I think my only issue with this book is that title--which kind of sets you up for an entirely different book (one about murder), when it's more a book about a woman recovering from trauma. Other than that, it's altogether lovely.

Lenny Marks is a great, memorable character (reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant), a former foster kid and current school teacher with not great communication skills and no social life whatsoever (she mostly watches Friends and plays scrabble against herself. )

The book opens with Lenny receiving a letter from the parole board about a man from her past and the rest of the story unfolds as we learn more about this man, his role in her life, and the history that has brought her to this place where she is living as small and safe of a life as possible.

The letter forces Lenny to make some big changes and these are delightful to watch, like socializing with co-workers, "cleaning-up" the neighborhood, and dating. These choices may ultimately lead down a predictable path, but they still provide some nice surprises and make for great storytelling.

Overall, this book is an easy, empathetic read. I cared about Lenny and wanted the best for her, and found myself happy to read for as long as that resolution took to unfold. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

Lenny Marks has a very strict routine:

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.

I can't begin to describe how fun this book was to read. You will laugh and cry as you follow Lenny's transformation. Fall in love with Lenny and her Friends.

Lenny Marks loves her routines, playing scrabble, watching friends and is socially awkward. She has gone through so much trauma. She is trying to make friends at work. The author did a great job of describing things from Lenny’s mind and how scrambling her words brings her comfort in stressful situations.

Ned as also a great person to bring into her life as he understood and accepted her. Together they made a great match.

This book is such a unique blend of love, loss, finding your way, revenge, and friendship. A little mean girl vibes from Amy at work.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne is a captivating work that delves into the complex interplay of secrets, and the intricacies of family. At the heart of this mesmerizing narrative is an unforgettable heroine who drives the story forward. Lenny is one of a kind and true to who she is. Mayne masterfully weaves a tale of resilience and redemption as Lenny Marks grapples with the complexities of her past and the consequences of her actions. Mayne's prose is both lyrical and evocative, immersing readers in the raw emotions of her characters. This formula makes for a great book.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

A very well written and thought provoking book, Lenny is someone you just want to get close to and say it'll be alright and give her a hug. Lenny (she used to be known as Helena) works at a primary school and has a very strict routine, she gets up at the same time, gets ready, rides her bike to school, makes tea (turning the teapot 3 times) and is a loner. Lenny is trying to make friends with Amy and Ashleigh, though they are a bit younger than her and aren't interested. Lenny makes up a imaginary friend so she can tell her coworkers that friend is her roommate and they watch TV (Friends) and play Scrabble (Lenny plays for both of them). A letter from the parole board arrives and sends Lenny into a bit of a tailspin, her stepfather is being released from prison and the letter is to notify her. Lenny wants nothing to do with it or him. We learn a bit about Lenny's upbringing, something happened to her mom and stepdad when she was young and she was sent to live with a relative. While walking one night, Lenny witnesses a man abusing his dog and decides to take the dog to save it, although she's never had a pet before and this is a Rottweiler. A man at her grocery store tries to be friendly to her and she gets nervous, deciding she has to shop someplace else. Lenny's life begins to fall apart, she gets so stressed she misses school, unheard of for her, and her stepdad makes an appearance where we learn why he and her mom went away. Both a sad and uplifting story, I would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #StMartinsPress for the ARC.

In the mundane rhythm of Lenny Marks' life lies buried secrets and a haunting past she's desperate to forget. But when a letter from the past disrupts her carefully constructed world, Lenny is forced to confront the memories she's long suppressed. As she navigates through newfound connections and unexpected relationships, Lenny begins to unravel the mystery surrounding her mother and stepfather's disappearance. Kerryn Mayne's debut novel is a poignant exploration of truth, redemption, and the resilience of the human spirit, with a protagonist who will linger in readers' hearts long after the final page.

Lenny Marks has carefully crafted her life, a life with no surprises. She bikes to work where she teaches elementary school. She plans her meals, shops at the local grocery store, and has the same meals each week. She sees her adopted mother regularly, the one person in her life who knows the truth about her past.

When a clue to Lenny's past arrives in the mail her carefully constructed life starts to fray. As her life begins to spiral out of her control, Lenny suddenly finds herself vulnerable. As Lenny begins to remember a past she has kept hidden from herself, she also opens herself up to new experiences - friends, kindness, and a new furry friend.

This mystery unfolds as Lenny is herself an unreliable narrator, refusing for a time to come to terms with trauma in her childhood. Quirky, delightful, and sad, this story is a most for those who love found-family and justice.

I tried reading this while I was sick and unfortunately I couldn’t get into it enough to keep going. I hate not finishing books but I just didn’t find it interesting enough.

I received an advanced copy from netgalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne
Overall Grade: B-
Plot: B
Characters: B+
Writing: B
Ending: B
Pacing: C
Setting: B
Best Aspect: Overall this was an interesting read.
Worst Aspect: Way too often I felt the story was going nowhere.
Recommend: Yes.

