By: John McMahon
Narrator: Will Damron
ISBN: 9781250384270
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: 01/28/2025
Format: Audio/Other
Duration: 9 hrs.
My Rating: 5 Stars + (ALC) (ARC)
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.
Praise
Praise
“In this suspenseful cat and mouse thriller, Camden balances brilliance with a deeply flawed awareness of social cues, retaining the edge of a compelling protagonist. This, combined with McMahon's gripping plot, will pull readers in.”
―Booklist
“McMahon introduces several clever wrinkles to this classic cat-and-mouse setup, while making the socially awkward Camden and his colleagues three-dimensional enough to sustain future installments. With pulse-pounding action and enough surprises to blindside even seasoned mystery fans, this is an excellent start.”
–Publishers Weekly (Starred review)
“A superior cat-and-mouser, with both parties armed to the teeth.”
–Kirkus Reviews
"A must for your TBR pile."
―FirstClue
“A twisting FBI procedural with a cool cast of characters… I was in heaven… Not only because there’s more than one serial killer, but I also loved that the PAR agents don’t play well with others.”
–Minnesota Star Tribune
“Fast paced… a thrilling conclusion… gives good reason to get attached to the characters…”
–St. Louis Post Dispatch
"Head Cases begins as a riveting story about the hunt for an apex predator―a killer of serial killers―but quickly becomes so much more: the only road back to what’s left of one man's family, friendships, and identity. It’s a taut, thrilling read.”
―Jess Lourey, Edgar-nominated author of The Taken Ones
"Grabbed me from page one!"
– J.A. Jance
“John McMahon's Head Cases is everything this crime fiction-lover could want: gripping, twisty, and atmospheric, with a harrowing and intriguing plot, gorgeous prose, and fresh and compelling characters. McMahon doesn’t just knock the ball out of the park with this one―he sends it flying into the next universe. I sincerely hope this is the beginning of a new series because I want more!”
– Karen Dionne, author of the #1 international bestseller The Marsh King's Daughter and The Wicked Sister
"I couldn’t get enough of this addictive, propulsive story of intellect and intrigue. Head Cases is a masterfully-done game of cat and mouse with an unforgettable cast of characters."
―Matthew Quirk, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Agent
My Review
Bestselling author John McMahon returns following his popular P.T. Marsh novels with a fascinating new series, PAR #1 HEAD CASES—a group of misfits, brilliant freaks (known by some), FBI agents that leave their desks and hit the road to track down a serial killer who murders serial killers— seeking his own justice in this dazzling and compelling new crime thriller debut series.
About...
FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius and enjoys solving puzzles. He also has a blind spot on the human side of investigations, which often includes his beloved seven-year-old daughter Camila, who lives in Miami while he works in Jacksonville.
Gardner and his squad of brilliantly talented yet quirky agents make up the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit. Each member possesses unique skills that make them the hidden secret of the FBI. They tackle cases no one else can solve, making them a team to watch and a group of characters you'll be eager to learn more about.
THE ACE: Specializing in puzzles, patterns, and decoding enigmas.
THE BOSS: Old School FBI—plays his card close to the vest.
THE ANALYST: Creates crime scenes in her head.
THE SHOOTER: A born and raised hunter.
THE ROOKIE: A prodigy just out of the academy.
The team is assigned to a case when DNA links a murder victim to a serial killer who was long presumed dead. Ross Tignon, a man he had hunted years ago, stopped because he turned up dead.
Seven years earlier, he was the primary suspect in Florida for three women's murders, and then a fire broke out in his home. If this man had been killed yesterday in Texas, whose body was in the Florida fire?
A second victim follows, creating a pattern, and the murderer starts leaving a trail of sinister clues and riddles for Gardner.
They hit the road following the killer with Gardner, and each of them uses every skill possible to solve this complex mystery. Their determination to protect themselves, the team, and their family, even when the killer seems to be one step ahead.
As the case unfolds, Gardner's professional detachment is tested. He's a seasoned professional tasked with profiling crimes that others can't solve. But this case is different. It's personal. With the killer seemingly always one step ahead, Gardner's worry for his mother and daughter's safety grows. He must find a way to warn them before it's too late, and you'll feel the intensity of his struggle.
