Gardner Camden leads an elite FBI task force that finds themselves hunting down a serial killer.

A classic FBI procedural thriller! Here's what I liked:

The characters: You can tell this is a potential start to a series. There are some really interesting and layered characters that are introduced. Gardner is of course at the center of the story and he is a fascinating character. I loved his backstory and really how his brain works. He's not an approachable guy, but he is brilliant at what he does.

The mystery: This has a lot of different layers to it. There are so many twists, but it all connects really well. I love that this is an FBI story. It reminded me of Silence of the Lambs and other books from the 90's.



All in all, this was a great FBI thriller!

This was such a fun, entertaining and thrilling read. The storyline unfolded perfectly, it kept me on my toes and continuously surprised me. For a debut the writing was fantastic and I will be looking out for more from this author.

[arc review]
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Head Cases releases January 28, 2025

2.5

This new series from McMahon features an FBI unit that specializes in patterns and recognition, who’ve just been assigned to a case involving a serial killer murdering other serial killers.

The premise and character archetypes presented are reminiscent of some of my favourite police procedural and crime tv shows, so it’s no surprise why this appealed to me. However, the characters themselves weren’t compelling enough to stand out from the many other series I love that are of a similar nature.

Most notably was the fact that Camden had a young daughter, which threw me off as it was an unconventional addition and didn’t really fit the ideal characterizations of someone in his professional position.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Having just watched Criminal Minds and Mind Hunter, this book was the perfect followup. I loved the ensemble characters and the different crimes the book went into.

FBI Agent Gardner Camden (always with the names that could be two last names, these people) is an “analytical genius” which probably just means he’s boring as hell, right? Oh, and he loves puzzles. He’s not so great with people, though, and that includes his 7 year old, Camila. We are told this, but really don’t see that much evidence of it because he is THE STAR OF THE BOOK. Gardner, THE STAR, and his team, a mathematician, a weapons expert and a computer expert are the Patterns and Recognition unit, specializing in difficult to solve cases. They never go anywhere except for this case where they seemingly have an unlimited budget for air travel. Elon Musk will put a quick stop to this nonsense, you can just bet! :)

Here, DNA links a murder victim to a serial killer believed to be dead. When a second victim appears the murderer starts leaving clues and riddles especially for Gardner. Car the PaR team catch the killer? Spoiler alert 1: I’ll bet they can. Spoiler alert 2: I’ll bet this is going to become a series.

I actually liked this book OK, except for a late stage reveal about one of the characters which seemed unnecessary and a HUGE missed clue by all investigators which would have lost everyone their jobs, and rightfully so. So, so dumb.

Hoping this novel, about a "puzzle solving" PAR unit in the FBI, becomes a series. Centered on Gardner Camden, an agent with a unique and difficult personality perhaps on "the spectrum" When DNA links a recent murder victim to a serial killer who died 7 years ago in a house fire, Camden and his mathematician partner, Cassie, are sent to the scene. As it becomes apparent that someone is killing serial killers, specifically to get the attention of Camden and the PAR unit. As the agents travel the country tracing their killer, they rely on their individual skills and personalities to solve the case, and find links to even older cases. Fast paced, well written, I enjoyed every page!

👀 T R A C K E R T U E S D A Y review 👀 featuring “Head Cases” by John McMahon!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

This book follows a group of FBI “misfit agents” called PAR (Patterns and Recognitions), who get called in to find a serial killer that is hunting OTHER serial killers 🔪!

A decade ago a notorious serial killer was presumed dead … or so the FBI thought … until he was found brutally murdered in the present day. As the bodies of other serial killers start to pile up, the team continues to be taunted by a mastermind vigilante who sends them on a wild goose chase consisting of riddles and clues. This killer of serial killers is CALCULATED, deranged, has no filter and is out for VENGEANCE!

“Head Cases” is the perfect crime thriller for fans of Criminal Minds and Mind Hunter! Thank you kindly to @johnmcmahonbooks @minotaur_books @stmartinspress @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on January 28, 2025!

Head Cases is a gripping and electrifying series debut that follows an enigmatic group of FBI agents as they hunt down a murderer seeking his own justice . The novel's greatest strength lies in its ability to balance intricate plotting with compelling character development. McMahon's unique premise and sharp prose make Head Cases a standout in the crime genre. While some readers may find the pacing a bit uneven at times, the book's strengths far outweigh its weaknesses.

Overall, Head Cases is a must-read for fans of crime fiction and those looking for a fresh voice in the genre. With its captivating plot, memorable characters, and McMahon's polished writing, this novel sets the bar high for future releases from this talented new author. Mark your calendars for its release on January 28, 2025

I’m not usually a fan of law enforcement themed books but this one was really good! I loved following Camden and the rest of PAR across the US to find the serial killer. I loved Camden as a character and I really hope the author decides to make a sequel!