Lenny Marks lives a regimented life with her career as a teacher, her FRIENDS reruns, and her simple life at home. Her world is turned upside down with her stepfather’s release from prison and dark secrets from her past emerge.


With a rich cast of characters, past and present mysteries, and a found family trope that will fill your heart LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER is not to be missed.

Debut Australian author Kerryn Mayne highlights the people that buoy us when life becomes completely disorienting. I loved the thoughtful neurodiversity representation and how the importance of living in community is for our human hearts.

Thank you to Emma Grey, author of THE LAST LOVE NOTE for introducing me to Lenny Marks.

Read this if you:
•Have used books to escape reality
•find comfort in watching FRIENDS reruns
•adore the found family trope

RATING: 4.5/5 stars rounded up
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This has to be the most intriguing book I’ve read in a long time and it’s very hard to put labels on. Lenny Marks lives a very structured, ordinary life largely because of a dreadful childhood trauma she suffered - much of which she’s buried deep in her mind as the only way to get through each day. As she starts to break out from her rigid, lonely existence – often unwillingly – Lenny starts to see new possibilities. The changes often terrify her and your heart will break for her over and over again, but you’ll be cheering for her on even more occasions. It’s hard to believe this is a debut book and I’ll definitely look out for the author’s next book!

Love Lenny! A must read debut that resonates long after the first page!!! Highly recommend this 5 star masterpiece.

Lenny Marks is an unconventional young woman. She lives an isolated life and doesn’t let anyone in. She likes her privacy, and she likes her organized life and schedule just as it is. So when a letter arrives from a parole board letting her know her step-father is being released, this throws a wrench into the pleasing life she’s built for herself and slowly begins to unravel forgotten childhood trauma.

To say Lenny Marks is a bit unconventional is putting it lightly, but that is what made her character more endearing. While reading this, I saw myself in Lenny’s mannerisms and characteristics frequently. The writing was so enjoyable and I really found myself entranced by all the inner-monologues that Lenny would have. Did Kerryn Mayne peek inside my brain? LOL. I appreciated the levity that was juxtaposed with the serious subject of childhood trauma, as I too use humor to deal with serious subject matters.The story was well executed and this is a book I recommend to anyone who is looking for a quirky, lovable, and messy main character.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for review!

US pub date: 7/9/24
Genre: mystery/suspense
Quick summary: Lenny Marks isn't like everyone else, but she's ok with that. The only problem: the memories from her past that have started to bubble up - is she in fact a murderer?

This was a bit of a hard read for me in that Lenny's issues felt almost too real. No, I don't know anyone involved in murder (or at least, I don't think I do), but her everyday struggles felt very close to home. I had the same problem with ELEANOR OLIPHANT and AMAZING GRACE ADAMS. I thought this book would be more on the lighthearted side a la FINLAY DONOVAN or THE MAID, and the first half was, but the second half quickly turned dark. It almost felt like two different books to me. If you enjoyed ELEANOR OLIPHANT, you'll probably like this one more than I did!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have seen people comparing this to Eleanor Oliphant's Is Completely Fine, but I haven't read that book yet, so I can't say whether this book has a similar plot. The beginning of the book drew me in as we were introduced to Lenny Marks, who is struggling with severe trauma and dissociation. The book did an excellent job of exploring mental health issues throughout its pages. However, I didn't find the story engaging, and the plot lacked coherence. I struggled to find the motivation to finish this story, and ultimately decided it wasn't for me at the end

Thank you to NetGalley and to ST. Martin Press for giving me a copy of the book.

Don’t let the title and cover fool you! This book is amazing!! 🤩 In fact, Lenny Marks will probably be my favorite book character of the year!

If you were like me and wanted to bypass this book- because if I’m being honest, the title made me think this book was going to be a quirky, detective, rom-com, mixed bag type of story- don’t let the title and cover mislead you, because this book is anything but that! In fact, this book was emotional and even heartbreaking at times.

In this story we learn about the very routine life of Lenny Marks (formerly Helena Winters). Lenny is 37 years old, single, and is a school teacher. Her favorite television show is “Friends”, and her favorite book is “The Hobbit”. As we learn of Lenny’s childhood and past trauma, we begin to understand why Lenny has so many routines and is comfortable being alone. In fact, there were a few twists that I did not see coming.

All I know is that if I could reach through the pages I would give Lenny the biggest hug. I want to be Lenny’s friend. Which brings me to the point that Lenny’s character and this book will stick with me for a very long time.

