Customer Reviews

The Innocent (A Jack Marconi Thriller)

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

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

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.

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.

I hated this book and I feel like I wasted my time reading it. Here are the things that I found to be either distracting or evidence of bad writing:

1. It was terribly written. Several times, the main character says, "Here is what I did: ..." "This is what happens when someone is executed by lethal injection:..." "This is what I did:..." "This is what happened next:..." Did an eighth grader write this? That's not how you tell a story.

2. The dialogue was contrived and not realistic of how people speak. There are mob figures in the book and one of them actually says, "I'm prepared to help you fight Pelton no matter what it takes. Even if I have to call on a few of my underworld pals to lean on the big bad wolf a little. If you know what I mean." Yup- I put that in quotes because that's exactly what's written in the book... it is THAT terrible.

3. The main character has an Italian, shady lawyer obviously named "Tony" who routinely deals with mafia types and calls everyone "paisan". You can't tell, but I'm rolling my eyes.

4. There are a handful of women characters in the book and every time the main character is describing them, it's almost like he's in heat.

5. The main character thinks he's a cowboy. He's his own hero, loves himself and loves to hear himself speak. The main character's constant stream of thought does not lead to character development, it's just really annoying because it is mindless and does not contribute to the development of character, thought, or the story. The character is lonely, his wife dies and now he can't trust anyone. The same idea is lamented every time the character starts to "think".

6. The story is flimsy, obvious and there are many holes in it.

Save yourself the dollar this book costs- you can't get those hours back. I hated this and will skip other books by this author.

This book received numerous 5 star reviews, so I purchased the Kindle version. After 40% I gave up and deleted. Jack Marconi spent the last year depressed and drinking excessively due to his wife's death. Under his watch prisoners escape and he is being held responsible. The story line plods along with Jack wallowing in self-pity and making a half-hearted attempt to find out who sanctioned their escape and why. It is beyond my comprehension how this book could be labeled "suspense" or a "thriller".

I justed finished this book. Being a fan of suspense novels, this one was predictable. It had a good plot, but it wasn't put together very well. I believe this is one of the authors first books and you can tell. He has potential. It was worth .99 on the plane, but not full price.

I only downloaded this to my Kindle 3 evenings ago and I just finished it. I found it very hard to put down. A definite "must Read"! Vincent Zandri has a knack for keeping you buried in his work and you just don't want to put it down. My favorite new author for 2010. I can't wait to see what else he puts out in 2011!

Good thriller story.

What does a warden do if he is being framed for a series of crimes? Go on the offensive and try to clear his name.

Good quick read that I didn't want to put down.

`I was their warden.
I was their keeper, their mother and their father.
Which is why, for me, the matter of Eduard Vasquez's escape was such a serious offence. I had signed the release form allowing him to visit a dentist on the outside. As the keeper of Green Haven, I was directly responsible It was my decision and my decision only. What I mean is, I could have said no. But then, I couldn't just deny a prisoner his right to proper dental care if that's what he wanted. That was the rule in New York State. As the keeper, my job was not rehabilitation. My job was to see that society was protected from its prisoners. But get this: It was also my job to see that a man who'd shot a New York City cop at point-blank range maintained a pearly-white smile.'

Jack "Keeper" Marconi is the warden at Green Haven Prison in New York State. For some time now he has been faced with the problem of an increase in drugs and contraband inside the prison, the Commissioner demanding a decrease in correction officers manning the prison and now the escape of Eduard Vasquez. The escape took place on the way back from a dentist visit, putting one of the officers in the hospital. His condition.. coma.

As the story regarding what actually happened starts to be told, Keeper notices a few loopholes. His investigation takes him before the Commissioner with an offer to take the blame and everything will simply blow over. He's really surprised to hear this offer coming from his long time friend Commissioner Washington Pelton. Twenty five years ago Keeper, Wash and another CO named Mike Norman had gone through hell during the Attica up rise. They saw and experienced more than any human beings should ever have to see or live through. But something had changed Wash and not for the best.

I've never been fond of movies nor books that were prison related so when I started reading The Innocent I knew from the beginning I was committed to reading a book that I really didn't want to read. I decided I would just read and hopefully I would be able to turn the pages quickly and just get it over with. Boy was I ever wrong! I did turn the pages quickly but not due to wanting to finish quickly but to see who was behind the corruption, drug dealings and murders of the various characters. And how Keeper was going to find enough evidence to save his own life as well as the life of Vasquez's girlfriend Cassandra's life. I found Vincent Zandri to be a very descriptive writer allowing you to see the events as they take place. I found myself feeling as if I were on the outside looking in. In my opinion, The Innocent (formerly written with the title As Catch Can) could easily become a hit movie.

I just finished this book and beginning every new paragraph in a new time zone made me think that all of this past reference would have something to do with the present but it did not... I did finish it but but only because starting a book to me is like starting a bad week, knowing nothing good is going to come from it but completing the task... saying that I would love to see how things turn out between Keeper and Val, but without the past involved.