for the cereal to capture the flavor.He concludes that a ceramic bowl is best. Ever the connoisseur, he realizes that the sound of the spoon hitting the bowl provides a pleasing midrange tone that enhances the experience. There are plenty of these observational gems laced into a story of excitement and mystery that evokes the style and rhythms of this milieu.I am excited that Joe Ide is adding emotional depth to his characters as the series progresses.The direction of the series seems to be taking a new course with added personal development.There is even a unexpected ending that will leave readers anxious for a resolution. The book is both fun and thoughtful and is totally enjoyable.
This geographical separation sets up the two major storylines. Isaiah,despite his desire for a contemplative life, gets involved with two young people who are searching for a serial killer. His efforts to protect the young people lead him into the danger and violence so familiar to him, requiring the street smarts and deductive skill that have defined his core. Dodson,a natural born street hustler, is issued an ultimatum by his long suffering yet loving wife Cherise. She is worn out by the uncertainty of Dodson’s life style and demands that he step up to be a better provider and role model for their young son.
Isaiah’s arc in this story is filled with his usual panache but laced with ever present contemplation in hopes of altering his life path.Dodson’s path is filled with humor and is incisively described as he adapts his street hustling skills to the corporate world of advertising .At the same time, he still is able to use his long developed neighborhood skills to help recurring characters Deronda and Grace with problems in their lives.
At its core, this book is a coming of age novel about these disadvantaged urban millennials as they employ their capabilities to create a coherent life. Joe Ide has an uncanny eye for setting and a remarkable ear for dialogue. At the end of a satisfying day, Dodson sits down to enjoy a bowl of his beloved cereal,Cocoa Puffs. As he eats, he contemplates the best type of bowl for the cereal to capture the flavor.He concludes that a ceramic bowl is best. Ever the connoisseur, he realizes that the sound of the spoon hitting the bowl provides a pleasing midrange tone that enhances the experience. There are plenty of these observational gems laced into a story of excitement and mystery that evokes the style and rhythms of this milieu.I am excited that Joe Ide is adding emotional depth to his characters as the series progresses.The direction of the series seems to be taking a new course with added personal development.There is even a unexpected ending that will leave readers anxious for a resolution. The book is both fun and thoughtful and is totally enjoyable.
August 24, 2021
Another excellent installment in Ide’s Isaiah Quintabe (IQ) series. Lots of action and the usual crazy characters. My only minor complaint is a side of IQ’s personality is revealed that I didn’t much care for - showing a lack of empathy, which is normally one of the traits that I love about him. But, then again, he’s gone through a lot these past few books and he’s trying hard to get things straightened out. Hopefully he’ll get back on track. 🤞
March 3, 2021
I'm really not sure what happened to this series. I really, really liked the first couple of books but started having problems with the last book. I was hoping that this book would redeem itself and would prove that it was just a fluke. Unfortunately, this book was by far the worst of the series.
One thing that I did like was the narration by Zeno Robinson. He does an excellent job with the characters in this series and his portrayal of IQ brings him to life. I alternated between reading and listening and actually spent most of this book listening to the audio version.
I don't even really have words to accurately describe this book. Comedy of errors, possibly. It was just crazy and not in a good way. If I hadn't already read a couple of books in this series, there is absolutely no way that I would ever continue on and read another book. I had a hard time believing that this book was even written by the same person. Everything that made this series unique and interesting just wasn't there. The smart and compassionate young man who used his mind and his intelligence to help solve crimes was now running away from everyone and suffering from PTSD in a very violent and aggressive manner. It seemed like he also underwent a personality transplant. The Isiah in this book is NOTHING like the IQ we met in the first book. That Isiah cared about his neighbors and friends and believed in doing the right thing. This Isiah yells at people and has the patience of a parakeet.
Without giving away any spoilers, this book was one unbelievable and unrealistic moment after another. From the dumbest serial killers of all time (seriously, they were so crazy that they were almost like a non stop caricature of stupid killers) to a policeman who did everything in his power to not enforce the law, to a young woman with no law enforcement experience who decides she wants to track a kill a killer....it was just TOO much. Any one of these things would be enough to pull the reader out of the story, but piled on top of each other it just became a big mess.
When the Dodson storyline is the absolute highlight of the book, it becomes apparent that something has changed. I can't really go into the details of all of the lunacy because that would involve spoilers, but it was an effort to finish this book. And then, to top everything off, it ends with a cliffhanger. Even though I am naturally curious, I have to say that I'm going to be okay not knowing what happens to this particular character in the next book.
When I get to that point in a series, I'm out.......
One thing that I did like was the narration by Zeno Robinson. He does an excellent job with the characters in this series and his portrayal of IQ brings him to life. I alternated between reading and listening and actually spent most of this book listening to the audio version.
I don't even really have words to accurately describe this book. Comedy of errors, possibly. It was just crazy and not in a good way. If I hadn't already read a couple of books in this series, there is absolutely no way that I would ever continue on and read another book. I had a hard time believing that this book was even written by the same person. Everything that made this series unique and interesting just wasn't there. The smart and compassionate young man who used his mind and his intelligence to help solve crimes was now running away from everyone and suffering from PTSD in a very violent and aggressive manner. It seemed like he also underwent a personality transplant. The Isiah in this book is NOTHING like the IQ we met in the first book. That Isiah cared about his neighbors and friends and believed in doing the right thing. This Isiah yells at people and has the patience of a parakeet.
Without giving away any spoilers, this book was one unbelievable and unrealistic moment after another. From the dumbest serial killers of all time (seriously, they were so crazy that they were almost like a non stop caricature of stupid killers) to a policeman who did everything in his power to not enforce the law, to a young woman with no law enforcement experience who decides she wants to track a kill a killer....it was just TOO much. Any one of these things would be enough to pull the reader out of the story, but piled on top of each other it just became a big mess.
