FBI agent Gardner Camden in back with his Head Cases team in the second in John McMahon’s series, Inside Man. This one has a more technical focus than the first in the series, Head Cases. That one focused more on the characters on Camden’s team.
There are four people on the PAR, Patterns and Recognition team for the FBI, a group that identifies peculiarities, solves puzzles, and highlights them, and then hands the case off to other groups in the FBI or law enforcement. The skill set they all share is data analysis, a skill necessary in their current case. FBI agent Gardner Camden is able to easily solve riddles and puzzles, but he needs clues in social situations. After the events of the previous book, Gardner’s boss has moved on, and he’s the head of the PAR team.
Gardner isn’t good at celebrating the team’s successes. Instead, he focuses on his own mistakes. They have a confidential informant, a C.I. who is involved with a domestic militia group run by an arms dealer. They’re supplying weapons to be used against law enforcement. But, someone seems to be one step ahead of PAR. When Gardner and Shooter show up to see their C.I., they find him murdered. And, they think the killer is someone other than Sandoval’s group. But, they know Sandoval’s group can kill. They find two members of his group dead, and they are close enough to know who killed the victims.
While they’re in the Jacksonville area, a detective at the Shilo Police Department consults them about an ongoing case involving missing women. Although both cases are intriguing, and the gun case heats up and involves multiple government agencies, it’s the missing women case that proves more dangerous to the PAR team itself, especially when Garden locates multiple bodies, and they know they have a serial murderer on their hands.
I found the missing and murdered persons case to be more interesting than the guns one, but the PAR team suspects the two cases are linked. Inside Man follows the team from Florida to D.C. and back again as they search for answers. For those of us who are reading Tim Sullivan’s D.S. Cross police procedurals, Head Cases and Inside Man are must-reads. Instead of one person who is on the spectrum with unusual skills, there’s a team of puzzle-solvers, “Head Cases”, led by Gardner Camden who is neurodivergent. Some outstanding authors are capitalizing on fascinating skills in today’s police procedurals.
John McMahon’s website is https://www.johnmcmahonbooks.com/
Inside Man by John McMahon. Minotaur Books, 2025. 400p.
FTC Full Disclosure – My galley came from the publisher, via NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review.
Very much enjoyed the read. As I keep saying, I hope we get more.
Every series by this author is mighty good.
I hope we get more of them, too, Kevin.
I really liked the first one, even though I’ll have to refresh my memory of it before reading the new one. You mentioned Tim Sullivan’s books, and I think he’s getting better book by book, if the latest I read (THE TEACHER) is any example. This one is on my list.
It won’t take long to remember what the earlier book was about, Jeff. It’s the characters you need to remember, especially Gardner.
I just finished The Dentist and thought it was excellent, so I’m on my way now with Tim Sullivan. The Cyclist (#2) will be out January 20 on Kindle. As you say, it sounds like if I like George Cross, I’ll like the Head Cases series. Thanks!
You’re welcome, Kim, and there are only two of them, so no catching up to do!
Currently reading The Teacher by George Cross. This has become a favorite series. I have Inside Man on hold at the library as I enjoyed Head Cases very much.
I agree, Lynn. I hope Tim Sullivan’s books get the attention they deserve.
I’ve got Head Cases on my list to read soon and I’m very intrigued by your thoughts on the second book in the series. Think I will like these books and thank you for sharing about them!
I like these books, Kay. I think you will, too. I hope you do, anyways!