Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

Welcome to our discussion of IQ, by Joe Ide. This book is part of our Fall/Winter Collection Group Reads. Your discussion leader is Lisa.
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About spoilers

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Summary

A resident of one of LA's toughest neighborhoods uses his blistering intellect to solve the crimes the LAPD ignores.
East Long Beach. The LAPD is barely keeping up with the neighborhood's high crime rate. Murders go unsolved, lost children unrecovered. But someone from the neighborhood has taken it upon himself to help solve the cases the police can't or won't touch.

They call him IQ. He's a loner and a high school dropout, his unassuming nature disguising a relentless determination and a fierce intelligence. He charges his clients whatever they can afford, which might be a set of tires or a homemade casserole. To get by, he's forced to take on clients that can pay.

This time, it's a rap mogul whose life is in danger. As Isaiah investigates, he encounters a vengeful ex-wife, a crew of notorious cutthroats, a monstrous attack dog, and a hit man who even other hit men say is a lunatic. The deeper Isaiah digs, the more far reaching and dangerous the case becomes.

I've put it on hold at my library.

I read where they are making these books into a series.

Great, Sheri, same here. Gem, really? That's cool! I'm glad to be reading it first; I like to conjure up the characters in my head. Once I see a book on screen, it's hard for me to not picture those characters. There's another series that I read, Department Q by Jussi Adler-Olsen, and there's a TV series based on that one. I want to check it out.

Lisa wrote: "Great, Sheri, same here. Gem, really? That's cool! I'm glad to be reading it first; I like to conjure up the characters in my head. Once I see a book on screen, it's hard for me to not picture thos..."

I watched Department Q and loved it. Hope there'll be a season 2.

Really!? Ooo, I need to start watching this.

I got my book yesterday but haven't yet started and YES you should definitely watch. It won't be for everybody but I loved it.

That’s good to hear. As the weather gets cold and my bike activity moves indoors, I am always looking for a good watch. Have you read any of the books?

I have not.

Lisa wrote: "Great, Sheri, same here. Gem, really? That's cool! I'm glad to be reading it first; I like to conjure up the characters in my head. Once I see a book on screen, it's hard for me to not picture thos..."

I agree, it's easier to picture a character without an actor attached to it.

Department Q by Jussi Adler-Olsen... I have not heard of this, I'll grab the book, then see if I can find the series.

I'm starting IQ tonight.

Gem wrote: "I'm starting IQ tonight."

I started a bit last night - just a few pages in. What do you think so far?

I'm starting tonight and will chime in on initial impressions once I have.

˜”*°•.˜”*°• Sheri •°*”˜.•°*”˜ wrote: "Gem wrote: "I'm starting IQ tonight."

I started a bit last night - just a few pages in. What do you think so far?"

I'm a couple of chapters in and was not sure initially, but I more I read about the protagonist, the more I like the book. The protagonist is an introverted underdog... I'm finding myself rooting for him.

I'm about 50 pages in and I love it so far. I'm enjoying the different voice and conversational tone.

Department Q is nothing like this book. Not sure why I thought it would be. It's a great series and I just read there's going to be a season 2. Yippee.

I'm enjoying the writing of this selection. At times I can feel the danger. I have a question that I'll put in spoilers. It's probably been said but I can't remember (view spoiler)[I know what happened to his brother, Marcus, but don't know what happened to their parents. (hide spoiler)]

Sheri, there is a separate book series and Netflix series called Dept Q, different from IQ. All these Qs are confusing 😊

Lisa wrote: "Sheri, there is a separate book series and Netflix series called Dept Q, different from IQ. All these Qs are confusing 😊"

Yep. Confused me.

(view spoiler)[I want to think that Dodson has set up the murder to outwit Isaiah but then again I think it'd be too easy to have him be the culprit (hide spoiler)]

˜”*°•.˜”*°• Sheri •°*”˜.•°*”˜ wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

About halfway through, and I'm having another thought, (view spoiler)[after reading about Cal's mental health issues, that he did it himself. (hide spoiler)]

Also, if this author thing doesn't work out for Joe Ide, he could write rap lyrics. His stuff's not bad.

Lisa wrote: "˜”*°•.˜”*°• Sheri •°*”˜.•°*”˜ wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

About halfway through, and I'm having another thought, [spoilers removed]

Also, if this author thing doesn't work out for Joe Ide, he cou..."
hahaha true.

I like this book "ok" 3 stars. Might sometime read another of his but not planning on it right now.

Yeah, it started out really strong for me but is flagging a bit. I'm about halfway through. I'm enjoying the voice and characters which are colorful, but I'm not entirely compelled by the story.

Lisa wrote: "Yeah, it started out really strong for me but is flagging a bit. I'm about halfway through. I'm enjoying the voice and characters which are colorful, but I'm not entirely compelled by the story."

I so wanted to do who the culprit was because one minute I would like I knew and the next had no idea.

I (finally) finished this one. I didn't (and usually don't) enjoy (view spoiler)[gang violence, (hide spoiler)] which was the only real drawback for me with this book.

I liked Isaiah and the way he noodled the puzzles he was faced with. I wanted to smack Dodson more than once, but in the end, (view spoiler)[he helped Isaiah figure out who the culprit was. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I enjoyed the book, and once I had some time to actually sit down and read it, I kept stealing time throughout the day to read it. I thought it was compelling.

I only gave it 3 stars due to the (view spoiler)[gang violence (hide spoiler)], but would recommend it to someone who doesn't mind that.