⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press/Minotaur books for providing me with this e-arc to review!

I really liked this one! At first it took me a hot minute to get used to the MMC. He is interesting and super intelligent…so it took awhile to get used to the way he narrated the story. Once the case and mystery really got underway I was gripped by the plot and I just had to figure out what was going on.

This one is about serial killers so it can get a bit gruesome at times. There were aspects of the murders that really grossed me out so I refrained from eating when reading/listening to this one.

I don’t often read FBI/police thrillers but I honestly think this one was done really well. The “PAR” group of blacklisted FBI intelligence working to solve cases that were unsolvable was a nice change of pace and really drew me into the plot.

If you are into FBI/cold cases/serial killer cases you would really like this one. The author has a sequel coming out for this one as well so I’ll be looking forward to getting my hands on it.

Will be sharing on @readitwithtay on 2/3

I really enjoyed reading this novel of a quirky team of FBI agents that make up the Patterns and Recognition unit including Camden Gardner who is a genius at solving puzzles. This unit is made of agents that are brilliant in what they do but were regulated to cold cases from something they had done in their earlier career. When DNA links a murder victim to a serial killer who was presumed dead. Agent Gardner is called in since he was on the first case and the rest of the team joins in as a second victim is linked and the murderer is leaving clues. They are on the trail of a new serial killer who is killing serial killers? The rest of the team consists of a mathematician, a computer analyst, a weapons expert and their leader a career agent. Agent Gardner is put in the lead because the killer has singled him out to get the clues. To make it worse it looks like the FBI is looking to dissolve the team and the killer has possibly targeted their lives and their families. Can they discover the killers identity before it’s too late? Will the team be torn apart will their families be safe?
This was a fast paced book that will keep you guessing with a great cast of characters. I think you will enjoy reading about the team and I for one will be looking forward to the next book John McMahon completes on the PAR team.

Criminal Minds-level twisty FBI crime-solving without the humor...

Head Cases by John McMahon gave definite CM vibes, both in a positive and a negative way. I really liked how twisted the case was, how original and intelligent the crimes, and how smart the main character was in putting everything together. It was truly impressive! But it just felt like it was missing something... The cast felt pigeon-holed into their character roles, with each person filling simply the whole of their parts. The MC had some depth, but that's pretty much where it ended. There was also a lack of humor -- not that I felt the story should have been funny, but just a few quips here and there to build camaraderie between the team beyond what the author gave us. There was also a smidge of sexual tension thrown in at the end that felt like an afterthought considering there had been nothing but caring friendship between these two characters earlier in the story. I liked the intelligence, though, but would've liked it better if some of the above-mentioned issues weren't front and center. It is a good quick-read for FBI crime drama fans.

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

Head Cases is a crime thriller about the FBI Patterns and Recognition (PAR) Unit, a small group of outcasts who typically solve cold cases. In an unusual move, PAR is assigned an active homicide case where a serial killer, thought to be long dead, is murdered. Soon, another serial killer, newly released from prison, turns up dead, and the murderer leaves clues and riddles for the unit to solve.

As a huge fan of NCIS, Criminal Minds, and Bones, this book was right up my alley! Following an FBI team as they tracked down a serial killer who was hunting other serial killers? Yeah, I was hooked from the start. I loved being alongside the characters as they pieced together the mystery; it felt like I was part of the team working to crack the case.

One of McMahon’s biggest strengths was his attention to detail in the investigative process. The way the case unfolded felt meticulous and immersive, like I was right there with the agents, connecting the dots. It wasn’t a mystery you could solve on your own, but watching everything come together was so satisfying. Every new discovery added a layer to the story, keeping me completely engaged from start to finish.

Filled with quirky characters that will keep you coming back for more. This is my first novel by this author but it won’t be my last.

I didn’t quite make the release date, but this first in a two-book minimum series was fun. Camden Gardner gets the lead on a case for PAR. It’s a team of misfits and brainiacs, people who’ve made big political missteps in the FBI, and are relegated to obscurity. Now though, they have a big case hunting a killer hunting serial killers. Their futures are all on the line. Lots of action, great characters, and some clever cat-and-mouse chases. I look forward to book two.

