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!

I didn't really know what to expect when I ventured into the world of Lenny Marks. The first thing I notice is the she's neurodivergent and I think that this book seems like it will be a solid rep. But then, so many things start happening and it quickly becomes clear that Lenny has so much more going on. She has endured some horrific experiences in her past and they've definitely changed her. She seems to suffer from a form of PTSD and it's heartbreaking. Even sadder is watching her try to fit in with her co-workers and seeing how they treated her. Granted, you only need one or two solid friends but she deserved better than the treatment she received at the hands of some of these people.

Seeing how Lenny comes to terms with some forgotten memories as the book unfolds really is touching and heartbreaking. It's almost unimaginable to picture dealing with the things she's survived. Yet she keeps moving forward and trying to do better each and every day.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The audio was really amazing. It pulled me into the story and I was engrossed. I flew through this story in just a little over a day. The narration truly was quite well done.

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the audiobook and ebook.

This book was well written, and it held my interest for bits and pieces of it. I also loved the references to the show friends. Overall though, it was extremely too slow for me. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. I did like Lenny as a main character, but I had a hard time connecting with her.

The last 1/3 of the book picked up, and I enjoyed the ending. I just felt that it took too long to pick up. Annie Maynard was the narrator, and I thought she did a good job narrating. Her voice fit the main character perfectly! While this wasn't a 5 star read for me, it very well might be your next one!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh how I adored Lenny, and reading this book! Lenny was such a fun character, and I was drawn in from the very beginning. The author did such a wonderful job with this character and her story. I laughed many times as I read this one and the audio narration was spot on! I look forward to reading more books by this author. Thank you, NetGalley and McMillan audio for the ARC of this audiobook.

The book starts off as quirky read as we get to know Lenny. We learn about her very regimented life and how socially awkward she is.
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Lenny Marks keeps her life pretty much the same every day: She rides her bike home at the same time every day. She eats the same meals every week. When she gets a letter from the parole board, her whole life gets turned upside down because memories from her childhood she's been pushing away all these years start popping back into her head.
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Lenny has a big heart and as the story unfolds, we discover her background is a lot deeper than one would first imagine. Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder takes some twists that you won’t see coming and definitely provokes a lot more emotions than you think it will. As a mega “Friends” fan, I love her obsessions with the show. (I can relate, Lenny!) In the end, this book will warm your heart and you’ll be rooting for Lenny! Highly recommend for fans of The Maid and The Curious Incident of the Dog at Nighttime. 
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I loved Annie Maynard’s narration and felt her smooth Australian accent added beautifully to the story. This was Kerryn Mayne’s debut novel and I look forward to her future books!

What a quirky and adorable read! With Eleanor Oliphant and Sally Diamond vibes, socially awkward Lenny Marks surprises us all with her ability to grow and expand as a character. Lenny Marks is set in her ways. She heads to work and comes home at the same time every day on her bicycle. She purchases the same groceries and take-out and watches / reads the same stories. Her past, although most forgotten, always haunts her. When a parole letter arrives in the mail, Lenny’s memories return. I love all of the references to Friends. The storyline was easy to follow, and I did not want to put this down. Sometimes when you read a book without expectations, they blow it out of the water. This was one of those books. There were a couple of twists that I did not see coming. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was fantastic. What a wonderful debut! I cannot wait to see what Mayne comes up with next!

What a sleeper of a book. I appreciated Lenny and her growth. A neurodivergent loner gets out of her comfort zone to take on the world. OK not really the world but works to change that comfort zone, accept her past and embrace the possibilities.

This comes across as a cross between a rom com and a cozy mystery, but it deeper than that. Lenny is hiding from a mysterious letter and you cannot imagine my guesses for what it held.

Lenny has something in her past that she needs to address and heal. In order to do this Lenny embarks on a journey that has her accept help from others to find her way forward.

She is a unique and dare I say quirky character. She’s finds comfort in the TV show friends and plays scrabble against her imaginary roommate Monica Geller. She had me rooting for her from the start.

It is a bit of a slow burn, but definitely worth the time.

Annie Maynard narrates this one and hit it out of the park bringing Lenny to life. She balances Lenny’s quirks and charm with her anxiety and stress and finds a way to make her lovable.

This is one of my favorite July reads.

I couldn’t quite get into this story. The beginning and the ending were intriguing enough for me to keep going. It was interesting in parts and a bit twisty.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC audiobook
First off, the narrator was fantastic! I have to say this book isn't at all what I expected. I thought it would be more of a nerdy introvert accidentally kills somebody and gets away with it kind of quirky read. Similar to the Finlay Donovan series. I had no idea the book was going to play out the way it did. Lenny has changed her name and leads a quiet life as a way to cope with her traumatic past. I really don't want to say more and spoil it. Overall I enjoyed this book.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne is an absolute gem of an audiobook that I couldn't stop listening to—I finished it in just one day. It was the perfect companion for a road trip, keeping me alert and utterly engrossed the entire time.

Lenny Marks, with her meticulous routines and low-profile lifestyle, immediately resonated with me. Her penchant for solitude and her unique quirks, like her extensive collection of "The Hobbit" arranged meticulously, made her a character I connected with deeply. You can never have to many copies of your favorite book! Kerryn Mayne has crafted Lenny with such authenticity and depth that she felt like someone I knew.

The story itself is a brilliant blend of mystery, suspense, and heartfelt emotion. The way Lenny's past starts to unravel with the arrival of a letter from the parole board is both chilling and captivating. As buried memories resurface, Lenny's journey becomes one of self-discovery and redemption, filled with unexpected twists and turns that kept me listening intently until the very end.

