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IQ
476 pages
A razor-sharp, sun-baked modern noir that reimagines the classic genius detective in the vibrant, unforgiving streets of East Long Beach.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like riding shotgun through the sun-baked, kinetic streets of East Long Beach, where danger and vibrant community life exist side by side. The narrative moves at a brisk, confident clip, balancing adrenaline-fueled encounters with quiet moments of profound empathy. It is a modern noir that crackles with sharp, rhythmic prose and a wry, street-smart attitude. You are pulled into an atmosphere that is simultaneously gritty and deeply human, anchored by a brilliant but burdened protagonist navigating a world of systemic neglect. It delights readers who love their mysteries steeped in rich cultural textures, offering a deeply satisfying emotional journey from isolated survival to the reluctant embrace of found family and hard-won justice.
- Mood
- sun-baked
- kinetic
- tense
- atmospheric
- Tone
- wry
- gritty
- empathetic
- sharp
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- community justice · the burden of genius · systemic neglect · found family · surviving trauma
- The writing
- Sharp, rhythmic, and deeply rooted in the vernacular and vibrant energy of Southern California.
- The arc
- The protagonist moves from isolated grief and survival to a reluctant acceptance of his unique purpose and the messy partnerships that come with it.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave modern, character-driven noir featuring brilliant, deeply flawed sleuths and vivid, culturally rich settings.
Content notes
- gun violence
- drug use
- gang violence
- murder
- grief
About the book
"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"--
Description from Open Library.
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