Lenny Marks is a quirky character. She has established routines that she never deviates from. She struggles making friends, plays scrabble with an Imaginary Monica from Friends—which she watches repeatedly. Her parents disappeared when Lenny was younger and she was brought up by wonderful foster parents. One day she receives a letter that triggers memories that she had forgotten. As the memories re-surface Lenny’s routines start to crumble. Additionally she begins to open up to the people around her and makes some connections in the process. This is a heartbreaking story of an unlikely heroine that is forced to deal with tragedy, secrets and murder.

This was not at all what I was expecting. Lenny was such a great character, reminding me of Eleanor Oliphant, or Elizabeth Zott from Lessons in Chemistry. Her social awkwardness, her focus on routines and her bluntness all added to her charm. Her story takes many paths and her childhood is full of secrets and memories that she must face in order to move on. This was a great story full of heart and family.

The audiobook was well narrated, loved the accent.

4 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This felt like a very easy, almost comfort read. There was mystery, but not in a way that creates too much tension or concern. It was an easy read with likable characters.

I don’t read the synopsis immediately prior to reading the book (I read it when I first acquired it) so I thought this would be a mystery or lighthearted tale but it’s so much more. Yes, there is a murder, but it takes awhile to set the scene and it’s all so well done you almost forget you’re waiting for it to occur. Mayne puts you squarely into Lenny’s world, and her head, and you feel as if you’re with her through every awkward interaction, the slow reveal of the past, and how it has shaped her life. A fantastic but heartbreaking read about coping with loss and finding your way after.

Don’t let the title and cover fool you; this isn’t the typical cozy mystery it appears to be…in the best way! I will start off by saying please strongly consider the content warnings, as some of this audiobook was hard for me to listen to. The narrator, Annie Maynard, is absolutely perfect for the role. Her voice is sweet and quirky, and adds so much to Lenny’s story. I highly recommend the audiobook!

Lenny Marks is such a heartwarming character that I really enjoyed getting to know. A neurodiverse, eccentric young elementary school teacher, Lenny finds comfort in her simple, predictable routines. She collects issues of The Hobbit & has a penchant for reorganizing her bookshelf, loves the show Friends, and retreats into the breakdown of words and anagrams in times of stress.

As the book goes on, we slowly unravel layers to both Lenny’s daily life, thoughts, and her past. All of the characters introduced are unique and wonderfully written. We meet her good friend, Ned, who works at her favorite grocery store, and I absolutely adored him and his storyline as well! I loved being immersed in Lenny’s world, even the difficult parts of it. Her way of thinking was so refreshing and raw; it resonated with me in more ways than one.

I really want to write more, but I don’t want to spoil anything. So, I’ll end with saying the conclusion was absolutely perfect, and it makes me wish that this was the first in a series. More Lenny, please!

Fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, this book is for you! A must listen, and a physical book I pre-ordered after listening that I need on my bookshelf.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC!

This book was so unexpected! I didn’t know what to expect, but definitely not what was delivered!

Lenny is such a quirky, endearing, & likable character. On the surface this is a point in time life story about a woman and her ordinary life but… it is much more than the ordinary you would believe from the surface. Especially when we are introduced to bits and pieces of Lenny’s dramatic and traumatic past.

I loved the side characters in this story and the themes of found family, self worth and finding one’s passion in life.

Thank you to m MacMillan Audio for my ALC and St Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for my review!

This book is a good choice for someone who enjoys an autistic heroine and loved the television show Friends.

I loved the growth of our character throughout the book as she adapted to new relationships in her life. I didn’t enjoy the last 10% of the book and it isn’t the resolution I would have chosen. But it’s the author’s prerogative to take the story where they want, and it wrapped up nicely.

Trigger warnings for childhood abuse and trauma.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The title and cover of this book gives the idea of a lighthearted romp with a case of accidental crime or a darkly humorous villain story, but that is not at all the case. Fans of Elanor Oliphant is Completely Fine will find Lenny Marks similar, but all little less devastating. The story itself is very alike, but the main character Lenny is much more palatable with characteristics that are easier for the reader to connect with than Elanor was.

