This isn’t what I was expecting based on the synopsis. The first half of the book dragged. It picks up once we learn more about Lenny’s past, but even then there wasn’t a whole lot that kept me intrigued. Not much happens until about 70-80% through the book. This has great reviews so I’m in the minority, but it fell flat for me. Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Kerryn Mayne for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is truly heartbreaking by the end.
I started this book thinking it was a cozy mystery, but that was not the case. However, I was pleasantly surprised because this book is very powerful.

Lenny Marks is one of the first neurodivergent characters I've read about. Her routines keep her safe because nothing unexpected will ever happen. That is, until...she joins in on a trivia night with her co-teachers, begins talking to Ned (the deli guy), and meets Malcom (the dog she secretly stole).

Quick-witted and funny at times, almost without meaning to be, Lenny takes you on her unique adventures and I was happy to go along.

The middle to end of the book (about 60% in), explains so many mysteries and heartaches surrounding Lenny's life. No one has ever chosen her and she always feel left behind. While reading a very important scence, one of the memories that resurfaced for Lenny, I couldn't help but cry. The book was truly moving and much like Lenny, a satisfying and surprising read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the e-audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this thinking it was something along the lines of Finlay Donovan but it wasn’t. This seemed more of quirky character driven stories. Which was fine. And the character is interesting. But wasn’t what I had hoped. The story was good and the narration was well done. It just wasn’t I expected it to be.

🎧 Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder

✍️ By: Kerryn Mayne-debut author

🗣️ Narrator: Annie Maynard voiced all characters. The narrators' voices fit the characters with standouts from Lenny, Ned, and Faye. Lenny's mind was going a mile a minute, Ned was a calm presence in her life, and Faye was the mother Lenny needed. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story . The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along with the E-book and audiobook.

📃 Page Count: 352

🏃🏾‍♀️Run Time: 9:42

🗓️ Publication Date: 7-9-24 | Read: 7-26-24

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for this ARC and ALC ❤️! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Genre: Women's/Adult Fic, Mystery/Suspense

🌏Setting: Australia

Tropes:
❤️family drama
❤️friends to lovers
❤️h illness-has DID
❤️hidden truths
❤️mental health
❤️found family

⚠️ TW: child abuse, DV, murder-death of parent and sibling, bullying

POV: 3rd

💭 Summary 💭
Lenny Marks leads a very routine life as a self-proclaimed introvert. She doesn't have any friends, rides her bicycle everywhere, and watches Friends at The Treehouse. She receives a letter from the parole board that upends her life as she tries to stay in control.

Heroine: Helena "Lenny" Winters/Marks(37) has been a middle school teacher for 15 years. She collects copies of The Hobbit

Side cast: Ned McKnight-the local grocer who talks to Lenny about Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Faye and Robert Winters-Lenny's foster parents; Amy and Ashley-coworkers and Amy dates Ned; Tammy-Lenny's biological mother; Fergus Sullivan-Lenny's stepfather who served 25 years in prison; Maureen-an elderly neighbor Lenny befriends; Malcolm-Lenny's dog;


My Thoughts: This book reminded me of a few others with an unreliable heroine. The novels One of Us Knows and The Other Mistress took me on a ride as Lenny Marks did as she attempted to keep in charge of her version of normalcy. Gradually the truth came out about her family and she had new found friends to support her. Her friendship/relationship with Ned was complicated by him dating Amy-one of the "cool kids" at work. They had things in common that allowed Lenny to trust him. Maureen was another new found friend after she revealed who she was to Lenny. Faye was an understanding and caring woman who just wanted to see Lenny happy. Fergus faced karma and got what he deserved with Lenny out for a little vengeance.

