“Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder” might sound like it’s a COZY mystery-but it isn’t.

And, if you read the taglines- you might be expecting a thriller-but that those taglines are misleading as well.

Lenny Marks is your latest neurodivergent character in search of acceptance after a traumatic childhood, which she doesn’t quite remember, and this is HER story.

Expect a well written DEBUT by Australian author Kerrin Mayne, more in line with “Elenor Oliphant is Completely Fine”. It builds a bit SLOWLY as we get to know Lenny and her World, but there is more “action” in the second half.

Routines help Lenny to stay CALM.

She bikes home from work at exactly 4pm each day, eats the same meals every week, and owns thirty-six copies of The Hobbit (currently arranged by height). She loves “FRIENDS” reruns, and a favorite pastime is playing Scrabble against an imaginary “Monica Gellar”.

She may NOT be good at reading people, or making friends, but she is VERY good with words.

Lenny is thriving as a 5th grade teacher at Selby South Primary School until a letter arrives in the mail from the Parole Board. She tucks it away in an attempt to ignore it but when that fails-Lenny starts to UNRAVEL.

Her BEST coping mechanism- rearranging the letters of words into as many anagrams as she can come up with isn’t working this time…(Maybe a bit overused but I was impressed at all the words she could scramble!) 🤓

“Parole Hearing: orangerie, orphanage, helping, reaping, roaring…”

And, for once, as her past catches up to her present, she may have to break out of her comfort zone, and learn to accept help from others! It’s a wonderful surprise for her when she discovers how many people are ready and willing to rally around her!

I enjoy heartwarming characters driven novels, so I enjoyed getting to know Lenny Marks. And, as an added bonus, the book brought back fond memories of playing Scrabble with my own Grandmother! 👵🏻

3.75 ⭐️ rounded ⬆️

AVAILABLE July 9, 2024

Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

I have to admit, getting through this book was a real challenge. I struggled to find any redeeming qualities in the story, and I came up empty-handed. The characters felt incredibly one-dimensional and monotone, lacking any depth or development. There was no humor or emotion to speak of—nothing that could evoke any feelings in me.

I found it impossible to connect with any of the characters. The story itself was bland and unengaging in every sense. Overall, it was a disappointing read that I wouldn’t recommend

I would like to express my deep gratitude to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first read by this author and I’ll definitely be adding her to my TBR list for future reads. The title and the cover initially were what drew my eye. I’m not quite rue what I was expecting, but this story made me feel all the things and broke my heart.

Lenny Marks, a neurodiverse middle aged elementary teacher enjoys her job and her routines. I enjoyed seeing a neurodiverse heroine and cheered for Lenny during her attempts to overcome a life that would have broken most human beings.

Her love for her made family, while reluctant at first is the heart of this book. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but make sure you have your box of tissues on standby.

3.5 Stars


I found this to be an entirely frustrating read. It was very difficult to submerse myself in this book. To start, Lenny is a frustrating creature until I figured out that she must have not only been traumatized as a child but also "on the spectrum," although this is never explained in this novel. I understand that using this as a trope is trendy, but I have not read another book like this. Secondly, her habit of mentally rearranging words to make new ones just got downright annoying, and I skipped all of that rigamarole.

Finally, about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way through this ARC, I got into Lenny's life and the story and started to care about her.

I imagine you will have no problems figuring out most of what Lenny can't/won't remember happened to her when she was a child. However, some of it came as a shock to me, and that made the fact that I kept reading tolerable.

The ending was a pleasant surprise (don't judge me, LOL, you'll see!), hence the title.

It's a worthwhile read.

*ARC provided by the publisher St. Martin's Press, the author, and NetGalley.

