To the apparent chagrin of some readers, I have periodically extolled the virtues of the Jack Reacher novels. The detractors see evidence of someone seduced by gratuitous violence deployed wantonly as a lowest common denominator appeal to an unevolved, bloodthirsty audience. No doubt, if you read a Jack Reacher novel at some point, you’re going to read a detailed description of what it’s like to snap someone else’s bones or dislocate a tendon from its point of origin. But in truth, Reacher is not one to use violence indiscriminately. Conceived as a modern-day knight-errant, Reacher eschews conflict, unless he detects someone in need of help from a 6-foot-5-inch behemoth with knowledge of all manner of firearms, and pectoral muscles so developed, they once stopped a bullet from penetrating his heart. Because of my Reacher fandom, I’m always on the lookout for a Reacher-like hero who can fill the gaps without being an outright Reacher clone or diluted version of the original. I was pleased to find a promising new candidate in the character of Mercury Carter in Andrew Welsh-Huggins’ “The Mailman.” “The Mailman” does all the necessary work of establishing a new hero, while also delivering (pun intended) a genuinely involving and suspenseful action thriller. I have a couple of quibbles, but I will also definitely be checking out the next installment. Mercury Carter is, in some ways, an inverse of Reacher. Rather than being a giant who intimidates all comers, he’s a bantamweight who uses the underestimation of his opponents to his advantage. Rather than being a knight-errant wandering by whim, he’s a private courier intent on making the delivery he’s been contracted for, no matter what stands in his way. This sense of mission is what kicks off “The Mailman” as Carter stumbles upon an ongoing home invasion of a married pair of lawyers, Rachel and Glenn Stanfield. Mercury has a delivery for Rachel, but the guys who have lashed the Stanfields to a couple of chairs and are interrogating them rather roughly are in the way. Relying on skills developed as a federal agent with the postal inspection service, a natural ability for calculated problem solving, and a truck with all manner of useful stuff, Carter messes things up. The leader of the gang escapes with Rachel, leaving Glenn and a bomb behind. The plot unfurls from there as Mercury unravels both the mystery of why these thugs kidnapped Rachel, and a secret Glenn is keeping. Along the way, Glenn and Rachel’s teen daughter Abby, away at school, gets pulled into the fray, ultimately becoming an invaluable part of the effort to save Rachel and stop the criminals from a truly dastardly deed. The chase has Carter driving throughout Indiana and Illinois as he tracks his prey. At times, the episodes become a little repetitive as Carter shows up somewhere after the arrival of the gang members to scotch their plans in increasingly ingenious ways. Also, the underlying mystery remains a little too opaque for too long to deliver the deepest pleasure of readerly discovery as the puzzle pieces lock into place. But this is to be expected in an establishing book where we also need to learn the backstory of why Mercury Carter no longer works for the U.S. government — a mystery in and of itself — and therefore feels driven to exact justice outside the bounds of authority. “The Mailman” did what a good thriller should by getting me invested in the fates of the characters and making me wonder how on Earth the day might be saved. John Warner is the author of “Why They Can’t Write: Killing the Five-Paragraph Essay and Other Necessities.” Twitter @biblioracle Book recommendations from the Biblioracle John Warner tells you what to read based on the last five books you’ve read. 1. “The Wedding People” by Alison Espach 2. “Verity” by Colleen Hoover 3. “The Only Woman in the Room” by Marie Benedict 4. “Counterfeit” by Kirstin Chen 5. “Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty” by Patrick Radden Keefe — Debbie G., Palatine For Debbie, I’m recommending a book from last year I really liked and that Mrs. Biblioracle just read and gave a thumbs-up to as well: “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” by Rufi Thorpe. 1. “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin 2. “Pastoralia” by George Saunders 3. “Prep” by Curtis Sittenfeld 4. “North Woods” by Daniel Mason 5. “The Remains of the Day” by Kazuo Ishiguro — Lisa Schwarz, Lake Bluff I think Donna Tartt’s “The Secret History” will have the mix of character and intrigue that gets Lisa invested. 1. “Say Nothing” by Patrick Radden Keefe 2. “James” by Percival Everett 3. “The Elements of Marie Curie” by Dava Sobel 4. “Keeping the Faith: God, Democracy, and the Trial That Riveted a Nation” by Brenda Wineapple 5. “Klan War: Ulysses S. Grant and the Battle to Save Reconstruction” by Fergus M. Bordewich — Ted W., Chicago Ted seems to like a good story grounded in interesting history. That makes me think of “The Great Mistake” by Jonathan Lee. Get a reading from the Biblioracle Send a list of the last five books you’ve read and your hometown to [email protected].