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Proven Innocence
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 Rick Evans is dead. But who is the real killer?
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 Rick Evans is dead. But who is the real killer?
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2024
28 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Mary Rocco
1 book65 followersMary J. Rocco’s journey to becoming an author began with a childhood dream at the age of ten. For two decades, she nurtured her passion for writing and storytelling, weaving tales in the margins of a life filled with personal and professional growth.
Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Mary’s path to authorship was anything but direct. Her early adulthood was marked by ten in New York City, an experience that would later inform her writing with urban energy and diverse perspectives.
Mary’s pursuit of knowledge and professional excellence led her through law school and graduate studies, equipping her with a keen analytical mind and a deep understanding of human nature. Her adventurous spirit took her across the globe, collecting experiences and stories that would later enrich her narratives.
Today, Mary resides in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, with her husband and two beautiful children. As a practicing attorney, she navigates the delicate balance between her legal career and her lifelong passion for writing.
After years of personal growth, academic achievements, and starting a family, Mary decided it was time to fully embrace her authorial ambitions. Her debut novel marks the culmination of a dream long deferred and the beginning of an exciting new chapter in her life.
As she embarks on her publishing journey, Mary aims to craft novels that not only entertain but also resonate with readers on a deeper level. Her stories promise to be thrilling, thought-provoking, and imbued with the wisdom gained from a life fully lived.
Mary J. Rocco is committed to honing her craft and looks forward to sharing many more novels with her readers, each one a testament to the power of perseverance and the fulfillment of long-held dreams
Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Mary’s path to authorship was anything but direct. Her early adulthood was marked by ten in New York City, an experience that would later inform her writing with urban energy and diverse perspectives.
Mary’s pursuit of knowledge and professional excellence led her through law school and graduate studies, equipping her with a keen analytical mind and a deep understanding of human nature. Her adventurous spirit took her across the globe, collecting experiences and stories that would later enrich her narratives.
Today, Mary resides in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, with her husband and two beautiful children. As a practicing attorney, she navigates the delicate balance between her legal career and her lifelong passion for writing.
After years of personal growth, academic achievements, and starting a family, Mary decided it was time to fully embrace her authorial ambitions. Her debut novel marks the culmination of a dream long deferred and the beginning of an exciting new chapter in her life.
As she embarks on her publishing journey, Mary aims to craft novels that not only entertain but also resonate with readers on a deeper level. Her stories promise to be thrilling, thought-provoking, and imbued with the wisdom gained from a life fully lived.
Mary J. Rocco is committed to honing her craft and looks forward to sharing many more novels with her readers, each one a testament to the power of perseverance and the fulfillment of long-held dreams
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 27, 2024
Thank you Mary Rocco for an advanced copy of this intense story in exchange for an honest review.
Cynthia wakes up on the trunk of a car. She has no idea where she is or how she got there. She only knows that she needs to get away. She steals the car she is in and heads to the house that is on the car's registration in hopes of finding answers. Who is she? Why was she hurt and stuffed in the trunk of this car?
When she gets to the home, it is surrounded by officers and roped off with crime scene tape. Since she hit a dead end there, she decides to go somewhere to eat, clean up and clear her mind. She stops at a diner and meets a waitress, Gabrielle, who is wondering if her life is worth living.
As the two team up, they have some shocking discoveries. Cynthia's family is dead and she is the main suspect. While neither of them can prove it, they both know for sure Cynthia is innocent and they are out to prove it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars! This book was incredibly entertaining. I loved the storyline. It kept me engaged almost the whole time.
Towards the end, (and this is why I didn't give it 4+ stars) it began to repeat its self. Stories were told 2-3 times. I feel like the authors intentions were to drive those points home. Which is ok, but I felt like I already knew those parts well enough.
All in all, it was a fun, quick read. It didn't take long to get wrapped up and it definitely had me questioning if they would ever find out the truth behind the murders. I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future!
Cynthia wakes up on the trunk of a car. She has no idea where she is or how she got there. She only knows that she needs to get away. She steals the car she is in and heads to the house that is on the car's registration in hopes of finding answers. Who is she? Why was she hurt and stuffed in the trunk of this car?