Thank you St Martins Press and MacMillan audio for the review copy of Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder; a solid voice performance from Annie Maynard that honors the neurodiversity voices in this book and adds to the development of a thoughtful and impressive, debut novel. The title might suggest humor, even a little Finlay Donovan kind of vibe, but this book is not that (and that's not a bad thing, love Finlay though)... this book is a honest and loving portrayal of a young woman who loves words, who retreats into words and books when she needs to step back (I get that) and a moment in time when the main character Lenny has to work to reconcile her past and her present. As Lenny deals with reconciling her past, and her relationship with her mother, Mayne also gives the reader a sense that Lenny is reconciling a bit of who she could, maybe even wants to be, a sense that dealing with the past fully is well timed to help her connect more with others in her life. I really loved Mayne's writing, it was strong and loving, respectful in approach to developing Lenny's identity and her neurodiversity; I also appreciated a change of pace a bit in the end, a more action packed ending that worked for me as it helped create that sense of big change and growth for Lenny.


I would like to note that I also vastly appreciate a book that has a positive foster parent rep, all too often I read books that portray foster parents as (all the less than helpful things) and I don't know a single foster parent who isn't like Fay, warm and loving, a stable loving presence. It matters to have this perspective offered in books that tackle on complicated family histories and mystery.

I recommend this for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

3.75 stars rounded up

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published July 9, 2024.

Lenny Marks is quirky and I love that about her. She also loves the TV show Friends (me too!) and has an imaginary roommate she calls Monica.

What starts off as light-hearted becomes a bit more concerning as we learn more about Lenny’s stepfather and his upcoming release from prison.

Lenny really grew on me. She changed A LOT during the book and I was actually not surprised she did what she did.

Trigger warning: domestic abuse

This was a very enjoyable heartfelt story about grief, loss and friendship and if you want to know if Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder you’ll have to read this great book to get the answer. Well worth the read to find out. Highly recommended.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder was not at all what I expected. I thought it would be a cozy mystery with similar vibes to The Maid with a FMC on the spectrum. This was not a mystery or a thriller in any way. It’s a heartwarming story of a woman who has lived through serious trauma in her life and how she comes to terms with it. The characters were well written and the story was interesting. I definitely recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you @netgalley and @StMartinsPress for this ARC. Lenny Marks is quirky and lovable school teacher. Some may say she is "on the spectrum" but in fact she is suffering from severe trauma. She jumps at loud noises, doesn't like bright lights and does not want to be touched. Through the book, the author weaves in information regarding her past and why she is the way she is. Though this book isn't a light beach read, I still really enjoyed the story. Not all books can be light and fluffy. #LennyMarksGetsAwayWithMurder #KerrynMayne #July2024 #StMartinsPress

It's a skill to be able to have a novel tackle serious subject matter without having the reader be devoid of hope. It's a skill to be able to write characters who are neurodivergent without them feeling quirky or cute.

And Kerryn Mayne has done both in this novel.

This is the story of Lenny who lives her day by her schedule. Who has endured more trauma and tragedy than anyone should ever have to and has found a way to pull her life together anyway. And as is often the case, one thread gets pulled and the whole things starts to unravel...

This was a tough novel to read but it left me with hope and I am so glad I read it.

with gratitude to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Oh how I absolutely adored Ms Lenny Marks! I think she’s one of my favorite characters I’ve seen in a long time, and I really enjoyed her story (even when I pained for her). I think the pacing was slightly off here, particularly with the Ned storyline and with her coworkers

Cute
This was a cute, feel-good book even though it dealt with physical abuse.

Lenny is just a child when she is found locked in a storage shed, cut and bruised at the hand of her step-father. Many years later, she believes her mother deserted her that day. After a brief time living at her grandmother’s, she winds up being in a loving adoptive home, but with a warped memory of her early years.

She is quirky at best, probably on the autism scale. She has very little social interaction other than stopping at a local grocery store for her weekly shopping and talking to Ned, the geeky shop worker.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. The abuse was a little tough to think about, but it wasn't gratuitous.

This was a really weird read at first, but once you get deeper into it you realize how emotional it truly is. There were parts I openly wept at and I had a deep sense of empathy for the main character, Lenny, by the end of the book. It truly was as if she had lived two different lives- one as Helena and one as Lenny. Even though she lived a life of unfortunate circumstances, she was lucky to end up surrounded by people who loved her and were trying to under and accept her for who she was. Heart achingly beautiful portrayal of coming to terms with your past and being true to yourself.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder hit the mark for me. The story starts off getting to know Lenny Marks - a quirky teacher who bikes to work, goes to the grocery store the same days weekly, eats the same foods every week, plays scrabble by herself (with imaginary friend Monica from the show Friends), owns multiple copies of The Hobbit and is socially a loner.

