Lenny Marks is a woman who is very awkward and routine driven. She has a bad past that she has blocked out. She starts to slowly come out of her shell and live her life.

This book reminds me of books like Elenor Oliphant is completely fine and Cassie in Reverse. And unfortunately, I wasn’t a huge fan. I was just bored honestly. If you like those mentioned books, you’ll probably enjoy this one.

I don’t think the writing was bad or anything but not much was happening. I thought it would be more of a cozy mystery or something but it wasn’t.

I did like Lenny and there was some humor sprinkled in. I was just a bit bored and probably won’t remember much of this book.

Thanks so much to netgalley and St. Martins Press for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER is cute, engaging mystery that will have you rooting for the protagonist from the very beginning. It's fairly obvious to the reader from early on that Lenny's memory of why her mother left her is not the truth (and there were moments when her denial felt a bit overwrought), but Lenny is an anxious, damaged, lovable protagonist. Readers won't want to put it down!

Lenny Marks was such a delightful and innocent character despite the trauma and challenges she faced as a child. I would characterize her as “neurodivergent” despite never seeing that label, or any label, placed upon her.

As an adult, Lenny is a teacher and enjoys her solitary life watching Friends at the home she referred to as “The Treehouse.” She lives by schedules and routines because they soothe and calm her - something that deeply resonated with me.

Part of her routine is shopping at the same place for her groceries where she developed a relationship with Nate. They share many interests making it easier for Lenny to talk to him.

At work, a few fellow teachers invite Lenny to a trivia night at a bar and Lenny hesitantly agrees to go. Frequently she uses her “roommate” and “friend” Monica to get out of plans or to make it seem like she has someone to hang out with on the weekends.

While at trivia night, Lenny learns Nate is the boyfriend of one of her coworkers which then makes Lenny question her growing friendship with him. Perhaps her coworker will be upset with her and Lenny would never do anything to intentionally to hurt someone else.

Lenny’s past catches up with her as she receives a letter asking her opinion of the impending release from prison of the step father whom was the cause of her trauma.

With her growing number of friends, Lenny is finding confidence she didn’t know previously possess. Will that allow her to face her past? Or will the trauma of her past cause additional trauma in her future?

I feel this really should have been called Lenny Marks the Brave or Lenny Marks the Warrior.

This was much more serious than I had expected and I absolutely loved it! I truly hope to read more about Lenny Marks in the future! I highly recommend this for those who enjoy books including neurodivergent characters, characters who overcome challenges, and those who enjoy domestic dramas and mysteries. A solid four star read which, for me, means I HIGHLY recommend checking it out!

I’m appreciative of being able to both read and listen to the story! The narrator really brought the story to life and brought a wonderful voice to Lenny!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoys this book. It was wonderfully written, made me cry a couple of times with compassion and empathy and yet had some underlying humor written in the intricacies of the interactions between characters. Lenny Marks gets away with murder is a completely different story, but has very similar vibes to Gail Honeyman’s “Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine”. There are twists and turns, and surprises woven throughout to keep you engaged and entertained. This continued my interest growing and I fell in love the realistic characters displayed in the pages.

Very well done book and I thoroughly enjoyed this read! It’s a great summer read for sure!

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is not a light story as the cover may portray. Lenny Marks is 37, single, and a schoolteacher. We learn early on that Lenny is neurodiverse. She struggles with social interactions and is happy living her very controlled, routine life. As the story progresses we learn about Lenny's past and the trauma she endured. While at first, Lenny appeared to me to be floundering. However, I came to see how strong, resilient, and how far she had come in creating her security. There are moments that are hard to read. Her co-workers do not treat her well and it really highlights how people treat those who are different poorly at times because they do not understand them.

Kerryn Mayne is a debut author and I am incredibly impressed with her writing. I will be watching for what she writes next.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy.

Thank you to @macmillanaudio for the ALC, and @stmartinspress for the eARC and physical ARC of Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder!

This novel was not at all what was I expecting, but it absolutely blew me away. Instead of a thriller this is a literary fiction (with a bit of mystery) that delves into one woman’s grief, mental health, and neurodivergence.

Lenny is such a great character, the references and way her brain operates were comforting, delightful and relatable. The side characters were incredibly well-done and I was so interested in Lenny as a character and even more than the central mystery, Lenny coming to terms with what happened/discovering it for herself.

With a blurb from Sally Hepworth and vibes of Emily Austin, this book is a must-read. The audio was wonderful, and this book was simply magnificent. I didn’t want it to end. I’ll certainly be reading the next outing from Kerryn Mayne.

I loved the first half of this book. Lenny is a delightful character and I really enjoyed the slower get-to-know-her part of the book.

The second half felt too unbelievable. Here are a couple specifics:
Lenny's age: she’s 37 and has never been confronted with her past, or had to explore her neuro-divergent quirks? 🤔 It would have been a much better fit for her to be mid- to late-20s.

