IQ
Joe Ide
2016, 336 pages
Fiction
They call him IQ. Isaiah is a loner and a high school dropout, his quiet nature disguising a relentless determination and a fierce intelligence. He charges his clients whatever they can afford, so 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 hitman who even other hitmen say is a lunatic. The deeper Isaiah digs, the more far-reaching and dangerous the case becomes.
The root of this story and the Sherlock Holmes parallels are obvious, but this update on the classic is clever and consistent. Isaiah is not Sherlock Holmes, and he doesn’t want to be. Joe Ide has created a character who stands on his own as a tough, smart detective who works outside of the law.
This thriller is highly recommended.
Nora Cascadden Concord Public Library
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