About the Book:
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?
My Review:
I liked this FBI investigative novel, mostly because of the quirky characters. Each agent has been placed in this unit because of some previous unacceptable behavior. Each one has some unique ability, such as an eidetic memory or amazing sharp shooting skill, and they work through this case differently than a traditional team. Their expertise involves pattern recognition so their methods are as unique as they are. The banter between the agents was entertaining.
I had mixed feelings about the lead character, Gardner. He was so sure of himself, every time they got a new clue he was quick to conclude this person was their villain. I would have preferred he have a more open mind as he was wrong, until the last one. It was irritating.
The plot was suitably complex as it involved past crimes and present people in the FBI. We got a good sense of the politics within the agency as the agents go about their unusual ways to solves the murders. I do like McMahon's writing style and will be watching for the next book in this series.
My rating: 4/5 stars.
About the Author:
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. 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. Photo credit: Nathaniel Chadwick.
Minotaur Books, 352 pages.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)
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