Mayne's writing is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, skillfully navigating themes of truth, secrets, vengeance, and the complexities of family dynamics. The supporting characters are just as richly drawn, adding layers of intrigue and warmth to Lenny's narrative.

The narration in the audiobook is top-notch, capturing Lenny's introspective nature and the evolving emotions with nuance and clarity. It truly brought the story to life in a way that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Overall, Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a stunning debut novel that left a lasting impression on me. Kerryn Mayne has created a heroine who is unforgettable, and I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone who enjoys a compelling mystery with depth and heart. Five stars without a doubt!

I loved listening to the audiobook narrated by Annie Maynard! She didn't distinguish too much between the speakers, but her accent was delightful to listen to as she read with animation and enthusiasm.

I enjoyed reading this emotional rollercoaster of a read! Lenny was such a quirky character with her 36 copies of The Hobbit and reciting anagrams in her head as a coping mechanism. I was interested to know what terrible thing she did because she was such a quiet character. The suspense kept me reading until the end. I liked that she had Fay, Kirra, Ned, and Maureen to help her during her rough days. The ending was a bit traumatic, but it was wonderful to see Lenny moving away from the abuse and trauma in her past and moving forward to the future.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and Audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

"Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder" by Kerryn Mayne is a delightful cozy mystery that introduces readers to the charmingly eccentric Lenny Marks, a fifth-grade teacher with a fondness for routine and a knack for unintentionally socially awkward interactions. I adored Lenny's quirky character. While it is never said, Lenny has to be neurodivergent!

Lenny's character captures the imagination with her organized and quirky demeanor, reminiscent of beloved literary figures like Eleanor Oliphant or Fern from Sally Hepworth's "The Other Sister." Lenny is crafted with care, balancing her idiosyncrasies with a relatable vulnerability, especially as she grapples with mysteries from her past that haunt her present.

This was such a fun read. It is not my normal fast-paced edge of your seat thriller, but it kept me guessing and wondering what Lenny's secret was.
Despite its cozy feel, "Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder" keeps readers engaged with its layers of intrigue and the cast of characters that surround Lenny, including her faithful companion, Malcolm the dog. As Lenny navigates through her everyday life and confronts the shadows of her past, the narrative twists and turns, leaving clues that lead to the resolution.

"Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder" is expertly narrated by Annie Maynard.
She does an amazing job narrating the story and adds to the overall interest.

Kerryn Mayne has crafted a story that blends charm, intrigue, emotion, and a touch of whimsy, making it easy to root for Lenny as she unravels the mysteries that surround her. Lenny Marks is sure to find a place in readers' hearts. If you're looking for a book with an entertaining mystery and quirky protagonist, this one is definitely worth picking up.
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I went into this expecting a light, fluffy cozy mystery — instead, I came away rewarded with a deep character study layered with trauma and satisfying personal growth. Lenny Marks is a teacher in her late 30s, firmly rooted in routines, personal rules for life, and a quiet existence enriched by replays of Friends and games of Scrabble with her imaginary flatmate. Her orderly. life is shaken up when she receives a letter in the mail from the parole board. Slowly, her past is revealed, and you begin to understand how much of Lenny's unique character traits are shaped by her past trauma. Lenny is a character that's easy to root for, and I enjoyed seeing her begin to find friendships in those around her. Lenny's mental word games that she plays in times of stress were especially enjoyable. This was a solid debut for Kerryn Mayne and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

My only complaint with this book, and it's a small one, is that the cover art and (to a lesser degree) title seem out of sync with the disposition of the book. I almost took a pass on it because I wasn't in the mood for something fluffy, but I'm thankful I gave it a shot because there's much more emotional depth to this story than you would expect. Annie Maynard does a solid job on narration and the audio production is done well. 4.5 stars rounded up.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Kerryn Mayne for providing an advance copy for my honest review.

🎧 4.5/5 ⭐️ Highly enjoyed this book it came together so well. Quirky character with a troubled past that suddenly starts to come together and help her understand herself, her past, her future and who really matters. Reminds me a little of the book The Maid in terms of character similarities but a completely different storyline. Enjoyed the mystery and the way her history unfolded, very much like her memory. As always the dog helps make the book, a rule worth breaking for sure.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 (𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧) 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤, 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐈 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 (𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐝) 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝟏/𝟑 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨.

𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐤𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝’𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭. (𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 “𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲” 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡—𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.)

𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝒦𝑒𝓇𝓇𝓎𝓃 𝑀𝒶𝓎𝓃𝑒, 𝑀𝒶𝒸𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒶𝓃 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜, & 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.

Lenny is a 5th grade teacher who is extremely routine orientated, has a strict schedule and isn’t very social. But she loves scrabble and watching Friends. But she decides she is going to try to be friendly with the school staff and join them for Trivia Night. And she is definitely going to ignore the letter that arrived for Helena Winters.

Unfortunately, things don’t go quite as well as she hoped at Trivia Night and that pesky letter is still staring at her, as she forces herself not to remember that fateful night with her mother and stepfather when her life came crashing down. But she can’t ignore the past. As Lenny is forced to reckon with her past, she also finds that the right social connections just might be what save her in the end.

This novel was not at all what I expected. It is not a cozy mystery. Don’t be fooled by the cover that it’s a silly read. It’s a bit of a thriller but also a story of childhood trauma, friendship and community. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved Lenny’s character and the overall story. I was lucky to be gifted both the audiobook and a digital review copy and the narration was done quite well and really captured the essence of Lenny.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the audiobook

This just wasn't the style for me. From the marketing, I thought this would be more suspense or dark humor mystery, but the beginning was slow and I wasn't interested in it. Sadly, this just didn't click with my personal tastes and I didn't think it would get better for me.