This book was virtually flawless! Clever and entertaining, it was the best mystery/suspense novel I've read in quite some time. I loved the audio narration, which helped make the voice of Gardner even more real. His thoughts and descriptions put me in his headspace.
I will be highly recommending Head Cases to my followers!

If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. House, or Will Trent, you will want to read this. This is not a cozy mystery; there are some graphic descriptions of the crimes that might be shocking if you are new to the thriller genre. As a seasoned thriller reader, though, they are pretty mild.

The main character, Gardner Camden, is neurodivergent and possibly (probably) autistic but is NOT portrayed in a cheesy, stereotypical way. The other characters were distinct and easy to keep track of. The pacing was steady and quick.

I'm excited to see there will at least be a sequel but I'm hoping there will be demand for many more! This is EXACTLY the type of book I reach for when I'm not quite sure what I'm in the mood for and I can't wait to recommend this one to anyone who'll listen!

Thank you so much to @macmillan.audio & @minotaur_books for the advanced listening copy.

I tore through this audiobook in about 2 days. Listening to it in the car, at home, and while walking. I’m a HUGE fan of Criminal Minds and this felt exactly like listening to a spinoff of it. This was a really enjoyable cat and mouse game between the PAR unit (Patterns and Recognition Unit) and a serial killer who just so happens to be killing other bad people. I loved getting to know Agent Gardner and his team and I’m so excited that this is the first book in a series. I’ll definitely be following it.

Narrated by @jwdamron, he was exactly the voice I pictured for Agent Gardner Camden. It kept me engaged and wanting to keep listening!

I did not finish this audiobook. I did not like the first 2 hours. It was hard to follow and the story was not engaging.

This was such a fun read/listen. The intricate plot kept me interested the entire time, and I never guessed what was going to come next. The characters were all very interesting. I would love to watch this as a TV series; it felt a little Dexter-esque. I will definitely be interested in continuing this series. Solid 4.5 stars.

Really enjoyed this one! I’ve been favoring domestic thrillers over crime thrillers lately, but this book definitely has me questioning that decision.

Head Cases introduces the elite FBI Patterns and Recognition (PAR) team, led by the brilliant yet socially isolated Gardner Camden. Tasked with stopping a vigilante targeting serial killers, Camden and his team—a mathematician, a weapons expert, and a computer whiz—race against time to unravel cryptic clues and outwit a killer who’s always one step ahead. Camden’s sharp intellect and awkward charm give serious Spencer Reid vibes, making him an even more compelling protagonist.

Camden’s neurodivergence and strained personal life add depth to his character, while the well-rounded supporting team enhances the story’s dynamic. McMahon delivers fast-paced action, clever twists, and relentless suspense, keeping readers guessing until the end.

Perfect for fans of crime procedurals and psychological puzzles, this gripping read concludes with room for future installments, and I’m already looking forward to seeing where the PAR team goes next.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A number of years ago my son got me hooked on the tv series Criminal Minds which features an elite group of FBI agents in the Behavioral Analysis Unit. Though it occasionally gave me nightmares, I enjoyed discussing the cases and characters with him. When I read the synopsis for HEAD CASES, I was instantly drawn to it thinking it might be a book we could both read, enjoy, and discuss.

HEAD CASES works as a police procedural for the same reasons Criminal Minds works. It features enigmatic characters - both as hunters and the hunted - and delves into the motivation behind twisted criminal behavior. It’s not so much car chases and gun fights as it is head games and psychological maneuvering.

John McMahon gives us the Patterns and Recognition Unit (PAR) which was once held in high esteem, but is now relegated to working behind a desk on cold cases. FBI agent Gardner Camden has a brilliant mind, but lacks the people and political skills necessary to succeed within the agency. When a long presumed dead serial killer turns up as a murder victim and is linked to a pattern of suspicious deaths, Camden and the PAR are pressed into service to hunt a serial killer of serial killers.

McMahon does a terrific job laying out the backstory of the PAR in this first book of a series. The team is comprised of agents all with particular skills. There is no shortage of tension and red herrings as Camden and his team follow the clues in an attempt to find the killer.

The audiobook is expertly narrated by Will Damron who brings depth to his characterization of Camden and the supporting cast.

I’ve pre-ordered a copy to be delivered to my son on release day and look forward to our discussion. I’m already anticipating the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

This was a fantastically fast paced police procedural. I always forget how much I love police procedurals until I read a really great one like this. From the get go we are trying to figure out the identity of the serial killer who is killing serial killers. Dexter style. That fact alone had me 100% in. The PAR (Patterns and Recognition) Unit has a group of remarkably bright agents who are able to solve cold cases and cases other agents can't solve with their brilliant brains and knack for figuring our difficult puzzles. Agent Camden is placed as Head Investigator on their latest case and I really enjoyed the story from his point of view. I also enjoyed his family/personal story and how it impacted his decisions and career. This story was so fast paced and had me on the edge of my seat towards the end. I loved how I was always wondering who did it, especially when the clues indicated it could be someone in the FBI! The narrator did a fantastic job and did a great job voicing all of the different characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ALC of this story which publishes 1/28/25.