The ending: without giving away too much, the “action” at the end seemed totally out of character with the person we’ve spent the entire book getting to know. And “action” like that isn’t that easy to cover up these days 🙄

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a really good debut from author Kerryn Mayne. Lenny Marks leads a lonely life with the same everyday routines. She has a scary past that she does her best not to remember. When a letter from the parole starts unraveling her predictable life

"Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder" is Kerryn Mayne’s beautifully written and emotionally charged story that is as thought-provoking as it is heartbreaking. Mayne introduces us to the quirky and endearing Lenny, who captured my heart from the very first page. This novel stands out for its unique exploration of neurodiversity, providing a fresh and insightful perspective. The narrative deftly navigates through complex emotional landscapes, and I couldn’t help but feel deeply connected to Lenny’s journey, which is portrayed with such authenticity and sensitivity. Mayne’s writing is both compelling and lyrical, making it easy to become fully immersed in the story. The plot, while dealing with heavy themes, maintains a balance of light-hearted moments and humor, making it a well-rounded read.

"Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder" is an absolutely recommended read. This is a debut that promises great things from Kerryn Mayne.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Kerryn Mayne for the opportunity to read and review "Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder" prior to its publication date.

This is a very contemporary novel using contemporary images like Groots, Piranisi, Round the Twist—all of which I had to look up! But that makes it modern and real! I am a psychologist by training so this book appealed to me as we begin to understand how the human mind protects itself and thrives. And I’ve always found neurodiversity an interesting explanation for many very human protective behaviors. And to find that wrapped up in a “murder” mystery novel and a survival and recovery story was appealing to me. A great character study and survival story.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the Advanced Review copy.

🤐 The Truth Hurts T H U R S D A Y review 🤐 featuring “Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder” by Kerryn Mayne!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Lenny Marks is a socially awkward 37 year old teacher, who lives alone, rides her bike everywhere and has an imaginary friend named Monica based off the character on Friends.

Lenny lives a very structured life and does not make time for socialization. She had a very tough childhood and blocks out all the bad memories as she lives her life. However, a letter from the Parole Board rattles her completely and because of this she must face her past and learn to lean on those around her for support.

Go into this one as BLINDLY as possible because it is not as it seems from its cover and synopsis. Think of Molly from THE MAID mixed with Sally from STRANGE SALLY DIAMOND and that’s Lenny!

Thank you kindly to @kerrynmayneauthor @stmartinspress @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on July 9, 2024!

You will fall in love with Lenny right from the start, and then your heart will break for her as you continue through the book.

Her sweet, naive, always-follow-the-rules personality will endear you to her.

And her repeated comment about nothing could fix what I'd done keeps you intrigued about what this gentle soul could have done.

We meet Lenny as she bicycles to her teaching job where she does her job, goes home, and does the same things over and over again.

She had some childhood trauma that makes her the way she is.

Everything needs to stay the same.

The trauma from her childhood returns every once in a while, and it came back full force when she received a letter from the parole board asking her what she thinks about Fergus her stepfather being released from prison.

She doesn't want to do anything...she just wants to forget.

We follow Lenny as chapters go back and forth from past to present.

A truly touching, but heartbreaking book you won't want to put down, and with Lenny being someone you would love to befriend and help bring out of her shell.

A marvelous debut with great descriptions, a heartfelt storyline, and wonderful characters.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

What a wonderful debut novel! I found this book to be well written and thought provoking. Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder also evokes emotion. I could not help but root for Lenny the entire book. This book was equal parts entertaining, captivating, and hard to put down. I love having a character to root for and Lenny fits the bill!

Lenny Marks is such an interesting character. She is a teacher who enjoys solitude, order, and routine. She has things she enjoys doing such as watching Friends, playing Scrabble, and utilizing self-soothing word games/anagrams in times of stress. When a letter arrives from the parole board addressed to Helena Winters, Lenny's life of order begins to get messy.

"You did this."

As the plot unfolds, more and more of Lenny's past comes to light. Lenny was raised by foster parents after she suffered loss and trauma in her childhood. As Lenny tries to make changes in her life, I cheered her on with a smile on my face. This book had me thinking of the quote from Winnie the Pooh “You’re braver than you believe and stronger and smarter than you think.” It is hard to make changes, begin relationships/friendships, and Lenny made a tremendous effort in her own unique way while memories of her past began to surface.

As I mentioned, I did a lot of feeling and cheering for Lenny throughout the book. I enjoyed her journey and growth throughout the book. There were some twists and turns along the way which made for an enjoyable read. If you enjoy books where characters grow, overcome, and are resilient, then this book might be for you!

I'll say it again, this was a wonderful debut novel which had me feeling all kinds of emotions. I look forward to more books by Kerryn Mayne in the future. I also appreciate how the author tackled difficult subjects in this book.

