Head Cases

A Novel

By: John McMahon

Narrated by: Will Damron

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 listeners on the edge of their seats and a thoroughly engaging ensemble cast, John McMahon’s Head Cases is a triumph.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

©2025 John McMahon (P)2025 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“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)

"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

Great story and plot.

I liked it all. The story was entertaining and held my interest. The details didn't bore me.

Pleasantly surprised

Great mystery book with a really good plot. First time i listened to this author. I’ll definitely be checking out more of his books.

Tight and gripping storytelling

Really enjoyed the twists and turns in the story. All the characters were engaging and surprisingly fresh. The performance did the story justice.

Loved this! Great new series!

Great new series and a new author for me. I'll be looking nti his other work and am looking forward to book 2 in this series. The characters are well written and had a great rapport with one another.

Slow moving

This is usually my favorite genre but I found this book a bit draggy and slow moving. I couldn’t relate to any of the main characters and the autistic detective was hard to like don’t think I will give this author a second chance

Not my usual brew but...

I loved this book. I was intrigued, surprised, revulsed, and it made me laugh several times! Great book! I hope this continues into a series!

Wow! Amazing! Fun! Interesting!

His first 3 books were very good. This is fantastic. I can't wait for the next one. It's a new series. You can start here and go back to the first series while you wait. This is different, but as good as, anything from Sandford or Connelly.

Great story. Problems with a few regional pronunciations.

I loved this book. But I did get caught up in some regional pronunciations by the narrator…e.g. palmetto and Natchez.

Just swallowed that book !

Awesome book, great narration.
This book reminds me Mindhunter, Netflix series.
Love the characters, the complexity of the murders and how it all becomes clear at the end. Looking forward for the next one.

neuroatypical hunting serial killers

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Head Cases by John McMahon in exchange for an honest review. This was a new spin on a story like Criminal Minds, but instead of the BAU, it's a group of specialized people who usually work at their desks and are thrown into the field. It's for a special case that could make or break the team. I really liked the characters and the storyline. I would recommend this book.