Entertaining and engaging. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

The narrator is excellent, and the audiobook has perfect pacing and clarity.
Unfortunately, this book wasn't a fit for me. I was turned off by the copycat main character, and each scene seemed too familiar, simply a less-interesting version of things I've seen before. The writing and characters didn't engage me.
I read and watch extensively in this genre. These things are a matter of taste.
No doubt the book will find many fans.
Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC for consideration. These are solely my own opinions.

Head Cases by John McMahon is a nail-biting suspense with intricate storytelling and an electrifying conclusion. This crime thriller was one that had me second guessing where it was going through every twist and turn like a good mystery should.

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?

While it took me a few pages to really get into a groove with Head Cases, once I found that spot it was almost impossible to put the book down. McMahon builds a tale with a gripping atmosphere filled with tension and mystery. I found myself engrossed in trying to unravel not just whodunit, but why—a testament to McMahon's skillful plotting. The author wonderfully balanced moments of action with quieter, more intimate scenes that delve into character development, creating an emotionally resonant experience overall.

McMahon's attention to detail throughout Head Cases gave me a vivid picture of what is happening when turning from page to page. His ability to craft characters is at a high level and his environments feel alive, almost as if they are characters themselves. This immersive storytelling makes it easier for me to lose myself in the pages as scenes unfold with clarity.

These characters reminded me of those in television series such as Criminal Minds. These aren't your typical detectives; they are individuals with varying pasts and special skills or intricacies, which adds a layer to their personal arcs and enriches the overall story at hand. McMahon's ability to bring this group of agents together to solve a crime allows us to care for them as much as we care about them solving the crime.

A mystery of crime thriller you solve within the first few chapters is far too common these days, Head Cases is not one of them. McMahon has crafted a tale that has the perfect amount of twist and turns while keeping things easy to follow and allowing us to attempt, but fail, at figuring out what will happen nexts. Head Cases ties together all loose threads while also leaving us wanting more (in a good way). Excited for the next chapter featuring these characters.

For those who have read books narrated by Will Damron it will come as no surprise that Head Cases was performed stunningly. The narrator captures emotion, character voices and timing perfectly to add to the story being told.

With its captivating storyline and unforgettable characters, Head Cases is a thrilling mystery that kept me on edge throughout.

An FBI team of agents, led by Gardner Camden, tracks down a serial killer determined to give his brand of justice. With the Patterns and Recognition team (PAR) on the verge of disbandment, Gardner and the rest of his team must solve riddles and clues left behind by the killer before the killer finds more victims.

I was hooked on this book from the beginning. McMahon provides some likable and well-developed characters in Gardner Camden and his team. They are easy to like and root for. Their thoughts and struggles add to the depth of the story. I enjoyed the investigation and the twists throughout the story. The narration by Will Damron was excellent! I give it 4.5/5 stars.

Head Cases is another in a long line of books that feature a small group of FBI agents who work together in a special unit (PAR, Patterns and Recognition, in this instance) comprised of brilliant misfits. Someone is killing serial killers and Gardner Camden has been put in charge of finding him. The usual games between the hunted and the hunters ensue. We learn more about Camden's personal life, especially about his young daughter and his aging mother, who, as a single parent, raised him to use his special gifts in humane ways. The pace gets frenetic towards the end and the group misses a clue that would have helped end the case sooner. As is typical in novels of this type, Camden has access to people in high places and performs some near-superhuman feats. The audiobook is much enhanced by Will Damron's expert narration. Fans of the genre will welcome this book but others may have difficulty distinguishing it from others of its ilk.

The Pattern and Recognition (PAR) group of the FBI is made up of a group of brilliant misfits, all of whom have done something to anger the higher ups. Perhaps the most brilliant of them and also the most socially awkward is Gardner Camden. But he is also the most honest and the most dedicated to the FBI. When a serial killer starts killing serial killers- one of whom Camden thought had died 8 years earlier - the PAR unit is given the case and the typical bureaucracy that exists in organizations such as the FBI plays an important role in the story and Camden is put to the test. Hopefully, this is the start of a new series with Gardner Camden and his cohorts. The audio version was terrific.

