The Innocent (A Jack Marconi Thriller) [Kindle Edition]

Vincent Zandri (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

THE TOP TEN AMAZON KINDLE EBOOK BESTSELLER
THE NO. 1 BESTSELLING HARD-BOILED MYSTERY
THE NO. 1 BESTSELLING PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE THRILLER
THE NO. 1 BESTSELLING MYSTERY

Getting caught is simply not an option.

It's been a year since Jack Marconi's wife was killed. Ever since, he's been slipping up at his job as warden at an upstate New York prison. It makes him the perfect patsy when a cop-killer breaks out--with the help of someone on the inside. Throwing himself into the hunt for the fleeing con, Jack doesn't see what's coming.

Suddenly the walls are closing in. And in the next twenty-four hours, Jack will defy direct orders, tamper with evidence, kidnap the con's girlfriend--and run from the law with a .45 hidden beneath his sports coat. Because Jack Marconi, keeper of laws, men, secrets, and memories, has been set up--by a conspiracy that has turned everyone he ever trusted into an enemy. And everything he ever believed in into the worst kind of lie.

Reviews for "The Innocent" (formally, As Catch Can)

"If you want a novel that runs wild like a caged beast let loose, Zandri is the man."
--(Albany)

"Sensational...masterful...brilliant."
--New York Post

"Probably the most arresting first crime novel to break into print this season."
--Boston Herald

"A thriller that has depth and substance, wickedness and compassion."
--The Times-Union (Albany)

THE INNOCENT (formerly As Catch Can)
"Vincent Zandri explodes onto the scene with the debut thriller of the year. THE INNOCENT is gritty, fast-paced, lyrical and haunting. Don't miss it."
--Harlan Coben, author of Caught


"A Satisfying Yarn."
--Chicago Tribune
"Compelling...As Catch Can pulls you in with rat-a-tat prose, kinetic pacing...characters are authentic, and the punchy dialogue rings true. Zandri's staccato prose moves As Catch Can at a steady, suspenseful pace."
--Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Exciting...An Engrossing Thriller...the descriptions of life behind bars will stand your hair on end."
--Rocky Mountain News

"Readers will be held captive by prose that pounds as steadily as an elevated pulse... Vincent Zandri nails readers' attention."
--Boston Herald

"A smoking gun of a debut novel. The rough and tumble pages turn quicker than men turn on each other."
--Albany Times-Union

Please turn the page for more extraordinary acclaim...

"The story line is non-stop action and the flashback to Attica is eerily brilliant. If this debut is any indication of his work, readers will demand a lifetime sentence of novels by Vincent Zandri."
--I Love a Mystery

"A tough-minded, involving novel...Zandri writes strong prose that rarely strains for effect, and some of his scenes...achieve a powerful hallucinatory horror."
--Publishers Weekly

"A classic detective tale."
--The Record (Troy, NY)

"[Zandri] demonstrates an uncanny knack for exposition, introducing new characters and narrative possibilities with the confidence of an old pro....Zandri does a superb job creating interlocking puzzle pieces."
--San Diego Union-Tribune

"This is a tough, stylish, heartbreaking car accident of a book: You don't want to look but you can't look away. Zandri's a terrific writer and he tells a terrific story."
--Don Winslow, author of The Death and Life of Bobby Z

"Satisfying."
--Kirkus Reviews

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 860 KB
• Publisher: StoneGate Ink; 2 edition (September 28, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00452V7TM
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,315 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #20 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Genre Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Hard-Boiled
  • #21 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery > Hard-Boiled
  • #31 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers > Psychological Thrillers

More About the Author

Vincent Zandri is the No. 1 International Bestselling author of THE INNOCENT, GODCHILD, THE REMAINS, MOONLIGHT FALLS, CONCRETE PEARL, MOONLIGHT RISES and SCREAM CATCHER. He is also the author of the bestselling digital shorts, PATHOLOGICAL and MOONLIGHT MAFIA. Harlan Coben has described his novels as "...gritty, fast-paced, lyrical and haunting," while the New York Post called THE INNOCENT, "Sensational...Masterful...Brilliant!" In March, April and May of 2011, he sold more than 100,000 Kindle E-Book editions of his novels. In September 2011, he signed a "very nice" deal with the Thomas & Mercer crime imprint of Amazon for the publication of his new novels, Blue Moonlight and Murder by Moonlight, along with the re-publication of many of his back-list titles, including The Innocent and The Remains. Zandri's list of publishers also include Delacorte, Dell, StoneHouse Ink and StoneGate Ink. An MFA in Writing graduate of Vermont College, Zandri's work is translated into many languages including the Dutch, Russian, and Japanese. An adventurer, foreign correspondent, and freelance photo-journalist for RT, Globalspec, IBTimes and more, he lives in New York. For more go to WWW.VINCENTZANDRI.COM

