When I started this book, I found Lenny extremely rigid and unlikeable, but BOY was there a character shift. There's a lot of allusion to Lenny's past, questions as to why she ended up in foster care and struggles to make friends, but then all of a sudden BAM, her past is in your face. Lenny really comes into her own in the second half of this book, and it's heartwarming (and murderous...didn't know how those two things could co-exist). This book really started to come together for me when Lenny gets her dog - it seems SO out of character but come to find out it's VERY much in character. As pieces of Lenny are revealed bit by bit, this book becomes an essay on trauma and PTSD, the power of therapy, and what it means to be a real friend. I started off skeptical but really ended up enjoying this ARC, thanks to the publishers for sharing!

The author does a wonderful job with character development. Our heroine shows courage while dealing with her past and is a lesson in living the life you have the best way you can.

Whew, there is a lot going on here. At first I thought this book started out light, another neuro-divergent character finding her way into hearts of those around here, and learning she can count on others. Yes, but about half way through, this book got super serious and turned into so much more. Child abuse, PTSD, and a bit violent. Kind of gave me whiplash with how abruptly things changed. I enjoyed the book, but going into the book blind I did not expect the direction it was heading, and it was a bit unsettling. I liked the characters, found the relationships of those in the town to be endearing and to have heart and kindness. I appreciated the team effort to look after Lenny, but also the motivation to keep her in the dark though understandable seemed a little unrealistic. Things worked out a little bit too conveniently to set up Lenny's life exactly the way the grown ups in her life planned.

Usually I do not go into a book as oblivious to the story as I did this one, but it's good for me to take each page as it comes without expectations. Overall it was a good read and I was interested in seeing where the story went, though some belief had to be suspended as far as realistic situations and convenience. Solid read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the preview of this book heading into summer reading season!

This book is a compelling exploration of trauma and healing. The main character, Lenny, is a schoolteacher whose life takes a dramatic turn when she learns that her stepfather is soon to be released on parole. Lenny is a very quirky character and reminded me a lot of Eleanor Oliphant. Lenny's journey is both heart-wrenching and heartwarming as we delve into her childhood and understand the events that have shaped her into the person she is today. The author does a fantastic job of developing Lenny as an endearing and complex character who learns profound truths about herself and grows stronger through her experiences.

One of my favorite parts of the book is the amazing surrounding characters, especially Fay, Kirra, and Ned. I also particularly love Malcolm, because who can resist an adorable canine sidekick. Each character contributes significantly to Lenny's journey, and I love the relationships that she develops with them. Overall, this book is a touching portrayal of personal growth and resilience, with a memorable cast of characters and an engaging storyline that will resonate with readers who appreciate stories about overcoming past traumas and finding strength in oneself. Thank you St. Martin's Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I fear this may be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t understand what this book was trying to do. There’s no real plot here - it’s a lot of character exposition. The first 1/3 was painfully slow and I was hoping we would get some action but nothing seemed to come. Lenny grew on me, but I still didn’t really find her heartwarming. This reminded me a bit of The Maid as that had a similar quirky character. I’ve seen this being marketed as a thriller and perhaps that’s the most perplexing part - I didn’t find any real suspense or mystery here, and the resolution felt weirdly unsatisfying. I guess the ending was ok but I still feel odd about this whole experience.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lenny is a very ordinary single woman who likes to lead a calm and predictable life. A mundane life suddenly when she gets a letter from the Parole Board. Suddenly, her life will never be the same. She is forced to face memories that she long has buried This is a story about redemption, facing fears, and looking for a life that she deserves. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC of this book

This book reminds me of Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine or A man called Ove. Lenny Marks is a great character, someone you can't help but love and root for. The writing was great and this is truly a heartwarming read. If you are a fan of the books I mentioned above, I think you'll love it!

I absolutely adored this book!

I am particularly partial to mysterious novels with eccentric main characters at the forefront (think Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine) so this fantastic story was an easy five star read for me. Quirky, Scrabble-loving, Friends-watching, rule-abiding, dog-snatching Lenny Marks was such a treasure! Her story was delightful but also deep and is probably one of the most memorable books I've read so far this year.

All of the characters were authentic and likable and the story was effortlessly well written.

I highly, highly recommend reading this warm hug of a book! It truly deserves ALL the stars!

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book gave off Eleanor Oliphant vibes to me. Sadly, not as good in my opinion. However, I did enjoy it overall. It was just a very slow paced book - too slow. I put it down a couple of times and wasn’t “dying” to pick it up. But after about 70%, I was more invested in Lenny and what was going to happen! She had a great support team - I loved Fay and Maureen! This was labeled “cozy murder” - maybe? I think it was more a family suspense? I saw a review from Sally Hepworth and I can see some similarities to her books which are usually called “thrillers” but I like thinking them as “family suspense mysteries”! As a debut, I think it was a great start and look forward to seeing more! Thank you Net Galley for letting me read this debut!

Lenny Marks is a quirky individual with a heart of gold. Sure, she takes things too literally, and doesn’t grasp the meaning of sarcasm, but she’s charming and witty in her own deadpan way that had me intrigued by her. This story isn’t quite a mystery. It’s more about a coming of age story about a woman who suffered a traumatic event as a child, feelings and suppressed memories, resurfacing with the receipt of a recent parole hearing letter for the man who destroyed her life.

If you like the quirks of Nita Prose’s THE MAID, Lenny might be up your alley.

Lenny is a quirky character with her routines, stopping at the same grocery store to buy the same food, and owning 36 copies of "The Hobbit." The similarities I share with her made her very relatable. Although, I did not get away with murder, nor will I try! All the references to "Friends," LOTR, Narnia, and Buffy added a layer of peculiarity. While this could be considered a cozy mystery, there is much more depth and character growth within these covers than others labeled the same.

