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This was a solid procedural and i think fans of this genre will enjoy it more than i did - it was a little too plot focused for me, we’re introduced to a lot of characters as it’s the first in a series but it felt like everyone besides Camden was introduced and then put to the side, I found it hard to remember certain characters and how they connected which made the ultimate reveal a little unsatisfying for me. Readers more used to this type of story will enjoy it more than I did, it’s definitely a solidly written serial killer mystery, I just personally found it hard to get super invested.

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Head Cases - John McMahon

A fast paced criminal thriller as a group of outcast FBi agents hunts for a serial killer who is killing other serial killers and leading these specific agents on a puzzling chase to stay one step ahead of him.

What happens when you’re an outcast FBI agent? You’re assigned to the PARS unit to connect and hopefully solve cold cases through pattern recognition. Gardner Camden has a perfect memory recall and is particularly good at solving puzzles, unfortunately he also struggles with social skills. Agent Camden does not evoke emotions like others and often finds himself the butt of the joke or shunned because of his demeanor. He, along with a team of other misfit agents, form a found family bond as they work to catch a killer that appears to be sending them a message.

Head Cases read as though the script for Mind Hunters and House MD became one. I really connected with the characters and found myself trying to solve all the mysteries alongside Agent Camden and his colleagues. The ending wasn’t necessarily predictable but it also didn’t blow my mind. Regardless I had a fun time with this one and found myself speeding through to find out what happens next.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my copy; all opinions are my own.

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I love a good cat-and-mouse chase! This book was clever, complex, dark, and interesting. I loved the detail that went into this procedural and its characters. Readers who like Criminal Minds will enjoy this book.

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This is a great start to an anticipated ongoing series about the PAR unit of the FBI. I really enjoyed John McMahon's characters and I am very excited for future installments of this series. This gave the some comfortable feeling as watching shows like The Mentalist or Bones and I think it'll make for a fantastic procedural TV show if it were to be adapted.

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Very interesting police procedural. I really liked the concept behind it, the neurodivergent lead, and the locations. Too often I think neurodivergence is presented in extremes, but McMahon’s lighter touch was just right. I am not sure why the rest of the group were considered “head cases”, but presumably future books in the series will elaborate on that. The unifying thing seemed to be that they are all very smart, and I was drawn to want to know more about each of them. The team is the Patterns and Recognition Unit, and they work to solve the tough cases by identifying the criminal and predicting what he will do next. It was an engaging first book to set up a series. I liked the way Gardner’s character was drawn, as a normal person with his own particular traits, and how Gardner’s relationship with his daughter was included to show another facet to him. I am looking forward to the next book!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur books for an ARC in exchange for a fair review.

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FBI agent Gardner Camden is shocked when DNA links a serial killer he thought was dead to a current murder victim. What is going ok on? Is this a copycat? The killer starts to taunt Gardner. He and his team must get to the bottom of what's really happening.

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I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are mine.

The book follows Gardner who is an incredible genius who is part of the team that is called to solve
cases that no one else can solve. They are called in to solve a murder case committed by a serial killer long presumed dead and to top it off the killer leaves clues and riddles . It was an interesting premise .

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I love a good story about the FBI, and Head Cases met all of my expectations. It was an interesting look at the unit known as PAR, where the outcasts of the department are sent. It was a fast-paced book and kept my attention through the whole book. I really enjoyed the characters, and I'm looking forward the next in the series!

Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

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This was such a great book! It's a page turner and goes by so fast! I'm very much looking forward to this being a continued series. There is great character building and an original storyline. I'm someone who enjoys puzzles and enjoyed the patterns and puzzles woven into this mystery. The mystery was well thought out and played nicely with the strengths of the quirky cast members making up the PAR Unit. The PAR Unit is here to stay and I'm here to join them on their next case.

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Gardner Camden is unique yet unusual in a good way. He may have trouble connecting with you, but give him a case to solve, and he will devise a million ways to solve it. Gardner combines these unique skills with his special group of misfits, like himself, called PAR (Patterns and Recognition Unit), within the FBI. The team is called into action when a serial killer that they deemed dead seven years ago is recently found the same way he murdered his victims. From that point on, the reader is taken on a journey to find a serial killer killing serial killers and leaving clues that only his unit can solve. Will Gardner and his team catch this killer before the killer gets a chance to reveal his true agenda?

Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect from this book. Before I read a book, I research and try to get a glimpse of what I am about to get myself into. I could not tell if this would be a true crime story based on actual events or if it would mimic some of my favorite crime shows. I was surprised and on the edge of my seat reading this book. This book was thrilling! The author knew how to keep me engaged and entertained! I stayed up late to finish this, and I read the book every chance I could! I am new to John McMahon, but I will research to see what other good reads he has up his sleeve. This book is for you if you like psychological, suspenseful thrillers or hit shows like Criminal Minds, Dexter, or FBI!