When she gets to the home, it is surrounded by officers and roped off with crime scene tape. Since she hit a dead end there, she decides to go somewhere to eat, clean up and clear her mind. She stops at a diner and meets a waitress, Gabrielle, who is wondering if her life is worth living.
As the two team up, they have some shocking discoveries. Cynthia's family is dead and she is the main suspect. While neither of them can prove it, they both know for sure Cynthia is innocent and they are out to prove it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars! This book was incredibly entertaining. I loved the storyline. It kept me engaged almost the whole time.
Towards the end, (and this is why I didn't give it 4+ stars) it began to repeat its self. Stories were told 2-3 times. I feel like the authors intentions were to drive those points home. Which is ok, but I felt like I already knew those parts well enough.
All in all, it was a fun, quick read. It didn't take long to get wrapped up and it definitely had me questioning if they would ever find out the truth behind the murders. I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future!
April 25, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Proven Innocence Mary Rocco is a fast-paced and action-full thriller. I wanted to read this book because of the cover! What a stunning cover! I dived in without knowing what to expect as I didn't read the blurb and I was surprised that story sucked me in straight away! Seriously, I was hooked from page one!
I loved the storyline but felt I would love Cynthia's point of view a bit more. I felt like she was there and then she just disappeared and then she appeared at the end.
I absolutely loved Gabrielle. She had everything, dedication, charm, and heart in the right place.
some parts felt a bit repetitive and even not relevant to the story but I understood why they were there. All in all, I definitely enjoyed this book and will read the next book from Mary Rocco for sure!
When Cynthia wakes up in the trunk of a car she has no idea how she got there, even more, she has no idea who she is! After a lucky escape, she meets Gabrielle who is keen to escape her abusive relationship and start somewhere fresh. The plan didn't work as Cynthia is wanted for the murd£r she doesn't remember committing. Gabrielle has the gut instinct that Cynthia is innocent and is ready to find the proof. She didn't know that she started a dangerous game with dangerous people.
I am so grateful to Mary Rocco for this opportunity to be chosen for this advance copy! Thank you!
Proven Innocence Mary Rocco is a fast-paced and action-full thriller. I wanted to read this book because of the cover! What a stunning cover! I dived in without knowing what to expect as I didn't read the blurb and I was surprised that story sucked me in straight away! Seriously, I was hooked from page one!
I loved the storyline but felt I would love Cynthia's point of view a bit more. I felt like she was there and then she just disappeared and then she appeared at the end.
I absolutely loved Gabrielle. She had everything, dedication, charm, and heart in the right place.
some parts felt a bit repetitive and even not relevant to the story but I understood why they were there. All in all, I definitely enjoyed this book and will read the next book from Mary Rocco for sure!
When Cynthia wakes up in the trunk of a car she has no idea how she got there, even more, she has no idea who she is! After a lucky escape, she meets Gabrielle who is keen to escape her abusive relationship and start somewhere fresh. The plan didn't work as Cynthia is wanted for the murd£r she doesn't remember committing. Gabrielle has the gut instinct that Cynthia is innocent and is ready to find the proof. She didn't know that she started a dangerous game with dangerous people.
I am so grateful to Mary Rocco for this opportunity to be chosen for this advance copy! Thank you!
August 20, 2024
I loved the opening chapter of this book. The character is stuck in the trunk of a car, bleeding profusely and in danger of some kind. We don’t know who the character is or who the two men who are trying to dispose of them are though. The character finds a name Cynthia and tries to find out how she related to the drivers of the vehicles. And what a twist in Chapter 2 and 3 for the very first character we meet! This is a heart pounding mystery that you should read if you are fans of mystery books. There are some repeats of the story in the ending so you will be a little confused but hang in there, finish the book you will like this one.
Our MC is wanted for the murder of her husband and her kids. She is the main suspect in her family’s murder and does not know how she ended up in the trunk of the car. There is a secondary character named Gabrielle who is the other MC in our book. She is the best character in this book for me personally, as there is a lot of growth in her character during the course of the book. This was a well written book, and I would love to see what more the author has in store in future books!