The plot of Head Cases, a serial killer who kills serial killers and is being hunted down by the FBIs Patterns & Recognition unit, was intriguing and kept me listening to the audiobook until the end. However, the characters felt shallow and superficial to me.

Turns out it's still illegal to be a serial killer even if you're only killing former serial killers. This clever first in a series book of the PAR Unit (Patterns and Recognitions) of the FBI is set to attempt to find this murderer, regardless of his motives. This interesting grouping brings to mind Slough House, a similar mish-mash of those with a somewhat sordid past in MI-5. Camden is leading this investigation and I like the way his seeming neurodiversity brings much-needed thought processes into the case. This is not a fast-paced, twisty, turny thriller, and I don't think that was its intention. I took it for what it was and enjoyed the reveals all the way to the end.
I also thought the narrator did a good job with multiple characters, but as always a multi-cast for the females and different dialects would have been ideal to me.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARL. All opinions are mine.

As a Criminal Minds fan, I really enjoyed this read! Agent Camden reminds me of an older Spencer Reid sent to work with the “outcasts” of the FBI. As an analytic genius, he can’t help but see all the facts and let his mind notice every little detail about everything.

This team is put on a case following a serial killer… who kills killers. Camden’s team sets out to take this man down, despite the question that crosses their minds- is this killer doing something good for the world? Until this vigilante, goes too far. Definitely an enjoyable mystery/crime novel!

I came across this one while trolling the reviews of GR friend, Liz. It sounded really good, like my kind of story; about a team of FBI agents, who all have a big black mark on their FBI records and got banished to PAR group as punishment. So, an all-around really fun bunch of folks, who are all wicked smart and kind of funny, that make for a really great read.

There’s the group leader, Frank, who almost had a liaison with a superior’s wife. There’s Gardner, who turned his wife, Anna, in when he found out she was embezzling money. He now shares custody of their daughter, Camila, with his MIL, Rosa, who can’t stand him for what he did to Anna and husband, Saul. Besides being his FIL, Saul was also Gardner’s partner (who Gardner idolized), who had a heart attack and died when Anna was arrested. Yeah, there’s a WHOLE lot of family drama going on there.

There’s also Cassie, the mathematician, who had some “incident” with a superior, and then there’s the weapons expert Jo, aka Shooter. who had some kind of shooting snafu on a case. Lastly, there is Richie, who wasn’t banished to PAR, but actually asked for the assignment straight out of Quantico. Immediately, the rest of the team became suspicious of him. Nobody would ever ask to be a part of PAR,
and that is a whole other story to be revealed later.

Most of the story revolves around PAR investigating a case of a serial killer killing serial killers. Things take a turn for the worse when the killer has info that no one else would have except law enforcement. Then the case gets personal and the killer has info on Gardner that only the FBI has. The end gets kind of crazy and intense and a whole lot bargaining and wrangling, which ends in a lead-in to the next installment. One that I will definitely be looking out for.

The character development on some of the characters was well done, like Gardner and the killer. Would have loved to see more development on the team, especially Cassie and Shooter (love Shooter!), but that was probably by design and McMahon is saving it for the next installment. I REALLY want to know what that “incident” Cassie had with a superior. I have an idea and I really hope I’m not too far off. Anyway, the pacing was steady to fast, the storyline very interesting and the writing was well done. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.2 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #HeadCases

Gardner Cameron's head is a fascinating place to be.

Head Cases follows FBI Agent Cameron and his team, as they investigate a serial killer who appears to be taking out other serial killers. As the body count rises, each member of the team showcases their skills and abilities to put together the clues purposely left behind by the killer, and the ones he tries to hide.

Gardner Cameron doesn't miss much. With an eidetic memory, he can recall a fact or moment in time like reaching into a filing cabinet and pulling out a transcript. He is a fantastically written character and it was a refreshing perspective to read from. In my experience, the super smart, "brainy" characters are usually cast in background or supportive roles, and being able to watch the story unfold from behind his eyes made it that much more interesting. (Spencer Reid, anyone?)

The plot bores full speed ahead, with twists lurking around every corner. I raced through this book, trying to piece together the mystery, unable to stop without letting it play out to its explosive conclusion. I will absolutely be tuning in for the next book in this series and waiting very impatiently for its announcement.

Sure to fascinate lovers of shows like Criminal minds, and fans of the 4MK series, don't miss out on this one. It was fantastic on audio! Shoutout to Will Damron for the engaging narration.

Publication date: January 28th, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early copy in exchange for honest review.