Gardner Camden is an FBI agent. Not just any, FBI agent, he's part of a special team called PAR (Patterns and Recognition)--a small group of statisticians and mathematicians who use data to investigate serious crimes. They generally work in an office, but when the body of a serial killer they declared dead years ago turns up., they are called into the field.

A second victim turns up and they begin to come across evidence on the bodies that hints at something larger. And even more disturbing, the killer seems to have a direct line into the FBI's data. Gardner is somewhat 'on the spectrum' it seems but his mother taught him methods to use to get along with others. Gardner even married and had a daughter, whom he loves very much. The killer threatens the families of the team, and Gardner rushes to Florida to check on his daughter.

This one is tough to put down as it includes several plot lines entangled nicely with one another and readers will want to follow the twists through to see 'who dun it'. Recommended for those who enjoy a good thriller with more than one mystery to solve.
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Actor/narrator Will Damron vividly conveys Gardner Camden's thought processes. Recommended for those who enjoy the works of Baldacci and Connelly.

Head Cases by John McMahon is a remarkable, action-packed novel. Throughout this book, Gardner Camden and his band of FBI misfits use their outstanding intellect to hunt down a killer who is murdering other serial killers. As the case turns personal for Camden, he must find the killer or risk the lives of the people he loves most. For those who enjoy the show Criminal Minds and the movie Silence of the Lambs, this book is for you.  Head Cases is filled with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged until the very end

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.

The narration: Will Damron is amazing in this. I love him as a narrator and he really embodies Gardner.

All in all, this was a great FBI thriller!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

Head Cases-John McMahon-Publishing on January 28th, 2025, by Minotaur Books.
“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. 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.” (Blurb).
This book was lit! I listened to an advanced audiobook of this thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. The description doesn’t do the book justice. This was a well-researched book and written with the sharpness of a Michael Connolly novel. Hard to believe this is a debut novel. There are some graphic/blood description for the faint of heart. But if you love thrillers, add this to your TBR list. Mark it on your calendar!

[alc review]
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced audiobook 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 tried very hard to get my hands on this book because it knew this would be something I would love, and I was right! This book reminds me of my favorite show, The Mentalist. This is one of my favorite tropes: Serial killer killing serial killers AND quirky consult group that can solve cases that no one else can. I enjoyed getting to know FBI Agent Gardner Camden and what makes him tick. I really enjoyed his relationship with his mom, which showed more of his humanity and would love to learn more about her in the future. The PAR team did a great job going out into the field after being stuck behind their desks for most of their careers. I liked how the author showed us the mind of the killer and the agent as they played a game of cat and mouse. The method of each kill was very interesting. I liked everyone on the PAR team: a mathematician, a weapons expert, a computer analyst, and their leader, a career agent. This book kept me entertained and I am hoping we will be seeing a lot more cases with the PAR team in the future. This is the FBI book of the season.

Thank you, Net Galley, the author, and the publisher, for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have always been fascinated with and love shows like criminal minds and mind hunter. This book gave off those feels. The twists and turns were enjoyable. Thank you, Netgalley, for the advanced listeners copy.

Gardner Camden was once a promising FBI recruit- now he is with the PAR unit. The FBI's Patterns and Recognition unit is where the misfits go. They stay in their office and do not do field work. Until a case from Gardner's past puts him back in the game. A long dead serial killer is found... dead. Again. Soon, another serial killer ends up dead. There is a serial killer killing serial killers. The person is toying with Gardner and he fears his family isn't safe. He rushes to find the culprit before more damage is done.

I love a good police procedural. This one had serial killers and very quirky characters. The first 2/3 is especially fast paced and interesting. The ending third was a bit slow and drawn out compared to the beginning. Overall, a unique thriller with elements that are fresh.

Will Damron narrates the audiobook. I always enjoy his narrations.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Will Damron narrates this and does a fabulous job! I highly recommend the audio version!

The PAR (patterns and recognitions) group within the FBI is a collection of eccentrically analytical agents (think borderline neuro diverse) that have all screwed up somewhere in the bureau and found themselves in PAR. The group normally works on cold cases. But when Gardner Camden and team discover that a serial killer from one of his solved cases, presumed to be dead for over a decade, is just found murdered, their normal case load takes a turn. The team soon finds another body with a similar story. So now, they are hunting a serial murderer who is killing other serial murders.