This is the author’s debut novel, and I think she did a phenomenal job!! My only gripe with this book is that it seemed to drag on just a teeny bit, and for some reason I’m not liking the title and cover for this book (although it is fitting) 🤷🏻‍♀️ Otherwise, I highly recommend reading this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: July 9, 2024.
Genre~ Women’s Fiction, General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers

This is a book that has you about a 1/3 of the way through. Once it does you can’t let it go. I often like books that are complicated, really make you stop and think, sometimes having to re-read portions to try to understand what the author is trying to get you to see, but I do like a quick and easy attention grabber too which is this book. I started this read while finishing two other books so I was slow at first but I knew early on I wouldn’t be disappointed.
I wasn’t sure where this was headed at first. The difficult past, then Ned, was he a predator too? I was so scared for her. At about half way on when the story became clear I cried and cried, remembering parts of my own past. I wasn’t sure I could continue. It was difficult for a while but I pushed forward, rooting for Lenny and feeling her power grow.
This story will likely hit home for many adults who experienced abuse and neglect and the foster care system. Many of us will feel satisfaction in the justice that was served the way we didn’t/couldn’t have in our own lives. I think I may have held my breath for a long time and was able to breathe in the end.
Looking at this book beyond the relatable events, the way it was told, the way a child’s memory works, the way the body protects itself, moving back and forth between now and then but not switching too often, keeping secrets from the readers as Lenny kept them from herself…it was such an amazing ride. I’m looking forward to what else the author might bring us.

Thank you #netgalley for the free advanced copy of this book

This is a very interesting story that revolved around our character, Lenny, a mid-thirties aged Primary School Teacher. Her role as
teacher is just a small part of her life, though to me it is the most important thing she accomplishes following a difficult life. Lenny
really struggles, and finds it hard to interact with those around her. Events of her early memories of childhood continue to haunt her.
This book is heartwarming and heartbreaking, and just so well written that it’s hard to believe this is the first novel written by Australian
Author, Kerryn Mayne.
I’m not going to share the conclusion because once it’s out, no matter who slips, the readers will lose just a bit of the build up and
anticipation.
I recommend this book! It’s going to be a long wait, but 23 July 2024 will be a great day for us all as this book hits shelves everywhere..
My thanks to St.Martin’s Press via NetGalley, for a download of this book for review purposes.

I totally didn't see this coming, but this book is seriously the unexpected gem of the century! Like, I started reading it without any expectations, and bam! It hits you right in the feels with every page turn.

Let's start with our protagonist, Lenny Marks. She's the queen of routines, guys - like, seriously: she bikes home from work every day at precisely 4 PM, buys the exact same groceries week after week for her meals, and has a collection of "The Hobbit" that could rival a bookstore (and they're arranged by height - how cool is that?). But here's the kicker - she's haunted by this deep-seated mystery from her childhood, where her mom and stepdad vanished without a trace. And she's like, totally convinced that she had something to do with it. Can you imagine carrying that kind of guilt around?

Then, out of nowhere, a letter from the parole board shows up, and suddenly, all those buried memories start bubbling to the surface. It's like watching a pot of water boil over, except instead of water, it's memories, and instead of a pot, it's Lenny's mind. But here's the thing - even though it's not your typical fast-paced thriller, I was totally sucked in, desperate to uncover the truth alongside Lenny.

And Lenny herself? She's such a fascinating character, you guys. Sure, she's socially awkward and can't read social cues to save her life, but she's also incredibly intelligent and well-intentioned. As she navigates the murky waters of her past, you can't help but root for her every step of the way.

"Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder" was an absolute blast to read. It's Kerryn Mayne's debut novel, which is seriously impressive, and you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be keeping an eye out for more from her in the future. Trust me, guys - this is one book you don't want to miss!

I did not know what to expect when I began to read Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder. The title of this debut novel should lead me to expect a murder, but in reading it, I began to wonder if the title was an allegory? Lenny Marks does not seem the sort of protagonist to commit murder. Kerryn Mayne's first novel is filled with surprises and complexity, and a slow and careful movement toward a bildungsroman novel of growth and maturity. At 37, it takes Lenny a long time to mature and leave her abusive childhood behind her.

Initially, I thought that Lenny was neurodivergent. She lacks maturity and is socially awkward. Her childhood created the type of child, who if she possessed the shell of a turtle, would never pull her head out of her shell. She is scared and unable to defend herself. The characters who surround Lenny are at turns selfish and thoughtless. But other characters are thoughtful and caring, if only Lenny can let them into her life. Lenny's neurodivergence is the result of her abusive stepfather and an unspeakable trauma. Mayne constructs Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder as a slow movement, with memories and reality always just out of reach, a gentle unfolding of a trauma so terrible and deep that it cannot be remembered.

I liked this novel very much. Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is not an action film or a thriller novel. It is a slow unfolding of the past and a reawakening of a life. Readers should not expect a novel that opens with a dynamic event. Instead, Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a novel about why children need to be protected and loved. This is a terrific debut novel. I do totally recommend Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley. I wish I could write this well.