Wrecked

An IQ Novel

By: Joe Ide

Narrated by: Sullivan Jones

Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

Isaiah Quintabe - IQ for short - has never been more successful or felt more alone. A series of high-profile wins in his hometown of East Long Beach have made him so notorious that he can hardly go to the corner store without being recognized. Dodson, once his sidekick, is now his full-fledged partner, hell-bent on giving IQ's PI business some real legitimacy: a Facebook page and IQ's promise to stop accepting Christmas sweaters and carpet cleanings in exchange for PI services.

So when a young painter approaches IQ for help tracking down her missing mother, it's not just the case Isaiah's looking for but the human connection. And when his new confidant turns out to be connected to a dangerous paramilitary operation, IQ falls victim to a threat even a genius can't see coming.

Waiting for Isaiah around every corner is Seb, the Oxford-educated African gangster who was responsible for the death of his brother, Marcus. Only this time, Isaiah's not alone. Joined by a new love interest and his familiar band of accomplices, IQ is back - and the adventures are better than ever.

©2018 Joe Ide (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic Reviews

"With writing so sharp you may cut your fingers on the pages, Joe Ide's latest IQ novel, Wrecked, is outrageous and laugh-out-loud funny, a page-turner with devastating observations about the dangers of state-sanctioned violence and its consequences. The characters are unforgettable, none more so than IQ himself. Like in the previous books, IQ's tender intelligence and his tight moral compass are what make this series so stirring...and touching." (Attica Locke, Edgar Award-winning author of Bluebird, Bluebird)

"The hip-hop generation's answer to Sherlock Holmes returns fast and furious in the third installment of Ide's celebrated series.... Ide's penchant for colorful characters, droll banter, and whackadoodle set pieces is aided by a growing command of narrative dynamics. And Isaiah Quintabe remains an engaging, fascinating protagonist.... There's a harder, darker edge to the violence that gives this ripsnorting follow-up a rueful yet resonant aftertaste, perhaps in anticipation of more unsettling jolts in the hero's future." (Kirkus)

"Once again, Ide brilliantly combines caper-style comedy with real-world violence and more than a dollop of complex human relationships, the kind that too often lead to mess and muddle rather than happily-ever-aftering. If you haven't discovered this series yet, remedial action is required immediately." (Booklist, starred review) 

Least favorite installment

I don't know what to say. I just didn't like this story that much. I felt there were some missteps in describing black culture. This was the first book where I knew the author wasn't black. It had a weird voice to it, as if he was making stuff up about things i am familiar with , and that was disappointing.

Disappointment for this once promising series

The first book, IQ, was a great find. Excellent writing, mostly interesting characters, and a good plot. I was happily comparing it favorably to Raymond Chandler. I bought the print and audio versions and enjoyed both. The second was not so good - but still promising - I was willing to spend my last credit on Wrecked when it came out. I'm so very sorry. If I hadn't waited so long, I could have returned it and would have - certainly I didn't need to continue to fast forward - I must have fast forwarded through 2/3 of it to the limp, lame, unsatisfactory - and way too trite and expectable end.

The thing about IQ was the brains, and using brains and reason and logic to work things out. Then there was the personal set of values, a person who believed in a way of being and stuck to it. Wrecked started with graphic descriptions of violence, and continued this theme throughout the book. I wanted to read about a character who used his abilities to outwit the bad guys - not to be brutalized, along with all his friends - by the bad guys. I wasn't a whole lot more happy when the bad guys got brutalized. The David vs Goliath theme is always entertaining. However, it does take more than just writing ability - the writing is good, but it's as though Ide has run out of ideas for interesting plotting and how to use the strengths of his characters. Just one graphically described scene of violence after another.

The introduction of a love interest follows a path that is so old and well worn and over used that you can predict the outcome the moment the woman walks onto the scene. I suppose, if there are more books in the series - probably there will be - that this languishing loneliness and longing after a relationship that can never be, will be a part of each book. I also found myself even more weary of the Dotson character and IQ's relationship with him than I was by the end of book 1 - and throughout Wrecked. We're supposed to be dealing with a smart guy- and however a smart guy needs friends, this relationship is so co-dependent it's annoying.

I don't know if it's Ide himself who has just run out of steam - or a publisher who thinks that changing the theme will bring movie deals - whichever, it's not a good premise. Next book in the series I'll try and read - but from the library.

“I Broke A Nail”?