Range of emotions: 😬🤔🙄
🌶️: Spice 1/5-not until the end
🎧:Narration 4/5
😭: Emotion 4/5
❤️: Couple 3/5-Ned loses points for dating a "mean girl"
⭐️: Rating 4/5

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder was not at all the book I expected it to be. I thought I was getting into a fun quirky cozy mystery. I was right about the fun and quirky, at least! Lenny is a wonderful main character--her love of the Hobbit and Friends were deeply relateable to a millennial reader like me. I also enjoyed her struggles to navigate social hierarchies. The story revolving around her difficult past and dissosiative coping mechanisms was quite interesting and at times I wished I could be the friend she needed. I do wish the marketing (cover, title, etc.) had skewed less cozy mystery so I would have been more prepared for the content, but I did end up liking the book quite a bit.

Well this one was definitely a surprise. A case of judging a book by the cover and being so very wrong. I thought this would be your cozy little murder mystery about Lenny Marks, but no. Lenny has some depth to her. I loved how we are introduced to her quirkiness in the beginning. Then, there is a point where it turns serious and we truly come to know who Lenny is and what shaped her.

This book was heartbreaking and heartwarming as it’s described. I recommend giving it a try and going in blind. That element of surprise is what gets you is this one for sure!

The audiobook was very well done. The narrators voice was perfect for Lenny and I really felt I got to know and connected to her through the narrators voice! This was a pleasant surprise and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The marketing is incredibly misleading. Contrary to its presentation as a 'cozy mystery,' this book is far more akin to 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.' With a lot of heart and humor, I found myself truly rooting for Lenny. The well-constructed plot kept me engaged until the very end.
The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job, lending a light-hearted tone to the story even during its more difficult moments. If you enjoy personal journeys filled with growth and resilience, give this book a chance.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder. Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me. I was pulled to read it because of the location of Australia, but really it could have been set in any place. This one made its way to the US a few years after original release in 2022. A friend pre-read before I did, and she gave it glowing reviews which made me hopeful, but alas having a character with the same name as a friend's dog, that I hear often, made it a little difficult to stay in the story as I pictured the man as a wire-haired dog, haha. So maybe some of the issue is just me. I will agree with many comments about the cover and title not matching what you expected to read which was a light fluffy who-done-it but what you got was a neurodivergent MC who tries to stay calm and cope while working through her childhood trauma.

I loved this book! It was so fun and I had a great time listening to it. I really enjoyed the narrator. I am loving these types of humors light mysteries, and I am recommending this book to lots of our patrons!

"Not everyone in life is gonna let you down, you know." ... "It's safer to assume people will."

Lenny Marks is a grade school teacher in Australia who is doing just fine on her own, thank you very much. Or is she? Confronted with the news that her stepfather could be paroled two decades after committing a crime against her family, Lenny retreats farther into denial about what happened while also trying her best to fit in at work and in her community. As a neurodivergent woman, it's not always easy for her to read the room and she fumbles her way through daily life. But she's trying. Sort of. She's much happier at home watching Friends, playing Scrabble, and mentally rearranging the letters of words.

I think it's safe to say that Lenny is my new favorite unreliable main character. Even though she struggles to build relationships, I found her easy to like on the page/in my ears. Her story is an exploration of what can happen to a person who has been through repeated trauma and abandonment, especially at a young age, and I wanted to hug her throughout this book (although she doesn't like being touched, so maybe I shouldn't).

"Revenge will set you free."

I cheered for Lenny all the way as she steals a mistreated dog, makes friends at work and in her neighborhood, gets acquainted with a love interest, and struggles to understand and make peace with her past. She's truly remarkable. Hats off to the narrator for portraying her so well.

Also, props to the author for suspending reality and setting this book in 2022 without mentioning the pandemic even once. I don't have the stomach for COVID-era fiction just yet.

Content warnings feel necessary for this one. There is domestic violence and, at the risk of a spoiler, a child death that I found very difficult to get through. Still, a full five stars are deserved here.

I quite liked Lenny Marks. Her kind heart and (likely) neurodivergent brain were so relatable. I loved her relationship with her adoptive mother and watching her grow throughout the novel. Some of the twists were a bit obvious, but to me this book was primarily about Lenny's journey forward, rather than what happened to her before. There was enough suspense to keep it interesting, and the romantic and social bits were handled well.

I listened to this one and loved the Australian narrator.

This was the perfect mix of heartwarming and challenging, and I will recommend it liberally.