*I had both the book and audiobook version of this book and thought the narrator of the audiobook did a great job bringing this book to life.

I loved Lenny and wanted to be her friend! This book is both chilling and charming, suspenseful and uplifting, and is a story I won’t soon forget. Lenny’s journey from isolation to connection is heartwarming.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a gem!

The title and cover led me to believe that this was a lighthearted cozy, however, it was so much more. Lenny was a wonderfully thought out character - a very literal creature of habit, someone that was hesitant yet curious about social situations and truly spoke what was on her mind.

The themes in this book were SO heavy and my heart ached for Lenny throughout. Childhood loss, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, foster system, death, bullying, prison. There was so much more to this story than the synopsis provides us with. Lenny was so strong and courageous without even knowing it.

The BEST part of this book for me was the dog. I am a Rottweiler mom and to see the breed presented in such a loving and loyal way made this story an automatic 5 stars for me.

Lenny Marks is a fifth grade teacher, a rule follower, and a bit of a loner who likes to watch episodes of Friends. She likes her life and keeps a bit of distance from others until one day she steps out with fellow educators for a Trivia Night. She enjoys her evening and helps the group knowing so many answers. She even rescues a dog she sees being abused. Life is good for Lenny, until... she finds out her stepfather is being released from prison. Muddled memories start to come back. She begins to question what is real and what isn't. The reader doesn't fully know what is going on but the writing compelled me to keep reading to know what happened in Lenny's past.

As I read this, I thought of fellow Aussie Sally Hepworth's books; and as I read the Author's Note, I learned that Sally encouraged author Kerryn Mayne to write this book! It was a story that kept me turning the pages (and listening to the wonderful Australian narration) to figure out what happened.

I learned about this author from author Emma Grey (The Last Love Note) who shared in an author chat other Australian authors she recommended. A great debut from Kerryn Mayne!

My thanks to Net Galley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillian Audio for advanced copies of the e-book and audiobook.

I loved this book and it was quite unexpected for me simply because I just dove into the story with no clue of what it was about. Lenny Marks is quite a memorable character and it is equal parts so sad and yet so heartwarming. The story started to lose its way toward the end of the book, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this debut.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Lenny in this captivating debut. Lenny is unique, compassionate, and struggles to make friends. There is a profound reason for her behavior, and I highly recommend diving into her story and meeting the other remarkable characters that make up this narrative.

For twenty-five years, Lenny has tried her best to forget the day her mother abandoned her when she was just eleven. Her stepfather’s last words, “You did this,” still echo in her mind. Following this traumatic event, Lenny lived with her grandmother for a while before moving in with her foster parents, Fay and Robert, who provided a happy home, although she never spoke of her past.

Now thirty-seven, Lenny teaches fifth grade at Selby South Primary School. She values order and a quiet, predictable life. She doesn’t like change and has amassed thirty-six copies of The Hobbit. She enjoys watching re-runs of Friends, playing scrabble with her imaginary housemate, and loves her teaching job.

Lenny’s world is turned upside down when a letter from the parole board arrives at her school, causing her to confront buried memories while she strives to make Fay, her foster mother, happy by attempting to bring people into her meticulously organized life. She decides to take some time off work to process everything that is happening.

This is a compelling story with a lot going on as Lenny’s life transforms, and she finally unlocks memories from her past. The journey is filled with emotion, showcasing the harrowing experiences she endured and the resilience she exhibited. Watching her interactions with others, coupled with the supportive characters around her, makes this tale engrossing and beautifully narrated. I highly recommend this book, as it is sure to captivate and entertain any reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC!

I liked this book and thought that Lenny was a quirky and enjoyable character It's narrated by her and includes a lot of internal dialogue, but that worked in terms of helping the reader understood how she thought. While not specifically mentioned, it appears that Lenny is a neurodiverse character. The book centers on Lenny trying to make her world bigger by befriending 2 girls at work while also dealing with the anxiety around her stepfather getting out of prison. She navigates these things in ways that are funny, heartwarming, and frustrating at times, but always kept me engaged.

Lenny's character reminded me a lot of Fern in Sally Hepworth's "The Good Sister", which was interesting because Mayne mentions that Hepworth was a huge influencer of hers in the acknowledgement section of the book. I felt Lenny did experience incredible growth throughout the book, though there were a few scenes that still seemed out of character. While I can't agree that she did the right thing in some cases, I totally understood why she did the things she did and I could empathize with her. The ending of the book worked, and tied things up nicely.

Overall, I liked immersing myself in Lenny's world for a bit and found this to be an interesting, even if not totally unique, read. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of the most fun and addictive books i've read in a long time. A fun mystery book with some deep topics, but well woven into the story of Lenny Marks and her quirky personality. If you loved Eleanor Oliphant, you will love this even more. Definitely recommend.