Smoke by Joe IdeMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Thank you Library Journal for the advanced reader's copy.
The fifth installment of Joe Ide’s IQ series opens onto Isaiah Quintabe, the genius “IQ” detective as he flees his home in East Long Beach, California. Suffering from the effects of his dangerous job, Isaiah decides to leave everything behind hoping to escape his PTSD and the price on his head. Trouble finds him anyway in the forms of Ava and Billy, both attempting to solve the murder of Ava’s twin, Hannah. Ava is convinced the infamous AMSAK is her sister’s killer but it’ll take a brain like Isaiah’s to put the pieces together. Juanell Dodson, “the hustler’s hustler” and Isaiah’s best friend, has been given an ultimatum--go straight and get a job or lose his family. After a painful make-over, Dodson joins the team of an advertising firm and discovers he’s not as out of place as expected.
Smoke brings a flood of additional characters, including a former stripper fighting for custody of her son, a struggling artist finally seen for her talent, and two brothers who bring destruction wherever they go. Readers will need to pay careful attention to keep all of Ide’s players straight but the gritty action and sardonic humor will be sure to grab all IQ fans. Libraries with the previous four installments will want this one.
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