Synopsis: Lenny Marks lives a quiet, routine life, but, when she gets a letter from the parole board about her stepfather’s release from prison, her life is upended as memories from her past come back to haunt her.

Thoughts: The title screams thriller and the cover screams cozy mystery, but this book is neither of those things. Not in a bad way - I really enjoyed this book and think it is a fantastic debut - but maybe not marketed quite accurately. Anyway, Lenny is a super endearing neurodivergent character, and I want to give her a hug and be her friend! This book is her story of healing from past trauma and finding joy in her life with her community. While there are quirky and humorous aspects, the subject matter is quite heavy at times so I recommend checking out the content warnings.

Read this if you like:
🚲 quirky characters
🚲 found family
🚲 healing from trauma
🚲 slow burn
🚲 character driven

Like Great Gatsby: SLOW Start, Explosive Ending, *NOT* Neurodivergent. I tell the story often of my experience with The Great Gatbsy. Back in sophomore year of HS, it was actually assigned as summer reading before the school year. I didn't read it. Every time I tried to open it, the first chapters were just SO UTTERLY BORING that I literally couldn't keep my eyes open. Managed to bullshit through the discussion of it during my International Baccalaureate level English class that fall. Switched to a school without an IB program in Spring Semester, where now I had one of those old school even then (late 90s) slap-the-knuckles-with-a-ruler type English teachers. This lady *forced* me to read the book via making it a point to call on me to read out loud during class. She knew I HATED it, I wasn't subtle about my disdain at all, and I had a superiority complex at this new school to boot.

But god DAMN if she didn't wind up getting me through those first boring chapters, where the tale then woke up and became truly one of the great American books, particularly of its period and truly quite possibly ever.

I tell that story here because it directly applies to this book. This book is S L O W at first and utterly, completely, mind bogglingly BORING. There simply is no way around that. Even at 20% in, I was commenting on social media (without naming that I was reading this book) that it was horrible.

And then...

And then you get to the point - roughly halfway in - where you find out WHY the front half was so utterly boring.

And like Gatsby, this point turns the novel on its head and makes it a truly great book. No, it still isn't Gatbsy's level, but this is where it is going to make you *feel*. It is going to make the room so dusty you'll be verifying that the walls around you haven't suddenly collapsed, because you're going to be crying so hard during some of this next section that you're going to be snotting all over the place and finding it very difficult to breathe. Mayne manages to utterly bore your mind before absolutely DESTROYING your heart worse than a direct hit from a G2 Research RIP round would.

This back half is truly what makes the book, so fight through the boredom of the front half - it really does get so very much better.

Oh, and the neurodivergent thing; A lot of reviewers (I'm somewhere right around the 1,000th review on at least one review site) have mentioned that this book features a neurodivergent protagonist. It does not. The words "neurodivergent", "spectrum", "Autism", or even "Asberger's" are nowhere in the text of this tale, and while the front part of the book in particular (and to a slightly lesser extent the back part as well) characterize our protagonist as *stereotypically* neurodivergent, just because someone acts according to a stereotype does not mean they actually *are* whatever the stereotype is supposed to be of. Indeed, we actually get an explanation in that back half of the book that is *not* any form of actual neurodivergence so much as ... something else that is directly explained and explored (part of what makes the heart shatter so much), but which would be a spoiler to reveal here.

Overall truly a tale of two halves as far as the reader experience goes, but absolutely one you should read.

Very much recommended.

I absolutely loved Lenny Marks! Awkward, isolated, possibly neuro divergent. Struggling, trying, stumbling. She may not be for everyone, but she has so much heart!

When a letter regarding the parole hearing of her step father shows up at her work (Lenny doesn't want anyone knowing her home address) she struggles to ignore it. With it come a rush of repressed memories and feelings too strong for her to handle. She wants to keep the past locked away as she has for the last 25 years, but it's fighting to be heard.

Meanwhile, Lenny has decided it's time that she made friends. There's Ned, who she talks with at her twice weekly routine trips to the market. Her neighbor she avoids even as she tends to her garden. The two new cool prep teachers she's trying to get in with. And the rest of her colleagues that she knows the routine and habits of inside the staff room. A trivia night leads to her seeing some of these people in a new light, and slowly as her younger self confronts her current self, she struggles to keep people in their proper places.