This book was enthralling! I binged it in one day after seeing a few 5 star reviews from my friends. It definitely lived up to the hype and I look forward to reading more of this series.

The audiobook narration was very well done and played a significant part in keeping me dialed in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this free audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I found Head Cases to be an engaging and entertaining audiobook that was easy to follow and enjoyable from start to finish. The story’s premise—an FBI unit solving seemingly unsolvable cases—pulled me in right away. The Patterns and Recognition (PAR) team, with their unique mix of skills and personalities, brought an ensemble dynamic that felt fresh and kept the story moving at a good pace.

Gardner Camden’s character, a puzzle-loving but emotionally distant agent, added an interesting layer to the story. His interactions with the other team members and the personal stakes with his daughter, Camila, gave the plot some depth. I also liked the riddle-laden, high-stakes cat-and-mouse game with the killer, which kept me guessing and invested until the end.

The novel is fairly clean, making it accessible to a wide range of readers, and the narration of the audiobook was smooth and engaging, making it a breeze to listen to. I also appreciated how the book didn’t get bogged down in overly graphic scenes or unnecessary subplots.

Overall, Head Cases is a strong debut, and I’m definitely planning to explore more from John McMahon in the future. If you enjoy thrillers with a smart, quirky team of investigators and a suspenseful storyline, this is a great pick!

This was definitely a good crime thriller/police procedural, I've just realized I think this genre is not my favorite. It was exciting yes but slow at the same time. It was just missing something for me. It was a great story though, great plot and characters. The writing was also superb.

🎧 The narration was good but I did feel like it was very monotone so sometimes it was hard to keep my interest. I still stuck through it as the story was interesting, but not my favorite audio.

I ate this book up! I listened to this in one sitting! It felt like an episode of criminal minds and numbers combined and I loved it so much. I cannot wait until the next book comes out. The twists and turns keep you intrigued and wondering throughout this entire book. The best way I can describe this is a giant game of cat and mouse. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to listen to this arc for my honest review.

Though not my usual type of read, I am so glad I requested Head Cases!

It's the kind of audiobook that grabs you and makes you forget everything else. McMahon really grabbed me with his writing and plot, but it was the characters who wouldn't let me go.

At the heart of the story is Gardner Camden, an FBI agent who’s brilliant with puzzles but often misses the human side of the case. Together with his equally endearing yet quirky, talented team, Gardner tackles a chilling case: a serial killer long presumed dead has resurfaced, leaving behind a trail of cryptic clues and riddles, seemingly just for Gardner. As the investigation unfolds, the killer gets eerily closer, putting everyone at risk.

As I said, what makes Head Cases stand out isn’t just the fast-paced mystery—it's the characters. Each agent in the PAR (Patterns and Recognition) unit has a unique skill set and personality that makes them feel like real, fully fleshed-out people. Their dynamics and banter are both fun and endearing, balancing the darker aspects of the case perfectly.

This was the perfect, gripping thriller to listen to on audio. I sped through this one and I think many other people will as well. I'm hoping McMahon turns this into a long series. I'll be listening to each one for sure.

“The expression serial killer is just a convention of man…at the end of the day, every killer is just a human, searching for something.”

Police procedurals are pervasive in the current entertainment sphere. Ones with complex and compelling plots narrow the field. But the ones with incredibly well drawn characters who show us all the in-betweens are rare. It’s no surprise that the film/tv rights have already been sold for this novel and I’m already looking forward to the next in the series!

I’m reluctant to compare Head Cases to the brilliant Slough House book series by Mick Herron, but in this case the correlation is deserved. Just as the MI5 has a niche group of misfits, McMahon has created a similar group within the FBI. The PAR (Patterns And Recognition) unit is comprised of agents, demographically different, who share a lack of adherence to the norms. They are all incredibly talented in ultra specific ways but have run into political roadblocks along their career paths. The group itself (nicknamed The Head Cases) is in danger of being dismantled and the players operating within are in danger…period. As they hunt down a serial killer who is killing infamous serial killers, their skill sets and their vulnerabilities come into focus. Law enforcement and politics combine like oil and water and in this case, create an incendiary device exploding with collateral damage.

Smart themes, snappy dialogue and fresh perspective made this a fabulous one sitting read for me. Bravo Will Damron for bringing these quirky and diverse characters to life!

Thanks to Net Galley, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the early copy in exchange for my honest review, which will be promoted on my Instagram page @bookshelfbybeckwith, Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble closer to publication day.

Head Cases is a puzzle you are trying to solve as you read. How can a serial killer who is dead leave his DNA on a murder victim? The PAR (Patterns and Recognition) unit of the FBI is on this case and has an expert in every field that they need to crack the case. Agent Gardner Camden is great at puzzles and putting the pieces all together. They figure out when the murders continue that a serial killer is killing serial killers. Great read for anyone who likes reading about crime and serial killers!