I recommend to fans of mystery!
Our MC is wanted for the murder of her husband and her kids. She is the main suspect in her family’s murder and does not know how she ended up in the trunk of the car. There is a secondary character named Gabrielle who is the other MC in our book. She is the best character in this book for me personally, as there is a lot of growth in her character during the course of the book. This was a well written book, and I would love to see what more the author has in store in future books!
I recommend to fans of mystery!
August 17, 2024
It all begins when a woman wakes up in the trunk of a car with no memory of how she got there and no idea who she was. She doesn’t know much, but she knows that she still might be in danger with possible killers that still might be after her. The story quickly grabs your attention with this odd situation. Then we discover that she could be the suspected murderer of her husband and 2 sons. What!? How can that be? There was no way the kind and compassionate person she was displaying could coincide with the cold-blooded and ruthless killer everyone was making her out to be.
With the help of a diner waitress, this complex journey becomes a mission of proven innocence. But how can you prove your innocence when you don’t remember? Even worse yet, how can you prove your innocence when you fall into a coma?
Suddenly, it was up to the poor waitress to find the puzzle pieces and figure out how they all fit together.
This was a scintillating read with a captivating premise! Well-crafted and gripping all the way! Look forward to more from this author.
With the help of a diner waitress, this complex journey becomes a mission of proven innocence. But how can you prove your innocence when you don’t remember? Even worse yet, how can you prove your innocence when you fall into a coma?
Suddenly, it was up to the poor waitress to find the puzzle pieces and figure out how they all fit together.
This was a scintillating read with a captivating premise! Well-crafted and gripping all the way! Look forward to more from this author.
April 19, 2024
“Proven Innocence” is a fast-paced, gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This is Mary Rocco’s debut novel and what a debut!! Mary’s writing is sharp and captivating, drawing readers into a world of murder, corruption, deceit, and redemption. The way this book starts off sucked me right in! A woman, Cynthia, wakes up in a trunk of a car, not knowing how she got there, or who she is? She finds out soon enough that she’s wanted for the murder of her husband and children. Enter Gabrielle a diner waitress who befriends Cynthia, and tries to help her prove her innocence. I felt very anxious for Gabrielle, as she’s trying to “play detective” and help clear Cynthia’s name. She was obviously in some sort of danger, but by whom?! I had such a hard time putting this book down, what a book! This book will leave you guessing until the very end. You won’t want to miss this, so make sure to put it on your TBR!
August 30, 2024
Proven Innocence is well done with a building tension all the way through the book. It starts with Cynthia in a dangerous situation - one that most wouldn't be able to get out of. While Cynthia seems like the main female character, Gabrielle is really the star of this show as she worked tirelessly to prove Cynthia's innocence. To be honest, a lot of things in this one require quite a bit of suspension of disbelief. But then, what is fiction if not a means of escape into someone else's problems? Proven Innocence certainly gives us that in spades. Poor Gabrielle has been beaten down by life so many times that she's pretty much given up, so to see her rise to the occasion to help Cynthia leaves you with a good feeling inside. In my opinion, Gabrielle is the character who showed the most growth, and suspension of disbelief or not, I liked how Mary Rocco accomplished that. This is her first novel, and after what I've seen here, I look forward to whatever comes next from this author.
April 4, 2024
I've really enjoyed reading this book, it builds suspense by throwing in bits of information and letting you figure out the story alongside the characters. It has good character building and makes you really connect with them throughout, keeping you hooked until the end. My only negative is that I found the ending to be quite sudden and I would have enjoyed it to drawn out a bit more. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read something a little different and I look forward to reading any more books released by Mary in the future.
April 6, 2024
Proven Innocence - honest, spoiler-free review
I was completely taken in by the synopsis of this book, 100% intrigued. Then its first pages immediately put the reader on tenterhooks. You have to read on to find out what could possibly have led up to this point.
After that however, the quality (in my eyes) took a turn for the worse. There was nothing shocking or unpredictable in the plot. The writing was very poor. It felt like it was written by someone for whom English is a second language. The characters were OK.