This reminded me in a way of Criminal Minds with the really smart guy. I don't remember his name, but it just came across as that show.
Imagine a serial killer killing old serial killers. I mean I could get behind this in a way. However, it seems our Agents are not going to let him go. Each team member in the Par unit has their own special abilities and it will take them all working together to find who is behind the murders. Gardner is the one in charge and I think the author described him perfectly. He was relatable which as we know some characters are just hard to relate to.
DNA found on the scene is from someone who shouldn't be alive so how is this possible? Working around the clock and trying to keep those in their personal life safe we see how they all work together to bring him down.
Overall a fun story and I can't wait to read the next one. I want to know just how long this unit will be able to stay together and what other new cases come into play.

Head Cases
By John McMahon

This is a very interesting suspense thriller – and the first of a two part series. It involves a special unit of the FBI (PAR) which is tasked with catching a serial killer – who is killing serial killers!

The unit as a whole consists of a group of misfits who have somehow blown their career paths and thus have been relegated to this backwater group of puzzle solvers who primarily handle old cold cases. Gardner Camden – the main protagonist here – is in this unit because, while he is brilliant, he lacks much in the way of social graces. In fact, he may well be autistic. The other members of his team are all there because of some screw up on their parts.

As the story unfolds we find that not one, but three, serial killers have been brutally murdered. Each team member has his/her own unique talents. As they work together on the case, their backstories are revealed. I found myself liking them all and really enjoying the chemistry they share.

This cast of characters – and I do mean characters – makes this an enjoyable read. I look forward to the 2nd book!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

Excellent! I sped through this book in 2 days! Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for this advanced e copy

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Head Cases, by John McMahon, from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

Good, solid start to a series; I look forward to future installments.

Also glad to see that I already had John McMahon’s Detective P.T. Marsh series on my Want To Read list, and that I’ve still got all of those books to read.

I would say that if you’re a fan of FBI procedurals and Karin Slaughter’s Will Trent and the like, this will be right up your alley. As someone who’s read so many of them, I do have to wonder, though, why we—the collective reading and viewing public—seem to require some quirkiness out of our federal and state investigative agents.

DESCRIPTION
Head Cases follows an enigmatic group of FBI agents as they hunt down a murderer seeking his own justice in this electrifying—and commercial—series debut.

FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius with an affinity for puzzles. He also has a blind spot on the human side of investigations, a blindness that sometimes even includes people in his own life, like his beloved seven-year-old daughter Camila. Gardner and his squad of brilliant yet quirky agents make up the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit, the FBI’s hidden edge, brought in for cases that no one else can solve.

When DNA links a murder victim to a serial killer long presumed dead, the team springs into action. A second victim establishes a pattern, and the murderer begins leaving a trail of clues and riddles especially for Gardner. And while the PAR team is usually relegated to working cold cases from behind a desk, the investigation puts them on the road and into the public eye, following in the footsteps of a killer.

Along with Gardner, PAR consists of a mathematician, a weapons expert, a computer analyst, and their leader, a career agent. Each of them must use every skill they have to solve the riddle of the killer’s identity. But with the perpetrator somehow learning more and more about the team at PAR, can they protect themselves and their families…before it’s too late?

With an enigmatic case that will keep readers on the edge of their seats and a thoroughly engaging ensemble cast, John McMahon’s Head Cases is a triumph.On the rocky shores of Lake Superior, a piercing story of selfhood and determinism develops: is the future what we’re handed or what we make of it?

Head Cases presents a fascinating group of ‘brilliant freaks’ who ccosistitue the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit of the FBI. The unit is led by Agent Gardner (Gardy) Camden who proclaims “Riddles. Those are my specialty. That is, when I’m not studying patterns. Or decoding enigmas. Some might say that solving puzzles is all I’m good for. That leaving my desk…to interact with people is not the best use of my time or talent. And I would agree with them.”. When a serial killer is found dead, the agents of the PAR are called in and zigzag across the country tracking information, leads, and suspects. Head Cases is personalized by an unusual back story and the fear of potential threat to Gardy’s daughter.

