These books have been outstanding, but just as in a TV series it must be very difficult to maintain consistent quality over time. This most recent novel has a plot that revolves around a character with multiple personalities. This phenomenon is so rare that some authorities believe that it doesn't actually occur, and my credulity maintenance facility was strained to breaking by this cheap gimmick. Furthermore, the snappy dialogue of previous IQ encounters seems lacking. The series may have jumped the shark, and I had to quit early to cut my loses. ( )

This one rambled so much I almost quit. ( )

Isiah a bright, self styled private eye is coerced into trying to learn who murdered a mob figure in the Taylor shop run by the daughter of a criminal gun salesman. Many interesting characters put in an appearance, including the daughter with multiple personalities. The story is well told and takes a few surprising turns. ( )

IQ in Transition
Review of the Mulholland Books hardcover edition (January 2020)

There are many dramatic events that unfold for the extended cast of Joe Ide's Isaiah Quintabe (aka IQ) novels in this current outing and its rather depressing conclusion hints at major changes to come in the future for the series.

Isaiah is called upon to solve a complex case where the chief witness and prime suspect is suffering multiple personality disorder. Past girlfriend Grace comes back into his life (don't worry, Ruffin the dog is still there as well) and past-partner Dodson is having a home crisis. There is a charming budding romance story for wrecking yard owner TK which is actually my favourite part of the book. IQ himself seems to be off his game and plunges into various situations recklessly and it is Dodson that comes across as the smarter partner in these cases. That isn't the IQ that I first bought into. He doesn't display hardly any of the Sherlockian clever clue solving that I would expect. But having the complexity of several witness/suspect personalities to deal with makes it more confusing for both him and the reader. The villains are viler than ever this time including an arms dealer, various street gangs and a pair of crazed assassins.

Anyway, I'm still on board for IQ in the future but this one seems like a transitional novel which may feel like a downer for long time fans. ( )

Not the best in the series, but worth reading. ( )