Gardner's mom relocated to Texas from South Carolina. She was a psychiatrist for twenty years before she retired and moved west; she was on retainer with the Charleston Police Department and consulted on numerous investigations. But now she is in a home. Garnder sends money to his mom and daughter even though he can't always be around.
Two people could make Gardner's heart sink: His mother and his seven-and-a-half-year-old daughter, who lives with her grandmother in Miami. He visits on the weekends. He must keep them safe before the serial killer gets to them.
The dangerous game of cat-and-mouse begins with a sinister killer with an agenda and a revenge plot!
My thoughts...
HEAD CASES is:
Brilliant.
Original.
Electrifying.
Clever.
Edgy.
Enigmatic
Action-packed.
Suspenseful.
Mysterious.
Cat-and-Mouse Twisty.
A STUNNER!
Move over: My new favorite FBI team (PAR) and crime series are in town—prime for the big screen. I love these characters. Bring on #2! I can't wait to see what's next for the PAR team, and I'm sure fans will share my excitement for the next installment.
🎬 I'm thrilled to hear that this series has been optioned for HBO Max. The thought of seeing these characters and their thrilling adventures on screen is truly exciting.
This is the author's fourth book, and as with the past series (I also enjoyed and need to catch up with the last one in the P.T. Marsh series), a well-written procedural, gripping plot, razor-sharp, witty, intelligent, and fast-paced—keeping you on the edge of your seat. Like Michae Connelly's Bosch, Gardner is a fantastic character who loves and protects his family.
Fans, get ready for more! Another book is on the way, and you'll be on the edge of your seat, eagerly anticipating the next thrilling adventure of this fun group in Miami! I love books set in my backyard.
Audiobook...
I read the book and listened to the audiobook narrated by one of my all-time favorites, Will Damron. The award-winning performance captured these quirky, intelligent FBI characters and secondary character voices—impressive — elevating the novel and making this a captivating listening experience. The characters came alive on the page, and I became hooked from beginning to end. His performance was superb. I highly recommend the audiobook and this series. I hope he will be narrating the next in the series!
Recs...
This book is a must-read for fans of the author and those who enjoy Criminal Minds, The Mentalist (my favorite- I love Patrick Jane), and Karin Slaughter's Will Trent series. It's a perfect blend of the best elements from all these works.
Thanks to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for an ALC and ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Jan 28, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
About the Author
Photo Credit: Credit: Nathaniel Chadwick
The New York Times called John McMahon’s debut novel, The Good Detective “pretty much perfect” and listed it among their “Top Ten Crime Novels of 2019.” The book was a finalist for the 2020 Edgar Award and the ITW Thriller Award, both for Best First Novel.
Head Cases is his fourth novel, and is currently in development with Warner Bros TV for a streaming series on HBO Max.
John currently lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and a rescue dog. He splits his time between crime-writing and his day job in advertising. WEBSITE
John McMahon
Critically-acclaimed author of the P.T. Marsh Series
• Finalist for EDGAR AWARD (Best First Novel)
• Finalist for THRILLER AWARD (Best First Novel)
• NY Times Top 10 Crime Novels of Year
(for THE GOOD DETECTIVE & THE EVIL MEN DO)
• Amazon Editor's Pick (Best Mystery): A GOOD KILL
Author of the forthcoming HEAD CASES series
• Coming 1/25 to bookstores. Optioned for a show on
HBO Max
About the Narrator
Author • Actor • Narrator
Will is a professional actor and writer based in Atlanta. As an audiobook narrator, he has voiced over 700 titles across a variety of genres, and garnered an Audie Award, three Voice Arts Awards, and multiple Earphones Awards and other nominations. As a stage actor, he has performed Off-Broadway and in multiple regional theater productions, and has further pursued his love of storytelling by becoming a published author.
Will moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in 2020, where he continues to record, write, and act. He is married to actress and narrator January LaVoy, and when not in the studio they love to roam their city sampling food and cocktails… as well as curling up by the fire with their cat, August Wilson.
