I loved the first book in this series so much I dropped everything to read this right away. And I wasn't disappointed!
This character is so great-- Mercury Carter just wants to make his deliveries, and he's willing to go through a lot to keep his perfect delivery record. He's not very big but he's lucky, determined, and fearless. When something needs to be done, he does it. Sometimes people need help and he's the only one who is in the right place to help them.
This plot got a little complicated but Carter worked it out as he went-- everything from drugs to scams to a girl held prisoner who can't ask for help. And I love the way almost everything gets addressed, although there's one ongoing mystery that will hopefully play out later.
My only complaint is that I'm not getting these fast enough.

This was a strong sequel in the Mercury Carter Thriller series, it had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed how it improved on the previous entry. The characters were everything that I was looking for and was invested in what was going on and was hooked from the first page. I enjoyed the way Andrew Welsh-Huggins writes a strong story and thought the character development worked in this story and had that thriller concept that I wanted.

Thanks to Penzler Publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Andrew Welsh-Huggins’ The Delivery is a taut, high-stakes thriller that blends relentless pacing with moral complexity, anchored by a protagonist who refuses to let danger or corruption derail his mission.

Welsh-Huggins introduces readers to Mercury Carter, a freelance courier with a past as a postal inspector, whose work is far from routine. Carter specializes in transporting sensitive and dangerous packages, often relying on his instincts and his firearm to survive. In The Delivery, his assignment takes him across New England, but the job quickly spirals into something far more perilous when he encounters a woman gravely injured in a rain-soaked car crash. This chance meeting pulls him into a race against time to rescue a trafficking victim, forcing Carter to navigate both physical threats and the moral weight of his choices.

Carter is not a conventional action hero. His sense of duty is tempered by empathy, and Welsh-Huggins crafts him as a man whose pride in “never missing a delivery” collides with the human cost of his work.

This novel’s setting—stretching across Providence and other parts of New England—creates a backdrop of stormy roads, shadowy alleys, and tense encounters that heighten the suspense.

Beyond the thrills, the book grapples with exploitation, resilience, and the ethical dilemmas of intervention. Carter’s mission is not just about logistics; it’s about confronting the darker realities of human trafficking and violence.

Welsh-Huggins writes with urgency, propelling the narrative forward while still allowing moments of reflection. The balance between action sequences and quieter moral reckoning makes the story resonate beyond its genre.

The Delivery succeeds as both a fast-moving thriller and a thoughtful exploration of responsibility. Welsh-Huggins doesn’t rely solely on gunfights or chase scenes; instead, he builds tension through Carter’s internal struggle and the unpredictable turns of his mission.

Readers who enjoy crime fiction with a conscience—stories that combine adrenaline with ethical stakes—will find this novel compelling.

This is a book that asks whether one man’s determination can truly make a difference against systemic violence, and Welsh-Huggins answers with a narrative that is as gripping as it is sobering.

5 stars from this reviewer for this clever and engaging read!