I love this idea of the urban fixer – the one who will solve the problems the police or social services can’t or won’t. IQ uses his observation and problem-solving skills to help his friends and neighbors. This third book in, Dodson and IQ are partners, and while Dodson wants to elevate their business – he has a new baby to think about – IQ is content to keep working for baked goods. He’s a little too content and Ide has him almost wallowing in his poverty. There’s no moment of reflection on the needs of his business partner, or even on the fact that his work is a business. Ide tries too hard to portray IQ’s deeds for his neighbors as noble gestures. Because his work is not grounded by any realities of life, IQ spends the bulk of this book being pensive, humble and noble – and boring. IQ’s arc is very slight in this book.

Dodson, on the other hand, has shown the most growth and change over the three books even though he is the comic relief sidekick character. In this book, he’s got a new baby to care for, a mother-in-law to appease, an apathetic business partner, and a few former life loose ends to tie off and do so without upsetting wife & mother-in-law, and without the help of IQ. In many ways this is Dodson’s story.

And while Ide does a good job writing Dodson, he doesn’t write women well at all. His female characters are all hollow shells. He’s got the mysterious, ambiguous love interest; the brassy “round the way girl;” the demanding wife, and the dissatisfied mother-in-law. Any ground Ide has gained as a progressive storyteller was lost in this book in a single line – “I broke a nail.” He has a female character utter this phrase at a point in the climax. I think it was supposed to be funny, intended to break up the tension, but using a trite, and now old-fashioned, female stereotype is just lazy writing and not the way to go. All other indicators are that Ide is a better writer than this.

On the whole, Wrecked read like a bridge story on the way to something more and better – I hope.

Mayhem galore

Ide is starting to pump them out. This last is, seemingly, designed to be converted into a screenplay with lots of attractive for the masses mayhem. Ide’s first was a lot better. This one needed a lot of editing. But entertaining

Great story, with flaws

I’ve really enjoyed the character arcs of these three novels, starting with IQ , then Righteois, and now Wrecked. Isaiah is a brilliant, damaged, lonely soul & who can’t identify with feeling that way at some point. Dodson and all the other characters are basically decent but flawed and tryimg their hardest to eke out some sort of happiness in their everyday lives, without getting in their own way.
No real spoilers here, but I will say this. In terms of story, each book has plenty to offer. And I dug through all three books on about 4 days. So the story & characters are all there. But the inconsitencies or plot holes that showed up somewhat in the second book were much more plentiful in Wrecked, almost to the point of giving up a couple of times.
Every good novel with action and detective work happening has a certain amount of required suspension of disbelief. In a fantasy series, you expect magic. In science fiction, it’s new technology or time travel. And in an IQ book, you expect Isaiah to pull ideas out ofnthin air to save the day. But when Isaiah does something incredibly stupid, like, say, leaving a murderous bad guy tied up with a chance of escape or rescue as the story is reaching its pinnacle, That bugs me. It always bothers me when solid characters do things so contrary to their nature juat to make a plot “work”. Dodson’s wife was very inconsiatent, too...though I actually liked Dodson a lot more in this book. He’s attained some
real personal growth.
Anyway- i enjoyed all three booka. Thia one juat had some noticeable ticks that bugged me. Cheers

Worst IQ yet

I liked the other IQ books because they were intelligent and well-crafted. This book is not that. It is a paste-together set of plots and characters, "spiced" up with needless sadism. I recommend you read something else. This may be the last IQ I read.

Another great one

I have enjoyed two other IQ books, and I wasn’t disappointed with this one. Original and extremely well performed by the narrator. The ONE THING I didn’t like was the comment by the book’s most villainous character: some day we will elect a president who will make America great again.

DO NOT RUIN A BOOK WITH POLITICS. I didn’t buy this book to hear the author’s opinion on President Trump. I bought it to be entertained. Otherwise, great listen.

Entertaining modern detective story

IQ is recruited by Grace, his mystery girl from the junk yard, to find her mother. They are both loners who don’t know how to have a relationship, but the curiosity is still there.
This book was still entertaining, but wasn’t quite as tight as the previous two books. Ex: nothing was said about IQ escaping his interrogation; and they wouldn’t have left porkpie loose behind them in the training facility, where he could catch them in between, which he did.
Sullivan Jones did a great job of narration. He’s got the right voice for IQ, and does a great job with individual characters.

Read all three in a row

I am anxiously awaiting book #4. I love this series and all the characters. More emotions in this book and a lot of backstory but all blended together brilliantly.

Love this series!

I have enjoyed this series immensely! Each audible has been fantastic and this was no different! I love IQ and the stories have pulled me in and kept me enthralled till the very end. And I must say Sullivan Jones is THE best narrator I’ve heard and I listen to a lot of audiobooks. He absolutely brings these stories alive! Amazing! I hope we are going to hear a lot more from IQ