This is the fifth book in Joe Ide's "IQ" series, about Isaiah Quintabe (nicknamed IQ) - a brilliant twentysomething African-American investigator (and do-gooder) from East Long Beach, California.
In this story, East Long Beach gangs have put a bounty on Isaiah's head, and a variety of haters are anxious to collect the reward. Moreover, Isaiah is exhausted, mentally and physically, and doesn't want to see any more suffering, injustice, and cruelty. So Isaiah is taking a road trip north - anxious to get away from the criminals and lunatics he's been dealing with at home.
Isaiah's extended drive brings him to the picturesque town of Coronado Springs near Lake Tahoe, where he rents a small guest house and proceeds to enjoy the natural environment.
During a long walk to a national park, Isaiah is stopped by Sheriff Cannon, who's suspicious of a black man strolling through the area. Isaiah's credentials check out, but Cannon makes it his business to keep an eye on the stranger in his midst.
Unfortunately Isaiah's peaceful idyll is soon interrupted by Billy Sorenson, a young man who's escaped from the Feller Neuropsychiatric Institute.
Billy isn't crazy, but he's a perpetual troublemaker, and his mother Gretta - a police officer - had him committed for a month, to think about his behavior.
Billy's escape from the psychiatric hospital leaves him with nothing but the clothes on his back, and he breaks into Isaiah's cottage to look for food.
When Isaiah catches Billy, the youth begs the investigator to listen to his story, and - against his better judgement - Isaiah does. Billy says he knows the identity of a notorious serial killer known as AMSAK, who's murdered 17 girls. AMSAK's latest victim was the identical twin sister of a girl named Ava, whom Billy has crushed on since high school.
Billy used his cop mother's password to get the police files on AMSAK, and he thinks the murderer is a convict called Crowe, who's out on probation. Billy has shared this information with Ava, and plans to help her hunt down the killer.
Almost against his will, Isaiah gets involved in the hunt for AMSAK, to the irritation of Sheriff Cannon, who doesn't appreciate the interference.
Meanwhile Isaiah's friends in East Long Beach are having their own troubles.
Isaiah's girlfriend Grace, a painter, is preparing for an art show she hopes will jump start her career. Grace is also being threatened and harassed by Isaiah's enemies, who think she knows where to find him.
Isaiah's erstwhile partner Juanell Dodson - a lifelong hustler - has been given an ultimatum by his wife Cherise: get a job or get out.
So Dodson agrees to an internship with an advertising agency. Dodson's appearance, behavior, and ebonics aren't appropriate for a 'white' business, so he gets a complete makeover from is mother-in-law Gloria.....who hates him. (These scenes are among the funniest in the book.)
Isaiah's friend Deronda, a former ho who's become a food truck entrepreneur, adores her 4-year-old son Janeel.
So Deronda is distraught when Janeel's absentee father Bobby shows up, saying he'll sue for custody unless Deronda gives him half her business. Deronda racks her brain for ways to squirm out of the dilemma, and finally gets help from her friend Grace and her frenemy Dodson.
As usual, Isaiah's compulsion to help people lands him in all kinds of trouble, and he's lucky to emerge alive (and ready for his next adventure).
This is a well-written, action-packed thriller that's lightened by Ide's characteristic (and welcome) humor.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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