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Inside Man: The thrilling sequel to the bestselling series debut Head Cases, for fans of Slow Horses, Dept Q & Down Cemetery Road
Following McMahon's electrifying series debut, Head Cases, Gardner Camden and his misfit FBI team return. For all fans of Slow Horses and David Baldacci.
FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius with an affinity for puzzles. He 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.
PAR's latest case involves a militia group stockpiling weapons. When their confidential informant in the case is killed, it quickly becomes clear that the militia did not kill him.
As the squad looks into the evidence surrounding his murder, an unidentified man is caught on camera with their informant. This mystery man's picture is connected to another case at the FBI, an unsolved series of murdered women, buried in the ground in north Florida. Could they have uncovered a serial killer? And if so, what is his connection to their C.I.?
As PAR juggles an investigation into both the dead women and the militia, they enroll a new informant, only to find the case escalating in dangerous ways. How will PAR handle a case that increasingly looks like a terrorist plot? And in the serial case, with no puzzles or witnesses, and few leads, how will a group set up to decode riddles be successful?
'Absorbing ... the brilliant and neurodivergent Camden once again looks outside the box to deliver results. A fascinating protagonist, he can make readers laugh or sigh and is as compelling as his newest case.' Booklist
'The plot is twisty .. [and] the blossoming series puts a shrewd twist on a familiar formula ... The tale moves briskly on a cushion of rhythmic prose and nearly nonstop banter ... A slick and lively thriller featuring a team you'll want to hang with.' Kirkus
Praise for Head Cases:
'McMahon's inventive, eventful, smartly written Head Cases, with its brilliant but fallible protagonist, its twisted-minded perpetrator, and its mix of sentiment and intrigue, is a terrific debut that augurs well for further installments in the series' Wall Street Journal
'Everything this crime fiction-lover could gripping, twisty, and atmospheric, with a harrowing and intriguing plot, gorgeous prose, and fresh and compelling characters. I want more!' Karen Dionne, author of the #1 international bestseller The Marsh King's Daughter
FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius with an affinity for puzzles. He 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.
PAR's latest case involves a militia group stockpiling weapons. When their confidential informant in the case is killed, it quickly becomes clear that the militia did not kill him.
As the squad looks into the evidence surrounding his murder, an unidentified man is caught on camera with their informant. This mystery man's picture is connected to another case at the FBI, an unsolved series of murdered women, buried in the ground in north Florida. Could they have uncovered a serial killer? And if so, what is his connection to their C.I.?
As PAR juggles an investigation into both the dead women and the militia, they enroll a new informant, only to find the case escalating in dangerous ways. How will PAR handle a case that increasingly looks like a terrorist plot? And in the serial case, with no puzzles or witnesses, and few leads, how will a group set up to decode riddles be successful?
'Absorbing ... the brilliant and neurodivergent Camden once again looks outside the box to deliver results. A fascinating protagonist, he can make readers laugh or sigh and is as compelling as his newest case.' Booklist
'The plot is twisty .. [and] the blossoming series puts a shrewd twist on a familiar formula ... The tale moves briskly on a cushion of rhythmic prose and nearly nonstop banter ... A slick and lively thriller featuring a team you'll want to hang with.' Kirkus
Praise for Head Cases:
'McMahon's inventive, eventful, smartly written Head Cases, with its brilliant but fallible protagonist, its twisted-minded perpetrator, and its mix of sentiment and intrigue, is a terrific debut that augurs well for further installments in the series' Wall Street Journal
'Everything this crime fiction-lover could gripping, twisty, and atmospheric, with a harrowing and intriguing plot, gorgeous prose, and fresh and compelling characters. I want more!' Karen Dionne, author of the #1 international bestseller The Marsh King's Daughter
395 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Publisher
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is the sequel to the book Head Cases, which follows FBI Agent Gardner Camden and his group of FBI misfits in the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit. They are nicknamed Head Cases, but the quirky group of agents are brilliant in what they do and tend to solve cases no one else can.
I love a twisty legal thriller and this one starts with a bang and doesn't let up. The group is initially working on a suspected militia stockpiling weapons. They discover one of their informants murdered and it appears the militia wasn't involved. As they follow the clues, they discover a dumping ground for a potential serial killer. Even more surprising is that the cases may be related in some way.
Camden's personality serves him well in his investigations, even if it doesn't help his personal life. He has a young daughter that he raising with the help of his ex-wife's mother. I loved his relationship with his daughter. You can tell she inherited a lot of his pragmatism, but has the added bonus of the social skills he does not.
Camden leads PARS in this book and he utilizes his team well. He allows them to play to their strong suits and gives their ideas and thoughts credence. They follow the evidence with little egos involved, all focused on solving the mysteries. It was great that not only does the team respect Camden as a leader, but accept his quirks and form their own social unit.
The mysteries are entertaining and it was interesting to hear the various ways criminal organizations fund their activities. It was also a bit creepy because you know that aspects of the militia group, including their ideals and goals, are real. It really stresses me out to think about what these type of groups could be planning and what it would do to our country if they are successful. The serial killer case was also fascinating and it's a trip to try to get into the mind of a person that is so twisted. The story is well paced and the progress and set backs of the team will fuel your adrenaline and stress you out.
I was fortunate enough to receive an early audio copy of this book from the Macmillan Audio Early Listeners Program. The narrator did a great job portraying the straightforward personality of Camden. He is almost robotic in his narration, bringing Camden's odd nature to life. The narrator helps build tension throughout the book, adding to the tension of the story as it continues to escalate. This book comes out on Jan. 28, 2026.
This is the sequel to the book Head Cases, which follows FBI Agent Gardner Camden and his group of FBI misfits in the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit. They are nicknamed Head Cases, but the quirky group of agents are brilliant in what they do and tend to solve cases no one else can.
I love a twisty legal thriller and this one starts with a bang and doesn't let up. The group is initially working on a suspected militia stockpiling weapons. They discover one of their informants murdered and it appears the militia wasn't involved. As they follow the clues, they discover a dumping ground for a potential serial killer. Even more surprising is that the cases may be related in some way.
Camden's personality serves him well in his investigations, even if it doesn't help his personal life. He has a young daughter that he raising with the help of his ex-wife's mother. I loved his relationship with his daughter. You can tell she inherited a lot of his pragmatism, but has the added bonus of the social skills he does not.
Camden leads PARS in this book and he utilizes his team well. He allows them to play to their strong suits and gives their ideas and thoughts credence. They follow the evidence with little egos involved, all focused on solving the mysteries. It was great that not only does the team respect Camden as a leader, but accept his quirks and form their own social unit.
The mysteries are entertaining and it was interesting to hear the various ways criminal organizations fund their activities. It was also a bit creepy because you know that aspects of the militia group, including their ideals and goals, are real. It really stresses me out to think about what these type of groups could be planning and what it would do to our country if they are successful. The serial killer case was also fascinating and it's a trip to try to get into the mind of a person that is so twisted. The story is well paced and the progress and set backs of the team will fuel your adrenaline and stress you out.
I was fortunate enough to receive an early audio copy of this book from the Macmillan Audio Early Listeners Program. The narrator did a great job portraying the straightforward personality of Camden. He is almost robotic in his narration, bringing Camden's odd nature to life. The narrator helps build tension throughout the book, adding to the tension of the story as it continues to escalate. This book comes out on Jan. 28, 2026.
Displaying 1 of 1 review