THE MAILMAN

A highly unlikely hero steps up to neutralize a dangerous band of kidnappers.

Young Abby Stanfield’s horrible grades trigger an argument between her parents, Glenn and Rachel, over the exorbitant tuition at Bellbrook Academy, making for a typical Tuesday evening for the Stanfields until four masked men—Stone and Vlad and Paddy and Finn, the leader—bust into their home and hold the family hostage. Their intent is murky, but apparently focuses on a woman, Stella Wolford, and her connection to Rachel, who’s an attorney. The intruders’ plan is interrupted by deliveryman Mercury Carter, whom Finn rebuffs at the door. Carter, who’s not who he seems, calculates a bit in his Suburban before breaking into the home himself, causing Finn, Paddy, and Vlad to take off with a captive Rachel. After pummeling Stone, Carter gives chase, accompanied by Glenn and Abby. The series kickoff by the prolific author of the Andy Hayes mysteries spools out like a fast-paced treasure hunt, with Finn eliciting info from the steely Rachel in teaspoons while Carter pursues him. A third narrative thread fills in the details of Carter’s rocky past in short cuts. The twisty plot relies on periodic revelations; suffice it to say that Carter is not the only character with secrets. Some additional juice is provided by the arrival of no-nonsense detective Rosa Jimenez, investigating a collateral victim of the villains. Welsh-Huggins keeps the story moving, but readers’ engagement will depend on the appeal of the iconoclastic Carter.

A brisk and busy chase thriller.