In LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER by Kerryn Mayne, Lenny Marks lives a rigid life, as the routine offers her a measure of comfort and control (readers will understand that Lenny is neurodivergent). Additionally, there is trauma in Lenny's past, so following her schedule allows her to regulate her feelings. Lenny comes to a crossroads, though, and she is forced to consider who she can trust and what she has ability to influence.

Information is slowly revealed to the readers; what is the significance behind the parole letter? What happened to her parents? Does Lenny bear responsibility for childhood events? We long for Lenny to become free of her circumstances and of her past, to accept herself as she is, which is more than enough.

The audiobook is narrated by Annie Maynard, and her skillful delivery pulls in listeners.

(Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.)

Overall I enjoyed this book, and physically reading it may have been a better choice for me. Throughout about half of it, I was struggling a bit to figure out what date they were talking about, was a listening to the present now? Lenny is a very quirky character, which makes her endearing, however sometimes it hard to keep up with the she is thinking/doing because of all her quirks. By about half way I was able to keep up with it, but it wasn’t easy to start with. The title clearly gives something away, but it wasn’t what a was thinking and there were plenty or twists and unexpected surprises throughout the end of this one.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC copy of this cute little story.

I wouldn't call this a thriller, not even really a mystery either.
Basically it felt like a cute, coming about story that we followed along with Lenny on thrughout her childhood and now adult life. I think it was just kind of bland to me overall, however the audio was done well!

I enjoyed the narrator and it made it a fun, quick listen!

Loved this one! Lenny is a fantastic character with a great voice. Her backstory slowly unfolds as she does her best to avoid the past. The story is interesting, but it's really the character of Lenny that makes this novel such a great read.

Pick this one up if you enjoy books like The Maid by Nita Prose or Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale.

I’ll be heading to the bookstore to pick up a physical copy to add to my shelf! I have a feeling this is one I’ll want to read again.

This book was kind of like a cozy mystery, but a little bit edgier. Lenny doesn’t do well in social situations, but she has been trying, especially with her coworkers. I can’t say much else without spoiling. I will say though, that Lenny is incredibly strong, and a very admirable character!

I struggled getting through this. I don't know if it was because of the style of how the author wrote it or because it was solely in 3rd person POV. I was engaged in the beginning, but quickly lost interest soon after.

This is a fun ride of a story. Lenny, the main character, seems to be on the spectrum but aside from being "different" seems to have a good life, she is a school teacher and she has a home she loves and a great relationship with her Foster Mom, Faye. When a mysterious letter arrives and starts to bring back long suppressed memories of violence her life starts to change and unravel. This is part thriller, part coming-of-age story with a dash of romance thrown in. All of the parts work well, the writing is top notch. The plot rolls out nicely and the reader can't help but fall in love with Lenny and feel her emotions as she works through everything that happened to her in her child hood and early teen years.

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.

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 narrator did such a fantastic job of bringing Lenny to life, I really enjoyed her so much. 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.

Lenny Marks is one of the quirkiest characters I have read about recently and that is what makes this story so good.

This one is a slow start, so if you find yourself wanting to stop, hang in there. Once it gets going, it really picks up and you can’t help but keep reading.

A letter upends Lenny’s life. As she learns more and begins to truly remember what happened versus what she thought happened, you will cheer her on.

This book will break your heart and warm your heart and I am so glad I had the opportunity to listen to it.

This book shines on audio. The narrator is perfect and not only brings the characters to life but also the events in Lenny’s life. I enjoyed listening to this one so much.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the ALC. all views are my own.

4.5⭐️

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a delightful and affecting tale with far more depth than I’d anticipated. Lenny Marks lives a small, carefully curated existence, avoiding socializing and the unexpected as best she can. That is, until something throws her off her axis and forces her to confront how she came to be this way- and if there is perhaps a better option out there. I found Lenny quite relatable, sometimes hitting a bit close to home, and I couldn’t help rooting for her more and more as the story progressed.

Annie Maynard did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Kerryn Mayne, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

This is a hard one to rate. Because of that, I’ve waited several weeks to write a review.

The setting is Australia, and the protagonist is an antisocial school teacher: Lenny Marks, age 37. Lenny is content with two friends, Maureen, an elderly neighbor, and Ned, a local grocer.

However, Lenny’s, sometimes, pretend world and cozy surroundings, begin to disintegrate when she discovers her friend Maureen unconscious on the floor. Flashbacks of Lenny's suppressed memories begin to surface in the upcoming chapters.

My Concerns
While, at times, I could relate to Lenny's feelings, and the story kept me wondering, it didn’t keep drawing me back. The wonderful narration by Annie Maynard certainly helped hold my interest, but the story and character development didn't quite work for me.

Final Thoughts
Lenny Marks will resonate differently with each reader. The slow-burn nature and the gradual revelation of past traumas may appeal to some, while others might find the pacing and character development lacking. Despite its flaws, Kerryn Mayne's debut offers glimpses of brilliance and promises potential for future works.

