I was fooled by the cute cover and fun title, the inside was emotional and heartbreaking. Lenny Marks is an incredible character with the backstory to back her up as a strong woman.

The narration was very engaging and set the right tone for the Lenny and the book.

This was an engaging story about a neurodiverse woman battling trauma and doing her best to float by until she’s forced to confront her past and let people in. The audiobook narrator did a great job of portraying all the quirks and poignant journey of Lenny Marks. Definitely for fans of Elenor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Some of the plot felt a little unbelievable to me hence not five stars. Overall, I’m impressed by this author’s debut and will definitely seek out her books in the future.

Growing up, I observed as much as I could, so I could catalogue as much as I could, so I could learn to be “normal.” We now know this is called masking and after 35 years, I am finally starting to unmask. But until then, I thought I was broken. Weird, off, wrong, incompatible. Throughout my life, I’d read weird or obscure books about characters who weren’t socially accepted. They were the outcasts.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower was like my mind exploding open. There were others like me. Maybe I wasn’t so off? But it wasn’t until recently that I discovered books with neurodivergent characters. Britt Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman and The Maid by Nita Prose being some of the firsts. It was the first experience reading first person of someone with a brain like mine.

All of the dialogue felt so similar. It felt like reading my own thoughts, and it made so much sense. I suddenly made so much sense. Now I virtually will read any book with a neurodivergent character, just to learn more about other people like me.

Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder is on that list, and I loved it. I love a good story about character growth. Mind, not character change, but an acceptance of who you are, as you are. And the community coming together and accepting who you are, as you are.

I think that’s one of the things neurodivergent folks want the most: to be understood. We spend our lives trying to understand those around us, and yet, very rarely, does a community do that for us. It gets lonely and we isolate because it’s easier. But I love a good story about a sense of community being built around someone who is neurodivergent.

Overall, this was a complex and beautiful book. Even the acknowledgments had me chuckling. I think I will be a fan of this author for years to come.

A super quirky Friends obsessed main female character?! Sign me up! This has a super great narrator! The title I feel is a little deceiving perhaps? I don’t know…. The whole murder aspect takes up so little of the story. I absolutely adored Lenny’s character though. Very similar to Sally Diamond and Molly from The Maid. Most of the book is just her day to day life and some flash backs to her younger years. She’s always thinking in terms of worst case scenarios and SAME! I did really enjoy this but I think I expected more of a mystery vibe than we were handed. Great debut album!

This was a heartwarming book, gave Eleanor Oliphant vibes, which I enjoyed. I liked the characters, the flashbacks, and the overall message in this book. I was wanting a little more from this book, but I couldn't put my finger on what that was.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder
by Kerryn Mayne, narrated by Annie Maynard

I thought this story might be more lighthearted but instead it hides deep heartache and feelings of guilt. Lenny Marx is 37 when the story starts and she lives alone in her little house. She likes being alone although she's not really alone. She has Monica, from the TV series, with her when she wants to play Scrabble or needs to say she already has plans with her "roommate". Yes, yes, Monica is just a character on a TV show but Lenny knows her so well by rewatching the shows all the time and she doesn't have real friends. Well, soon she does have a dog named Malcolm and he really is a woman's best friend!

But Lenny's mom, the woman who had fostered her after her granny went away, has been urging Lenny to make friends, to get out more, to do things with others. So Lenny is trying, not very successfully, to become friends with the "cool girls" at work. Still, Lenny has trouble reading people and often misinterprets what they are thinking or meaning.

Now something very big is happening. Lenny's stepfather is getting out of prison. He's the reason people left her, why everyone leaves her. Or maybe it's Lenny's fault everyone leaves her. Lenny's stepfather's voice runs through her thoughts, "this is your fault" and Lenny applies it to all her life.

Now, just as Lenny is making friends with her elderly neighbor and enjoying it, walking dogs with her grocer friend and liking it, doing things with others and mostly liking it, Lenny's world is about to blow up in the worst way. Memories are coming back and what she doesn't remember, people are filling in. Things were worse than Lenny thought and the truth just may destroy Lenny.

I was fortunate enough to have the ebook and the audiobook and I enjoyed both. With the ebook I was able to see the anagrams Lenny makes from words when she's feeling distressed. Seeing what Lenny was doing with the words helped me understand a bit better exactly what she was doing. With the audiobook, I could "hear" Lenny and the narrator does a great job allowing me to feel what Lenny was feeling, speeding up as Lenny's anxiety became too much for her. Reading or listening, this story is heartbreaking, touching, and hopeful. There is so much more to Lenny Marx than meets the eye and she's amazing in her very special ways.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for this ARC.