I’m giving it two stars out of five rather than one, because it kept me sufficiently interested to get to the end. Which I don’t always do.
I was completely taken in by the synopsis of this book, 100% intrigued. Then its first pages immediately put the reader on tenterhooks. You have to read on to find out what could possibly have led up to this point.
After that however, the quality (in my eyes) took a turn for the worse. There was nothing shocking or unpredictable in the plot. The writing was very poor. It felt like it was written by someone for whom English is a second language. The characters were OK.
I’m giving it two stars out of five rather than one, because it kept me sufficiently interested to get to the end. Which I don’t always do.
April 30, 2024
This was a great book that keeps you questioning everything and building suspense at the same time.
Cynthia meets Gabriella who helps to prove her innocence. Who framed Cynthia? Who kidnapped her? Who is she really? Who is the real killer and why? We go on this journey with them both. It’s a fight to with determination and grit to prove Cynthia is innocent and find the real killer.
Great read and enjoyed the plot and the suspense.
Cynthia meets Gabriella who helps to prove her innocence. Who framed Cynthia? Who kidnapped her? Who is she really? Who is the real killer and why? We go on this journey with them both. It’s a fight to with determination and grit to prove Cynthia is innocent and find the real killer.
Great read and enjoyed the plot and the suspense.
May 1, 2024
This was a fun read that kept the pages turning. Gotta love a novel that starts out in the trunk of a car! I binged this in 1 sitting. It was an easy read and I was invested in the plight of the main characters Mary Rocco really brought her to life in this book. Cynthia Evan's wakes up with a head wound- in the trunk of a car. She has no idea who she is until she finds out she's wanted for 1st degree murder....of her own family…
May 2, 2024
It’s normally innocent until proven guilty
This is guilty until proven innocent
The immediate friendship between Cynthia and Gabrielle is amazing.
The lengths Gabrielle took to help Cynthia is that of a true friend (even after only knowing her for one day)
I am glad the officer finally caught on and believed Gabrielle
Overall this was a quick, thrilling read
This is guilty until proven innocent
The immediate friendship between Cynthia and Gabrielle is amazing.
The lengths Gabrielle took to help Cynthia is that of a true friend (even after only knowing her for one day)
I am glad the officer finally caught on and believed Gabrielle
Overall this was a quick, thrilling read
May 11, 2024
This book needed editing. The story seemed contrived and parts of the plot didn't seem realistic. The descriptions were overly thorough and there was a lot of repetition of the same information, just given from a different person's point of view. I ended up skimming through a lot of it to get to the conclusion.
August 23, 2024
Wow this book had me hooked from the very beginning! The first chapter was great and the plot twist was something else. I had no idea this was a debut novel and would have never known because the writing was great and the story kept me engaged and wanting more. The ending could have been a little better, hence the 4 stars for me, but all in all, what a great read!
April 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this ! From page one i was hooked ! The writing style was intriguing and easy to follow ! Thank you Mary for the opportunity to read this early. I recommend this to anyone who likes a good thriller !
April 20, 2024
This was an exciting fast paced thriller! The beginning sucked me in fast, but I did feel parts in the middle kind of slowed down. It was a good story line and well written.
Thank you to Mary Rocco for the copy of this great book!
Thank you to Mary Rocco for the copy of this great book!
May 21, 2024
Intense. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the thriller. Gabriella is quite brave to take on the hunt for the true killer.it was well written. I enjoyed the personalities of the characters. This is a new author to me.I hope to read more.
May 23, 2024
Thrillers are not usually my thing, but I love true crime. This one grabbed me in immediately, and was impossible to turn down. The twists and turns will keep you questioning your reality, and the girls have a beautiful friendship.
June 24, 2024
Dive on in! Lifetime worthy story
Intense debut. Captivating premise that I could easily see as a Lifetime or Hallmark movie. Good imagery throughout. A strong editor could have made this a five star book. I will read this author again.
