Lenny Marks is a character you'll root for in this funny, heartwrenching, and heartwarming story. It's a great story of how a traumatic childhood can stifle the chances for a happy, normal adulthood. Lenny is loveable and kind, and as she found her backbone (and buried childhood memories) the story - and Lenny - kept my interest from beginning to end. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an early copy of this story.

LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER by Kerryn Mayne is set in Australia and Lenny is a wonderful, emotion-stirring character. A bit awkward socially, she is a teacher who values neatness, order and repetition. At 37, Lenny is a loner by preference, "pretending there were people in her life seemed to quell the concerns of others," although she does gradually bond with grocer Ned and her older neighbor Maureen. It is difficult for her to interpret the adult "mean girls" at her school, and bullies prompt some sad moments, but the novel has plenty of humorous episodes, too. Readers will want to wrap their arms around Lenny and cheer as she ultimately stands up for herself and deals with childhood trauma. Suggest LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER to anyone who enjoyed The Maid by Nita Prose.

4.5 stars

Thanks, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, for the ebook and audiobook review copies via NetGalley #macaudio2024 (and to author Emma Gray for recommending it).

My coworker exited our boss’s office on the verge of tears. He was brilliant but remarkably abusive and brutal on his staff. “Whatever you do, don’t be nice to me,” she stated flatly. I knew exactly what she meant. What is it about kindness and comfort that makes you crumble into tears? When you don’t make eye contact with the hurt, you can ignore it and press on through your day.

I was reminded of this while reading Lenny’s story, as she has spent her whole life keeping people from comforting her, going so far as to forget why she needs comfort in the first place. She’s fine. She has frozen dinners, a tiny apartment, a good job, and a SOLID routine. There’s nothing else she needs. Sure, it would be nice to have a few friends, but with Monica, Phoebe, Rachel, Ross, Chandler, and Joey to keep her company, it’s not like she’s lonely.

Except, you know where this is going. Events unfold, forcing her to remember what happened to her mother and stepfather when she was young. As Lenny unravels, the kind people on her periphery start stepping up to demand she let them in. Fans of ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE will enjoy this “heartbreaking and heartwarming” novel.

Such a good read that I enjoyed! I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

This was a fun book, and I really appreciated the opportunity to read it! I will recommend this book.

Really enjoyed this book. Felt familiar to Clare Polly’s rules for committing but I liked the thriller element to it

Lenny Marks? More like Lenny Marks Gets Away with a Decent Read. This book is a cheeky romp through murder and mischief, but it never quite crosses into must-read territory. The plot has enough twists to keep you entertained, but the characters? Let’s just say they don’t exactly leave a mark. If you’re looking for a light, fun read with some sharp humor, this is your ticket. If you’re after something with more depth, well, Lenny’s still running away with that.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a novel that combines humor and heartbreak to tell the story of Lenny Marks, a socially awkward school teacher whose repressed childhood memories resurface when she is confronted with her past. The book delves into Lenny's internal thoughts and her struggles to cope with the traumatic events of her youth. One of the strongest aspects of the book is the portrayal of Lenny's internal world. The author skillfully captures Lenny's thoughts and emotions, allowing readers to empathize with her and understand the complexities of her character. Lenny's journey of self-discovery and healing is both relatable and poignant, making her a compelling protagonist. It is worth noting that the pacing of the story is slow-moving at times and it did take me quite a while to get invested in the story. While the title may suggest a thrilling whodunit, the book offers a different experience that may not align with initial expectations.

It did give me Eleanor Oliphant vibes and I think that may be the best way to describe it. I think it was well written and the writer has promise. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I went into this fairly blind and enjoyed it way more than I was expecting! 4.5 stars.

It definitely gives strong Eleanor Oliphant vibes in a lot of ways except that you know there’s a mystery in her background. It takes awhile to get to the explanation if that mystery but in the meantime, I enjoyed seeing Lenny start to form relationships and step a bit out of her comfort zone. The portions about her childhood trauma were a little difficult to read. I don’t usually get emotional while reading but there were a few parts where the love demonstrated towards Lenny made me a little teary.

I’m not crazy about the resolution of the book although I think a lot of readers will find it satisfying. This is definitely one I would highly recommend!

This book was enjoyable. It was cozy and fun. But at the same time, there were dark moments in it. Lenny is an interesting character. She’s set in her ways and a little bit eccentric. Something from her past will be brought back up changing everything for her.

A well-written, non-cozy mystery that tales us on a journey of self-discovery and healing. An intriguing read with an interesting premise.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic ARC and the opportunity to review this book.

I was pre approved for this ARC due to my love for the Finlay Donovan series but this book doesn’t seem to overlap the same genres. Lenny Marks lacks the humor and elements of ridiculous adventure that fuel the Finlay Donovan books.
However, I did still enjoy this book for what it was even though the comparison to one of my all time favorite series led me to believe it was going to be a completely different reading experience.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lenny Marks I love you, girl! I wanted to reach right into the pages of this book and give Lenny a great big giant hug, even though I know she wouldn't like it! :)

I have a strong affinity for the stories with neurodivergent female main characters. The ones I've read have characters that struggle with the everyday, but find a way over and through it. Lenny Marks was no different. Hers might be the most touching of all of these stories I've read. Lenny's story starts with a letter she gets, but clearly wants nothing to do with. Through flashbacks, the mysterious layers of Lenny's childhood and teen years are slowly revealed. And as she comes to terms with her past, the people she tries to avoid and push away become so, so important to her.