This was not quite what I expected but I enjoyed Lenny so much. She likes her current of life and routines. But her past was very different of chaos and trauma. When a letter arrives things start changing and Lenny starts branching out more. I could relate to Lenny a little bit and just wanted to cheer her on in some ways. I felt for her in so many others. This was a nice break from the thriller books I have been reading. I look forward to more books from the author.

I liked how the story was written- use of literary devices: clever use of satire, humour, turns of phrases. There’s more to the story than the initial impression would lead you to believe.
I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook. The narration by Annie Maynard is very well done. Her voice is clear, animated and very easy to listen to. Character voice portrayals are consistent and fitting.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to enjoy the audiobook version of this ARC.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook!

Listen, I know some people get annoyed with book titles like LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER and FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT and ELANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETEY FINE, but I, for one, love them. This is the perfect title for this book.

Lenny Marks is what you'd get if you combined Sally Diamond (from STRANGE SALLY DIAMOND) and ELANOR OLIPHANT.

Based on the title and cover alone, I was expecting a cozy mystery with an armature sleuth but I was SO WRONG. This is not really cozy (okay, maybe a little) and it's not really a mystery (also MAYBE a little). I'd describe it as a character study in which readers learn about the character as she simultaneously learns about herself. It almost felt like a coming-of-age story, but in reverse, as she tries to go back in time to her childhood to understand who she is today.

This is darker than I expected but it is dressed up to seem cutesy with a socially awkward character who has 36 copies of THE HOBBIT, plays scrabble, and talks to her imaginary friend. Only once the many layers of past trauma are slowly revealed through flashbacks do we begin to understand the awkward and quirky Lenny Marks is really a scarred and broken human who doesn't even fully understand how dark her past was until she gets a call from the parole board and things begin to unravel.

Even with her broken past, Lenny is still an overall delightful character and one I was rooting for the whole time. I was very pleased by how the story ended for her and I'll remember her for a long time.

The narration was done by Annie Maynard and she did a great job!

I loved that the author thanked Sally Hepworth in the author's note for encouraging her to write this book because I really think Sally fans will love this book!

4.5 stars rounded up for GR

This will be available for purchase on July 9th!

Lenny, aka Helenna, Marks is a lovable heroine. She cherishes fine literature by J.R.R Tolkein and C.S. Lewis, she is an avid Scrabble player, and her imaginary friends are characters from the television show Friends. She is a grade five teacher who enjoys spending her days instructing children, but in many ways, she has never evolved from her younger self.

She has a hard time making friends, until she realizes that she has had many people surrounding her that have been there for her throughout her life and she was not as alone as she may have seemed.

The audiobook was impeccably narrated with charming Australian pronunciation and slang that made me smile. There was a good balance of humor mixed in with serious subject matter to give this novel substance and credibility.

I appreciated that the publishers included the Acknowledgements portion in the audiobook because it is nice to hear about the people who inspired and assisted a new author.

Thank you 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 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.

This one is a bit different, and I’m not entirely sure how to categorize it.

Told from the perspective of the neurodivergent heroine, the reader gets to experience the day-to-day life of Lenny Marks as her carefully constructed routines become disrupted by memories from the past. A letter from the parole board forms a crack in the armor Lenny began constructing the day her mother and stepfather disappeared, and things are set in motion that end up impacting how Lenny interacts with the world.

It’s full of quirky moments with some heavier themes.

I especially liked Ned and how he responds to Lenny, Kirra’s persistence in building a friendship with her, Lenny’s connection with her neighbor, Maureen, and the bond Lenny forms with Malcolm, the dog.

I liked how the book opens the reader up to the perspective of a person who sees the world differently, includes discussions of mental health, and depicts some ways the human mind copes with trauma.

I listened to an advance copy of the audiobook (so please excuse me if some of the character names are incorrect in this review). I liked how Annie Maynard’s narration captures Lenny’s world view and enjoyed her voices for the supporting characters as well. Please note that this book takes place in Australia, so the audiobook is told with Australian accents.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.

I loved Lenny Marks and want to continue following her life. She was a great character, and Annie Maynard did an excellent job bringing her voice and this story to life. I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook.

This novel tells the story through the intricate internal struggles of a smart young neuro diverse woman. Lenny is a quirky teacher who loves her simple life and routines. I thought the author did a wonderful job taking us into Lenny’s complicated mind. She has suffered extreme adversity, and this is shown through her memories of her life when she was a child at the hands of disturbed and dark upbringing in a dysfunctional environment. Which is brought into the story through a parole letter which is causing her stress as she is remembering the past she has hidden from.