When the Dodson storyline is the absolute highlight of the book, it becomes apparent that something has changed. I can't really go into the details of all of the lunacy because that would involve spoilers, but it was an effort to finish this book. And then, to top everything off, it ends with a cliffhanger. Even though I am naturally curious, I have to say that I'm going to be okay not knowing what happens to this particular character in the next book.
When I get to that point in a series, I'm out.......
March 17, 2021
I did not enjoy that Dodson and IQ were not together in this one; nor did I appreciate that Grace was left to face a man intent on revenge all by herself. The three characters had their own storylines, but none of them was fleshed out enough.
Still... I am invested in them and will check out the sixth book in the series whenever it is published.
Still... I am invested in them and will check out the sixth book in the series whenever it is published.
February 19, 2021
Joe Ide is back on top form in Smoke. I thought Hi Five showed a slight dip in quality but this has all of Ide’s wit, thoughtfulness and insight wrapped in a very good story. It would work as a stand-alone novel, but it would be far better to read the series from the beginning as there is a lot of history which continues to develop here.
Traumatised by the events of Hi Five, Isaiah is heading for the hills, determined to leave his old life behind and get away from the violence and criminality of East Long Beach – and to escape the various murderous gangs and individuals who are seeking him for revenge. Needless to say, he very reluctantly becomes involved in a scary (and very exciting) hunt for two deranged killers. Meanwhile, back in East Long Beach an unemployed Dodson is given an ultimatum by his wife and embarks on an internship in a swanky advertising agency while also acting as neighbourhood fixer in Isaiah’s absence. This leads to some genuinely hilarious stuff (the scenes where he is being tutored in manners by his mother-in-law made me laugh out loud several times) and also some genuinely thoughtful and incisive content.
These two independent stories work very well alongside each other. For me it is Dodson who is the real centre of this book as his character becomes much more developed and unlooked-for skills and inner decency emerge. Joe Ide brilliantly balances some excellent comedy with psychological insight, a thrilling story and some horrifying violence, which is somehow the more chilling for being inexplicit. His ear for language remains excellent and his characters become richer and more convincing with each book in the series.
In short, I thought Smoke was terrific and I can recommend it very warmly.
(My thanks to Orion for an ARC via NetGalley.)
Traumatised by the events of Hi Five, Isaiah is heading for the hills, determined to leave his old life behind and get away from the violence and criminality of East Long Beach – and to escape the various murderous gangs and individuals who are seeking him for revenge. Needless to say, he very reluctantly becomes involved in a scary (and very exciting) hunt for two deranged killers. Meanwhile, back in East Long Beach an unemployed Dodson is given an ultimatum by his wife and embarks on an internship in a swanky advertising agency while also acting as neighbourhood fixer in Isaiah’s absence. This leads to some genuinely hilarious stuff (the scenes where he is being tutored in manners by his mother-in-law made me laugh out loud several times) and also some genuinely thoughtful and incisive content.
These two independent stories work very well alongside each other. For me it is Dodson who is the real centre of this book as his character becomes much more developed and unlooked-for skills and inner decency emerge. Joe Ide brilliantly balances some excellent comedy with psychological insight, a thrilling story and some horrifying violence, which is somehow the more chilling for being inexplicit. His ear for language remains excellent and his characters become richer and more convincing with each book in the series.
In short, I thought Smoke was terrific and I can recommend it very warmly.
(My thanks to Orion for an ARC via NetGalley.)
August 14, 2023
All the elements I've come to expect from Ide: vivid characters, a powerful plot and interesting subplots, graphic, violent action, and the language and culture of gangsters, thugs, hustlers, drug dealers, and the street filtered through Ide's evocative writing. If IDE has a flaw, it's that he does too many wonderful characters. It really isn't necessary to put us in the head of the secondary-thug's girlfriend, nor her BFF and her aunt. But these distractions are minor and irrelevant to a relentlessly paced action story.
March 16, 2021
Gangsta
Lots of constant action and images of blood and guts, real serial killers with not too much brains. This book is one I couldn't read fast enough it is that exciting. It's hard to keep the characters straight in the beginning. There is also humor periodically. There are bike gangs and street gangs, get ready to enjoy!
Lots of constant action and images of blood and guts, real serial killers with not too much brains. This book is one I couldn't read fast enough it is that exciting. It's hard to keep the characters straight in the beginning. There is also humor periodically. There are bike gangs and street gangs, get ready to enjoy!
February 17, 2021
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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Not that any of the previous IQ novels have been cookie cutters of the rest, but this really feels less like an IQ novel than I was ready for. In fact, it felt* like this was more of a Juanell Dodson novel for most of it. When Isaiah left town at the end of Hi Five, he left his friends behind. But their problems didn't leave with him, they all have to step up and take care of things now without him. But the way they go about taking care of these problems is heavily influenced by Isaiah—he might not be playing an active role in most of the storylines in this book, but this is still his book.
* Yes, I said "felt like," I could be wrong. This isn't the kind of blog where you're going to find me doing word counts to prove things like this.
THE LA STORIES
Grace is trying to get over Isaiah and focus on her art. She's got a show coming up and needs to get some more paintings ready—that's all that matters.
But while she and Isaiah know they're over—most people don't (and some of those who do know, believe it's temporary). When someone that Isaiah helped put away gets back to town and is looking for a little payback, he only hears that Grace is Isaiah's girl. Which puts her right in the cross-hairs.
Deronda's life is going great—she's getting some media attention for her success (which is only serving to build that success), her food trucks are doing great, and her son is fantastic (just ask Deronda, she'll tell you). But then someone comes along to help himself to a share of that success and uses Janeel as his tool. Deronda goes nuclear and tries everything she can think of to stop this.
Grace tries to help—and gets one of Isaiah's former clients involved, too. And even Dodson gets in on it. There's nothing about what they try or the solutions they come up with that Isaiah would have done. In fact, I'm pretty sure he'd have seen some of the problems with her theories and stopped Deronda before she tried to act on them. But for fear of repeating myself, without Isaiah's influence on the three of them, none of them would've tried anything like they did.
