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yoteach87's review against another edition
4.0
Righteous is a very good follow up to last year's IQ. I love the characters that Ide has created and as long as he continues to create storylines around them, the more I am guaranteed to be a reader of Ide's books.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
3.0
I let this sit a while after finishing it, hoping it would grow on me or I would at least figure out why I wasn't enamored with this second installment the way I was with the first, but I'm still not sure what the problem was. In IQ, Isaiah was weird but relatable and had a strong sense of justice. In Righteous, he seemed to take a hard left into arrogant and uncaring. I also really struggled with the timeline, which jumped forward and back and left me totally lost at times. I'm not the kind of reader who needs spoon-fed, but in this case, cues at the beginnings of chapters (like "six months earlier," "Las Vegas," etc.) would have helped a lot. It almost felt like the chapters got mixed up and printed out of order on accident, because the time hops didn't add anything (except confusion). I will say I am a fan of the new potential love interest, but whether that's enough to make me pick up book 3 remains to be seen.
blackwomanbooklover's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mrisher's review against another edition
2.0
Still good characters, but much more contrived plot than "IQ"
myrdyr's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
3.75
A bit over the top but enjoyable. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
eshatto's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
In Joe Ide's Righteous, brilliant detective Isaiah Quintabe (aka IQ) finds himself working two cases that are extremely personal since they both have links to his beloved brother Marcus who died in a tragic hit and run several years earlier. This second installment in the gritty private detective series, IQ, is a suspenseful mystery that easily stands on its own but I highly recommend the first novel as well.
This latest outing picks up where the previous novel left off and having discovered the car from the hit and run that killed Marcus, Isaiah is more determined than ever to find the person responsible. After closely examining the contents inside the car, he stumbles onto a startling realization about the hit and run. Beginning his investigation with his straight as an arrow brother's business records, his search for the truth takes him in a surprising direction. As he gets closer to figuring out who is responsible for Marcus's death, Isaiah's perception of his brother is forever changed. And his quest for vengeance puts him in a moral quandary as Isaiah questions suspects and eventually comes face to face with his brother's killer.
While delving into his brother's past, Marcus's girlfriend at the time of his death, Sarita Van, reaches out to Isaiah to look into her half-sister Janine's troubles in Las Vegas. Janine and her ne'er-do-well boyfriend Benny have racked up a huge debt with a loan shark and their harebrained scheme to extort money puts them in the path of Chinese gangsters from the 14K Triad. Isaiah enlists the aid of his former partner in crime, Juanell Dodson, and they quickly travel to Vegas in order to save Janine. Their rescue attempt immediately runs into trouble since the 14K is gunning for both Janine and Benny.
With with the Triad and the loan sharks hot on their heels, Isaiah and Dodson must use every skill they possess as they try to keep Janine out of harm's way following Benny's disappearance. Since Isaiah a little off his game as he comes to terms with the revelations about Marcus and Dodson is trying to outthink and outmaneuver him, their collaboration is full of tension and friction as they try to stay one step ahead of the gangsters. But when the case takes a detour that hits extremely close to home, will Isaiah and Dodson put aside their differences before it is too late?
In the aftermath of both cases, Isaiah is forced to take stock of his life when his hopes and dreams are dashed after a rude reality check. A loner by choice, he is shocked by a proposition from Dodson whose plan is surprisingly well thought out and provides Isaiah with a way to make more money while still helping the people in his community.
Righteous is an engrossing, action-packed mystery with an immensely appealing lead protagonist. While Isaiah is not prone to much introspection, the events that unfold during this latest installment of the IQ series will force him to step out of comfort zone. With the chapters alternating back and forth between Isaiah's search for Marcus's killer and trying to keep Janine out of harm's way, Joe Ide brings the novel to an unexpected conclusion. I greatly enjoyed this extremely clever novel and I highly recommend it to fans of the genre.