Along the way with a stolen dog, Lenny's memories build inside her until she can't ignore them any longer. Until the truth needs to be heard and she falls under the weight of it. How can she recover, when her very structure is altered.

This incredibly moving book and the unassuming woman it centers on is just what I needed. Someone who will stick with me for a long time, I'm so glad to have met Lenny, and hope even more people will get the chance to get to know her too!

I went into this mostly blind and I ended up very surprised with how much I liked it.
First of all I loved our FMC Lenny, she was so different and it was incredibly interesting being inside her head. I also liked the other characters and feel they really helped add to the story.
The story line ended up being very twisty and had a lot of unexpected secrets hidden deep down. I felt like a true detective trying to uncover everything that lurked under the surface.
This book definitely had me on the edge of my seat and I found myself turning the pages very quickly.
I think this book was very well written, even the small every day details that were given had me hanging on every word.
I feel like this is truly a perfect cozy mystery/thriller and I really enjoyed it!
Thank you NetGalley for my arc copy, my opinions are my own.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an electronic advanced readers copy of this novel.

Lenny Marks is trying to have a "normal" life. She teaches primary school in Australia and does her best to fit in and make friends, even though it doesn't come naturally to her. She has a regimented life, wearing the same clothes and eating the same things. Raised by her grandmother and tben a foster family after her mom left and her stepfather went to prison, she knows she is different but is making the effort to expand her life.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne was not what I was expecting when I started reading it. I thought it was going to be a light fluffy read about a woman finding herself. The finding herself part is true but the story goes much deeper into a darker story. I don't want to give away spoilers as her past gets discovered during the course of the novel. But I really enjoyed it and it was definitely a unique plot with an endearing yet heartbreaking main character.

A delightful debut novel with a main character that will tweak your heart. The character of Lenny is one you will like and feel for. At times heartwarming, at times upsetting and sad, her story is peeled away in layers like an onion. You will understand and root for her in the process.

Lenny Marks is an organized teacher, who rides her bike to work and shopping but at age 30 has not really lived her life to include a meaningful social life, and real happiness, but as you read along you will understand why. It’s not a gripping novel but it moseys along at its own pace and had me enjoying getting acquainted with the characters.

The author shows much promise. If you liked A Man Called Ove, or Eleanor Oliphant, this will appeal to you. Personally, I will keep an eye out for future endeavors by this new author, Kerryn Mayne.

Release date is July 9th. My sincere thanks to my fave publisher, St Martins Press and NetGalley for the galley e-copy for me to read and offer my personal opinions.

A very solid debut! Although this one started a bit slow for me, I absolutely loved the way the story unfolded, and the ending hit me in all the feels. Lenny is one of those characters that will stick with me for a long time (and Maureen and Ned are also very well developed characters). There are moments that might be unsettling to some so some may want to check out the trigger warnings before reading. I can't wait to see what Mayne writes in the future!

"Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder" by Kerryn Mayne is a compelling debut novel that combines elements of mystery and heartwarming drama. Lenny Marks, a quirky and socially awkward primary school teacher, lives a life of strict routines. She bikes home at exactly 4 PM every day, eats the same meals weekly, and owns thirty-six copies of "The Hobbit," arranged by height. Her closest companion is an imaginary Monica Gellar from "Friends," with whom she plays Scrabble.

Lenny's orderly world begins to unravel when she receives a letter from the parole board. This letter brings back long-buried memories of her traumatic childhood when her mother and stepfather disappeared. The voice in her head keeps whispering, "You did this," and Lenny's attempt to ignore it fails. As her carefully maintained routines fall apart, Lenny starts connecting with her community, forming unexpected relationships and slowly uncovering the truth about her past.

Mayne's writing beautifully captures Lenny's journey from isolation to connection. The narrative is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, making you root for Lenny as she navigates her past and builds a new life. The book delves into themes of trauma, healing, and the importance of community support. Lenny's character is richly developed, making her struggles and triumphs deeply relatable.

