This is a VERY solid debut novel. It is well written and has an excellent cast of characters. I really enjoyed Lenny as a character and I think would be perfect for fans of Finlay Donovan or the Thursday Murder Club which are in the cozy mystery genre. It's a book with a mystery that is interesting, but also is pretty character driven as we learn more about Lenny and what has lead her to make certain decisions in life. I definitely enjoyed her character arc.

I'm hoping this is a successful book and becomes a series! Definitely would love to read more about Lenny!

Is everything ok over there Australia? Another Australian author has entered the scene with some fresh and twisty murder. Lenny Marks is a delight from start to finish.

I really enjoyed this one. The FMC was one of routine and structure, which I can totally relate to. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this.

I liked Lenny Mark's Gets Away With Murder by Kerryn Mayne, but I didn't love it. Lenny is certainly an interesting character and she has an interesting story. However, I felt it took too long for the plot to get going at the beginning, and I also felt that Lenny's internal monologues throughout the book were a little overdone. This is certainly a solid book and I think it is a very good debut novel. I would look forward to reading a second book by this author.

Well written and great characters. The way it was written made you feel like you were there with Lenny along the way. I love the neurodivergent aspect to this book as well!

Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder is a good read. I love Lenny and her quirky self.

This isn’t a thriller and isn’t a romance so I guess it’s just fiction. I enjoyed it and it’s some what along the lines of Finlay Donovan or Oliphant but it’s it’s own also.

Hoping there is a sequel here as I need more from Lenny. This did have some heartbreaking devastating scenes also that were at times hard to get through but necessary- Lenny stole my heart for sure.

A funny and smart debut that will have you rooting hard for Ms. Lenny Marks!

Lenny is a thirty seven year old woman with a routine. She is a primary school teacher whose days run like clockwork, even down to her weekly regular rotation of meals. She is thrown out of whack when a letter arrives at her doorstep from the Parole board, which is forcing her to re-examine the events of her childhood and how she ended up on her own.

Lenny is smart but shy, and deeply impacted by events she is just starting to fully remember. This book is far from action packed but it is so wonderfully human that you will find yourself enjoying every piece of the puzzle. I loved watching Lenny open up, acknowledge her past and herself, and begin to heal. A great read for a debut author and I hope the first of more! Fans of "The Maid" will enjoy this one.

I thought this was a charming debut. The character of Lenny is well developed and done with respect to trauma victims and those who are neurodivergent. That’s not always the case, so I appreciate that.

I liked Lenny’s use of anagrams in stressful situations and the Friend’s references. While there are quite a few similar novels, this one has its own unique take on a main character who has suffered from past trauma and is doing her best to move forward. There were times the pace felt a bit slow and some suspension of disbelief is needed to enjoy the story.

Free ARC. A very well done entry in the grump-gets-a-life category of books. Well done reveal of her back story which literally made me tear up. Great character growth.

This is a well-written, fascinating debut novel. Kerryn Mayne writing style is serious, humorous and draws you right into the story from the first page.
Lenny Marks is a 37-year-old school teacher of primary students, who was an abused child and lives a very disciplined, ordered life. She bikes to the shops on the same day every week, buys the same food for each day of the week. She does not actually cook, however, is good at reheating. Lenny is quirky in many ways and very private with few interactions with others. She often plays Scrabble with her imaginary friend, Monica, watches old reruns of Friends on Netflix and often rearranges her 36-book collection of The Hobbit.
Lenny is aware that she is seen by others as being different, however, it does not necessarily bother her, although there are two other teachers at the school that she would enjoy being friends with. She is private, but at times can be outspoken.
This story is intriguing, and sad, as well as delightful, sometimes amusing, and heartwarming. There are a number of twists and turns, and secrets that are revealed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

Now and then, a book sneaks up and surprises you in the very best way. LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER is precisely that kind of book. We meet Lenny Marks, a solitary school teacher nearing 40, just before she receives a letter that throws her entire adult life off kilter. No need to say more, because it all unfolds effortlessly from there. With an endearing, beautifully written protagonist and a story that somehow balances humor with tragedy, this novel is a rare find. Readers should know that the quirky title and cover won’t quite account for some of the very difficult content in this book, including child abuse, but the content is handled sensitively and is not at all gratuitous. There are parts of this book that are still making my heart ache or making me giggle even now as I’m writing this. That’s the mark of a good novel, I think. Find time for Lenny Marks. You won’t be disappointed. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance review copy. All opinions are entirely my own.