In Joe Ide's Righteous, brilliant detective Isaiah Quintabe (aka IQ) finds himself working two cases that are extremely personal since they both have links to his beloved brother Marcus who died in a tragic hit and run several years earlier. This second installment in the gritty private detective series, IQ, is a suspenseful mystery that easily stands on its own but I highly recommend the first novel as well.
This latest outing picks up where the previous novel left off and having discovered the car from the hit and run that killed Marcus, Isaiah is more determined than ever to find the person responsible. After closely examining the contents inside the car, he stumbles onto a startling realization about the hit and run. Beginning his investigation with his straight as an arrow brother's business records, his search for the truth takes him in a surprising direction. As he gets closer to figuring out who is responsible for Marcus's death, Isaiah's perception of his brother is forever changed. And his quest for vengeance puts him in a moral quandary as Isaiah questions suspects and eventually comes face to face with his brother's killer.
While delving into his brother's past, Marcus's girlfriend at the time of his death, Sarita Van, reaches out to Isaiah to look into her half-sister Janine's troubles in Las Vegas. Janine and her ne'er-do-well boyfriend Benny have racked up a huge debt with a loan shark and their harebrained scheme to extort money puts them in the path of Chinese gangsters from the 14K Triad. Isaiah enlists the aid of his former partner in crime, Juanell Dodson, and they quickly travel to Vegas in order to save Janine. Their rescue attempt immediately runs into trouble since the 14K is gunning for both Janine and Benny.
With with the Triad and the loan sharks hot on their heels, Isaiah and Dodson must use every skill they possess as they try to keep Janine out of harm's way following Benny's disappearance. Since Isaiah a little off his game as he comes to terms with the revelations about Marcus and Dodson is trying to outthink and outmaneuver him, their collaboration is full of tension and friction as they try to stay one step ahead of the gangsters. But when the case takes a detour that hits extremely close to home, will Isaiah and Dodson put aside their differences before it is too late?
In the aftermath of both cases, Isaiah is forced to take stock of his life when his hopes and dreams are dashed after a rude reality check. A loner by choice, he is shocked by a proposition from Dodson whose plan is surprisingly well thought out and provides Isaiah with a way to make more money while still helping the people in his community.
Righteous is an engrossing, action-packed mystery with an immensely appealing lead protagonist. While Isaiah is not prone to much introspection, the events that unfold during this latest installment of the IQ series will force him to step out of comfort zone. With the chapters alternating back and forth between Isaiah's search for Marcus's killer and trying to keep Janine out of harm's way, Joe Ide brings the novel to an unexpected conclusion. I greatly enjoyed this extremely clever novel and I highly recommend it to fans of the genre.
barmatron's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
susanatherly's review against another edition
5.0
I really like Joe Ide's writing and really like the I.Q. Series. The stories are smart and creative with a modern L.A. Noir edge. Long Beach is LA, right? The characters engaging and the settings vivid. I highly recommend this series.
elusivity's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 STARS
Isaiah's brother's old girlfriend came to ask for his help. Isaiah successfully protected her father, little sister and loser boyfriend, from a mish-mash of Asian and Hispanic gangs, moneylender, sex trafficking.
Meanwhile, Isaiah diligently seeks the murderer of his brother.
Isaiah emerges from isolation and gets a taste of friendship and chases after an old love. Dodson gets on the right side of the law, hooks up with a good girl from church, and surprise surprise, becomes an excellent boyfriend and father. And a new partnership is born.
Listened to audiobook. Again, I love, love Sullivan Jones, his voice acting makes all the varied characters come vividly alive.
Isaiah's brother's old girlfriend came to ask for his help. Isaiah successfully protected her father, little sister and loser boyfriend, from a mish-mash of Asian and Hispanic gangs, moneylender, sex trafficking.
Meanwhile, Isaiah diligently seeks the murderer of his brother.
Isaiah emerges from isolation and gets a taste of friendship and chases after an old love. Dodson gets on the right side of the law, hooks up with a good girl from church, and surprise surprise, becomes an excellent boyfriend and father. And a new partnership is born.
Listened to audiobook. Again, I love, love Sullivan Jones, his voice acting makes all the varied characters come vividly alive.