In conclusion, this is a book worth exploring, especially for those who appreciate a narrative that weaves between past and present, unveiling the complexities of its protagonist's psyche. Whether it hits the mark or almost hits the mark, it's a commendable first effort by Kerryn Mayne.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is basically a coming-of-age novel where the main character is in her late thirties, traumatized from a childhood event, and possibly autistic. As a neurodivergent myself, I immediately saw myself in Lenny and was unable to put the book down. If you liked The Maid (by Nita Prose) and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine you will most definitely also enjoy reading about Lenny!
Audio notes: Since the novel takes place in Australia, the narrator is (naturally) Australian. There are a few times where the main character listens to a voicemail or someone on the other end of the phone. I liked how it truly sounded like a voice recording. It was a nice touch.

Thank you to Netgalley, MacMillan and #MacAudio for the ARC/ALC!

I was expecting this book to be cozy mystery, but it was SO much more! I related a lot to Lenny, with having her routine and keeping to herself, and the feeling of being like a fish out of water when something comes up that upsets you natural order of things. I love a strong female main character, and Lenny encompassed that in her own unique way. Equally heartwarming and tugging on my heartstrings, this was a refreshing read in between my usual dark thrillers!

Fans of Finlay Donovan will enjoy this one.

“Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder” is out NOW!

Thank you to NetGalley for both the galley and the audio galley of this book. I really enjoyed learning about Lenny and her life. Lenny is quirky. She’s a teacher. She had a traumatic childhood and you realize early on reading this book that she’s not remembering everything about her childhood. I really enjoyed that as the story unfolded Lenny began to change. She began to make friends and she came out of her shell a little bit. She had been very much a homebody constantly watching reruns of friends and even playing scrabble with an imaginary MONACO roommate. So glad that I read this book and I won’t forget Lenny very soon. I highly recommend this book.

I enjoy going into books as blindly as possible and while this one was certainly not what I was expecting at all, it was such a noteworthy debut!

With a stunning blend of heart and humor,
Lenny makes for such a quirky and unforgettable heroine! I applaud Mayne’s neurodiversity representation and loved that you often felt like you just wanted to give Lenny a hug!

While a bit of a slow burn and build, there’s an enjoyable balance of suspense and emotion. This clever story definitely reminded me of Strange Sally Diamond and Eleanor Olpihant is Completely Fine!, so fans of these will certainly enjoy!

Lenny leds a pretty mundane life and that is the way she likes it, needs it and strives for. That comes to a halt when she gets a letter from the parole board and her memories start to come out. At the same time she rescues/abducts a dog from a man who is mistreating it and this starts a whole new aspect to her life. I'm not sure if Lenny is on the spectrum or just a little bit off but I truly enjoyed all the Friends references (brings back lots of memories) and WOW what a lot of use of the thesaurus this author must have employed while writing this book. Great job!

No spoilers here. Read the book! This one would make a great book club book and open up a dialogue.

Oh Lenny! Quirky, witty, and oh so lovable. I felt protective of her from the beginning. It’s never disclosed if Lenny is neurodivergent or if it’s a result of her childhood trauma. I wish there was more clarity there, as each can mimic the other. I listened to this on audio and was highly entertained! The narrators did a fabulous job. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Lenny in this captivating debut. Lenny is unique, caring, and struggles with making friends, but there's a significant reason behind this. I highly recommend diving into her story and meeting the other intriguing characters involved.

I really enjoyed the audiobook version and the narrator. For twenty-five years, Lenny has tried to forget the day her mother abandoned her at age eleven. Her stepfather’s final words, "You did this," have haunted her ever since. After living with her grandmother, she was placed with her foster parents, Fay and Robert, and although she was happy there, she never spoke about her past.

Now thirty-seven, Lenny teaches fifth grade at Selby South Primary School. She values order and predictability, owning thirty-six copies of The Hobbit, watching reruns of Friends, playing Scrabble with an imaginary housemate, and enjoying her teaching job.

Lenny's life is turned upside down when a letter from the parole board arrives at her school, causing her well-ordered world to fall apart. As old memories resurface, she strives to make her foster mother, Fay, happy by integrating new people into her orderly life. A break from work might help her work through these disruptions.

This story is compelling and richly emotional as Lenny’s past unfolds. Her journey to rediscover and confront her memories is both moving and powerful. The well-developed characters and Lenny's interactions make this book an engaging read. I highly recommend it—it's sure to captivate any reader.

The title of this book makes it seem like a mystery, but in reality, it's a journey of self-discovery and recovery. Lenny is reclusive and introverted. She likes control and has trouble with social situations. At first, I wanted to compare her to Molly in The Maid, but Lenny was just harder to like. Once there was some context as to why Lenny was the way she was, it became easy to fall in love with her character. Lenny couldn't remember her childhood for the longest time, and when she does, we are treated to a heartbreaking and emotional journey of healing. Annie Maynard does a great job as Lenny's voice! If you loved The Maid, this one is for you.