Intense debut. Captivating premise that I could easily see as a Lifetime or Hallmark movie. Good imagery throughout. A strong editor could have made this a five star book. I will read this author again.
August 1, 2024
This debut novel is well-written and entertaining.
A woman wakes up in the trunk of a car with no memory of how she got there. She later discovers she is wanted for murder. She makes friends with a local waitress, and the two set out on a journey to uncover the truth and prove her innocence.
A woman wakes up in the trunk of a car with no memory of how she got there. She later discovers she is wanted for murder. She makes friends with a local waitress, and the two set out on a journey to uncover the truth and prove her innocence.
March 31, 2024
Great read that really starts out quick. The suspense is on going throughout the book.
April 15, 2024
dived right on in and was not disappointed! Twists and turns, but not so many you lose the story
10/10 recommend
10/10 recommend
April 21, 2024
What a debut for Mary Rocco! I could not put this thriller down! Her writing style along with the captivating story line had me in a choke hold! I look forward to reading more of her books!!
September 1, 2024
The story starts out quick with Cynthia Evans fighting for her escape from unknown captives. She runs into Gabrielle, who befriends her and helps her in her quest to find out what happened to her family and clear her name. The majority of the story is told from Gabrielle’s point of view as she feels compelled to find the truth. This is fun, quick read that keeps you flipping pages. The author does a great job building suspense. The story is a great example of what friendship and determination can mean!
April 17, 2024
I love a good suspense mystery thriller. From the first page, it pulled me in, especially with Cynthia trying to figure out how she got into the situation that she’s in. Mary has a great way of writing in detail to where I could visually picture things as they occurred through the story. It was a relatively fast read, filled with twists and more questions than answers. Great pace and storyline! Highly recommend to those that love a good suspense novel with twists!
August 25, 2024
Holy plot twist, Batman! "Proven Innocence" by Mary J. Rocco had me hooked from the first sentence. I mean, waking up in a car trunk and being accused of murdering your family? Talk about a bad day! Poor Cynthia's memory loss adds such a thrilling layer of mystery. I was on the edge of my seat, trying to piece together the clues right along with her. And Gabrielle, the waitress who helps her? What a gem! Rocco's writing kept me guessing until the very end. If you're into psychological thrillers that mess with your head, this book is your next obsession. Just don't start it before bed - you won't be able to put it down!
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June 3, 2024
Holy intense from the beginning. This story starts out with a bang literally two bangs and keeps you captivated from the very first word.
I’m finding it a little unrealistic that a complete stranger would want to help and be so involved in proving somebody innocent. Even if the person has a messed up life and is looking for their purpose it seems a little far-fetched. I also felt like when Gabrielle was watching the “movie “ it seemed a little too close to the scene in one of my top three favorite movies “my cousin Vinny “
Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to embrace and like the story based on the cover and synopsis, I was left incredibly disappointed. I expected the story to have a lot more to do with Cynthia than Gabrielle. I found the connection between Officer Mike and Gabrielle was forced. I had expected this to have more mystery and intrigue and instead had a difficult time finishing it. I know that this was the authors first book and so I think that there is definitely something there and I look forward to giving her a second chance as she grows. I would highly recommend that the author maybe has a group of beta readers if she hasn’t already done that. I think that could be invaluable to help her grow in the coming years.
I’m finding it a little unrealistic that a complete stranger would want to help and be so involved in proving somebody innocent. Even if the person has a messed up life and is looking for their purpose it seems a little far-fetched. I also felt like when Gabrielle was watching the “movie “ it seemed a little too close to the scene in one of my top three favorite movies “my cousin Vinny “
Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to embrace and like the story based on the cover and synopsis, I was left incredibly disappointed. I expected the story to have a lot more to do with Cynthia than Gabrielle. I found the connection between Officer Mike and Gabrielle was forced. I had expected this to have more mystery and intrigue and instead had a difficult time finishing it. I know that this was the authors first book and so I think that there is definitely something there and I look forward to giving her a second chance as she grows. I would highly recommend that the author maybe has a group of beta readers if she hasn’t already done that. I think that could be invaluable to help her grow in the coming years.
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