hose who follow Joe Ide's IQ series will look forward to Fixit, but the book does have an end-of-the-road vibe.
Isaiah Quintabe is suffering from PTSD after several particularly dangerous, violent cases. The fact that his girlfriend Grace has broken up with him doesn't help his ability to heal and recover.

Isaiah, known as "IQ" for both his initials and his intelligence, was initially the neighborhood fixer. Lost cat, someone threatening your mother, problems with a loan shark? Call IQ. Yes, he'll take live chickens or a good meal in payment if necessary. There are, however, also cases that have proven more difficult, dangerous, and violent.

IQ has made enemies along the way, one of which has taken out a $25,000 bounty on Isaiah and the other has kidnapped his estranged girlfriend Grace. At his lowest point, IQ is dealing with more problems than he can manage.

The first section of the book concentrates on Grace, as she does her best after being kidnapped by Skip Hanson (hitman, lunatic, and a man who loathes IQ) who is determined on revenge. Interfering at the same time is Manzo, former gang leader who blames IQ for his humiliation.

An important and interesting element is how Joe Ide can list all of the awful things these villains do--and still create some sympathy for them.

Back to the neighborhood--this is where I think much of the success of the series lies. Deronda, Juanell Dodson, Cherise, TK, and others lighten the atmosphere and contribute to the community feel of the run down, crime ridden neighborhood.

What saved Fixit for me? The diversity of characters, the neighborhood community, and Juanell Dodson. Not IQ, this time. I have to wonder if this was the author's intent. Dodson has grown into his role at the same time IQ seems to have grown out of his.

Is this the last of the series? I don't know, but while Fixit was not as good as the first novels, I enjoyed reuniting with the characters that have given a such a strong backdrop to IQ's various adventures.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books.

Publication date: May 9, 2024. Blog review scheduled for May 1

IQ is on another case when his ex-girlfriend Grace is abducted by a hitman and IQ must follow the clues to find her. This installment features the usual cast of characters, with Dodson helping IQ look for Grace, as well as characters from past books, who are out for revenge. Overall, a great continuation of the series and even though the pacing was slower at times, fans of the series will enjoy this one.

Fixit: An IQ Novel
by Joe Ide

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Brilliant young street detective Isaiah (IQ) Quintabe faces payback from two arch nemeses in Fixit, the sixth book of the always superlative IQ series by Joe Ide (Smoke; Hi Five; Wrecked). Years of stopping bad guys from preying on his East Long Beach, Calif., community have taken a toll on Isaiah in the form of PTSD. A hustler named Manzo placed a bounty on IQ's head, and every cred-seeking thug in town tries to collect on the money offered. Leaving to nurse his wounds, both physical and mental, and keep his loved ones safe, seemed like the smart thing to do at the time. But when you're as good a detective as IQ, there is never just one person after you.

Skip Hanson just got out of prison, and blames IQ for his incarceration. Skip immediately, violently, abducts IQ's girlfriend, Grace. Rescuing Grace is more important to IQ than self-preservation, so he comes roaring back to town. His friends welcome him with open arms and are ready to help but soon recognize something is off with their favorite sleuth, especially when an increasingly frustrated IQ tries solving his Skip problem with bullets instead of his brains. He needs therapy, but time is running out for Grace.

In Fixit, Ide replaces IQ's usual bravado with a deep, humanizing insight into the effects of facing down evil for so long. --Paul Dinh-McCrillis, freelance reviewer

Isaiah Quintabe, better known as IQ, has fled his east LA neighborhood to remove himself from the danger he brings to himself and those he tries to help. But, his girlfriend, Grace, is kidnapped by a man just released from prison, who holds an enormous grudge against IQ and Grace. They ruined his life. Further complicating IQ's search for Grace is an LA Homicide Detective Winnie Hando, who does not take kindly to IQ's efforts to find Grace. And, further complicating the matter is another gangster, former leader of the local Hispanic gang, who also sees IQ as his enemy for ruining his relationship with the Sinaloa Cartel and driving him out of business, slinging dope. Murder, mayhem and danger follow IQ and his sidekick, Juanell Dodson, who is facing his own problems with his wife, who wants him to work for a local pastor to resolve some personnel issues within the church. IQ spends a lot of time contemplating his failures, but in the end, his grit and ability to outthink everyone else in the room will serve him well.