The story evolves into so much more with Lenny’s childhood traumas arising and takes you on an emotional and tense ride. This book had many elements that I enjoy - interesting and likable characters, drama, mystery. I was engaged as the story unfolds and you understand more of what makes up Lenny.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early read of this e-book in exchange for my honest review. Publication date: July 9th 2024 #NetGalley #LennyMarksGetsAwayWithMurder

✨If you’re like me and thought from the cover that this would be a fun cozy mystery, then you should know that it is SO MUCH MORE. Yes, there is suspense, and yes, there are laughs. But this book is all heart, charm, emotion, heartbreak and healing.

✨It’s filled with characters you can’t help but root for. I have so much love for the quirky, clever, kind and so very witty Lenny Marks. We all need a Lenny in our lives. She’s unforgettable.

✨This book has lots of laughs and lots of tears. There are secrets and lies and heartbreak and grief and revenge and love and suspense in these pages. The author does a fantastic job at seamlessly weaving these elements together in this debut that has so much heart. I can’t wait to see what Kerryn Mayne does next.

🌿Read if you like:
✨ Neurodivergent rep
✨ Friends
✨The Hobbit
✨ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE
✨Molly Gray from THE MAID
✨Jolene from I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU WELL

This was a great debut. It took a totally different direction than I initially expected, but I loved it.

It took me a LONG time to open this book, but a very short time to finish it. This book is about loss, grief, friendship, and trust. Lenny is kind, eccentric, and a bit neurodivergent. She’s a definitely a character worthy meeting. The book is well paced, the tougher moments of trauma, mental illness, grief, and loss were given plenty of time to be digested.

I initially thought Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne was going to be a cozy read, but it quickly became apparent that there are some very triggering parts. So, a word of caution: check the trigger warnings if you have strong feelings towards certain themes.

The story revolves around Lenny Marks. She uses her school address as her home address, so when she receives a letter at work from the parole board, it triggers a flood of emotions and memories that disrupt her meticulously structured life.

Lenny's character is quirky but not overdone, which is a refreshing change from some of the other recent books I've read with similar characters. Her friend Kirra at school is the epitome of what a true friend should be, offering unwavering support and loyalty.

The audiobook's narrator was a perfect choice; her accent added a lovely touch to the listening experience. I also appreciated the slow build of the romantic relationship in the story, which felt natural. One of my favorite parts was when Lenny saves a dog, which then becomes her best friend, adding a heartwarming element to the narrative.

Overall, Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is an engaging read with well-developed characters and a compelling plot. Just be prepared for some emotional moments along the way.

I absolutely love books like this. This story had so many different layers, but they all tied together so beautifully. Lenny was such a sweet and resilient character. I couldn’t help but root for her as her journey unfolded. This book takes you on a roller coaster of emotions, and I am so happy I read it.

LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER
Kerryn Mayne

In my mind, we’ve already done this.

Lenny is not the first person you invite to a party or the first person you think of when you imagine having a good time. She spends more of her time at home going through her days according to one well-planned routine after another.

Lenny is a 5th-grade teacher and homebody who prefers the planned to the unexpected. She spends most of her days grading papers and playing scrabble against imaginary opponents.

One day a letter arrives that sets Lenny on a perilous path that has us questioning why Lenny is the way she is. What happened to her to make her become the woman she is living the existence she does?

There is a word association game that Lenny is plagued with playing and as readers, we are also subjected to this quirk. That was unfortunate. It was extremely distracting and took away from my enjoyment of the book.

I cannot imagine this on audiobook!

Outside of that, I thought the storyline was basic and had been passed around quite a bit. LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER was relatively unoriginal and Lenny as a character has been done a few times over. There really wasn’t much left besides the story and the characters, as the writing wasn’t that impressive either.

It didn’t do anything wrong and didn’t do much right. I ended up rating it right at a three and I think you will too.

“There must be more to life than this!”
Queen

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy!

LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER…⭐⭐⭐