This is a well-done story. Lenny Marks did get away with murder (and justifiably so?)

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. All the best to the author.

Traumatic Past Shapes Woman’s Life

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is Kerryn Mayne's debut novel, which centers around Lenny Marks, a quirky and reclusive primary school teacher. Lenny has spent her life avoiding the painful memories of her childhood, particularly the day her mother left her. Her carefully constructed routine begins to crumble when a letter from the parole board arrives, forcing her to revisit her troubled past and confront long-buried secrets.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a notable debut that combines heart, humour, and suspense. Kerryn Mayne's skillful storytelling and deep understanding of her characters make this a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction. The novel is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of facing one’s past to move forward.

I just finished Lenny Marks Is Not a Catastrophe, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. Lenny Marks is such a fascinating character—she’s got this super predictable life, from her 4pm bike rides to her exact grocery list, and even her impressive collection of The Hobbit copies. It’s almost comforting to see someone with such a tightly controlled routine.

But then, a letter from the parole board shakes things up, and suddenly Lenny’s world starts to unravel. Watching her deal with long-buried memories and start reaching out to others was really compelling. It’s like she’s forced to step out of her cozy bubble and face the messy, unpredictable world outside.

What I loved about the book is how it blends heartbreaking moments with uplifting ones. It’s got this great mix of truth, secrets, and the struggle to reconnect with the world. Kerryn Mayne does a fantastic job making Lenny’s journey feel both personal and universal. If you’re into character-driven stories with a touch of heart and a lot of soul, this one’s definitely worth checking out.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a character driven novel with elements of a psychological thriller and mystery. We meet Lenny Marks, a teacher trying to live an ordinary, simple life, but whose past has caught up to her. I really enjoyed Lenny as a character, and was interested in her story and growth. This book has heavy themes and on-page trauma, which to be honest I wasn't expecting to be so heavy, but I also found there to be plenty of lighter moments to balance this. Sometimes it felt a little disjointed to me, but I also think that represents Lenny suppressing her trauma as well. I enjoyed the themes of reclaiming one's life and the wit in the writing throughout. Overall, this was a thought-provoking and satisfying read for fans of crime fiction with heart.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I reviewed it on the app, and it mustn't have posted. I don't remember what I rated it or what my review was. I am pretty sure this book has me all over the place. It started out good, then got slow, then finished good. I believe it finished with me wanting another to read.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a fast-paced, not-so-cozy mystery that's perfect for any time of the year.

This book will definitely remind you of "Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine," until it doesn't. Lenny is a 37 year old socially awkward schoolteacher with a traumatic past. That part is similar. as are the people around her who decide to befriend her despite her awkwardness How she navigates life, how she copes with her trauma, and how she moves forward with life is all completely different. But those initial Eleanor Oliphant vibes should give you a sense for the book. Don't confuse this book with any kind of murder mystery, because it isn't that type of book. Lenny is a character you will fall in love with, cry with, be surprised by, and cheer for. The whole book is very good and especially from the halfway point, I just couldn't put it down. This is Kerryn Mayne's debut novel and she has knocked it out of the park.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for an ecopy. My opinion is my own.

2.5 stars rounded up — quite possibly the most misleading book I have picked up in 2024.

The title, cover and description of this book all made me think it was going to be lighthearted/cozy/funny, something along the veins of Finlay Donovan is Killing it. This is not that. At all. It's way more dark and depressing than that, literally a story about trauma and Lenny's family being violently murdered when she was a child, her PTSD and live afterwards, and facing her stepfather/family's murderer when he's released after 25 years in prison. Excuse me?? Also, the "murder" that Lenny gets away with doesn't happen until the last 10% of the book. So you'll be waiting for quite some time.

I think this didn't hit the mark for me because I was expecting something completely different from it. The writing was good, but a lot of pieces that I think were intended to demonstrate character growth/development just seemed irrelevant to the plot overall.

Just not for me right now. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a DRC in exchange for my honest review!

This is the author’s debut novel, and I think she did a great job. I have to admit that I was expecting a cozy mystery-ish book and this was definitely not that. Overall it was a solid read although there were times it felt like it was dragging for me. There were definitely some sad and hard hitting subjects. I would recommend this book to others looking for a mystery read. Thanks NetGalley for the eArc.