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FBI Agent Gardner Camden works for the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit, whose specialty is solving cold cases. I instantly liked Camden and his crew. They are a nerdy, specialized bunch who see things that others have missed. I appreciate the way their minds work and I thoroughly enjoyed being right there with the team picking up on the clues the killer is leaving for them. He wants to be found. He wants to play. For me this book had a slight Silence of the Lambs feel to it, and I couldn't read fast enough. I wanted the PAR team to find the killer and bring him down, and I was thrilled and in awe every time they found the smallest of clues that propelled the investigation forward. When I reached the end of the book I hoped John McMahon would consider a sequel, so imagine my surprise when I checked Goodreads and found 'PAR Unit, #1' beside the book's title. I am very much looking forward to solving more cases with Agent Camden's extremely literal mind! If you are a sucker for FBI/police procedural stories then this book is for you!

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

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Great story that I couldn’t put down! I loved seeing the inner workings of the FBI and the main character, Gardner, was so interesting to follow. I hope for more books following the PAR crew

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This seems like a fantastic start to this series. Criminal minds vibes here for this book. The characters are interesting and I look forward to more .

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This is intense and thrilling read for fans of FBI procedurals. If you're looking for detailed descriptions on how to catch a killer, this book is great. I loved the character development and following along as the PAR unit put the pieces together in their case.

I'm looking forward to reading more with the PAR team.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a digital ARC of this book.

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Intricate detailed plot of an investigative unit that I have never heard of, PAR. Every person on this unit has a story, but I wish the book was told from a singular point of view instead of multiple. While I appreciate the backstory of each of the characters, it tended to weigh down the plot for me. But overall a solid story with plenty of gory details.

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Thank you, NetGalley for a digital copy of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

A Special group of FBI agents make up the PAR Unit (Patterns and Recognition) each member brings something different to the table. And seeing what other FBI agents can't, or don't care to look for. They are investigating the murder of a victim whose DNA is linked to a long dead serial killer. This leads to more victims and the team races to solve the cases.

I love books about cold cases and this one rank right up there. I look forward to reading the next in this series.

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Gardner Camden (Gardy) is a thirty-seven year old FBI agent who works for an unusual division called PAR (Patterns and Recognition). With a focus on solving the toughest crimes, those involving pattern recognition and the making of obscure connections, Gardy is a genius level agent, who just happens to think differently than others. With behavior traits that would likely put him on the spectrum, where Grady’s social skills are lacking, he more than makes up for it in his raw (and applied) intelligence.

A complex, intricately-plotted FBI procedural follows - with Gardy and his team (including Cassie Pardo, a twenty-nine year old mathematician who Gardy wishes to be more than just a work-time partner) pulling out all the stops in a multiple-state hunt for a prolific serial killer, who will stop at nothing (including harm to the agents themselves) to accomplish their goals.

A well-written and interesting tale, with perhaps a tad too much detail for the average reader (or at least, this average reader), the book has an authentic FBI-team feel to it, despite the strangeness of the PAR unit, and many twists and turns, that manage to integrate in many cleverly weird clues and a number of red-herrings.

Lovers of action-packed mysteries, with quirky main characters, and a fast-moving plot, will find plenty to like here. I for one, loved Gardy and his take-me-as-I-am personality, appreciating his originality, and a starring role in what looks to be the start of a new series featuring the PAR team.

A great big thank you to #Netgalley,the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

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This felt exactly like what watching an especially good episode of criminal minds feels like. This was smart, sharp, tightly paced, and had an interesting cast of characters. Our main character definitely seems Dr. Spencer Reid coded and I found myself fascinated with how his mind made connections, but also how his personal life would crash into his work and thoughts. The ending had me glued to see how it would end, and I found it quite satisfying overall.

I did find the villain to be a bit lacking, but that’s understandable since they weren’t the main focus, but I found in the latter half that they got less interesting when at first the snippets were get felt more intriguing.

Overall this is a great book to bust you out of a slump and a great opening to a crime series.

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Oh My Gosh this was amazing. It was like reading an episode of Criminal Minds with FBI Agent Gardner Camden reminding me of Hotch. The mystery and suspense was amazing and thrilling. Also we can't forget his quirky team which i loved how they worked together with all their gifts to find out who the killer was.

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Head Cases was such a fascinating and gripping read that I immediately put John McMahon’s backlist on my TBR! This reminded me a tiny bit of a show that got cancelled awhile back (which of course I can’t remember the name of) and was just as dark and gritty as that was. Throw in some Criminal Minds and Dexter vibes and this is a story that a lot of readers will enjoy. I loved being inside of Gardner’s head even though it was both incredibly frustrating and incredible at the same time. I loved his genius, and I could see how someone like this would have their flaws as well. I have to imagine it’s hard y’all! The serial killer targeting other serial killers is like my dream plot, and it was a twisty road to the end.

I would highly recommend checking out the audiobook myself, and I loved Will Damron as the voice of Gardner. I felt that he really brought the character to life from the page, and I loved every minute that I got to listen to him. I do hope he comes back in future installments! I always enjoy anything that focuses on the FBI, especially when it comes to unique crime solving abilities, and this book hit the mark on so many levels. Each character stood out on their own and at no time did anyone bleed into another. This was also easy to follow which I appreciated and very compelling at the same time. And I couldn’t help but love the nod to Murder by the Book! 👀 That scene practically made me snort it was so funny.

Read this if you are looking for serial killers, FBI drama, and unique characters that stand out.

Book Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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