Thank you NetGalley and LibroFM for the ARC.

This book was a delightful surprise for me. Lenny Marks is an odd duck. She is a thirty seven year old elementary school teacher with little to no social life, social skills or even friends. As the story unfolds we learn why Lenny is this way and how she got to where she is today. Lenny had a terrible thing happen to her in childhood and has repressed her memory of it in order to survive in an inhospitable world. I really liked her character and her story which is told with humor and honesty. I don't want to say too much about the story line and give it away but I truly enjoyed this book and think others will too. It is an unusual story that kept me guessing and fully satisfied me at the end. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for a chance to listen/read and ARC version of this audio book. My opinions are my own.

Despite its title, this book is not just a cozy murder mystery but a heartwarming and heartbreaking novel about overcoming adversity and childhood trauma. It was such a unique story full of unexpected surprises. You just can’t help but fall in love with Lenny, who is a delightful heroine with excellent character development. It was a bit of a slow burn in the first half, but the second half really picked up and was worth the wait. If you are a fan of “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” or “The Maid,” then you will love this book. I can’t believe this is Mayne’s debut novel, and I look forward to reading her future books.

I greatly enjoyed listening to the audiobook, narrated by Annie Maynard. She really brought the characters to life, and I was completely engrossed in her storytelling. She had such a pleasant accent, which made listening to the audiobook extra enjoyable. Highly recommend this one on audio!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder
Kerryn Mayne ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This book is not a murder mystery book! It’s about a funny, unique, and quirky neurodivergent character. It is about new found friendships, family, trauma, and overcoming adversity.

Lenny Marks is a character full of habits and quirky ways. She rides her bike from work at the same time, has a habit of rearranging words in her head, plays scrabble with her imaginary bestie, Monica from Friends. She’s going about her normal life when she gets a letter from the parole board and then everything from her past starts to unravel. Lenny spent a lonely childhood full of trauma and she just buried that in her mind, never remembering it again. Now, her life starts getting weird with someone from the past causing her to remember details she couldn’t remember. She manages to make some friends along the way, but she sees them as people just trying to be nice to her because she’s different. She overcomes a lot of obstacles after finding out the truth of her past and finds some healing.

This book was so delightful and heartbreaking to listen to. It’s full of some good moments where the neurodivergent MC and her quirky ways make you laugh, but it’s also full of some heartfelt and really sad moments. For fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, this one is for you too.

The audiobook narration was a little tricky to get used to. I didn’t know if the accent was throwing me off too much, but adjusting the reading speed to a lower rate (which I hardly ever do 😬), seemed to help me stay engaged with the storyline. Nevertheless, it did not take away from the poignant and memorable story. I was able to feel the lighter and funnier moments, along with the deeper more darker moments. This novel will have you rooting for the MC and leave a lasting impression on you.

New author for me - I was able to listen to this one via audio.
This one was quite a surprise and overall enjoyed it quite a bit. I think the title/cover can be slightly misleading, but glad I gave it a try. Lots of heartwarming moments and Lenny was just so interesting to get to know. This story was a journey - (a good work to describe it). Overall the audio - was great and kept my interested. This one was a mystery with family secrets and childhood trauma, quirky characters and found families. A debut novel for this author - I'm excited to see what's next.

Thank you @kerrynmayne and @macmillanaudio for the #gifted copy of this audiobook.

Lenny Marks, a socially awkward school teacher in her 30s from Australia, has few close friends and finds solace in her collection of thirty-six copies of "The Hobbit." Her carefully structured life starts to fall apart when she receives a letter from the parole board about her stepfather’s release from prison. As Lenny faces her past, she transforms from an underestimated introvert into a resilient heroine.

I really connected with Lenny’s journey. Watching her grow from a socially awkward introvert into someone strong and resilient was both relatable and inspiring. I loved how she calms herself by finding words within words—it’s such a unique and endearing trait. The way the novel handles themes like domestic and child abuse is done with such sensitivity that it left a lasting impression on me.