Kerryn Mayne's debut novel is a captivating and thought-provoking journey into the life of Lenny Marks, a character who instantly pulls you into her world. Lenny, a teacher who finds comfort in routine and solitude, is both relatable and compelling as she navigates the unexpected chaos that disrupts her orderly life. The story beautifully explores her growth and resilience as she faces the buried trauma of her past, making it impossible not to root for her. With its emotional depth, engaging twists, and a protagonist you can’t help but cheer for, this novel is a remarkable introduction to Mayne's storytelling.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was not what I expected. It was better.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder follows the title character, a 37-year-old, neurodivergent, fifth-grade teacher as she is confronted with a trauma from her past. Like the heroine, this novel is quirky and unexpected—one of those books that at times genuinely made me chuckle even though it dealt with some fairly heavy themes, including grief and abandonment.

Overall, I adored Lenny Marks. Although the romantic subplot felt a bit forced, I nevertheless found myself wanting to keep reading, to keep cheering for Lenny as she grew into herself and found acceptance.

If you enjoy quirky, offbeat heroines and dark humor, give this one a try. You won't regret it.

Lenny Marks is a character that will be living in my head for a while. I loved her personality. She's kind, straightforward, and, best of all, she's an animal lover. The minute she became a dog owner (no spoilers how) she won my heart. Some readers might think this is a bit of a slow burn, but I liked the fact that we really got to really know Lenny and her inner thoughts before more is revealed. She's snarky without even intending to be, she's incredibly practical, and I can see myself being friends with her. I think that's why parts of Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder really tugged at my heartstrings, but the ending was absolutely perfect. This is one I will be recommending to all my bookish friends.

Lenny Marks was a dash quirky and a smidge eccentric but all in a very good way. Funny and engaging from front to finish. Loved it.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc

It’s a good bet you know someone who is like Lenny Marks. Lenny likes her routines; she has the same dinner on the same day of the week, she rides her bike to work (as a teacher in a primary school) taking the same route, and shops at the same grocery store on the same day every week. She keeps to herself in that she doesn’t like to let her coworkers know where she lives, but she also doesn’t have many friends. She also doesn’t like to talk about herself, preferring to keep her past a secret, but also worries about how others perceive her. Her life is pretty normal by her standards, until a letter arrives threatening to tear apart the world she has carefully crafted for herself.

Although the book was unexceptional, it did keep my interest because I wanted to know Lenny’s childhood and how she became so guarded. The writing was also amusing at parts, and the writer was able to give the reader glimpses into the inner workings of Lenny’s mind. It also can remind us that what we show to others on the outside is not necessarily who we are in private, and that given the right circumstances, anyone, even the person you least suspect, can commit murder.

What a lovely book! For fans of Eleanor Oliphant is not Okay and The Rosie Project. I loved Lenny as a character and felt for her social anxieties. Great characters and interesting plot with a touch of mystery.

This is such a well written book. The cover and title are very misleading. This book isn’t a thriller. It’s about the childhood trauma of a young, neurodivergent woman. Lenny’s thoughts, mannerisms, and overall personality are so refreshing. It’s wonderful to see a book written in such a relatable way. We all have someone like Lenny in our lives. Great debut book from Mayne! I cannot wait to read more from her in the future.

Thank you to St. Marten's Press for my copy of LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER.

I literally read this book in three sittings, it would have been two if sleeping weren't a thing. I adored these characters and really loved spending time with them. I can't wait to read more from Kerryn Mayne.

Lenny Marks is a bit of a loner, who loves her routine, loves the predictability of her life, and doesn't do well in crowds. She has some friends, but she knows she has to work on that. With that premise, and with that somewhat-of-a-giveaway-title, the story proceeds to surprise, confound, amaze and leave you dumbstruck.

I liked Lenny as a character, who knows that she is not like others around her, and yet she refuses to be cast into a social stereotype dictated by norms that don't give her any credit for individuality, and any space for thinking and behaving by herself. She faces incessant demands from others - some real and some perceived - that she finds really hard to give into and agree with, and as a result ends up disagreeing and just walking from any difficult situation.

The surrounding cast of characters are well defined, realistic and refreshingly sincere - for the most part. If anything, I found the cast of characters too good to be true - but never long enough to make me stop wanting to continue reading! This was a feel-good story, and it delivers that - in spades.

The only gripe I have with the book is that title, that sets up an expectation that you keep looking out for, and sometimes takes away a part of the genuine joy that seeing Lenny should otherwise leave you with! There are some truly harrowing portions in the story, and there should be some trigger warnings - brief, but intrinsic to the story.

Many thanks for NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for providing a complimentary eARC in exchange for a honest and original review.

I had such high hopes for this one! I could just never really connect with Lenny, and it felt like a book I’ve already read before. Regardless, I’m glad to have had a chance to give it a read!

Unique and inventive story. The heroine was invested in what was good. This was in the middle for me about 3.5 start.