I am still thinking of this story and the characters in it days after finishing. I wonder what happened to them after the story ended and I just really enjoyed getting to read this book.

Fantastic book filled with likable characters and a mystery that is sprinkled throughout. I liked it immensely and it kept my attention through a difficult time. I haven't heard about this book before I saw it recommended by Netgalley and I wish it was talked about more. It is absolutely delightful.

Lenny Marks lives a very vanilla life. She has a routine, a job, a bike and a house. As she thought, “Lenny was a functioning, contributing member of the community who abided by the rules…and was not a burden to anyone.” What she lacks are friends, except for the ones she makes up to appease her foster mother or uses as an excuse on the odd instances she’s asked to go out.
Lenny is also blocking out the memory of what happened to her as an eleven year old. So, when a letter from the Parole Board arrives for her, it makes her regulated world start to crumble.
The book reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant and I was equally enthralled with it. My heart just went out to Lenny and I wanted to see her find her way so badly. This is a woman trying so hard to step out of her comfort zone. And then, to deal with the truth. The secondary characters are well fleshed out. There’s even a lovable dog in the mix.
This was a solid five stars for me. It was the right mix of heartwarming, emotionally rich, smart and dark. There were scenes that actually gave me the shivers. This is a book that even when I knew where it was
going (and what had happened) still gripped me. And there were still twists I didn’t see coming. It doesn’t read like a debut novel. The ending was perfect even as it poses some interesting ethical questions.
The author thanks her book club in the acknowledgments and I could see this story being a perfect book club selection.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
I wasn’t sure about it at first but it turned out to be an enjoyable read.
Lenny was such an engaging person. She had some mental health issues that you could understand with the way she handled her life. Her childhood was talked about to give you an understanding of what trauma she went through. She was fortunate enough to live with very caring foster parents and she loved them.
There are triggers about child abuse, animal abuse and bullying.
I would recommend this book.

The cover made me think it would be in the vein of the Finlay Donovan series - lighthearted, inane, beach read type beat. I guess the "don't judge a book by its cover" saying exists for a reason. Surprisingly heavy subject matter, handled fine enough I guess. That to say, I really did not love this - regardless of my expectations going in. Narrator was annoying - there's a way to do social awkwardness without making it a veiled diatribe on how everyone around you is shallow and vapid. First half of the book took me like a month to read, so it's actually a miracle I even finished this. BUT the second half took such a left turn, and I flew through it. I'm sure this is someone's cup of tea, but unfortunately not mine.

Thirty nine year old Lenny Marks loves her routine. She rides her bike to work everyday where she teaches elementary school, she visits the grocery store the same days and prepares the same meals each day of the weak. She seems to enjoy her own company and gets out of any social invitations by telling people she has plans with her roommate Monica, who is really her imaginary roommate, Monica from friends. She even plays scrabble with Monica, making sure she doesn't cheat.

She has a close relationship with Fay, her foster mother, who encourages her to make friends, and so she tries to make friends with 2 of the teachers, but unfortunately she picks two of the mean girls as she does not seem to pick up on their cues, while it takes her a while to realize that one of the other teachers wants to be a genuine friend. I was never quite sure if Lenny was neurodiverse, or if her issues were from her childhood trauma that is gradually revealed throughout alternating chapters, but either way I was rooting for her. Her life really starts to change when she finds out that her abusive stepfather is being released from prison.

I enjoyed this mystery novel and liked watching Lenny grow and build her confidence with the help of her eventual found family, Although not a page turning who done it, it is an interesting novel with characters I enjoyed getting to know.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for this e galley in return for an unbiased review.

I'm not the first, and I certainly won't be the last to say that Lenny Marks and her story reminds me of other books like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine or Strange Sally Diamond. A quirky, neurodivergent or neurodiverse woman with a very definite way of looking at the world, a traumatic past, and people who want to help her become a "better" version of herself.
That's not to say that I didn't enjoy this book, because I did. Kerryn Mayne has written a character that I personally can relate to, with great writing that made it a quick read, and a plot that gets only slightly bogged down in length. The peripheral characters were also fleshed out just enough through Lenny's eyes, and there's humor and there's heartache and sadness.

The final push threw me, though, as I think it came a little late in the story. We get an unfolding of Lenny's childhood that went slight too slowly for me. I don't know if it bothers me more that the title doesn't come true until the very last few pages or that Lenny gets "saved" in a neat little package.And I get it: we want to believe that we can make a different version of ourselves. But it's a lifelong process, not a few months work and one big morally ambiguous act.

I liked it more than I didn't, and I would recommend it for readers who like their quirky main characters and a little revenge served cold.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an ARC of this book.

This one was a different choice for me - I thought it was a thriller but not really. Lenny is an autistic character that readers will find themselves cheering for. Lenny has blocked out childhood memories and live in a world where habit and rituals help her survive. But when a letter from the patrol board upend her perfectly arranged existence - everthing just falls to the ground.

This book was different from most books I have read lately and I think many would enjoy it even if it is not a thriller.

“Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder” by Kerryn Mayne tells the story of Lenny Marks, a thirty-seven-year-old elementary school teacher who lives alone, is obsessed with the television show Friends, and has even invented an imaginary roommate named Monica from the series. She avoids contact with most adults and sticks to a strict routine. But all that begins to change when she gets a letter that brings up her traumatic past that is buried deep inside her. As her trauma resurfaces, she begins to learn that she is not entirely alone in the world—that she does have friends.

This is such an interesting book and I found myself rooting for Lenny from the very beginning. I do think the book might be a little difficult for people who have suffered from childhood trauma, domestic violence, and so on. I am really looking forward to reading more from this author. Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. My opinions are my own.