Cherise has had enough of Dodson's bouncing around from opportunity to opportunity, trying to make some money, but with no stability. He needs to grow up and get a real job, and to help with that, she's arranged for an internship at a local advertising agency. Dodson isn't interested at all in this, but she's not negotiating.
So he shows up for the first day, and something clicks. He thinks about the way Isaiah had approached goals in his life and applies it in his way to this situation. It wasn't quite a "What Would Isaiah Do?" thing, more of a "How Would Isaiah Do This?"
Now there is zero percent of the Dodson storyline that is Crime Fiction. It's about character development, character growth—it's a transition point for Dodson. Yet this is my favorite part of this Crime Novel. Because it's Dodson going through all this. Also, as Dodson pops up in their storylines to help Grace and Deronda, he gets plenty of Crime Fiction action.
There's a fun part of this storyline where Dodson, who started as Isaiah's Dr. John Watson, now becomes an Eliza Doolittle figure. Cherise's mother, Gloria, who tries to equip him into someone who could make it in the Corporate World. On the one hand, I felt bad for poor Dodson—this wasn't easy for him—but man, it was funny. We also got Dodson's commentary on Pop Music and TV—which is not to be missed.
The LA stories interweave, Grace helps Dodson, Dodson helps Grace, Dodson chips in with Deronda...and so on. IQ is mentioned, he's talked about and he even converses with some of them—but not about the challenges they're dealing with (and vice versa) in this novel. He's as removed from their stories as possible. Yet, without him, without his influence in their lives—none of this would've happened. So it absolutely was still part of an IQ novel, even if it was for all intents and purposes IQ free.
ISAIAH'S STORY
Isaiah's trying to be IQ-free, too. He's pulled up stakes to get away from the enemies he made in Hi-Five, and away from everything else, too. He's decided he wants a new life. He wants nothing to do with the violence, the depravity, the danger that has so characterized the last few years of his life.
Which, of course, means that despite his best efforts—and really by dumb chance—he's brought into a hunt for a serial killer by one of the least likely, least credible people we've encountered in this series.
While I did say this felt like Dodson's book most of the time, at one point the Isaiah/Serial Killer story took over—and we see heroism and depravity on display (not quite in equal parts, but we get an excess of both). As much as Isaiah has said he wants away from this life—when the chips are down, he finds a way to try to stop another murder, at great risk to himself.
The final confrontation can be seen as darkly comic or as intensely human and maybe even realistic to an extent you don't usually see. There's a visceral desperation to it—everyone involved seems to believe on some level that they're doomed, but they press on anyway. It's harrowing really.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT SMOKE?
This really feels like a transition novel—probably for the series as a whole, and definitely for all these characters. In a book or two, it'll be easier to see (not that it's difficult now) exactly what role this is going to play in things, but choices are made, steps are taken that insure wherever Isaiah ends up, he's going to be a different man than he was in Hi-Five, ditto for everyone else. I'm particularly looking forward to seeing where Dodson is. Hopefully, he's still going in the direction he started to move in here.
But that's for 2023. What about the 2021 novel? While Ide seemed to be writing with an eye to the 2022 and 2023 novels, he also produces a fine read in Smoke. There are a lot of balls in the air, a lot of Point of View characters (those we know and those we only meet here). There are blasts from the past and new characters that we could be seeing in the future.
And while we get some very strong resolution to just about everything in the novel, there's a cliffhanger at the end that makes it difficult for me to say most of what I want to say. It's a complete novel, this isn't just a book that you read so that you have to read the next. But I tell you what, when you finish you want that next IQ novel now.
I think it says a lot about the kind of world that Ide has created that his main character can only show up in 50±% of a novel/its stories and the novel to still be as strong as any of the others. The series isn't about Isaiah (and other characters) now. It's about Isaiah, Grace, Dodson, and Deronda—and their families, no matter what the series is called. I love that evolution, that development.
I think existing fans will find their enthusiasm for this series rewarded. I think new readers are going to want to grab the earlier novels to fill in how the characters got to where they are. Either way, people who pick up Smoke are in for a treat.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Mulholland Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
---
Not that any of the previous IQ novels have been cookie cutters of the rest, but this really feels less like an IQ novel than I was ready for. In fact, it felt* like this was more of a Juanell Dodson novel for most of it. When Isaiah left town at the end of Hi Five, he left his friends behind. But their problems didn't leave with him, they all have to step up and take care of things now without him. But the way they go about taking care of these problems is heavily influenced by Isaiah—he might not be playing an active role in most of the storylines in this book, but this is still his book.
* Yes, I said "felt like," I could be wrong. This isn't the kind of blog where you're going to find me doing word counts to prove things like this.
THE LA STORIES
Grace is trying to get over Isaiah and focus on her art. She's got a show coming up and needs to get some more paintings ready—that's all that matters.
But while she and Isaiah know they're over—most people don't (and some of those who do know, believe it's temporary). When someone that Isaiah helped put away gets back to town and is looking for a little payback, he only hears that Grace is Isaiah's girl. Which puts her right in the cross-hairs.
Deronda's life is going great—she's getting some media attention for her success (which is only serving to build that success), her food trucks are doing great, and her son is fantastic (just ask Deronda, she'll tell you). But then someone comes along to help himself to a share of that success and uses Janeel as his tool. Deronda goes nuclear and tries everything she can think of to stop this.
Grace tries to help—and gets one of Isaiah's former clients involved, too. And even Dodson gets in on it. There's nothing about what they try or the solutions they come up with that Isaiah would have done. In fact, I'm pretty sure he'd have seen some of the problems with her theories and stopped Deronda before she tried to act on them. But for fear of repeating myself, without Isaiah's influence on the three of them, none of them would've tried anything like they did.
Cherise has had enough of Dodson's bouncing around from opportunity to opportunity, trying to make some money, but with no stability. He needs to grow up and get a real job, and to help with that, she's arranged for an internship at a local advertising agency. Dodson isn't interested at all in this, but she's not negotiating.