I really enjoyed this fast paced story with very different and interesting characters. I really wanted to find out why each team member was relegated to PAR and the author did eventually work that in. I liked the twist of the complexity of the cases. This reminded me a bit of Slow Horses but was different enough not to cause me to compare the two too much. Definitely a solid FBI procedural story with well developed characters.

Highly recommend!!!

"Head Cases" is a thrilling debut novel following a team of FBI agents, led by Gardner Camden, as they track down a serial killer seeking his own brand of justice. With the team on the verge of disbandment, Gardner and his group must solve riddles and clues left by the killer before more victims fall prey. The novel explores themes of justice and vengeance as the team races against time to stop the killer's twisted plot.

I thoroughly enjoyed many aspects of this book. It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel, as the writing is incredibly well-crafted, and the style is spot-on. The writing style reminded me of the 4MK series, which I found to be similarly clever and engaging.

From the very first chapter, I was completely captivated and found it impossible to put the book down. I was fortunate enough to have access to both the digital and audio versions, and I highly recommend borrowing the audiobook as well. The narrators were expertly chosen and truly brought the story to life. I struggled to pause the story whenever I had to attend to my daily responsibilities.

The main character was portrayed as intelligent and complex, with personal struggles that added depth to the story. I appreciated the insight into his thoughts and personality that was revealed throughout the pages.

The book had a realistic feel that made it seem like a genuine case. I admired how all the small details seamlessly came together to form a larger picture. There were plenty of twists and turns, with the serial killer always seeming to be one step ahead, but the intelligent agents were able to keep up and ultimately solve the case.

If you enjoy thrilling crime novels featuring sharp-witted agents and unpredictable endings, then this book is must-read. I can't help but wonder if we'll be treated to a sequel in the near future - I certainly wouldn't mind!

Thank you, Macmillan Audio and Minotaur Books for digital ARC copies. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If you are a fan of Criminal Minds, this is definitely a book you should check out as this novel centers on a special unit of the FBI called PAR (Patterns and Recognition). Gardner Camden has an eidetic memory and analytical personality which makes him an asset to this unit, however, rumors are out that the group may be disbanded and he will no longer be able to work with the other brilliant and skillful agents that has become like family to him. While Gardner has a softer side seen by his mother (diagnosed with dementia) and his seven year-old daughter, he generally prioritizes work over everything else. The book opens up to an unusual murder scene, where the victim has already been declared dead. The next grisly case continues to boggle as PAR discovers clues and work as a team all over the United States to try and get ahead of the next death. The race is on and will have the reader deciding what justice really is and is it worth losing everything to accomplish it. The fast-paced writing and riddles were an ideal match for me. All of the characters were interesting and had personality quirks I absolutely loved. If time would have allowed, I would have easily read this in one sitting. The plot may require some suspension of disbelief, but I find that is expected with many mystery thrillers - I was totally hooked and along for this ride! I would love if this was made into a series, as I want more of these characters and puzzles. Will Damron was a fantastic narrator and I encourage readers to pick up the audiobook for this one! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for a prerelease of Head Cases by John McMahon.

Wow! I listened to this novel as an audiobook. It was such a great book, loaded with so much suspense, that I bing listened the whole novel in two days. If you love the Criminal Minds tv show, you will absolutely love this book!

I really enjoyed this and think it's the beginning of something like the Dublin Murder Squad but less depressing. I definitely got The Silence of the Lambs vibes with this police procedural. Also if you liked the young adult novel None Shall Sleep.

TW: Meltdown, family in danger.

This book was unique for me in that it's one of the best depictions of someone who is Autistic coded I've seen in a while. You get to see inner dialogue as well as external in a way that can be hard for an author to capture. The writing of one scene in particular is so well done to the experience of what meltdowns can feel like that I felt seen for the first time in a book describing this experience.

The mystery in this was also super interesting, I don't want to downplay how well written that was too.

I love every character, I want to work on their team.

I'd recommend this for people who like a good police procedural book with an inner dialogue similar to Miss Marple. Think Elementary but you get to read Sherlock's journal.

Thank you so much for this ARC!