Inside Man by John McMahon ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

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.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

January 2026; Minotaur Books; 978-1250348326
audio, ebook, print (400 pages); police procedurals

Inside Man is book 2 in the Head Cases series. It isn't necessary to read the first book, but it is really good so you should read it.

If you loved the television show Criminal Minds, then you will love this series. If you like the character dynamics of NCIS: Origins, then you will want to check out this series as its characters have a similar vibe.

I'm usually not really into police procedurals, but the characters are great. The story is told from the point of view of Gardner Camden. He's a genius, and like many intellectual geniuses, he has some social awkwardness. He is an enduring character with a lot of layers to him. I look forward to more of those layers being pulled back in future books.

For me, the criminal cases they are investigating are secondary to the character interactions. The case is interesting but not memorable. I thought what the serial killer was doing was intriguing. I thought it took a little too long for the team to figure it out after the last clue provided by Richie. 

I read this book in big chunks and couldn't wait to get back to it each day. I can't wait for the next book.

Buy Inside Man at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

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