My only beef with this book (and it's not even an issue with the book itself) is that it's labeled as a mystery/thriller. While there is a touch of mystery surrounding Lenny's past, it definitely doesn't feel like the front and center focus. And I definitely wouldn't call it a thriller. I would label it more as contemporary or literary fiction.

I love, love, love this book. I love, love, love Lenny and all of the people that surround her. This book is a testament to the power of friendship and found family. It shows the importance of having strong character and standing up for your convictions, even when it's not easy. We all could learn a lot from the lessons and wisdom Lenny imparts.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free advance copy of Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder by Kerryn Mayne.

I absolutely loved this book! Lenny Marks is a quirky elementary school teacher, a mostly socially inept loner who lives in alone, collects copies of The Hobbit, watches reruns of Friends and plays Scrabble against an imaginary Monica Geller. It's clear from the get-go that something traumatic happened in Lenny's childhood, but the details are left locked away both for the reader and for Lenny herself. As the novel progresses, we get to root for Lenny as she comes out of her shell, deals with her past, and makes real friends, not just imaginary ones. The writing style, while fresh and unique, did remind me of another favorite recent series, Nita Prose's The Maid and her wonderful protagonist, Molly.

This was one of the best books of the year for me, and it's hard to believe it's a debut. I can't wait for more from Kerryn Mayne. Five enthusiastic stars.

With a shaky start calling out happiness as unstable and unreliable I wondered where Lenny Marks was going to take me. Not very far, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a great story in the short distance. Lenny Marks is a marginalized character, partly by her childhood, partly by her current life, partly by the self-important people that surround her, but maybe mostly by herself. She is organized, she is a planner, and not much for social nuances which inevitably trip her up. Her brain works differently and therein lies the hook that makes you hope for her best outcome. She is in her thirty-seventh year with expectations that are below middling.

Lenny has a limit for “polite interactions and pleasantries” and when time is up she needs to leave. Making friends has been challenging but Lenny has her supporters and they help to shore up Lenny and this story. We know something bad has happened to her, we know that it is going to come out and we know that how Lenny deals with it is going to make or break this book. I loved that Lenny could take on a bad-ass, steal a dog and shelter it with the love and affection that she has never enjoyed. She can’t fail someone again, even if she can’t remember who it was or why she had failed. If anything I would have liked to have had more of the backstory verified earlier but the mechanics worked and I kept reading and rooting for Lenny.

So glad I requested and received a copy of this book. Kerryn Mayne has done an admirable job of weaving an important and affecting story about a woman who presents differently. I wish I had Lenny and her anagrams around when I am attempting to solve the NY Time word puzzles. Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy.

I went into this blind assuming it was a thriller about. murder. This was my mistake and so I had difficulty getting into the book to begin. However if you like a character driven story about living with trauma and forming friendships, this is a great book to pick up. I loved the cast of characters, each one unique and described so well that I could really picture them. I loved Lenny and her growth and this is a great twist on a murder mystery.

Lenny Marks has a very quiet, tucked in life. But her foster mother has been pushing her lately - get out, make friends, experience life. And just as Lenny has decided to do just that, something from her past comes back and makes her want to crawl away again.

I thought this was an interesting story but it lacked the punch I was hoping. I found the last few chapters pretty shocking and thought it was a little out of character for our MC. I thought the bad guys were just a little over the top - I'd liked them to seem a little less completely awful and maybe more of a gray area. But it was a cute, interesting read with twists I didn't see coming.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

My first thoughts as I started reading Kerry’s Mayne’s debut novel, LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDEr, we’re how does Lenny and her elementary students cope with Lenny’s autism. I like how the author has Lenny trying to have a social life with her fellow teachers. Lenny’s life changes when she receives a letter from the parole board about her father. We start getting glimpses of Lenny’s childhood and the events that led to her father going to jail. I love her relationship with her elderly neighbor. The book did take me a long time to read. I needed to put it down and start again a few times. There were so many threads of the story that needed to be put together. I plan on going back and rereading this book again as I think I might be able to enjoy it more. My thanks to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for a copy of this book. The opinions in this review are my own. 3 1/2 stars raised to 4 stars.

I thoroughly loved this book. Lenny Marks is one of my favourite heroines of all time. I loved her personality and I loved the little mysteries sprinkled through the story until the big mystery was revealed at the end. I will definitely watch for other books by Kerryn Mayne in the future!

I truly enjoyed this story about Lenny Marks, a woman who underwent a traumatic childhood resulting in some compulsive behaviors in adulthood. I enjoyed having a neurodivergent main character a la "Elenor Oliphant" or "The Maid," and seeing how Lenny navigates through life. When she starts to stray from her normal routine, it seems that everything that she has every believed to be true is put into question. Lenny is a character who I will not forget easily. There was such incredible development of her, and the reader got piece by piece of her history, with the full events behind many of Lenny's actions finally being revealed. I just wanted to give her a hug! The side characters were so charming as well, with Malcolm the dog definitely stealing the show. I truly enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.