In “Head Cases”, the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit and its brilliant but quirky members is an obvious knock-off of (or to be more generous, an homage to) the TV show “Criminal Minds.” Camden Gardner = Agent Reid; even has a mentally ill mother (dementia instead of schizophrenia). That being said, the plot is a good one, and the book very enjoyable. There appears to be a serial killer killing other serial killers, with the first victim being someone the FBI thought was already dead. The killer knows things he or she should not know. And the killer has set up an intricate game, leaving clues (some more obvious than others) for Agent Gardner and his colleagues to find, and manipulating their actions and responses. The story has a cast of interesting and amusing characters, as well as lots of surprises that will keep the reader guessing.

This is a fun book that reminded me of some tv shows I enjoy. Primarily FBI but also Criminal Minds a little bit. It was fun though I struggled in the beginning. I found it a little hard to get into with the dialogue a little choppy. However, I was invested and needed to know how things worked out, so I kept reading and I am glad that I did. I really ended up enjoying this one in the end. This was a fast-paced story and after the initial hump, very engaging. I loved all the twists that this book had. They were delicately done, and revealed in a natural way that helped propel the plot along. I loved the main character, he was quirky and smart, which I appreciated. I also enjoyed the side characters and feel they added to the plot nicely.

I do hope that this is the first book in a new series. There is a lot of promise with where this book could go and I am excited for it. There was the perfect amount of build up and introduction to the characters in this book that it would be the perfect springboard.

I really hope this is going to become a series.
I did the audio - and LOVED IT.
What a plot! Loved the characters - and of course the fallible main character who has made errors. Great twists and plot building.
Just a great read!

If you're a lover of Criminal Minds - especially Spencer Reed, then this is the book for you. While I felt a few similarities here, I thought the author created a unique and original character in Gardner Camden. I loved this character who cared so deeply and used his abilities to see crimes in way others don't. I think the author did a great job of making him complex and full of depth. There was a great balance with the dark serial killer they're investigating with figuring out how to balance a personal life. I also liked the behind the scenes look at the different task forces of the FBI. This book was engaging from beginning to end, and I'll definitely be picking this author up again in the future.

Fast paced thriller with the added element that it is populated by a quirky gang of experts, misfits that are called upon when a case proves too knotty for the usual team of FBI investigators. In this, I saw a certain resemblance to Mick Herron's Slow Horses series. However, it lacked that Herron's expertise in plotting, characterization and humor, still it is an interesting introduction to what promises to be an involving series.

What happens when a long deceased serial killer turns up deceased again? This is a head spinning fast paced crime novel.  Gardner Camden is the leader of a recently created FBI group called Patterns and Recognition (PAR). He is a walking and talk computer. He isn't just a nerd, he also has a soul. The story focuses mainly on Camden but the supporting cast are each phenomenal in their own right. When the team begins to think they have a serial killer searching out and killing other serial killers, they go on a cross country search for answers. I truly hope this is the beginning of a series. Twists and turns abound as the team closes in on the killer. This book is perfect for fans of Criminal Minds.

5 stars

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

One of my favorite television programs is Criminal Minds because of the BAU, a group of profilers. Head Cases is about a FBI group of agents who find patterns and solve the puzzles. Each member of this group has a particular expertise.
Looking forward to more books about this group by McMahon.

Libby lives a pretty solitary life writing the world famous children’s fantasy series “The Falling Children” under the name F.T.Goldhero. The internet is blowing up wondering who this author is and when the final book in the series will be released. Unbeknownst to the world, and her publisher, Libby has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers and writing is next to impossible.
Through a series of events, she travels to meet an extremely precocious 11 yo. fan who believes the finale’ of the story will tell her who her birth mother is. I read middle-grade books so the frequent reference to what occurs in “The Falling Children” is SOP for me though some adult readers may have difficulty with the fantasy references. That said, the book is extremely compelling and, as you might imagine, heartbreaking and I recommend it highly.

Pretty good for a police/FBI procedural. They tend to get boring and repetitive after awhile, but this one felt fresh for the genre. It was handed to figure out than most and I enjoyed that. I also enjoyed the unique characters from the team. The main protagonist did annoy me some in all of his thinking about being different, but it wasn’t too bad. The others were varied and interesting, I definitely enjoyed them. All in all a pretty good read.

Unfortunately I DNF this one around the 20% mark. The synopsis of this one sounded interesting but I found myself bored by the storyline and the characters.