Head Cases moved a little slow for a FBI procedural for me. It also relied quite a bit on the Criminal Minds subtype of an investigative team and set up the characters of the team without actually using them very often. I thought that slowed down the plot for me quite a bit.

I really enjoyed this Head Cases! It follows FBI Agent Gardner Camden and his team of misfit agents on the Patterns and Recognitions (PAR) team of the FBI. The writing pulled me in right away by starting out with a crime scene investigation and continued at the same pace. I thought the characters were well done. The pacing kept me turning pages, and it had that “just one more chapter” feel.

The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because the story became a little predictable as it went on. It became easy to figure out who the culprit was and how the book would end. Even so, it was still a solid and entertaining read, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys crime thrillers. I’m looking forward to reading book #2 of the series.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley who provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of Head Cases by John McMahon! This book is perfect for anyone who likes police procedurals! It has the kind of thrilling plot that makes for the best kind of page turner. Our main character, Special Agent Gardner Camden is a very compelling one, but honestly every character really stood out to me in a good way. The characters of the PAR Unit made this book so great. They're just so well developed and I found myself very invested in this book primarily because of them.

I don't know if serial killer crime stories are ever going to be a favorite of mine, but if I was going to recommend one to anyone, this is my pick! Definitely recommend if you're a fan of TV shows like Criminal Minds, which this book reminded me of in a few ways, though I did think this book was even better than that show. I'll be eagerly awaiting future books in this series! And in the meantime, I'll have to check out other books by John McMahon, because Head Cases was a great introduction to his writing style for me and I'm left wanting more!

Not my cup of tea, unfortunately but I did finish though so will watch for more from this author & try again. Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC

Head Cases by John McMahon is a gripping thriller that blends psychological tension with gritty crime drama. McMahon’s writing is fast-paced and immersive, pulling readers into a story full of twists and morally complex characters. The atmosphere is dark and compelling, and the protagonist’s inner struggles add real depth to the narrative. At times, however, the pacing can feel uneven, with certain sections lingering longer than necessary before the next big turn. Still, the mix of suspense and character development makes it a strong and memorable read for fans of crime fiction. Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!

Very interesting, fast paced, when the pieces started to click together I couldn’t put this one down!

TL;DR: a serial killer hunting serial killers is...COOL. I'm not usually a huge crime thriller fan, but this was excellent and extremely propulsive. Can't wait for the next entry in the series.

This was soooo engrossing. I really liked the procedural, true crime vibe of this book. The no-nonsense main character was also interesting to follow and he truly didn’t mess around. I ate this uppp

This is a pretty terrific novel.
An agent in the PAR unit, of the FBI, is put in charge of a case involving the hunt for a serial killer who is killing serial killers.
This agent, along with his coworkers are an odd mixture of “ almost on the spectrum thinkers” whose minds work just a bit differently than you and I .
They have all been designated o this unit because of their perceived oddness, but also because of inappropriate actions…not illegal, just inappropriate. They are a bit of a mix between Adrian Monk and Jack Reacher collectively.
I don’t want to give any details away here as it is quite a bit of fun to watch how they go after the killer, how they figure out who the perpetrator is and ultimately solve the case.
I do highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC.

This was a very quick read. At times I felt myself skimming parts that were very detailed and expert criminalist and over my head.

Sidebar, As a girl from Oklahoma (non-practicing at the moment) I really enjoyed the mentions of OKC.

3.5 stars rounded up. This book sort of felt like a procedural law enforcement show in book form. I haven't really decided if that's a good thing yet. It was an entertaining, fast-paced read overall. I see that it's the first in a series. I would put the sequel on the maybe/slightly interested part of my TBR list.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

I really enjoyed this!! The head case team is really cute and interesting! The plot kept me hooked and I was not able to figured out the mystery. I saw a second book was coming out and I will be reading! 4.5 stars

I thought that the premise of this book sounded interesting but it was reviews comparing it to the television series CSI that had me itching to pick it up. This turned out to be a really fast paced read that instantly hooked me. Gardner Camden was an interesting main character to read about. Actually his entire team that he worked with was unique with their own strengths and skills. Gardner himself thought was definitely a unique entity. The way that Gardner's mind worked through everything was very interesting to read about. The mystery behind who was behind the killings kept me guessing the entire time. I flew through the pages of this one, and am excited that this is going to be a series so I have more books with these characters to look forward to.

