Andrew Welsh-Huggins is an
accomplished author of 11 books who has been nominated for the Shamus,
Derringer, and International Thriller Writers-awards. Welsh-Huggins is also the
editor of Columbus Noir (Akashic Books, 2020), and his short
fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Mystery
Weekly, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and Mystery Tribune, among
others. He’s written eight mysteries about Andy Hayes, a former Ohio State
University quarterback turned private investigator. His nonfiction book No
Winners Here Tonight (Ohio University Press, 2009) is the definitive
history of the death penalty in Ohio. Hatred at Home: al-Qaida on Trial in
the American Midwest (Swallow Press, 2011) documents a lengthy government
investigation into terrorism that started in Columbus, Ohio.
The Mailman (Mysterious
Press, January 28, 2025) launches a new thriller series with an original main
character who takes the post office’s motto on the indefatigability of a mail
carrier a step or two further. It wasn’t snow or rain that was interfering with
independent courier Mercury Carter’s attempt to make a delivery to Rachel
Stanfield, it was the full-blown home invasion that was in progress when he
arrived. He makes short work of the thugs at the door of the Stanfield house;
the remaining toughs flee this unexpected interference, taking Rachel with
them. Carter follows them from Indianapolis into Illinois and points south,
intent on completing the hand-off he was hired for. Each stop along the way
involves a confrontation in which the kidnappers come off second best but not
convincingly enough to make them leave Rachel behind.
Carter’s
background as a postal inspection agent is a novel way to establish plausible
law enforcement experience as well as knowledge of the mechanics of package
delivery. Carter demonstrates creativity in problem solving. For instance when
he needs a different vehicle because his is familiar to the kidnappers, he
takes advantage of the labor shortage everywhere and signs on as pizza delivery
guy just to access a different car for a short time. The pizza shop owner’s
frustration when she realized her new driver lasted about an hour was palpable,
understandable, and funny. All in all, Mercury Carter is an excellent
contribution to the crime fiction hero pantheon. I am looking forward to the
next installment of Carter’s adventures. Recommended.
Library
Journal
starred review and Library Journal Mystery Pick of the Month.
·
Publisher: Mysterious Press (January 28,
2025)
·
Language: English
·
Hardcover: 360 pages
·
ISBN-10: 1613166109
·
ISBN-13: +978-1613166109
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3CgNwjN
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2025
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
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