Righteous

By: Joe Ide

Narrated by: Sullivan Jones

In this hotly anticipated follow-up to the smash hit IQ, a New York Times Critics' Best of the Year and winner of the Anthony, Macavity, and Shamus Awards, Isaiah uncovers a secret behind the death of his brother, Marcus.

For ten years, something has gnawed at Isaiah Quintabe's gut and kept him up nights, boiling with anger and thoughts of revenge. Ten years ago, when Isaiah was just a boy, his brother was killed by an unknown assailant. The search for the killer sent Isaiah plunging into despair and nearly destroyed his life. Even with a flourishing career, a new dog, and near-iconic status as a PI in his hometown, East Long Beach, he has to begin the hunt again-or lose his mind.

A case takes him and his volatile, dubious sidekick, Dodson, to Vegas, where Chinese gangsters and a terrifying seven-foot loan shark are stalking a DJ and her screwball boyfriend. If Isaiah doesn't find the two first, they'll be murdered. Awaiting the outcome is the love of IQ's life: fail, and he'll lose her. Isaiah's quest is fraught with treachery, menace, and startling twists, and it will lead him to the mastermind behind his brother's death, Isaiah's own sinister Moriarty.

With even more action, suspense, and mind-bending mysteries than Isaiah's first adventures, Righteous is a rollicking, ingenious thrill ride.

Critic reviews

One of the Best Books of the Year - NPR, Washington Post, BookRiot, Suspense Magazine, Amazon, South Florida Sun Sentinel, LitHub
A Goodreads Choice Award finalist!

"Joe Ide is the best new discovery I've come across in a long time. And Isaiah Quintabe is the kind of sleuth not seen on the mystery landscape before. Righteous is a riveting follow up to IQ."—Michael Connelly, author of The Late Show

"Last year, Joe Ide became the best thing to happen to mystery writing in a very long time. . . . There are a lot of fine reasons to discover Ide's work. . . . He writes thumbnail descriptions that rival Elmore Leonard's. . . . His dialogue, much of it unprintable here, has bite that puts him in the Winslow/Lehane league. . . . The world of these books is one of constant trash talk, and Ide delivers it with style. . . . It may be time for Ide to lay to rest Isaiah's Marcus obsession and give him other things to think about. I can't wait to find out what they'll be."—Janet Maslin, New York Times

"Excellent... Ide keeps Righteous on a righteous path of compelling storytelling, allowing his characters to flourish while exploring the worst of human nature. Never once does Righteous go over the top as Ide keeps each plot point chillingly realistic... Ide's debut IQ showed what a skillful writer he is. Righteous elevates the author--and his characters--to a new level."—Oline Cogdill, The Associated Press

"Ide's sense of humor, his effervescent dialogue, and his knack for moments of emotion [are] all still present here, terrific news for readers."—Charles Finch, USA Today

"Joe Ide made many fans with his first book, which starred the young black PI Isaiah Quintabe. Its follow-up, in which "IQ" digs into the 10-year-old killing of his older brother, will no doubt earn Mr. Ide many more followers."—Wall Street Journal

"He's the real deal."—Carl Hiaasen

"Call it what you will--ungraphic manga, comedy noir--but IQ, Joe Ide's debut featuring Isaiah Quintabe, was definitely original. . . . Righteous, the second IQ novel, is every bit as solid and smart as the first. . . . Ide writes wild dialogue, creates totally original characters and makes me laugh out loud at two in the morning. What more can you ask?"—Margaret Cannon, The Globe and Mail [Canada]

"Ide is the real thing. This column was late, because I couldn't stop reading my advance copy."—Allison K. Hill, Long Beach Press-Telegram

"Outstanding . . . Ide again makes his hero's deductive brilliance plausible, while presenting an emotionally engaging story that doesn't shy away from presenting the bleakest aspects of humanity."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A Plethora of Stereotypes

The Audible reader is excellent, but the majority of characters are stereotypical hoodlums and there is a constant stream of foulest language and violence which goes on for far too long. Resolution a tidy mental process taking just a few minutes. Isaiah’s obsession with revenge seems out of character.

Terrific listen

Exciting, well developed story with much action and terrific narration. The dialogue and other character interactions are are well thought out with injections of humor to offset the violence.

my new favorite author

I love this writer, his stories, the characters, the narrator. I'm a commuter and the commute is much less tedious with great stories like this.

wonderful follow up to IQ

I like the book in the reader both very much. The ending felt a little bit rushed, but I won't say any more to avoid spoilers. I will definitely continue to follow this author.

It’s the narrator!

The story is well written. There is a strong sense of place. The characters are well-drawn and interesting. But, OMG it’s the narrator!