Readers looking for a fast paced, intense read need to give this book a try. If you enjoy books like UNSUB by Meg Gardiner or Killing Floor by Lee Child, definitely pick this book up. This author has another series that I want to try now while I wait for the next book in this series to be released. Four stars for this book and I'm eager to read more by this author.

Head Cases is a smart, fast-paced crime thriller that deftly blends tension, intricate puzzles, and a compelling team dynamic. John McMahon has crafted a cast of quirky yet capable agents who bring both expertise and unexpected camaraderie to the story. FBI Agent Gardner Camden stands out, written with authenticity, being equal parts brilliant and emotionally reserved. His struggles were relatable and his victories satisfying. I love a good crime thriller with great characters and an even better plot.

The premise of a serial killer targeting serial killer's was genius and executed well. The plot really hooked me with the creepy riddles that felt like they were written just for Gardner. The investigative details were great, enough forensic grit to feel real, mixed with plenty of twists and thrills, and just the right amount of dark, chilling moments.

Head Cases is an engaging, cerebral thriller that delivers high-stakes suspense and meaningful emotional depth. McMahon’s blend of mystery, procedural rigor, and character warmth makes it a compelling debut for the PAR series. The pacing was spot on, and the twists are so well-executed that I never saw them coming. It offered enough thrill to leave me eagerly awaiting what Gardner and his team do next. I absolutely recommend this one!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you like Criminal Minds, especially the new Evolution series, you will enjoy this book. It’s also reminiscent of Slow Horses and Dept. Q, British shows about groups of misfits solving serious crimes. I particularly enjoyed the main character, Gardner Camden’s neurodivergent traits. I’m so glad this is the first book in a series!

Themes of redemption, trust, and the impact of trauma permeate the narrative, encouraging readers to reflect on the complexities of the human mind. McMahon artfully illustrates how past experiences shape behavior and relationships, creating a nuanced portrait of mental health challenges.

I just want to sum of this book with words:

Quirky, Thrilling, Nerdy, Serious, Funny, Shocking, Gripping, well thought out, well written.....so many feelings about the book and all of them good!

Loved reading it, couldn't put it down, stayed with me long after I was done and hope that there is another one following!!



Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for sharing this digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Head Cases by John McMahon is a thrilling ride into a group of PAR misfits who have specially unique gifts. Camden, with his photographic memory, Richie who can run analysis on situations and circumstances to give probable statistics that actually help, as well as the rest of the team really kind of reminds me of the BAU unit from Criminal Minds. Hits hard and keeps you guessing as you follow the clues along until the very last page. LOVED IT!!! Will definitely be on the lookout for this author and future works.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

Head Cases is one of the best procedural thrillers I've read in a long time.

A bunch of people who are looked down on by their coworkers for their differences - for how they far too quirky in other people's eyes, when in reality they are some of the most hardworking and thoughtful people there.

And they are put onto a case where DNA found at a crime fits that of a serial killer that has been presumed dead for years; now they are struggling to figure out how they've been wrong and why has the killer come back out of hiding.

Gardner is a good team lead, you can see his passion for the job, even as he struggles with how he can't be there for his daughter Camilla as he wants to, making promises of how he will one day be able to move closer to her and her grandmother, be more present in her life after her mother is no longer able to be.

HEAD CASES by John McMahon is an engaging police procedural about a special department of the FBI whose current task is to hunt down a killer murdering famous serial killers.

Police procedurals are mostly boring to me but this one was the opposite of boring. It had the right mix of characters, quirkiness, mystery and puzzle-solving to keep me hooked throughout.

Recommend to a friend? Yes, friend, read it — especially if you love Criminal Minds (the TV show) since it reads like an episode of Criminal Minds.

PS: I love this cover.