So he shows up for the first day, and something clicks. He thinks about the way Isaiah had approached goals in his life and applies it in his way to this situation. It wasn't quite a "What Would Isaiah Do?" thing, more of a "How Would Isaiah Do This?"
Now there is zero percent of the Dodson storyline that is Crime Fiction. It's about character development, character growth—it's a transition point for Dodson. Yet this is my favorite part of this Crime Novel. Because it's Dodson going through all this. Also, as Dodson pops up in their storylines to help Grace and Deronda, he gets plenty of Crime Fiction action.
There's a fun part of this storyline where Dodson, who started as Isaiah's Dr. John Watson, now becomes an Eliza Doolittle figure. Cherise's mother, Gloria, who tries to equip him into someone who could make it in the Corporate World. On the one hand, I felt bad for poor Dodson—this wasn't easy for him—but man, it was funny. We also got Dodson's commentary on Pop Music and TV—which is not to be missed.
The LA stories interweave, Grace helps Dodson, Dodson helps Grace, Dodson chips in with Deronda...and so on. IQ is mentioned, he's talked about and he even converses with some of them—but not about the challenges they're dealing with (and vice versa) in this novel. He's as removed from their stories as possible. Yet, without him, without his influence in their lives—none of this would've happened. So it absolutely was still part of an IQ novel, even if it was for all intents and purposes IQ free.
ISAIAH'S STORY
Isaiah's trying to be IQ-free, too. He's pulled up stakes to get away from the enemies he made in Hi-Five, and away from everything else, too. He's decided he wants a new life. He wants nothing to do with the violence, the depravity, the danger that has so characterized the last few years of his life.
Which, of course, means that despite his best efforts—and really by dumb chance—he's brought into a hunt for a serial killer by one of the least likely, least credible people we've encountered in this series.
While I did say this felt like Dodson's book most of the time, at one point the Isaiah/Serial Killer story took over—and we see heroism and depravity on display (not quite in equal parts, but we get an excess of both). As much as Isaiah has said he wants away from this life—when the chips are down, he finds a way to try to stop another murder, at great risk to himself.
The final confrontation can be seen as darkly comic or as intensely human and maybe even realistic to an extent you don't usually see. There's a visceral desperation to it—everyone involved seems to believe on some level that they're doomed, but they press on anyway. It's harrowing really.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT SMOKE?
This really feels like a transition novel—probably for the series as a whole, and definitely for all these characters. In a book or two, it'll be easier to see (not that it's difficult now) exactly what role this is going to play in things, but choices are made, steps are taken that insure wherever Isaiah ends up, he's going to be a different man than he was in Hi-Five, ditto for everyone else. I'm particularly looking forward to seeing where Dodson is. Hopefully, he's still going in the direction he started to move in here.
But that's for 2023. What about the 2021 novel? While Ide seemed to be writing with an eye to the 2022 and 2023 novels, he also produces a fine read in Smoke. There are a lot of balls in the air, a lot of Point of View characters (those we know and those we only meet here). There are blasts from the past and new characters that we could be seeing in the future.
And while we get some very strong resolution to just about everything in the novel, there's a cliffhanger at the end that makes it difficult for me to say most of what I want to say. It's a complete novel, this isn't just a book that you read so that you have to read the next. But I tell you what, when you finish you want that next IQ novel now.
I think it says a lot about the kind of world that Ide has created that his main character can only show up in 50±% of a novel/its stories and the novel to still be as strong as any of the others. The series isn't about Isaiah (and other characters) now. It's about Isaiah, Grace, Dodson, and Deronda—and their families, no matter what the series is called. I love that evolution, that development.
I think existing fans will find their enthusiasm for this series rewarded. I think new readers are going to want to grab the earlier novels to fill in how the characters got to where they are. Either way, people who pick up Smoke are in for a treat.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Mulholland Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
February 21, 2022
I love this series. This time IQ is changed and it was tough to experience his pain and self doubt. However, all the characters made this another winner for me.
March 23, 2021
Absolutely blisteringly-paced barnburner; finished it in one go (well past midnight). Arguably the best of the series so far.
March 1, 2021
Smoke
February 27, 2021
Book Review
Smoke
Joe Ide
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
This is the fifth book in this unique series, but my first foray into the world of Isaiah Quintabe (Queen-tah-bay) written by Joe Ide (EEE-Day). I was able to successfully jump onto to this fast-moving train and thoroughly enjoyed this character-driven adventure filled with wit, heart, and emotion.
Although this complex narrative is told in multiple points of view , the main protagonists remain Isaiah Quintabe (“IQ”) and his best friend and sidekick, Juanell Dodson. Both are faced with daunting crises in their lives, unrelated to their friendship and partnership.
IQ as a seventeen-year-old was faced with the gut wrenching death of his beloved older brother, Marcus, killed by a hit-and-run driver. Initially his bitterness resulted in a brief interlude with crime, but eventually in a search for clues to this senseless killing he achieved success as a street detective. His native intellect and burgeoning skills of deductive reasoning along with his almost photographic memory allowed him to link seemingly unrelated facts together to understand motivation and behavior. However, at this juncture in his life, he is suffering a form of PTSD, and is overwhelmed by the almost daily dealing with the infectious offal of humanity. Burnt out by the incessant dealings with gangs, killers, drugs, pimps, and never-ending corrosive conflicts of street life. He is on the road and on the run and destined to seek solace in the small town of Coronado Springs, which eventually proves to be a nexus point for anything but comfort.
Our second intrepid hero is Dodson who independently has reached a crossroad in his relationship with his wife, Cherise. He has been given an ultimatum to join the “real world”, and drop his street live existence, and provide stability for his wife and child. This diversion in the tale, could easily occupy a novel by itself. With humor and emotion, Dodson’s foray into the advertising world as an intern allows him to display his innate creativity; all based upon his nature as a hustler.