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

151 of 169 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grand Slam!!!!, January 1, 2011

By 

CMash - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Innocent (A Jack Marconi Thriller) (Kindle Edition)

The Innocent by Vincent Zandri
Published by StoneGate Ink
ISBN-13: 2940011815430
ISBN: 0011815434
At both the author's and blog owner's request, an EBook edition was purchased by me, for my honest opinion.
Synopsis (borrowed from Amazon): Getting caught is simply not an option.
It's been a year since Jack Marconi's wife was killed. Ever since, he's been slipping up at his job as warden at an upstate New York prison. It makes him the perfect patsy when a cop-killer breaks out--with the help of someone on the inside. Throwing himself into the hunt for the fleeing con, Jack doesn't see what's coming.
Suddenly the walls are closing in. And in the next twenty-four hours, Jack will defy direct orders, tamper with evidence, kidnap the con's girlfriend--and run from the law with a .45 hidden beneath his sports coat. Because Jack Marconi, keeper of laws, men, secrets, and memories, has been set up--by a conspiracy that has turned everyone he ever trusted into an enemy. And everything he ever believed in into the worst kind of lie.
My Thoughts and Opinion: It is ironic that today, the first of the year, that I am reviewing the first book that started it all. Even though this version has been rewritten, the original was Mr. Zandri's first. I became hooked by this author when I read his other books, Moonlight Falls, The Remains, and the digital short, Pathological. Reading The Innocent, for me was like watching a toddler start to walk. Amazing!!!!
What did I think of The Innocent? A heart pounding read!!! Non stop suspense!!!. Zandri is a genius when it comes to writing. He grabs you from the first few pages and doesn't let go until the last word!! Masterful writing, whereas, he incorporates the present day plot and then transports the reader to another page turning subplot of the past and back to the present making it a page turning, can't put down read!!! Due to one continuous spoiler, that I do not want to give away, the story line had this reader fleeing and breathless with the main character, Keeper Marconi. Phenomenal!!! Chilling!!! The only negative I am finding with Vin Zandri's books is this, when I finish reading one, I want more!! Vincent Zandri and The Innocent are a Grand Slam!!!!!!
My Rating: 5

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Thriller!, February 8, 2011

By 

Yvonne Reviews "Mystery Lover" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Innocent (A Jack Marconi Thriller) (Kindle Edition)

For years Jack "Keeper" Marconi has been the warden at Green Haven Prison. After his beloved wife dies in an accident, he loses his focus and gives permission for one of his inmates to have a dental appointment outside the prison. This turns out to be one of the biggest mistakes he could have made. Cop-killer, Eduardo Vasquez, escapes leaving Jack accused of not having his mind on his job. The media, as well as his boss, make him the scapegoat but Jack quickly finds out there's a much bigger conspiracy going on than he ever knew was possible.

Jack is sure if he finds Vasquez, he'll be able to discover who truly was behind the escape. More and more it's looking as if one of his own may have assisted the criminal in making his getaway. Not only does he want them punished, but Jack wants to clear his own name as well.

It becomes a game of cat and mouse as Jack chases down Vasquez. He is no longer sure who he can trust. Old friends become new enemies. It's a situation Jack never experienced before and hopes to put an abrupt stop to now.

Jack is truly a tortured hero portrayed expertly in this book. The story is told in his voice making the readers feel his anguish and pain with each word. The villains are truly vile which makes it easy for readers to despise them. The book never slows down, it's fast moving, intense and can be read in just a couple of days. I know I didn't want to put this one down. I had to know how it was going end up for our hero.

Vincent Zandri is a "new-to-me" author who I will certainly be keeping an out for. His writing is what thrillers and suspense novels are all about.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Entertaining Read, Not Great but Good, March 22, 2011

By 

Dom Santos (Anaheim, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Innocent (A Jack Marconi Thriller) (Kindle Edition)

A $.99 Amazon Kindle e-book that was entertaining. The writing in the first one-half of the book seemed a bit ragged; however, the second-half was well-done. Readers may find, as I did, that their assumption as to a hidden culprit is in error; a twist that the author pulls off with skill. I did spot a half dozen or so typos and several typical e-book formatting errors. All-in-all, if I could figure out how to give a half-star, I'd make it three and one-half.