PROVEN INNOCENCE by Mary J Rocco

GENRE:  Suspense/murder

MY REVIEW

Proven Innocence by Mary Rocco is her debut novel. The writing didn’t quite get there for a four or five star rating, but I see a lot of potential with the content. The mystery was easy for me to figure out, but I like that the one under suspicion, Cindy, is not the main character. Gabrielle is. That is a nice touch, Mary.

The writing needs work, but the characters and the story line were interesting enough to keep me turning the pages, wanting to find out how Cindy will get out of the mess she’s involved in through no fault of her own. She is accused of killing her husband and children and many are quick to call her guilty.

Gabrielle has taken it upon herself, a complete stranger to help cindy prove her innocence. She needs help. She can’t do it on her own. Even though Officer Mike Thomas has shown an interest in her, he has already labeled Cindy guilty, so she investigates on her own. I felt confident we would be hearing more about them before the story was over.

Proven Innocence has ruthless characters who’s motto is: Once you’re in, you’re never out.

The italicized sentences made it hard to read on my ereader. I get what Mary was trying to do, but I don’t think it was necessary.

Mary J Rocco did a good job with Proven Innocence and I look forward to reading more of her work as she polishes her craft. I foresee good things in her future.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Proven Innocence by Mary J Rocco.

Amazon / Kindle Unlimited / Goodreads

BLURB

Cynthia Evans wakes up in the trunk of a car, no idea how she got there, only to discover she’s wanted for the murder of her husband and children. With no memory of life prior, Cynthia is sure she did not commit the crime.

Only problem is-how does she convince anyone she’s not a murderer when she is not sure who she is?

With the help of a downtrodden diner waitress, Gabrielle, Cynthia fights to prove her innocence.

One thing is clear: Rick Evans is dead. But who is the real killer?

EXCERPT

Too many possibilities. To concentrate on survival, I must assure myself that this person driving knows I am here and plans to release me from the dark layer upon reaching his destination.

Seconds seem like minutes, minutes like hours, leaving it nearly impossible to estimate how long I have been lying here. My best guess is about thirty minutes, not including how long I lay there unconscious in the sealed compartment. No sense of day or night. No idea if it is dark or light outside, what day it is, or where I am in the world. I keep straining to listen for faint conversation, but still no luck. The blood on my head is drying and forming the beginning of a thin, crusty layer on top of my skin. My head itches, but I will not move a muscle to scratch it as the pain has not been numbed.

Suddenly, I feel the car turn around a ramp. The curvy road throws my body to the back part of the trunk. Gravity and cen¬trifugal force are not kind to my aching ailments as we exit the major highway. A series of turns are made after the exit, each a few minutes apart. I need to remember how many turns it takes to make a quick getaway back to the interstate, though, at this point, I have no foreseeable idea how that will happen. If my calculations are correct, the car proceeded off the high¬way as follows: it turned left at the end of the exit ramp; then it proceeded for about three minutes and made another left, a quick right, then another left. The ride begins to feel bump¬ier as the road beneath the wheels is no longer smooth pave¬ment. From the sound of the gravel below, I deduce the road is not paved. The location is too remote for paved roads––not a good sign.

Everything slows to a stop, and the roar of the engine fades. We have arrived at our destination. Sheer panic ensues.

What am I going to do? Is it best to pretend as if I am still knocked out? This person obviously wants me alive, or he would have finished the job earlier.

Click.

The driver popped open the trunk. It is slightly ajar, just enough to let in a small beam of light but not enough for me to see outside. Muted sunlight breaks through the space between the trunk and the car.

Both the driver’s side and the passenger’s side doors slam shut simultaneously, causing me to rock back and forth slightly.

There are two people.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

I have dreamed of being an author since the age of ten. I have been writing and crafting stories for the last twenty years, mostly because, well you know, life… and I got in my own way. After finishing law school, graduate school, travelling the world, getting married and starting a family I figured now was the time.

I was born and raised on Long Island, New York and spent ten years in my early adulthood living carefree in New York City. I currently reside with my husband and two beautiful children in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, where I am a practicing attorney.

I hope to continue to publish many more novels that entertain and thrill readers.

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mary-J.-Rocco/author/B0CX13KN4Y

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