Ide proves to be an expert storyteller as he weaves effortlessly the multiple multi layered colorful characters into a complex and unexpected denouement. At one point, approaching a collision course nexus, Ide has an explosive array of his characters …. IQ, his girlfriend, Grace, a serial killer, Billy, and Ava (locked in pact to seek out the killer of her sister), Skip Hanson (hitman, recently released from prison and out for revenge), and the local sheriff. Ide’s usage of dialogue is masterful as he utilizes satire and sarcasm with a touch of understatement. He deftly alternates and mixes an elegant and almost poetic prose with bursts of street jargon. The death defying humous interaction between Dodson and his mother-in-law Gloria alone is worth the price of admission. It is truly amazing how many well-developed intriguing characters can populate one novel. How wonderful to have four earlier tales to immediately download and devour.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof of this marvelous adventure in exchange for an honest review.
This review published at Mystery And Suspense Magazine
February 27, 2021
Book Review
Smoke
Joe Ide
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
This is the fifth book in this unique series, but my first foray into the world of Isaiah Quintabe (Queen-tah-bay) written by Joe Ide (EEE-Day). I was able to successfully jump onto to this fast-moving train and thoroughly enjoyed this character-driven adventure filled with wit, heart, and emotion.
Although this complex narrative is told in multiple points of view , the main protagonists remain Isaiah Quintabe (“IQ”) and his best friend and sidekick, Juanell Dodson. Both are faced with daunting crises in their lives, unrelated to their friendship and partnership.
IQ as a seventeen-year-old was faced with the gut wrenching death of his beloved older brother, Marcus, killed by a hit-and-run driver. Initially his bitterness resulted in a brief interlude with crime, but eventually in a search for clues to this senseless killing he achieved success as a street detective. His native intellect and burgeoning skills of deductive reasoning along with his almost photographic memory allowed him to link seemingly unrelated facts together to understand motivation and behavior. However, at this juncture in his life, he is suffering a form of PTSD, and is overwhelmed by the almost daily dealing with the infectious offal of humanity. Burnt out by the incessant dealings with gangs, killers, drugs, pimps, and never-ending corrosive conflicts of street life. He is on the road and on the run and destined to seek solace in the small town of Coronado Springs, which eventually proves to be a nexus point for anything but comfort.
Our second intrepid hero is Dodson who independently has reached a crossroad in his relationship with his wife, Cherise. He has been given an ultimatum to join the “real world”, and drop his street live existence, and provide stability for his wife and child. This diversion in the tale, could easily occupy a novel by itself. With humor and emotion, Dodson’s foray into the advertising world as an intern allows him to display his innate creativity; all based upon his nature as a hustler.
Ide proves to be an expert storyteller as he weaves effortlessly the multiple multi layered colorful characters into a complex and unexpected denouement. At one point, approaching a collision course nexus, Ide has an explosive array of his characters …. IQ, his girlfriend, Grace, a serial killer, Billy, and Ava (locked in pact to seek out the killer of her sister), Skip Hanson (hitman, recently released from prison and out for revenge), and the local sheriff. Ide’s usage of dialogue is masterful as he utilizes satire and sarcasm with a touch of understatement. He deftly alternates and mixes an elegant and almost poetic prose with bursts of street jargon. The death defying humous interaction between Dodson and his mother-in-law Gloria alone is worth the price of admission. It is truly amazing how many well-developed intriguing characters can populate one novel. How wonderful to have four earlier tales to immediately download and devour.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof of this marvelous adventure in exchange for an honest review.
This review published at Mystery And Suspense Magazine
January 21, 2021
Joe Ide I hate you! Well, actually, I love you, but the ending to Smoke is killing me!
Ezekial "IQ" Quintabe is burned out and ends up in northern California. But he's not going to find any relief as trouble always seems to find him. As he deals with big trouble in Northern CA, the characters we've come to love in East Long Beach have troubles of their own and no IQ to help.
This story with all of its threads weaves together well. I never once had to suspend my disbelief and when the end came I was almost as flabbergasted as I was with the end of "My Brilliant Friend". Joe Ide - you have me hooked!
A niggly note - I listened to the audiobook and within the first 5 minutes, the reader mispronounced "Placer County", giving it a long 'a' instead of a short 'a'. I wish there was a good way to communicate correct place pronunciations to readers.
Ezekial "IQ" Quintabe is burned out and ends up in northern California. But he's not going to find any relief as trouble always seems to find him. As he deals with big trouble in Northern CA, the characters we've come to love in East Long Beach have troubles of their own and no IQ to help.
This story with all of its threads weaves together well. I never once had to suspend my disbelief and when the end came I was almost as flabbergasted as I was with the end of "My Brilliant Friend". Joe Ide - you have me hooked!
A niggly note - I listened to the audiobook and within the first 5 minutes, the reader mispronounced "Placer County", giving it a long 'a' instead of a short 'a'. I wish there was a good way to communicate correct place pronunciations to readers.
March 2, 2021
The IQ series started well but has approached shallowness asymptotically.
December 21, 2023
An author who can divert you from figuring out who is the target of the killer, all the while keeping you in suspense, rates high with me. This 5th installment in the IQ series did not disappoint, and I will be following immediately with Fixit - #6 in the series. 7 out of 10.
October 3, 2021
Smoke is another whirlwind of excitement, suspense and survival of the underdogs. It’s part mystery, part humor, with just enough nail-biting tension. I love the colorful and original characters.
With the case wrapped up, the cliffhanger conclusion has me impatiently awaiting the next installment in the series.
With the case wrapped up, the cliffhanger conclusion has me impatiently awaiting the next installment in the series.
July 5, 2021
Sometimes it's dangerous to pick up a book in the middle of a series without starting with the first entry. Even though Joe Ide employs a numerous cast of revolving characters in his IQ novels, thanks to his fluid writing style I was able to pick up on things fairly quickly. He also seems to foreshadow events that will play out in the next or future novels featuring IQ. This one ends with a cliffhanger, which I sort of saw coming since it was the only one of many plot threads here that remained unresolved as the novel wrapped up. End result of my dangerous reading experiment: I've added the other four IQ novels to my want-to-read list and will start in order this time. Ditto for the upcoming book that will hopefully pick up that unresolved cliffhanger plot thread.