While the book starts slowly, it picks up pace in the second half, with the action intensifying as Lenny's past catches up with her. The story's twists and turns keep you engaged, and the resolution, though somewhat predictable, is satisfying and leaves you with a sense of hope.

"Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder" is not just a mystery but a story of personal growth and resilience. It’s a well-crafted, emotionally rich debut that will leave a lasting impression. Perfect for fans of character-driven novels with a touch of mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this one! At first I wasn’t sure, but as I got into the story line I started to love the quirky reliability of Lenny Marks! I was confused about the title, but by the end it made sense!
Lenny Marks had a rough upbringing. First, her mom married an abusive alcoholic and tragedy struck their home. Then, she went to live with her grandma and that didn’t work out. Then at age 13 she moved in with foster parents Faye and Robert. They loved her and gave her a stable home. She later finds out they kept secrets about her past to protect her.
At age 37 Lenny is struggling socially. She does things that people think are weird and doesn’t have many friends. As a 5th year teacher she is trying to find ways to fit in with her coworkers to make her mom happy. What she finds is that she starts doing stuff that make her happy. She begins breaking her routine and gets out of her comfort zone. She wouldn’t expect this to lead to finding about her past. Can she handle the secrets?

#MiniReviews:

Thank you so much St. Martin’s Press & Macmillan Audio for my gifted copies.

Super short sweet reviews to close out the week.

🚲 Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder:

It took me forever to get into this one. I love the quirky MC trying to figure out life, but nothing really gripped me about Lenny. I just read it to read it. I felt like it was a good journey, but I didn’t know where we were going. People are gushing over this one, so don’t miss out. Audio was great in my opinion, book just maybe wasn’t for me.

Everyone is hyping it up, but Lenny Marks missed the mark for me. (I’ll see myself out on that one)

Out July 9th.

This book by a new to me Australian author has been getting a lot of hype but honestly I was kind of underwhelmed. I emphathized with the main character, Lenny who is abandoned by her mother and grows up in foster care but I just felt like nothing was really happening plot-wise in the story and I ended up DNFing at around 50%. Perhaps more happens later on but I couldn't get invested in this one sadly. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Will remembering the past lead her to a happier future?

Many people find comfort in organization, and Lenny Marks is definitely one of them….it brings her something as close to happiness as she ever expects to have. She enjoys her job teaching grade 5 at Shelby South, feels safe and comfortable at her house aka The Tree House (its not actually a tree house, but….well), and enthusiastically rides her bike to and from work every day. She’s not lonely, at least she doesn’t think so, and while she doesn’t have any friends per se she does have acquaintances, like her colleagues at school and Ned at the grocery store. Her foster mother Fay regularly tells her to make the effort to step outside her comfort zone and try to make some friends….eat her lunch in the staff room, for example….and Lenny doesn’t like to disappoint Fay, so she has been doing just that and trying to make friends with the two bubbly prep teachers, Amy and Ashley. Lenny doesn’t read social clues well, so she’s not sure if she is on the verge of being invited to join a group night out or is being mocked behind her back. Her world goes topsy-turvy when a letter addressed to her under her former name, Helena Winters, is delivered to the school (she doesn't care to give out her home address, not even for official correspondence) from the Adult Parole Board in Victoria. The denizens of the staff room are more than a title curious about the letter’s contents….they thought they knew everything about solidly dependable, quirky but definitely boring Lenny…but Lenny doesn’t even want to open it. She fears it has something to do with Ferguson Sullivan, the stepfather with whom she has had no contact for over 20 years, since she was abandoned by him and her mother Tammy when she was 12. Her memories of that time are fuzzy, locked firmly away in her mind….she was placed briefly with Zanny, her maternal grandmother, but that didn’t work out either. She was taken in by Fay and Fay’s now-deceased husband Robert, and they took very good care of her; she has always wondered, though, why the people she love always seem to leave her. The letter has ripple effects in her life; thanks to another colleague, Kirra, she is invited out to a trivia night at a local pub with Amy, Ashley and the others. There she (a) gets rather drunk, (b) provides the answers to many of the questions, (c) discovers that Amy’s boyfriend is Ned from the grocery store, and (d) rescues (dognaps?) an abused Rottweiler on the way home. Ned, with whom she shares a love of Tolkien and 80’s shows, may be leaning into friendship, as it seems are Kirra and Lenny’s elderly neighbor Maureen. Memories of her painful past are coming back to her, and Lenny is going to need all the support she can summon to discover and cope with what really happened all those years ago.
I can’t imagine not falling a bit in love with Lenny Marks, a character revealed to the reader with such empathy; it is so easy to see her loading her grocery bags into the panniers on her bike and jauntily riding home, playing Scrabble with her imaginary opponent Monica (from the TV show Friends….she watches reruns of the show religiously, and the characters do seem to her to be like friends), and doing her best every day to follow the rules of behavior that come easily to everyone else but her. She wants to have friends, but seems to be wasting her time trying to make the “cool girls” Amy and Ashley like her while totally missing the friendly overtures of Kirra and Ned. She has so much heart, and a reader would need to be rather cold not to root for Lenny to find not just peacefulness but true happiness. Her backstory is the mystery that drives the plot….what happened between her and Fergus 26 years ago, where is he now and where is her mother, and why did she have to leave Zanny’s house and come to live with Fay and Robert? Will digging into those memories just bring Lenny more pain, or will it be the way through to a better future? Wonderful, quirky characters surround Lenny and her story, while full of more than its share of tragedy, is told with care and honesty. Be prepared for your heart to break just a little but expand to welcome Lenny in. Readers of Nita Prose, Sally Hepworth, and even Mark Haddon absolutely must experience Lenny’s story as should anyone who has room in their imagination for another friend, the character of Lenny Marks. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me access to an early copy of this heart wrenching but beautifully told novel.

