Award-winning reviewer Oline Cogdill recently reviewed John McMahon’s Head Cases, the first in a new series. There are still a couple signed copies available in The Poisoned Pen’s Webstore. https://bit.ly/40U9VN9. And, once you’ve read Cogdill’s review from the South Florida Sun Sentinel, youl’ll want to watch the conversation from The Poisoned Pen.
John McMahon’s new novel, “Head Cases,” launches a new series. (Nathaniel Chadwick/Courtesy)
Book review: ‘Head Cases’ launches new series about brainy FBI agents
‘Head Cases’ by John McMahon. Minotaur, 352 pages, $28
An elite, cerebral FBI team that mainly relies on its collective intellect but doesn’t shy away from action launches what should be a stellar new series from Edgar nominee John McMahon.
“Head Cases” balances fully fleshed-out, quirky characters with McMahon’s fine eye for details about the inner workings of investigations coupled with methodical plotting.
Privately, these five investigators call themselves the Head Cases because, as one character says, they “mostly live in their heads.” Publicly, they are known as the FBI’s Patterns and Recognition team — PAR — that utilizes each individual’s skills. The lead investigator is Gardner Camden, a savant with an eidetic memory and a love of puzzles.
The team’s latest case is tracking a vigilante who targets serial killers. The vigilante’s first victim was a killer Gardner had hunted years before who was believed to have died in a fire seven years ago. Apparently not. The team learns the now deceased killer had been living under the radar in Texas. PAR members believe the killer may be receiving inside information as more murders occur.
The case takes the team from its base in Jacksonville to Miami to Texas and other sites. While Gardner is the main focus of “Head Cases,” McMahon makes sure that each character takes center stage. Joanne Harris earned her nickname, “The Shooter,” as “the pride of the 2012 Olympic shooting team.” Cassie Pardo is “The Analyst,” with exceptional math skills. Frank Roberts, “The Boss,” is old-school FBI while “The Rookie” is Richie Brancato whose entry on the team mystifies the others.
The tight-knit investigators respect each other’s skills and care about their colleagues’ welfare and personal lives, without being intrusive. Rumors that PAR may be dissolved brings them closer but doesn’t affect their devotion to their investigation. McMahon’s precise storytelling in “Head Cases” should assure many adventures with this intelligent team.
Behind the plot: While many thrillers and mysteries are optioned for television or film, John McMahon’s “Head Cases” may be one of the rare exceptions to make it to the screen as it currently is in development with Warner Bros. TV for a streaming series on HBO Max. “Head Cases” is McMahon’s fourth novel. His first novel “The Good Detective” was nominated for the Edgar and ITW Thriller awards.
You can also watch John McMahon’s event at The Poisoned Pen with bookstore owner Barbara Peters.