It was fascinating to follow the team as they unraveled clues, revealed red herrings, and put their individual talents to the test. The book is suspenseful, fast-pasted, and well written. I found it unputdownable. I look forward to another in this new series. Thanks to NetGalley for the intro to a new (to me) author. I’ll be going back to read his earlier P.T. Marsh series.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the arc!

This book was absolutely everything! The reveals were done so well, the dialogue was funny and entertaining, and it read just like a Criminal Minds episode, which made me love it even more.

I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately, but McMahon was able to capture my attention and keep me invested in the story. It was so easy to picture everything in my head, almost like I was watching a TV show.

The plot itself was interesting, and every time something new was revealed, it made sense, and I could see the clues from before pointing to the answers all along. It makes me want to go back and reread just to find out exactly how many little clues were hidden.

Such a fun, fast-paced read that held my attention straight from the beginning!

Head Cases is book 1 of the PAR unit, a new series by John McMahon. I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next book in the series. The PAR (Patterns and Recognition) unit is a group of FBI agents that are quirky and brilliant. FBI agent Gardner Camden is a genius who is great at puzzles, but not the best around people. Gardner blurts out whatever he's thinking and it's not always appropriate. He's working on being better in social situations. Gardner has a 7 year old daughter who is cared for by his mother-in-law when he's at work. The PAR unit is given cases that no one else can solve. They look at things differently than most agents and have success solving tough cases.

The current case has DNA from a serial killer who is thought to have died many years ago. It turns out he just died. When another serial killer is killed a pattern emerges and the PAR unit jumps to action. Each agent of the PAR unit has a different set of skills. One is a mathematical genius, one is a former Olympic shooter who is great with weapons, one is a computer genius, and their leader is a longtime agent. They get a new addition, a rookie, while working the latest case. No one knows why he was added, but they're too busy to worry about it. As the investigation progresses, the killer seems to know things before the agents. How is he getting the information? Is the killer a cop? An FBI agent? When threats to Gardner's family are made he must take action to protect them. Will he be too late?

Head Cases is an outstanding thriller that keeps you glued to the pages. I really like the characters on the PAR unit and look forward to more books in the series. This book has a few twists that will keep you guessing about who the killer is. Will the PAR team be able to stop him before he kills more people, including members of their team? You'll have to read Head Cases to find out. The pacing of the book is outstanding and the suspense builds until the exciting end. I rate Head Cases 5 stars with my highest recommendation. Head Cases is now available and should not be missed by anyone that is a fan of thrillers. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Publishing for an advanced copy of Head Cases in exchange for a fair review. #HeadCases

Head Cases is a crime thriller about the FBI Patterns and Recognition (PAR) Unit, a small group of outcasts who typically solve cold cases. In an unusual move, PAR is assigned an active homicide case where a serial killer, thought to be long dead, is murdered. Soon, another serial killer, newly released from prison, turns up dead, and the murderer leaves clues and riddles for the unit to solve.

I love a book with quirky characters, and Head Cases definitely delivers this. PAR is comprised of Gardner Camden, the Autistic-coded protagonist who is a puzzle and analytical genius; his partner, a mathematician; a weapons expert; a computer analyst; and their leader. Essentially, this group of FBI agents are not your typical cops, which I found to be a refreshing change of pace.

Quickly after I started Head Cases, I was enthralled in the story, and I ended up finishing it in one sitting. The intriguing first murder kicks off a series of twists and turns that gradually build momentum. The pace quickly picks up, and eventually, results in an action-packed ending. Still, McMahon maintains procedural details while unfurling a clever, complex plot. He also manages to balance the macabre, and sometimes gruesome, elements with humor, ensuring the story does not become too dark.

Head Cases benefits from strong characterization. The protagonist even has a fully developed backstory and personal life, things often skipped over in thrillers. Since this novel is the first book in new series, I am hope that future installments continue to further develop the other PAR team members beyond Gardner.

Overall, Head Cases is an enjoyable, exciting thriller with a complex and interesting plot. I recommend it if you enjoy crime thrillers or procedurals and are looking for something a bit different or if you love Criminal Minds or Dexter.