Excellent insight into a mind that is part autistic and part traumatized by her past. Lenny has created a routine that is very defined in order to protect herself from her past and from others in the present. Lenny is portrayed sympathetically but realistically. She knows her limitations and always tries to stay in the background so that she won't get ridiculed because of the constructs that she needs. She is a wonderful character - I really enjoyed her inner monologue. I also enjoyed the way the author gave us information about the past, happening as Lenny slowly separates fiction from fact. There were several happy surprises in the story. I found most of the characters to be very black or white - not racial, just that the nice people were very nice and the mean people weren't. And that leads to an almost expected conclusion. I still very much enjoyed Lenny's world and her story!

What aims for a note to note copy of Elinor Oliphant Is Completely Fine hits the bigger chords, but misses the minor keys.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder kind of sneeks up on you with the little peaks of life as it relates to things happening around her. A well ordered tale with surprises not always expected. Thank you NetGalley for grabing me into Karyn Mayne's world!

This was a really good book about Lenny Marks and all the trauma she has experienced and how it affects her adult life. But Lenny starts making some positive changes and we get to see life improve! I enjoyed reading this!

Lenny Marks does everything at the same time every day. She has a routine. Then she gets a letter…her life changes…her name is something else. Her past taunts her. What will happen next? Friends and family…secrets…this is a quick read with red herrings. A baby? A stranger? Thanks Netgalley.

At the age of 37, Lenny does not seek a life of excitement and romance but rather one of routine and control that provides her comfort in the form of order. She is a teacher at a local school, and her nights are devoted to solitary activities such as Scrabble, TV, and arranging her The Hobbit books collection. But with the encouragement of her loving foster mother, Lenny has unwillingly made up her mind to spice up the mundane but safe life she has.

As Lenny embarks on this tentative journey, her world is transformed by a letter from the Adult Parole Board, likely concerning her stepfather. This brings back the childhood memories and pain Lenny has been suppressing for so long. As she tries to look away from the events, we feel that the very groundwork of Lenny’s carefully planned life starts to crumble.

Lenny’s psychological struggle to come to terms with her traumatic past is at the core of Mayne’s spare yet stirring prose, which creates an intriguing story. We hurt for young Lenny and cheer on 37-year-old Lenny as she faces this internal conflict. This book is sure to strike a chord with people from all walks of life, considering its revelations about dealing and recovery. “Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder” is a delightful and captivating debut novel that offers readers an immensely enjoyable and charming story.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I loved Lenny Marks so very much! She owns 36 copies of Hobbit, is a teacher, loves Friends and scrabble, sticks to her routines rigidly, has such a big heart, and is misunderstood often.

She also had a very tragic childhood, which she has trouble remembering until a letter from the parole board arrives.

I so loved getting to know Lenny and to watch her navigate through life. I really enjoyed her step mum Faye and how she is always pushing Lenny to really find happiness and joy and to deal with her past.

Malcolm was another favorite. I loved how Lenny came to have him and how protective he is over her.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this delight

I enjoyed this one! Lenny is a quirky, unique character and I love the neuro-diversity representation! I did find it to be slow at times and the ending was a little too wrapped up for me, but overall this was a good read!

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Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder
Author: Kerryn Mayne
Source: St Martin’s Publishing Group
Pub Date: July 9, 2024

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a must-read that will be published in July of this year. I don’t know why I moved this book to the front of my TBR, but I am delighted that I did. Lenny (short for Helena) lives in a lonely world of Hobbits, OCD, autism, the television show Friends, imaginary friends, and routines…lots of routines. Lenny is a creature of habit and has rituals that help her get through her days after her job teaching elementary school. This debut novel gives us a chance to get to the core of Lenny and how her mind works. She doesn’t make friends easily, but Lenny gets by taking small steps to normalcy. Nearing 40 years old, she bought a home, develops a few friendships and has a loving foster Mom who keeps watch over her because both of her parents “left” her. She struggles to figure out how to decide who is a friend and foe, which sets her up for disappointment. I truly LOVED this story. I think it might be the best ARC I have received in a long time. Reviews call it a dark comedy, and maybe it is, but not to me. It is the story of a sweet girl who came from a very dysfunctional and abusive home life and still fought her way to a future. Who can’t get behind a story like that? You will cheer Lenny on and want her to reach for a better tomorrow. I do not consider this a sad book but an inspirational story about overcoming life’s obstacles. This book is a beautiful debut novel by Kerryn Mayne, and I think it will be a roaring success when released in July. #dsyfunctional #OCD #abusiveHome #childabuse #murder #salvation #persistence #triumph #kindness #love #future #fiction @stmartinspress @kerrynmayneauthor #debutnovel #LennyMarksGetsAwayWithMurder
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I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this novel. Pub. Date: July 9, 2024
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