I'm not going to recap the many story elements here. It should suffice to say that Joe Ide writes street smart, perhaps from personal experience, urban crime with fully realized characters that you can empathize with. I've always wondered why many fictional detectives like Bosch, Elvis Cole, etc don't seem to suffer much or experience PTSD after all the crap their authors put them through. Ide deals with that subject openly and honestly here as Isaiah Quintabe almost hangs it up here.
He tries to escape, both from the gangs out for his head as well as his inner demons, and heads to the countryside. However, he remains a magnet for turmoil and trouble seems to find him no matter where he is. Recommended.
I'm not going to recap the many story elements here. It should suffice to say that Joe Ide writes street smart, perhaps from personal experience, urban crime with fully realized characters that you can empathize with. I've always wondered why many fictional detectives like Bosch, Elvis Cole, etc don't seem to suffer much or experience PTSD after all the crap their authors put them through. Ide deals with that subject openly and honestly here as Isaiah Quintabe almost hangs it up here.
He tries to escape, both from the gangs out for his head as well as his inner demons, and heads to the countryside. However, he remains a magnet for turmoil and trouble seems to find him no matter where he is. Recommended.
April 15, 2021
⭐️⭐️/5️⃣—> I rate this 2 out of 5 stars.
I’ve read every book in this series and have loved them all except for this one. I was very disappointed with this book in the series and he left the ending open to another book in the series and I hope it’s better than this one.
There was way too many stories going on throughout the book that it was difficult to follow. None of the stories tied into each other, and I felt that the main character IQ had the worst storyline, which is unfortunate cause he’s my favorite character in the series. I don’t like the portrayal of the relationship between Dodson and his wife (never have liked it). I also felt this story was too dark with the author adding rapist and serial killers and painting a picture of their mind and killings. I normally don’t mind dark stories, but I didn’t feel like it was necessary to this book. I’m not even sure why the author had the stories that he did in this book as none of them made sense to each other and it was just all over the place.
I however liked all the books before this 5th one, and will plan on reading his 6th one. Don’t waste your time reading this as you’ll be disappointed. I’m glad this wasn’t his first one. 👎🏾👎🏾
I’ve read every book in this series and have loved them all except for this one. I was very disappointed with this book in the series and he left the ending open to another book in the series and I hope it’s better than this one.
There was way too many stories going on throughout the book that it was difficult to follow. None of the stories tied into each other, and I felt that the main character IQ had the worst storyline, which is unfortunate cause he’s my favorite character in the series. I don’t like the portrayal of the relationship between Dodson and his wife (never have liked it). I also felt this story was too dark with the author adding rapist and serial killers and painting a picture of their mind and killings. I normally don’t mind dark stories, but I didn’t feel like it was necessary to this book. I’m not even sure why the author had the stories that he did in this book as none of them made sense to each other and it was just all over the place.
I however liked all the books before this 5th one, and will plan on reading his 6th one. Don’t waste your time reading this as you’ll be disappointed. I’m glad this wasn’t his first one. 👎🏾👎🏾
March 2, 2021
He's back! I was so disappointed with the previous IQ book, and I am so glad I gave Ide another shot. This book was cover-to-cover edge of the seat reading. Yes, IQ's angst occasionally got a bit much, but the compulsive thinking of PTSD can do that, and as painful as it is to read, it is not unusual if a person is struggling through a PTSD episode. On another track, IQ's pal Juanell Dodson finds his groove and experiences brilliance and success in a new career, Deronda experiences continued business success with her food trucks and an unexpected personal challenge, and Grace, IQ's true love, prepares for a one-person art show in an LA gallery. Ide has a lot going on in Smoke, including two bumbling but successful serial killers with a winning streak. Once you pick it up, you hold your breath until the very end. While the book is intense, and occasionally confusing, it isn't dull. I love the way he empowers women, and I love the way even the best of his people are flawed, and rarely, for even the worst characters, you can dredge up a morsel of compassion.
August 1, 2021
A terrific series! The first of the IQ series by Joe Ide hit me sideways, and I was hooked. It exposed me to a world I know nothing about, but certainly some aspects of it live around the corner from me even here in my quiet life.
The middle books in the series left me feeling a little ‘meh’, but this most recent contribution is a hit. Deronda is back and now we’re rooting for her, Maggie makes me laugh, and even poor old Dodson becomes likeable. We are cheering for everyone, and they come together in ways that feel like community.
My main complaint with this book is that it switches perspectives between too many characters too often, often without any indication, which sometimes made it hard to keep up. Also, the action was sometimes just a little too dramatic and over the top. There’s only so many times IQ can get within an inch of his life before it becomes far fetched.
That said, this is a fantastic series, and well
worth a read if you like gritty detective/hood stories. Is that a genre?
The middle books in the series left me feeling a little ‘meh’, but this most recent contribution is a hit. Deronda is back and now we’re rooting for her, Maggie makes me laugh, and even poor old Dodson becomes likeable. We are cheering for everyone, and they come together in ways that feel like community.
My main complaint with this book is that it switches perspectives between too many characters too often, often without any indication, which sometimes made it hard to keep up. Also, the action was sometimes just a little too dramatic and over the top. There’s only so many times IQ can get within an inch of his life before it becomes far fetched.
That said, this is a fantastic series, and well
worth a read if you like gritty detective/hood stories. Is that a genre?
March 9, 2021
This is the fifth book in the IQ series, and, has been the case with recent offerings, there are too many characters and too many coincidences in this novel to make it involving or believable. The characters are flattened compared to earlier books in this series, and in this novel the characters' motivations and actions seem to be molded to fit an unbelievable plot, rather than the plot being driven by actions of realistic people. Though I gave IQ, the first book in this series, 5 stars, in retrospect the seeds of these problems were there from the beginning, and the quality of the novels has steadily reduced as the series has progressed. The problems of Smoke and its recent predecessors loom larger as the novelty of the series has faded and the charm and idiosyncrasy of Isaiah and the other characters have been shaped to meet the needs of increasingly implausible plots.