I loved how the author brought this past trauma into the present and creates the mystery around us wanting to know more about Lenny and her past story and how it relates to her present. I loved the characters and Lenny's interactions with them. Mayne unlocks Lenny’s past in an addictive manner. This book has ALL the FEELS as Lenny negotiates many obstacles in her life as it stands. I thought Mayne’s treatment of mental illness, trauma, domestic abuse and loss were stellar in this novel and really provided an excellent window into the character's life and those of the surrounding characters.

This novel really grabbed my attention and heart. I would love to read another book by Kerryn Mayne. A lovely, provoking, sad and at many times, funny book. Absolutely recommended to all.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc audiobook to read and review.

I will post on 6/4/2024
Book Review
Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder
By Kerryn Mayne
Pub Date July 9, 2024
Swipe for synopsis.
Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a gem of a book. It was so different than anything I’ve read in a long time. I liked the flow of the story and how small amounts of Lenny’s past unfolded to reveal the trauma, chaos, and abuse Lenny’s childhood had been – and none of it was predictable.
It’s fascinating to me how people cope with trauma; Lenny was suffering from dissociative order. She lives this way until things come full circle and what she thought happened was different than what occurred. The second part of the story is Lenny learning about her actual past and accepting people and love. Her life was changing for the better with therapy and medication.

I just loved Lenny and her rescued dog Malcolm.

This was funny but also heartbreaking because of child/wife/pet abuse related content. Very good description of what it’s like to disassociate due to childhood trauma. I’m not sure what else I can say without giving away the plot.

The narrator Annie Maynard did a great job. I love Australian accents, even if I have to slow my listening speed a little bit to understand.

For fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine or The Maid.

3.5 rounded up - it wasn’t what I expected/was hoping for, but it’s a lovely, hopeful story so it deserves no less than 4 stars (and thus I rounded up).

This one was slow to catch my interest and I found it easier to put down (especially in the first half) than I like. The writing is good, and the author is clearly very talented, but the book could be positioned better to find its ideal audience.

Premise - an Eleanor Oliphant-type (neurodiverse coded, with no explicit on-page diagnosis/acknowledgment of a developmental difference or autism) plods through her everyday social challenges while grappling with guilt from a very dark incident in her childhood that she blames herself for (in the title, so not a spoiler). With the help of warmhearted, quirky people in her community, she learns to socialize and develops her first meaningful relationships.

In an interview, a literary agent once said genre readers want the same thing, but different. This book delivers another book with a different premise but generally the same character/plot progression/internal antagonist/style... the only problem is what it delivers is Eleanor Oliphant but Lenny Marks is marketed as a mystery/thriller and Eleanor Oliphant is women's fiction. I enjoyed EO, but not so much that I want to read it again so soon and certainly not when I'm expecting a mystery/thriller.

That said, it is a lovely work in the EO vein and clearly, based on the 4+ star average rating, tons of people love it! If you’re in the mood for Eleanor Oliphant, A Man Called Ove, Sipsworth, etc. then you should absolutely pick this one up and you will surely love it.

Thanks, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

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'm so grateful to NetGalley for the audiobook of Kerryn Mayne's Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder. The narration was absolutely perfect and it's impossible not to fall in love with Lenny from the very first page.

Lenny is a survivor of a traumatic childhood filled with loss and heartbreak. She avoids thinking about her past and instead chooses to live her life simply and without drama. Unfortunately, drama finds her and she is thrust into one situation after another that leaves her reeling. Many of her coworkers are mean girls who purposely exclude her. She rescues a dog from an abusive owner and then has to do her best to steer clear of him or face his wrath. And her stepfather's parole hearing is fast approaching, leaving her anxious and unsettled.

Despite all of Lenny's disastrous situations, this heartwarming story is filled with laugh-out-loud moments and unforgettable, lovable characters.

𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗡𝗬 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗦 𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗯𝘆 𝗞𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗻𝗲 was an unexpected delight! Lenny Marks, a reclusive schoolteacher, lives a life of strict routines and solitude. Her days are spent biking home from work, buying the same groceries, and playing Scrabble against an imaginary Monica Gellar while watching Friends. Her favorite book, *The Hobbit*, is a comforting constant in her life. Lenny’s world is turned upside down when she receives a letter from the parole board, triggering buried memories of her mother and stepfather’s mysterious disappearance during her childhood. As these memories resurface, Lenny’s carefully controlled life begins to unravel, pushing her to connect with the community around her and forge new relationships. This awesome novel by Kerryn Mayne is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Lenny’s journey of self-discovery and healing is captivating. I found myself deeply attached to her character and rooting for her every step of the way. Highly recommended!