4 stars. I first heard about Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder when someone on the publishing team emailed me letting me know that because I was a fan and early reader of the Finlay Donovan series, which they've described as "quirky mystery," that they felt I would enjoy Lenny Marks. And I am so grateful that they sent me the widget, because while this is NOTHING like the Finlay Donovan series I very much did love Lenny Marks! Do Not let the cute cover fool you. This is not a comedy or "quirky mystery." Yes, Lenny is what one might consider "quirky" but it's because she's suffered from severe trauma in her childhood, and the "quirks" are how she's learned to cope all these years. So is Lenny Marks a cute and quirky mystery? Most decidedly no. But, did I fall in love with Lenny Marks, just like the publisher said I would? You betcha.

Lenny Marks is a heartwarming read that deals with VERY heavy topics, and I think it was really smartly written. It's one of those books where the truth slowly reveals itself as you progress with the book, but that's because Lenny's just figuring things out herself. Her character reminded me a bit of Ove from A Man Called Ove or Tova from Remarkably Bright Creatures, in that she's so damn lonely that she doesn't even realize it. Instead, she's content to hide way from the world, finding solace in watching Friends reruns and collecting different editions of the Hobbit. However, the main difference between Lenny and Ove/Tova is that Lenny's in her 30s and she's not really getting a second chance at life... she's getting her first. I loved how Lenny grew in confidence and opened herself up to friendship and romance and experiences and life in general. Truly, my heart might have grown a little in size after reading this one. And I 100% recommend.

Thank you so much to Mayne, SMP, and netgalley for the eARC and physical copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne was a really fun and different mystery.
The character was unique. The mystery was really fun and kept me guessing.

I was surprised the outcome.

Really enjoyed this!

This is an amazing debut novel with an endearing, lovable character, Helena (Lenny), who you want to hug. I read this in one day as I couldn’t put it down, staying up very late to finish it.

Told in 2022 with flashbacks to the 1990s, the story deals with serious issues such as mental health, domestic violence, bullying, repressed trauma, family, love and friendship. Lenny is a socially awkward woman who takes things literally and has trouble deciphering social cues. She looks to structure and routine to guide her through life until events occur that force her to step outside her rigidly controlled life and confront her past. She is a wonderfully developed character and one I won’t soon forget.

The story unfolded at an even pace as we get to know Lenny and her backstory unfolds. The plot built to a very satisfying ending with some unexpected revelations and I turned the last page feeling happy that I read this wonderful story but sad that it was over.

If you love stories with neurodivergent representation, characters with heart, and a plot that pulls you in, you will definitely want to pick this one up!