I'm always happy to find a new a mystery/thriller series to dive into, especially when there's a serial killer aspect to it. So listening to this one made me very happy - I just wish there weren't a wait for the next one.
While it feels like a bit of a mashup of some of my other favorites, it's actually its own unique thing - the story of a newish FBI Unit (PAR: Patterns And Recognition) which was formed of experts in their field, each of whom has also previously screwed up on the job somehow and been banished to the Jacksonville FL office as an experimental team (think the Island of Misfit Agents) and their future as a unit is uncertain. Then along comes a new case: someone is killing serial killers. And while it mostly feels like good riddance to bad rubbish, it still needs to be investigated, and the first victim discovered has ties to one of the members of the team, Gardner Camden. Camden is a socially awkward agent with a photographic memory and a strong moral code that's led to issues in both his work life and his personal life. Because of his ties to this case, he's tagged to be lead investigator.
I enjoyed all of this - I liked the quirky members of the team, I liked the pacing, I liked the writing - very atmospheric in a variety of settings. I can highly recommend the audiobook, which was wonderfully narrated by Will Damron. And I'll be trying John McMahon's previous books while I wait for the next book in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing copies for an unbiased review.

Out now!

I loved this story. Heavy on police procedural as we follow an FBI team of smarty pants. This had Dr. Spencer Reid from Criminal Minds vibes but Gardner Camden is quite different in many ways too. I enjoyed that the story is told from Gardner's POV and I didn't want to leave him and the team when the story ended. I'm glad they will be getting a series and I'll definitely pick up the next book in the series!

Would recommend if you love:
-police procedural/ FBI team
-super smart main characters
-puzzle solving case
-case that takes the agents across the country
-thrilling moments

This book gave me serious Alex Cross/James Patterson vibes, which I mean as a complete compliment. Telling the story of Gardner Camden, an FBI agent, working for the PAR department (essentially a superteam of people with autism), this moved very quickly and implanted you right into the story from the get-go. I actually wondered if it was a sequel and I was unaware (it's not). I also enjoyed the vigilante serial killer aspect, and was surprised by the twist as well.

I would really enjoy reading more books featuring Gardner, and definitely enjoyed John McMahon's style of writing.

As a huge fan of Dexter, Criminal Minds, and Bones, this book was right up my alley! Following an FBI team as they tracked down a serial killer who was hunting other serial killers? Yeah, I was hooked from the start. I loved being alongside the characters as they pieced together the mystery; it felt like I was part of the team working to crack the case.

One of McMahon’s biggest strengths was his attention to detail in the investigative process. The way the case unfolded felt meticulous and immersive, like I was right there with the agents, connecting the dots. It wasn’t a mystery you could solve on your own, but watching everything come together was so satisfying. Every new discovery added a layer to the story, keeping me completely engaged from start to finish.

That said, I did have a small gripe with the character development. Camden, the main character, had a lot of unique traits that made him stand out, but instead of letting us see those traits naturally through his actions, the book repeatedly told us about them. It didn’t ruin the experience for me, but I do wish his personality had been revealed in a more organic way rather than being constantly reinforced.

Overall, this was a fun read for those of us who love solving crimes and getting fully immersed in the procedural details. It was dark, twisty, and full of intriguing characters, making it a great pick for fans of FBI thrillers with a unique angle.

Thank you to #NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley, John McMahon, and St. Martin's Press for the ebook. This is an excellent police procedural series that will keep you on the edge of your seat. A thrilling and engaging read!

To say I enjoyed FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an understatement. I loved his eccentricities, and he has quite a few of those. But his intelligence and his passion are truly fun to watch…uh…I mean read about! (This needs to be a TV series!) I love a flawed character!

Along with Gardner, the Patterns and Recognition unit of the FBI consists of a mathematician, a weapons expert, a computer analyst, and their leader, a career agent. Each of them must use every skill they have to solve the riddle of the killer’s identity. And what a riddle this story is! I enjoyed the chase across state lines and all the deductions. The author truly created an intricate pursuit of a killer!

The narrator, Will Damron was magnetic. Honestly, I am going to have to be on the look out for more books by this guy!!

Need a good hunt for a killer…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

This book pulled me in from the first page! I loved the main character and enjoyed the way he analyzed the case in front of him. You really got to get into his head and were able to see how he thought of things. It was a fast paced read, I just had to know what happened next. I can’t want for the next book to come out!