Inside Man, John McMahon
Inside Man, John McMahon
List: $26.99 | Sale: $18.89
Club: $13.49

Inside Man
A Head Cases Novel

Author: John McMahon

Series: Head Cases Series

Narrator: Will Damron

Unabridged: 10 hr 21 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/13/2026


Synopsis

In this sequel to McMahon's electrifying series debut, Head Cases, Gardner Camden and the PAR team return to investigate potentially connected cases. This program is read by Will Damron, winner of Audie, Voice Arts, and AudioFile Earphones awards.

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?

"Damron's strong narration creates a group of likable and believable characters…His timing is well matched to the twisty plot, building suspense and allowing the occasional humorous moments to shine.” —AudioFile on Head Cases

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books

About John McMahon

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.

About Will Damron

Will Damron is an actor, author, and two-time Audie Award–winning narrator. He has performed over 800 audiobooks across all genres, and is the recipient of three SOVAS Voice Arts Awards and numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards. Will is known for his smooth and evocative narration—often imbued with gravitas and realistic tension—as well as the wide range of characters and accents he can convincingly portray. He loves that he is able to connect with audiences around the world through his performances, and share in the joy of a true emotional journey with them.He and his wife, fellow narrator January LaVoy, live in Atlanta with their dog, Sir Toby Belch.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Valleri on November 05, 2025

Inside Man is the second book in the Head Cases series, which follows a team of FBI agents in the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit, who solve complex cases that no one else can. No sophomore slump for Mr. McMahon! I enjoyed Inside Man even more than I enjoyed the first book in the series, Head Cas......more

Goodreads review by BiblioPeeks on November 09, 2025

FIVE STAR ALERT! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit of the FBI is back and this time they're diving into not ONE, but TWO cases simultaneously! One case involves the militia, a dead confidential informant (CI) and a stockpile of g*uns. When the team begins to look into who killed their......more

Goodreads review by sydney on September 13, 2025

upgraded to 2.5⭐️ the case in the second book did not keep me intrigued as the first one did. i was so sad bc i was so excited about the characters and unfortunately this one fell short. there was a lot going on, and the first book was more “criminal minds” feel which i loved. this book felt more “bo......more

Goodreads review by Amy (amysbooked) on September 05, 2025

Review: This one was just as good as the first, I absolutely loved it. I love Gardner's characters and how he tries his best to be the best agent, parent, friend, person he can be. I loved the way the story wove around and how the pieces fell into place. I'll read any and all books in this series. S......more

Goodreads review by LindaPf on August 25, 2025

When I read the first book in the “PAR” series last year (the fictional Patterns and Recognition Unit of the FBI), I found it to be pretty much the absolutely perfect police procedural, with a team of unusual agents (“head cases” as the first novel was titled), all uniquely brilliant (but not superm......more


Quotes

Praise for Head Cases
“Mr. 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.” –The Wall Street Journal

"A stellar new series...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...McMahon's precise storytelling in Head Cases should assure many adventures with this intelligent team."—Oline Cogdill, South Florida Sun Sentinel

“In this suspenseful cat and mouse thriller, Camden balances brilliance with a deeply flawed awareness of social cues, retaining the edge of a compelling protagonist. This, combined with McMahon's gripping plot, will pull readers in.”—Booklist

“McMahon introduces several clever wrinkles to this classic cat-and-mouse setup, while making the socially awkward Camden and his colleagues three-dimensional enough to sustain future installments. With pulse-pounding action and enough surprises to blindside even seasoned mystery fans, this is an excellent start.” –Publishers Weekly (Starred review)

“A superior cat-and-mouser, with both parties armed to the teeth.”–Kirkus Reviews

"A must for your TBR pile."—FirstClue

A twisting FBI procedural with a cool cast of characters… I was in heaven… Not only because there’s more than one serial killer, but I also loved that the PAR agents don’t play well with others.” –Minnesota Star Tribune

“Fast paced… a thrilling conclusion… gives good reason to get attached to the characters…” –St. Louis Post Dispatch

"Both meticulously plotted and populated by offbeat characters, Head Cases is a series debut that readers will be talking about all year long...Gardner Camden is sure to become a fan favorite... As this is the launch of a series, watching his evolution—not just as an FBI agent, but as a human being—will be the reason readers return for case after case."—BOLO Books

"Head Cases begins as a riveting story about the hunt for an apex predator—a killer of serial killers—but quickly becomes so much more: the only road back to what’s left of one man's family, friendships, and identity. It’s a taut, thrilling read.” —Jess Lourey, Edgar-nominated author of The Taken Ones

"Grabbed me from page one!" – J.A. Jance

“John McMahon's Head Cases is everything this crime fiction-lover could want: gripping, twisty, and atmospheric, with a harrowing and intriguing plot, gorgeous prose, and fresh and compelling characters. McMahon doesn’t just knock the ball out of the park with this one—he sends it flying into the next universe. I sincerely hope this is the beginning of a new series because I want more!” – Karen Dionne, author of the #1 international bestseller The Marsh King's Daughter and The Wicked Sister

"I couldn’t get enough of this addictive, propulsive story of intellect and intrigue. Head Cases is a masterfully-done game of cat and mouse with an unforgettable cast of characters." —Matthew Quirk, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Agent