ARC Review: Inside Man by John McMahon

Inside Man
Author: John McMahon
Series: Head Cases (Book 2)
Publication: Minotaur (January 13, 2026)

Description: In this sequel to McMahon's electrifying series debut, Head Cases, Gardner Camden and the PAR team return to investigate potentially connected cases.

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?

My Thoughts: INSIDE MAN is the sequel to HEAD CASES. The stories are mysteries. The main characters are part of a special unit of the FBI. Leading the unit is FBI Agent Gardner Camden. Gardner is neurodivergent. He is excellent at facts and puzzles but not so good at deciphering human actions and emotions.

This cast begins when Gardner and his partner stop to check in on one of their confidential informants only to find that he has been murdered. They also find over a million dollars in cash and the debit cards used to withdraw it from area ATMS. They also find an unusual gun and texts on the CI's phone saying his criminal colleagues are only minutes away. 

Leaving with most of the money, after setting the mobile home on fire, Gardner and colleagues have to develop a new CI if they want to solve the mystery of the money and the guns. But then they are called to consult on another case. This time skeletonized bodies are found buried in the area. Through the team's efforts they find nine bodies and a connection to their CI. 

While working on their gun runners and serial killers, Gardner's mother comes out of the coma she's been in since the end of the team's last case pulling Gardner's attention away from his current cases. 

This was an engaging and action-packed thriller with an intriguing cast of characters. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.