March 18, 2021
(2 1/2). I have read all of the IQ books and this is the most disjointed one yet. I think the main reason is we don’t have enough of Isaiah. Sure, it is fun to get some of Dodson, Deronda, Grace and the side characters, but the subplots here take over and there just seems to be too much going on. We also lose the L.A. vibe in this installment, as more than half of it is on the road. The last third is pretty chock full of fun action, with a few twists and turns to keep things on the level. IQ has always been the coolest guy in the room, that feeling doesn’t come through quite as well here. Reasonable stuff.
April 6, 2021
Kind of a guilty pleasure for fans of the series, because you already know and love the characters, so you sort of forgive all of the many plot points that jarringly intersect. I like the fact that IQ actually experiences PTSD after all the violence he has been through and isn't just a cartoon character. It may be fussiness on my part, but the depictions of the serial killers felt like a very cartoonish, violent version of Home Alone. That said, I stayed up late to finish this, as I have with other books in the series.
February 24, 2021
4.5 stars.
The fifth installment in the IQ series, Smoke by Joe Ide is a suspenseful yet busy mystery.
Isaiah “IQ” Quintabe has a target on his back so he hits the road in hopes of escaping just about everything in his life. He is an unlicensed private investigator who has been involved in more than his fair share of violence in recent years. He is suffering from PTSD and Isaiah is looking for peace and quiet. But Isaiah discovers that even in a quiet small town where he does not know anyone, he still manages to get mixed up in a dangerous situation. He has also managed to irritate Sheriff Cannon which makes him less credible when he tries to warn the sheriff trouble has arrived in town. Will IQ be able to prevent himself from helping Billy Sorensen, who has recently escaped from a psychiatric facility? And can they convince Billy’s friend Ava Bouchard to back off when they end up in a dangerous situation?
Meanwhile, back home, his friends are dealing with unexpected situations. Food truck owner Deronda is dealing with someone from her past who wants something from her that she holds dear. With Grace’s help, they brainstorm ideas to try to get this person out of her life once and for all. IQ’s former partner Juanell Dodson is keeping himself out of trouble when he agrees to give an internship at an advertising agency a try. His wife Cherise is the impetus for this latest turn in his life and she enlists her mother’s help getting him ready for the business world. Juanell’s street smarts prove to be invaluable as he discovers his hustling skills translate into unexpected creativity.
Although he knows ending their relationship as the right thing to do, Isaiah misses his now ex-girlfriend Grace. However, they rethink their decision and just as she is heading out to pay him a visit, things take a dangerous turn for IQ. He continues to battle his PTSD and severe anxiety as Billy and Ava bring unsettling news. Their efforts to convince Sheriff Cannon to take their news seriously fall on deaf ears. With the situation becoming increasingly dangerous, IQ will need to be able to think clearly and make quick decisions in order to protect himself, Billy and Ava. Will Isaiah, Billy and Ava protect those they care about from the threats around them?
Smoke is an engrossing mystery with multiple story arcs that are quite interesting. IQ’s struggles with PTSD are realistic and his frustrations are believable. The various storylines are interesting and provide greater insight into the regular cast of characters. With plenty of nail-biting tension, Joe Ide brings this thrilling mystery to an action-packed conclusion. With the case wrapped up, the a cliffhanger conclusion on a personal note will leave old and new fans impatiently awaiting the next installment in the IQ series.
The fifth installment in the IQ series, Smoke by Joe Ide is a suspenseful yet busy mystery.
Isaiah “IQ” Quintabe has a target on his back so he hits the road in hopes of escaping just about everything in his life. He is an unlicensed private investigator who has been involved in more than his fair share of violence in recent years. He is suffering from PTSD and Isaiah is looking for peace and quiet. But Isaiah discovers that even in a quiet small town where he does not know anyone, he still manages to get mixed up in a dangerous situation. He has also managed to irritate Sheriff Cannon which makes him less credible when he tries to warn the sheriff trouble has arrived in town. Will IQ be able to prevent himself from helping Billy Sorensen, who has recently escaped from a psychiatric facility? And can they convince Billy’s friend Ava Bouchard to back off when they end up in a dangerous situation?
Meanwhile, back home, his friends are dealing with unexpected situations. Food truck owner Deronda is dealing with someone from her past who wants something from her that she holds dear. With Grace’s help, they brainstorm ideas to try to get this person out of her life once and for all. IQ’s former partner Juanell Dodson is keeping himself out of trouble when he agrees to give an internship at an advertising agency a try. His wife Cherise is the impetus for this latest turn in his life and she enlists her mother’s help getting him ready for the business world. Juanell’s street smarts prove to be invaluable as he discovers his hustling skills translate into unexpected creativity.
Although he knows ending their relationship as the right thing to do, Isaiah misses his now ex-girlfriend Grace. However, they rethink their decision and just as she is heading out to pay him a visit, things take a dangerous turn for IQ. He continues to battle his PTSD and severe anxiety as Billy and Ava bring unsettling news. Their efforts to convince Sheriff Cannon to take their news seriously fall on deaf ears. With the situation becoming increasingly dangerous, IQ will need to be able to think clearly and make quick decisions in order to protect himself, Billy and Ava. Will Isaiah, Billy and Ava protect those they care about from the threats around them?
Smoke is an engrossing mystery with multiple story arcs that are quite interesting. IQ’s struggles with PTSD are realistic and his frustrations are believable. The various storylines are interesting and provide greater insight into the regular cast of characters. With plenty of nail-biting tension, Joe Ide brings this thrilling mystery to an action-packed conclusion. With the case wrapped up, the a cliffhanger conclusion on a personal note will leave old and new fans impatiently awaiting the next installment in the IQ series.