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder 4⭐️

Lenny Marks is rapidly heading towards forty. She has a solitary life, she is lonely, as she is neurodiverse she struggles in social situations let alone relationships. Quirky neuro diverse character driven stories seem to be flooding the releases at the moment.

A very character driven story weaving between the present and Lenny’s childhood, the past definitely pulls on your emotions. I desperately felt for Lenny’s plight. I found both Lenny and Ned very likeable characters.

The plot kind of meanders, nothing jumps out at you as a surprise, but at the same time it kept my interest throughout. However if I compare it to the quirky neurodiverse character of Strange Sally Diamond it doesn’t hold a candle to it. That was much darker more layered, with twists I didn’t see coming. Although it’s worth a read if you loved Strange Sally. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t WOW me.

This was SOO different than how I thought it was going to be. I read the synopsis as being similar to the Maid by Nita Prose. This is not that at all. I ended up reading this in almost one setting (it was a 5 hour car ride) but once I got into this I couldn't stop reading it. There are so many layers to peel back here. This book is about Lenn Marks, a woman who has experienced HORRIBLE trauma in her childhood and after receiving a piece of mail that references what happened, her whole world starts to fall apart. She has never truly grieved or acknowledged even what happened. She has been suppressing her emotions about the event her whole life. This has contributed to her being very particular about the order of things. She has a routine and she sticks to it. But now she is going outside of her comfort zone and for MOST of those experiences, she starts to realize what she has been missing. While also realizing at the same time, that she has people in her life who are not going to leave her. They truly care and want her to be happy. I would definitely check out the TW before diving into this one. There are some heavy topics.

Lenny Marks is set in life. She has her routine. She has Friends. She has decided she is going to ignore the letter she received written to her old name of Helena Winters. The one from the parole board referencing her stepfather. What she is not going to ignore is her foster mom's advice to start making friend. She wants to get out there a little bit more. The problem is that she has never been the best at reading people. She says what she thinks without thinking sometimes which can be construed as rude. She isn't the best at reading a room. She doesn't feel like she can be her true self around people so she acts a little differently. The one person she does feel like herself around (other than Fay her foster mom) is Ned from her local grocery store. After a night out with some coworkers, she can't ignore the letter anymore. She realizes it is the parole board asking her as a victim if she would testify to why her stepfather Fergus should stay in prison longer. But Fergus didn't do anything wrong from what she can remember right? But now she is not so sure. She is starting to remember things differently. Like the abuse her mother endured. The shed that she was put in during Fergus's rages. The fact that Malcolm was actually her little brother, not an imaginary friend. Now her life is upside down. She doesn't know how to get back to her routine. All she can do is tell everyone that she is fine even though she doesn't even believe it. But then her people show up for her. And Fergus is out of prison and her backyard. That is when she decides that all bets are off. She will NOT let what happened before be repeated.

This was a book about a woman overcoming a lot. She is just realizing how strong she is and how much she truly has endured in her short life. She opens up her bubble and starts to let people in that she didn't before. And now she has true friends and people that care about her and her well being. She realizes everything can't be planned but it is how you respond that matters. Like I said, this book caught me completely by surprise but in a WONDERFUL way. I can't recommend it enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Kerryn Mayne’s Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder follows Lenny Marks, who leads a highly structured life to avoid her traumatic past. When a letter from the parole board forces her to confront buried memories, Lenny’s carefully controlled world unravels. As she navigates new relationships and uncovers the truth about her family's disappearance, Lenny’s journey from isolation to connection is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Mayne's debut is a gripping tale of secrets, truth, and the transformative power of community.

Regrettably, "Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder" did not meet my expectations. The synopsis piqued my interest, but the narrative felt overly lengthy and protracted. Additionally, there was a lack of action to suit my preferences.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

For fans of Eleanor Oliphant and The Maid, Lenny Marks is a character to root for. She’s struggling to figure out friendship, work, her romantic life, and a past she has completely forgotten due to trauma of an abusive stepfather. So naturally she steals a dog after a night out of trivia (a dog that needed to be removed from a dickhead owner) and creates a fake roommate named Monica after her love of Friends. What could go wrong?