Inside Man: A Head Cases Novel
by John McMahon is the very enjoyable sequel to Head Cases. As
always in any good series, it is best to have read the first book before the
sequel. Agent Gardner Camden leads an FBI unit named PAR. The Patterns and
Recognition team exists to find peculiarities in cases that have stalled or gone
cold. When they find something, the case goes back to the field office that
sent in the case or to a team in Quantico. Led by Agent Garnder, the team consists
of Joanne “Shooter” Harris, Richie Brancato, and Cassie Pardo. They solve cases
by way of their unique mental skill set each member brings to the table. They
look at things differently than most.
As Dick Wolfe would now say, “These are their
stories…”
They have been working a Florida fraud case where a
handful of people have been filing false unemployment claims and getting paid.
They have identified clusters of where the bogus claims where being filed and
the ATMs where, literally, thousands and thousands of dollars have been withdrawn
each month for many months now. A person of interest, Freddie Pecos, was identified
during the last three months they have been working the case.
Their big break came when Pecos got himself arrested
for assault. Guilty as heck, he made a deal not to go to jail. He agreed to be
an undercover informant. He also explained that what they were seeing is just
the tip of the iceberg. The scam is being done to support a militia group that
is led by an arms dealer, J. P. Sandoval.
PAR has stumbled across possible domestic terrorism.
Sandoval is using the cash from the unemployment scam to accrue a cache of
unmarked weapons. Weapons to be used again law enforcement. They don’t know the specifics of the target or
targets and they don’t know where the guns are located. They do know, according
to their informant, the high-powered guns are free of serial numbers and therefore
don’t exist in the manufacturing system. They can’t be traced and there are, at
least, several hundred of them. But, where?
As the book begins, Camden and Harris have
discovered the very dead body of their informant in his mobile home. He has
been shot at very close range. From various indications in the trailer, the
agents don’t think his cover was blown. They also soon realize that his cell
will be there in minutes. As it is close to four in the morning, their options
are limited to protect the case and to be able to continue the investigation
with the targets unaware. They need to know where the guns are and where they
are headed.
Camden makes the decision to do something that
solves all the issues. It also might get him fired. The act makes logical sense.
It is the only angle they have got to keep the suspects unaware of the presence
of the FBI as well as the fact that some evidence is now in their possession. Camden’s
decision and their actions at the crime scene keep the case going. And it is
one heck of a ride.
This second book in the series is another good one
from author John McMahon. Character development of the various main characters
continues here as does the action and the complexity of the cases.
Regardless of the series, and author John McMahon
has several now, he always delivers a great read. Such is the case here with Inside
Man: A Head Cases Novel.
One hopes that the series continues as they are very
good.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/44Ehx82
My digital ARC came by way of the publisher, Minotaur
Books, through NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
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