Fixit
Joe Ide
reviewed by Lou Jacobs


readersremains.com | Goodreads


This is the sixth book in this unique series. However, anyone can jump onto this fast-moving train and thoroughly enjoy this character-driven adventure filled with wit, heart, and emotion. Joe Ide (EE-DAY) spins a gritty trip into the world of Isaiah Quintabe (Queen-tah-bay) and effortlessly supplies the necessary backstory to allow the reader quick immersion into the complex narrative told from multiple points of view.

The main protagonist remains Isaiah Quintabe (“IQ”) and his best friend, sometimes partner, and sidekick, Juanell Dodson. Both are complex but relatable characters always seeming to be facing daunting crises in their lives, unrelated to their friendship and the present-day crime dilemma.

Joe Ide, a Japanese-American, grew up in South Central Los Angeles, in an economically depressed area with rampant gang and street crime. Wanting to fit in and belong, his speech, style, and attitude reflected his neighborhood. As a youth, he became enamored with the books of Sherlock Holmes. It naturally followed that when he turned to writing novels, his hero would be inspired by Sherlock Holmes. His main protagonist would defeat his crime villains not by physical prowess, but by intellect and the power of deductive reasoning. Hence, the birth of Isaiah Quintabe, an underground street private investigator with excessive, near-genius intellect, and burgeoning skills of deductive reasoning. Aided by an almost photographic memory, it allows him to link seemingly unrelated facts together to understand motivation and behavior. At this juncture, he is suffering from a form of PTSD and is overwhelmed by the almost daily dealing with the infectious offal of humanity. Burnt out by the incessant dealing with gangs, killers, drugs, pimps, and the never-ending corrosive conflicts of street life, he is presently recovering at Coronado Springs Hospital from injuries sustained during his last case. He is 500 miles away from his home in East Long Beach when he receives a phone call. His first and greatest love, Grace, has been kidnapped, and the police refuse to acknowledge the situation. They say to call back in seventy-two hours if she is still “missing”… it’s policy!

Grace is an artist at heart… always with a pencil or paintbrush in her hand. She tries to eke out a living working at a food truck. Her relationship with IQ has ended with a rather cold phone call… like she was canceling a magazine subscription. She actually loves Isaiah. He is compassionate, loving in a quiet way, and courageous, but life with him is too dangerous. He is always surrounded by evil. She only wishes for safety, peace, and calm. Seemingly impossible with Isaiah. She has just finished a shift at the food truck and returns home. Just as she gets out of her beat-up Jeep, she is punched in the gut… doubling her over… as she drops to the ground, and just before losing consciousness, she sees a man with a dog collar around his neck.

Grace has been kidnapped by Skip Hanson, a cunning, brutal hitman with a side order of sadism and hell-bent on revenge. Isaiah sent him to prison and also put down his kennel of raised vicious dogs… his “family.” On his drive back, IQ receives a phone call from Skip… taunting him… he has to find Grace in time… if he gets tired of waiting… “I’ll kill her and stuff her body into a dumpster.” He reunites with his partner, Juanell Dodson, and the duo must track down the paucity of clues shrouded in mystery and deceit in an effort to save Grace. Her predicament grows more perilous as other forces intervene and complicate an already dangerous situation. Isaiah has a $25,000 bounty on his head, and a network of gangs across California are looking for him. Hot on his heels is Manzo Gutierrez, the leader of Surenos Locos 13 gang. Manzo feels betrayed by Isaiah and feels humiliated… he has lost everything because of Isaiah… his money, pride, stature on the street, and trust of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Joe Ide is the winner of the Anthony, Shamus, and Macavity Awards and nominated for multiple other awards. He crafts another complex and twisted narrative featuring his modern-day hero that gives justice to the powerless in an ethical and thoughtful manner. This expert storyteller effortlessly weaves multiple multi-layered quirky characters into an explosive denouement. Ide’s usage of dialogue is masterful, as he utilizes both satire, humor, and street language to develop tension, intrigue, and mystery. A mixture of pathos and comedy propels this into a page-turner. Each of his novels is a welcome and refreshing addition to the legacy of Sherlock Holmes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.

Joe Ide's IQ mysteries are always good. In this new adventure, IQ and Grace are spearated. IQ is suffering from PTSD and Grace has broken up with him over text messaging-she is in LA and he is north. As she arrives home from work she is kidnapped and so begins the return of IQ. This fast paced mystery includes most all of our favorite characters.

Another great installment in the IQ series. Ide has crafted a great story that keeps the reader on the edge of his/her seat.

Friends and friendship…love and romance…intrigue and mystery. This author brings characters alive on the pages of this novel. The story moves slowly at times…it does come to a resounding ending. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review.