I enjoyed every moment of this story and was amazed to learn that it’s Kerryn Mayne’s debut work. She’s definitely an author I will be following. A big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy—I couldn’t stop listening!

Thank you @kerrynmayne and @macmillanaudio for the #gifted copy of this audiobook.

Summary: Lenny Marks is excellent at not having a life. She keeps to herself, bikes home every day from her job at the school, buys all the same groceries, and has 36 copies of The Hobbit. Her nights consist of watching countless Friends reruns and playing Scrabble against an imaginary version of one of the characters. And Lenny excels at not remembering what happened the night her mother and stepfather disappeared though a little voice in the back of her mind tells her that it's all her fault. When a letter from the parole board appears on her doorstep, Lenny's world turns upside down and she bursts out of the patterns she made for years to push herself into her community and spark new relationships to form. But as Lenny Marks finally gets a life, will her past come knocking to steal it all away?

Thoughts: What a fantastic book. This took some twists and turns I was not expecting after reading the description, but I enjoyed this one. I went through so many emotions between the heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. Lenny's inner monologue was refreshing and real sometimes reminding me of my inner thoughts. I loved the connections she made with those around her, whether in her community, at work, or the one she had with her foster mom. It was neat how the author wove Lenny's past throughout the story to see more snippets of how her life unfolded to her present. The narrator, Annie Maynard, did such a wonderful job bringing Lenny and all of the other characters to life in this book. I would suggest listening to this one if you are able. This will be a book that I'll recommend to others.

Read if you like:
🔍Unique Mysteries
💔Family Secrets & Confronting Childhood Trauma
🐾Unexpected Heroines
😊Neurodiversity Rep

"Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder" by Kerryn Mayne is her debut novel. It is not a cozy murder mystery. It's more of a memoir about Lenny, both her present and her traumatic childhood.

Lenny is a neurodivergent young adult, and it seems to me that she is on the autism spectrum, though this is not specifically stated in the book. She has a lot of issues with social interactions. Some of her behaviors really bothered me. I could not really identify with her. This character goes through some major changes as her childhood memories return.

Malcolm, the dog, is my favorite character.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 3/5
Unputdownability - 3/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 4/5
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 29/8 = 3 5/9 rounded up to 4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio by St. Martin's Press and Kerryn Mayne for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Bravo Kerryn Mayne! These are my first thoughts after just finishing your book! I loved Lenny! The character development is insanely good. While the plot-line is unbelievable, at least I could not have nearly-killed and then killed the same man, its a story and therefore I read it as such. Ms. Mayne tells a story in the best possible way, its not too wordy, its easy to follow, every loose end is tidied up. The title and jacket cover are perfect for the book. Not forgetting the narrator, Anne Maynard may be new favorite audiobook narrator. She hits all the inflection marks perfectly and is charming to listen to.

This title is a tad misleading - when I saw this book, I figured I was in for a cute, cozy mystery and this was SO much more than that! Lenny Marks is an unforgettable character - I can't believe this is the author's debut novel because of how developed and well written this character is! I l just wanted to hug her!

I wish this were marketed a bit differently or titled differently because this book is funny, quirky, emotional and even heartbreaking at times.

In this story we learn about the very routine life of Lenny Marks - She is in her 30s, single, is a school teacher and is incredibly comfortable in her every day routines of biking home at 4pm, watching her favorite TV show "Friends" while having Scrabble matches with her closest imaginary friend, Monica Gellar. She has over 30 copies of her favorite book "The Hobbit" and as we learn of Lenny’s childhood and past trauma, we begin to understand why Lenny has so many routines and is comfortable being alone.

Her BEST coping mechanism which I found delightful and endearing (and impressive!) is rearranging the letters of words into as many anagrams as she can come up with - “Parole Hearing: orangerie, orphanage, helping, reaping, roaring…”

As the story unfolds, we learn more of her past and I just wanted to reach into the pages and hug her and some of the cast of characters that come into her life throughout the novel. This is a book about grief, loss, family, mental health, friendship, and yes maybe a little bit of murder.

Highly recommend and the audio was fantastic! Thank you to @netgalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion!