Review Summaries

• The novel is praised for combining the hero's intellect with a strong sense of place, quick pacing, and emotional depth.

Reviews

• IQ

  Its fast, there7s humor too

• good

  all is well

• Next Netflix hit?

  I can see it turned into a Netflix series soon.

• 遅咲き日系人作家が生み出した、黒人の現代版シャーロック・ホームズ

  ロサンゼルスの中でも犯罪が多いことで知られるサウス・セントラル地区で育った黒人青年Isaiah Quintabe（イザイア・クィンタベ）は、近隣(hood）の黒人コミュニティで「IQ」というニックネームで知られている。IQが並外れて高く、シャーロック・ホームズのように謎を解き、問題を解決するからだ。しかも、Isaiahは、コミュニティの隣人からは報酬を受け取らない。 １０年ほど前、トップ大学への進学も夢ではなかった優秀な高校生だったIsaiahは、最愛の兄の死により、精神的にも経済的にもどん底に突き落とされた。自暴自棄になっていた彼が出会ったのは、高校ですでに犯罪の才能を発揮しはじめていたJuanell Dodsonだった。Dodsonに引きずられるようにして窃盗をし、間接的ではあれ、黒人とヒスパニック系ギャングの間の戦争を引き起こしたことを悔やむIsaiahは、すべてを捨ててDodsonから離れた。 しかし、面倒を見ている少年のために金が必要になり、Dodsonを通じて私立探偵の仕事を引き受けることになる。 クライアントは、スランプに陥っている有名ラップ・ミュージシャンのCalだ。 誰かが彼を殺そうとしているという。Calは、離婚した元妻が背後にいると信じているが、Calを殺そうとしたのは、プロの殺し屋らしい。 Calのマネジャーやプロデューサーらは、特に犯人探しには興味がなく、適当に決着をつけてCalに仕事に戻ってもらいたがっている。誰からも協力を得られないままに真相に近づいていったIsaiahは、殺し屋から命を狙われるようになる……。 黒人コミュニティで活躍する非常にユニークな黒人ヒーローを生み出したのが日系人作家だというのは驚きだった。 「それは偏見ではないか？」と非難されそうだが、そうではない。小説を書くときには、自分がよく知っている材料を使うのが慣わしだからだ。読者の目は厳しいので、よく知らないことを想像だけで書いても、説得力がなく、相手にされない。ロサンゼルスで生まれ育った日系人作家がLAの日系人コミュニティを舞台にした小説を書くなら納得できるが、わざわざ黒人コミュニティを選んだというのが意外だったのだ。 この小説を読んでさらに驚いた。会話といい、登場人物といい、とてもリアルなのだ。 Ideの経歴を読んで納得した。日系人とはいえ、LAのサウス・セントラル地区出身の彼は、黒人コミュニティで育ったようなものだったのだ。 デビュー作なのに、「非常にオリジナル！」と絶賛されているのは、IQという複雑なヒーローと、リアリスティックな登場人物たち、そして、文芸小説のような哀愁がほどよく混じっているからだろう。アクションも多く、飽きないところもいい。 シリーズ化するのは間違いないだろうし、もしかするとテレビドラマ化もあり得る。それを感じさせてくれる、大物デビュー作だ。

• ラップにLAギャングの世界をシニカルに描写

  ユーモアのツボが今ひとつはまらない感じ、ストーリーもひねりを効かせた探偵推理モノを期待していたのも肩すかし、ということでシリーズのフォローはなしです。

• Hugely enjoyable

  As a first book, it is amazingly well constructed. The slang exprssions are, I suppose, authentic in the circles depicted but somewhat surprising to an English reader more familar with the more cultivated speech acts in the real Sherlock Holmes novels.

• Reads like a movie

  It was pure fun reading this adrenaline-pumping novel. Aside from being a mystery novel, the story navigates through IQ's life as he fights to become a good example in the eyes of his deceased brother.

• Super entertaining

  This is a creative, witty and fast paced piece of crime fiction that brilliantly cross pollinates the likes of Walter Mosley with Carl Hiaasen and Michael Connelly. An absolute A+ for the genre.

• Excellent novel; unusual primary character; great story. A fun read start to finish!

  I came to this series late, after book 4 was released, based on a review in a magazine. I wasn't sure what to expect, and the first few pages made we worried that the entire book would be slang and swearing, but as it turns out this was the prelude to a really solid novel. The chapters (and within chapters) bounce around chronologically, but you get used to it quickly, and tracking the multiple threads in the novel is fun. I supposed the word "gritty" applies to the novel, as it pulls few punches about language or descriptions, but unless you're quite prudish it's not too much considering the story. The hero of the book is a non-traditional lead character, which was both refreshing and interesting, and the story unfolds nicely. Half way through this first book I went ahead and ordered the next three, looking forward to reading them. I finished IQ in a weekend, and thoroughly enjoyed the read. This isn't your traditional thriller, but it's a great read. I really enjoyed IQ and can't wait to wade into the next three books.

• Not so elementary, my dear Dodson....

  "IQ" grabbed me from the start and didn't let go. I found it hard to put down once I started reading, though I slowed down near the conclusion only because I was reluctant to have it end. The storyline was both interesting and fresh, the characters mostly believable and fairly well developed, and the writing above the norm. The novel unfolds within a dual timeline framework, one portion taking place in 2013 and a back story that begins in 2005 (with a little bouncing around occurring in that part). Some reviewers apparently had difficulty keeping up with the shifting stories, but, having than a few novels told in this manner, I had no such trouble. Isaiah Quintabe (hence IQ) is an extremely intelligent, introspective young black man with a tragic past that both haunts him and leads him to seek redemption through his actions in the present. His background has led him to acquire some unusual physical skills and heightened powers of observation and deduction (or perhaps induction) that make him a gifted detective in the vein of a modern day, street-wise Sherlock Holmes. He helps people who need his services in the rough neighborhoods of the city, often for little or no compensation, but taking payment from those he feels can afford it. This is problematic, as he needs money to support not only himself, but also to take care of an individual whose life was tragically altered due to circumstances IQ inadvertently brought about. IQ's ex-roommate, Juanell Dodson (hmmmm, like John Watson?), with whom he had a significant falling out, has now resurfaced to try to convince IQ to take a case that will pay very well. IQ, however, is reluctant to work with Dodson again in view of previous criminal dealings they shared that did not end well. Circumstances intervene that cause Isaiah to reconsider, and he ends up teaming up with Dodson to try to prevent the murder of a powerful rap star and discover who is behind the intended crime. I am reluctant to say much more so as not to spoil the story for potential readers, but there are a great many twists and turns along the way for the brilliant IQ before the resolution. The book is not perfect; some of the characters are somewhat stereotypical, although to be fair I must add that I have known people just like them. Also, the ending seemed rushed in a manner that was inconsistent with the rest of the book and not wholly satisfying for me. I found Dodson's role in the conclusion somewhat unbelievable in view of his general behavior throughout the story. Still, I enjoyed the novel very much overall and look forward to reading more of IQ's exploits in the future. My rating: 4.5 stars, but I'm rounding up to 5 due to the anticipation I already feel for the next book in this series!

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