May 20, 2021
This review of Smoke was originally published on NetGalley at this link https://www.netgalley.com/book/215956....
The fifth instalment of Joe Ide’s acclaimed IQ series finds the eponymous hero Isaiah Quantabe—Holmes of the 'Hood—at his lowest. He is on the run, leaving even the love of his life behind, from multiple people and gangs desperate to kill him. He just wants to find a little peace, far away from the chaos brought on by his profession that he no longer plans to continue. He has severe panic attacks due to the PTSD he contracted thanks to the traumatic events of his past adventures. But, the trouble with trouble is that it never goes away, and Isaiah promptly finds himself amidst a plot involving deadly, deranged serial killers, and some serious misunderstanding that pits him against the law enforcement itself.
Back home, those who want his life are trying to get to him through Grace, his girl who may no longer be his girl. Isaiah’s associate and friend Dodson—the hustler’s hustler—gets an ultimatum from his wife to mend his ways and start earning a decent living or move out of her house and her life. Another of Isaiah's friends, Deronda, a prominent entrepreneur with an unflattering past has a trouble that may destroy her reputation in addition to eating away her hard earned wealth.
Smoke is the heady concoction of all these stories, some very connected and some loosely so to the main plot concerning Isaiah. All the tracks are entertainingly narrated in the characteristic language of the street, or the ‘hood, that this series is renowned for. With minimum of words, Ide brings his eccentric, messed up characters and their actions and motivations to life. The dialogues are crisp and amusing. In addition to being a thriller with plenty of action and suspense, it also is a window into the life of the underprivileged who, amidst poverty, drug addiction and violence, try to lead a dignified life.
This was my first taste of the IQ series and I am impressed enough to read more. I don’t know how the other books are structured but the different tracks of this episode felt disjointed to me. In fact, Dodson’s exploits form a sizeable chunk of this novel and, though hugely enjoyable, they do not add much to IQ’s story. Maybe this is due to my starting this series late and I think I need to start from the start to become better oriented. Ide ends Smoke with a cliff-hanger which makes reading the next episode mandatory, so bring it out already!
My gratitude to the author, publishers and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The fifth instalment of Joe Ide’s acclaimed IQ series finds the eponymous hero Isaiah Quantabe—Holmes of the 'Hood—at his lowest. He is on the run, leaving even the love of his life behind, from multiple people and gangs desperate to kill him. He just wants to find a little peace, far away from the chaos brought on by his profession that he no longer plans to continue. He has severe panic attacks due to the PTSD he contracted thanks to the traumatic events of his past adventures. But, the trouble with trouble is that it never goes away, and Isaiah promptly finds himself amidst a plot involving deadly, deranged serial killers, and some serious misunderstanding that pits him against the law enforcement itself.
Back home, those who want his life are trying to get to him through Grace, his girl who may no longer be his girl. Isaiah’s associate and friend Dodson—the hustler’s hustler—gets an ultimatum from his wife to mend his ways and start earning a decent living or move out of her house and her life. Another of Isaiah's friends, Deronda, a prominent entrepreneur with an unflattering past has a trouble that may destroy her reputation in addition to eating away her hard earned wealth.
Smoke is the heady concoction of all these stories, some very connected and some loosely so to the main plot concerning Isaiah. All the tracks are entertainingly narrated in the characteristic language of the street, or the ‘hood, that this series is renowned for. With minimum of words, Ide brings his eccentric, messed up characters and their actions and motivations to life. The dialogues are crisp and amusing. In addition to being a thriller with plenty of action and suspense, it also is a window into the life of the underprivileged who, amidst poverty, drug addiction and violence, try to lead a dignified life.
This was my first taste of the IQ series and I am impressed enough to read more. I don’t know how the other books are structured but the different tracks of this episode felt disjointed to me. In fact, Dodson’s exploits form a sizeable chunk of this novel and, though hugely enjoyable, they do not add much to IQ’s story. Maybe this is due to my starting this series late and I think I need to start from the start to become better oriented. Ide ends Smoke with a cliff-hanger which makes reading the next episode mandatory, so bring it out already!
My gratitude to the author, publishers and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 10, 2021
This fifth installment in the IQ series was a high-point reading experience for me; I adore this series, and especially have come to love the supporting cast who feature heavily in this novel, such as Dodson, Deronda and even Gloria, Dodson's demanding but gruffly loveable mother-in-law. In this outing, Isaiah, suffering from an intense case of PTSD, has escaped to live a quiet life in Coronado, CA, away from the gangbangers and bad memories from East Long Beach. But like always, people in trouble find him and need his assistance, and Isaiah can't help but be drawn into a menacing situation involving two dead-souled serial killers and some local kids in their way. Back in East Long Beach, Dodson has his morality tested in the cut-throat advertising business, and Deronda meets her match in the form of a shady former hook-up who attempts to wrest half of her successful food truck business out from under her. Meanwhile, Grace is trying to evade a weird guy who insists he's looking for Isaiah to thank him for prior help... but she knows better. The novel comes to an action-packed conclusion but leaves some threads hanging for the next installment. As always, this is some easy, good reading with just the right amount of thrill and dread to keep you turning the pages.
June 20, 2021
Ide recovered from whatever cloud of nihlistic gloom overcame him in book #4 and is back with a rip-roaring adventure with IQ, Dawson, and the really cool women who inhabit the IQ books. IQ has fled Long Beach to get away from the villans on his tail, and encouters both the grace of his landlords and the racism of small town cops in his stopping place. Dawson takes on a bigger role in this book, turning his street hustle into marketing genius, which is a lot of fun. Deronda conquers a no-count, trifling ex who's trying to blackmail her. And Ruffin, everyone's favorite slobbery love-pit, becomes part of the cliffhanger that is this book's ending. (I don't mind cliffhangers if the next book is published soon after, so get busy, Joe Ide! No one wants to wait another two years to find out what happens to Ruffin!)
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