Head Cases

 

Head Cases by John McMahon
1/28/25; 352 pages
St. Martin's Press
Head Cases #1

Head Cases by John McMahon is a very highly recommended investigative thriller following members of the FBI's PAR (Patterns and Recognition) Unit as they hunt down a serial killer who is targeting other serial killers. As a fan of McMahon's exceptional P.T. Marsh series, it's a pleasure to say I love the start of this new series and am looking forward to the next book in the series, Inside Man, released in January 2016.

FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius who has an eidetic memory and an unique ability for solving puzzles, riddles, and codes, as well as recognizing patterns and interconnections between items. He is part of a team of misfits who compose the PAR Unit of FBI's Behavioral Sciences department lead by Frank Roberts who are brought in for cases that no one else can solve. Team members working with Gardner include his partner Cassie Pardo, who is detail-oriented and brilliant with numbers, Jo "Shooter" Harris is a weapons expert and tactician, and newbie Richie Brancato, a data analyst.

This specialized team isn't normally in the field, but when Ross Tignon, a man who, after murdering three women, was previously declared deceased seven years earlier is found dead, again, they are called in to investigate. This is quickly followed by a second victim, Barry Fisher, who was just paroled after serving 31 years in prison. The killer calls Gardner to boast, threatens his family, and suggests the team call him god, which leads them to give him the moniker "mad dog." He also plants clues on the victims. to see if the team, especially Gardner, can follow them.

As expected, the writing is absolutely excellent in this outstanding procedural. The plot is fast-paced, interesting, suspenseful, intelligent, and held my complete attention throughout. The case is enigmatic, which explains why PAR was assigned it when usually they work on cold cases. It was nothing but sheer pleasure to observe the team uncovering clues and following up on them intuitively and logically, sometimes with surprising outcomes.

The characters are all portrayed as fully realized, unique, complex individuals with both strengths and weaknesses. This is a team of misfits who didn't fit in with the regular FBI. Gardner is brilliant, unique, and socially awkward, however, although possibly more socially adept, all of the team members have their own gifts and quirks and could be described the same way. This is a great ensemble of characters and I am looking forward to their next case.

Head Cases is a perfect choice for anyone who enjoys procedurals that display excellence in both the writing and executed. Be sure to look for the second book in the series, Inside Man, released in January 2016.