Honestly, I thought I was going to DNF this book. I put it down several times as the build is very slow. However, I am glad that I stuck with it as the story picked up and I genuinely cared about Lenny and her true friends. It was a thoughtful story with an unlikely heroine. I have read other books with characters who exhibit nonsocial personalities and had a hard time relating so often gave up. However, Lenny's back story intrigued me enough to want to learn more. There are some triggers in this book regarding abuse so be forewarned. Otherwise, give it time to build and you will be rewarded with a satisfying ending and good story arc.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne is a unique novel with a neurodivergent protagonist. I loved this part of the book, although it felt a bit slow and was hard to get into this book. I think the character’s introduction was carefully planned to show her neurodivergent nature, but this really slowed the book down. Still, it was a really solid read once you got into it. The backstory made so much sense. This is a great debut novel. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Thank you net galley and author for this arc. Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a highly impressive debut novel that is both thoughtfully written and emotionally engaging. The narrative is captivating, with a compelling central character in Lenny, whose journey evokes deep empathy from the reader. The book expertly balances entertainment with thought-provoking themes, making it difficult to put down. Lenny’s character is particularly well-crafted, and readers will undoubtedly find themselves rooting for her throughout the story. An absorbing and memorable read.

I think this is such a great debut novel. it was a long time since i read debut novels with such a great developing plot and characters.

i found it difficult to get into the book, at the beginning. the plot was dragging and i was lost in settings and dialogues, however, by 100 pages, i was invested in the book. i really enjoyed main character, lenny, and her journey of healing and kind of reliving trauma.

some scenes were definitely unnecessary and i believe they kind of dragged the book down and therefore i was loosing interest throughout my read.

overall, great read if you want a book with mystery but also a great developed characters and plot

Quirky characters are always a big hit at our library and this book has a lot of potential for our patrons. I think the marketing, title, and cover are a bit misleading but the story was a mix of emotional and heartwarming. While the pacing of this book is a bit odd, it is still a decent story and will be well received in our library. It read more like a women's fiction than mystery/thriller. I think those who like stories like The Maid by Nita Prose might appreciate this one.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book and test it out before adding it to our library! The audiobook is very well done and made it feel more lighthearted than simply reading the book- I really liked the narrator.

This was such a unique and interesting read! Lenny Marks isn’t your usual heroine and I love that her quirks were highlighted as what made her such a special person. The dual timelines and flashbacks were perfect and made me question and wonder what in the world was going to happen. The supporting characters were amazing and added so much value to the story. The pacing was a little slow at times but overall I really enjoyed!

Four and a half stars for this brilliant tale of self realization and redemption. Lenny is a well organized mess. The horrors of her past are clamped down deep, too painful, too traumatic to remember. But with her step-father on parole, she might finally have to face what happened to her decades ago.

This book reveals her secrets so gently, and reveals her guardian angel protectors so beautifully, I fell in love with them over and over again. There are definite demons in this book, but the good drowns it out.

The title and cover are deceiving - this is definitely not a light romance, but something much more interesting. A little like Eleanor Oliphant, Lenny is socially awkward and has gone through a lot in her life, but is also lovely. The story definitely deals with some tough topics, but in a way that has you rooting for Lenny and the friends and dog who've taken her under their wing.

Amazing writing of an incredible character!

Lenny Marks is a primary school teacher. For the most part, she keeps to herself and follows her routines. She buys her groceries at the same market, spends her nights at home watching her favorite show Friends, and plays Scrabble with a fictional Monica Geller. She eats the same meals every week and collects copies of her favorite book, The Hobbit. Lenny doesn't drive; instead, she uses her bike to get around.

Lately, people have been suggesting that she make friends or go to therapy. So, she decides to try making some friends at work and step out of her comfort zone. She is also starting to recall events from her childhood. She grew up in foster care after her mother left when she was eleven, and most of her memories from that time are buried deep in her mind.

As a reader, you can't help but wonder what truly happened to Lenny.

Lenny reminds me of Eleanor Oliphant and Molly Gray. She doesn’t always pick up on social cues, and some people try to take advantage of her— or at least, they think they can.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a real attention-grabber from the start. The added element of a dog that needs saving makes it even more compelling. A truly entertaining novel. A great debut!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

She bikes home from work at exactly 4pm each day, buys the same groceries for the same meals every week, and owns thirty-six copies of The Hobbit (currently arranged by height). The closest thing she has to a friendship is playing Scrabble against an imaginary Monica Gellar while watching Friends reruns.

And Lenny Marks is very, very good at not remembering what happened the day her mother and stepfather disappeared when she was still a child. The day a voice in the back of her mind started whispering, You did this.

Until a letter from the parole board arrives in the mail—and when her desperate attempts to ignore it fail, Lenny starts to unravel. As long-buried memories come to the surface, Lenny’s careful routines fall apart. For the first time, she finds herself forced to connect with the community around her, and unexpected new relationships begin to bloom. Lenny Marks may finally get a life—but what if her past catches up to her first?

Equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, Kerryn Mayne’s stunning debut is an irresistible novel about truth, secrets, vengeance, and family lost and found, with a heroine who's simply unforgettable.

I thought it was well written and a fun read. Will recommend to others.

I haven't cared about a character as much as I cared about Lenny in a long time. Heartwarming, heavy at times, but an all around wonderful read. The ending will surprise you.
FYI to the reader - there are themes that need content warnings -
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abuse of a child
self harm, unaliving
trauma

I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thanks Netgalley, author and St Martin's Press for the ARC.

Lenny Marks lives for routine: biking everywhere, buying the same groceries, and owning 36 copies of The Hobbit. A teacher with quirks, she’s content with her predictable world and even enjoys Scrabble games with Monica (her imaginary friend from FRIENDS). But when a letter from the parole board arrives, old memories resurface, unsettling her carefully structured life and forcing her to confront a deeply buried trauma.
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I went into Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder expecting a quirky, lighthearted read—something akin to The Maid—but it took me by surprise, diving into much darker and more emotionally complex territory, even reminiscent of Strange Sally Diamond.

Lenny’s perspective, with her routines and endearing quirks, initially seems simple but soon reveals so much depth. Her dark humor and unique outlook add a layer of charm, yet her story is deeply moving and layered with trauma.

Through flashbacks, we glimpse Lenny’s turbulent childhood, living with her mom and stepfather and later with her Zanny (granny) and foster family. Each memory reveals the impact of her past and builds tension as we piece together her history. The way Lenny processes her pain while clinging to routine is both heartbreaking and relatable, and the mystery of what really happened feels raw and unsettling. It’s an emotional journey that’s as much about resilience and identity as it is about uncovering the past.

It's a 4/5 ⭐ read for me.

Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder really dives into Lenny’s inner world, making her past and personality the heart of the story rather than focusing solely on the suspense elements.

That character-driven approach often gives stories a more personal, introspective feel, which can make the dark themes even more impactful. Its a unique blend of mystery and emotional depth!

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is an intriguingly appealing debut crime novel by Kerryn Mayne. Released 9th July 2024 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats (paperback due out from the same publisher in late 2nd quarter 2025). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.

This is very very much a character driven story featuring a neurodivergent main character, strongly suppresed trauma memories, and a quite surprisingly deeply moving story in places. There are trigger warnings aplenty, domestic violence, child abuse, PTSD, trauma, suppressed memories, and more; it's a comprehensive shopping list.

The author writes with unvarnished, sometimes clinical detachment on otherwise horrific actions and it is impressively effective, given the slightly wonky personality of main character Lenny.

The denouement and resolution are satisfying, if also slightly off kilter.

Four stars. All in all an effective and very well written debut. It would be a good choice for public or home library acquisition, buddy read or mystery book club selection.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

What a wonderful debut novel from this author. This book is not what you think from looking at the cover. It is an emotional and intricate story about a Neurodivergent woman who is very rigid and particular life Is shaken up when the past comes back to Hunter and she has to come out of her shell and find that there is more love around her than she ever knew. Thank you to NetGalley For this arc in exchange for my review.

Lenny Marks might be my new favorite character. I absolutely adored her character. She had been through so much in life and all I wanted to do was talk to her and tell her everything would be ok. The author portrayed Lenny in such a real way, which made the story much more interesting to me. The beginning felt a little slow, but this really picked up steam in the second half, with more action and more details about what happened to Lenny. I almost passed on this one, but I'm so glad I read it! Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book to review!

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne is a blend of mystery and contemporary fiction. Lenny Marks is a woman with a traumatic past who’s doing her best to live a quiet, ordinary life. When a letter arrives about her mother's death, Lenny’s life is shaken up, pushing her to confront long-buried secrets and piece together the truth.

The novel dives into themes of trauma, resilience, and self-discovery, but there are lighthearted moments and humor that make it more digestible. Lenny's character is both relatable and complex, and her story is both heartfelt and suspenseful, A great character-driven mystery.

I requested this book pretty much because of the title. The premise sounded interesting aswell, sadly it really didn’t work for me. Wich was mostly because of the characters, especially the main character.

I received the e-arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Something that really liked about this book is the character description of Lenny, however, I felt like there was too much of it first part of the book, where then there was nothing that really happened. Second half was more packed and more engaging, but felt a really rushed. 
Thanks netgalley and the publishers

The story of Lenny Marks who is a schoolteacher, loner, socially awkward and an OCD stickler for details. Flashbacks of her past and not so great childhood come out and lead her through life. Really interesting and engaging great debut read! Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press and the Author, Kerryn Mayne for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder offers an intriguing blend of dark humor and moral ambiguity, following its eccentric protagonist as he navigates a series of misadventures that blur the lines between right and wrong. The author’s witty dialogue and quirky supporting characters add a lively touch, making for entertaining moments throughout the story. However, the pacing feels uneven at times, and some plot points may come off as implausible, detracting from the overall impact. While Lenny's journey is filled with comedic mishaps, it sometimes lacks the depth needed to make the story truly memorable. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read that may leave some readers wanting a bit more substance.