I did enjoy this book more than I thought I would, but it wasn’t a new concept and didn’t particularly stand out. The characters were well fleshed out and many were kind, adding to the overall comfort of the book. Given the traumatic nature of the story, I was pleasantly surprised how hopeful and cozy the overall story was.

I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator, Annie Maynard, was delightful and performed Lenny’s character perfectly.

I enjoyed this very much! It reminded me of Elinor Oliphant, and I imagine a fair number of readers will draw that comparison as well. Still, this wasn't so alike that I felt I had already read it; Lenny Marks was a thoroughly enjoyable character and I loved living in her world for a little while. Perfect blend of tragedy and comedic relief.

The story revolves around Lenny Mark, an unassuming man who becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation. The plot kicks off with the discovery of a body, and all evidence points to Lenny, who appears to have the perfect motive and opportunity to commit the crime. As the investigation unfolds, readers are taken on a journey through Lenny’s past and present, uncovering hidden truths and unexpected connections. Mayne’s skillful storytelling and unique blend of humor and suspense make this book a must-read for fans of the genre. Whether you are looking for a thrilling whodunit or a story with rich character development and engaging dialogue, this novel delivers on all fronts.

The narrator did a wonderful job reading this fun book! If you're looking for a riveting audiobook to listen to while doing chores or shopping- this is the one! Get ready to be transformed into a murder mystery

A delightful mystery about forgotten memories with a quirky heroine. Heartbreaking and funny with some twists. It was not what I expected in the best way. I really enjoyed the story.

Lenny Marks was a pleasant surprise! I don’t typically go into books blindly, but I’m glad that I did with this novel. Based on the title and cover art, I was expecting a cozy mystery. However it is more of a journey of self discovery/recovery for Lenny, a neurodivergent teacher with a traumatic and repressed past. It is slow to start, with considerable time spent identifying Lenny’s obsessive and anxious behaviors. Over time I found Lenny endearing as she tries to build a life for herself. The revelations of her past trauma are gradually revealed, and although not surprising, are dealt with sympathetically. I enjoyed Lenny’s support system, especially her foster mother, new friend Ned and dog, Malcolm.
I listened to the audio version and enjoyed the narrator’s sweet voice. Overall an entertaining read - consider if you enjoy diverse representation in books.
3.5/5⭐️ (rounded up)

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I was excited for this one, but maybe it was me at the time, maybe it was the book, but I just couldn't get into it. I listened to about 30% and just didn't care about the next steps in the book or the characters, so I am putting it down for good.

Elementary school teacher, Lenny Marks finds peace in routine, finding contentment in life rather than striving for happiness, a fleeting feeling, in her experience. She’s fine with coming home every day to her favorite show, Friends, and “playing scrabble with Monica”. However, when she receives a letter from the parole board her carefully constructed life starts to unravel. Flashes of her childhood start coming back, a different version than she’s allowed herself to remember.

I completely adored Lenny and her matter-of-fact way she approached life, but I did hope for more for her! I knew things weren’t quite the way she remembered them, and I was eager to find out what exactly happened in her past! Some of these revelations were heartbreaking! I was happy as Lenny started waking up, taking charge, and making changes. I was fully on board with Lenny’s unlawful activities, such as with Malcom the dog and well, other things best left out of this review.

I absolutely loved this story! It started out sedate and quiet and ended up with some twisty revelations. I rooted for Lenny throughout her journey and there was even a bit of romance by the end!

I alternately listened to and read the story and I can recommend either version. Annie Maynard’s performance was fantastic, her Aussie accent wonderful and she brought Lenny’s quirky personality to life! I listened at my normal 1.5x normal speed.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for my ALC of Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder.
I thought this book was going to be different based on the description. Sadly it was not for me.
I listened to most of it, but found it did not grab my attention.
I will table this one for now and try again this winter.

Very strange book indeed…
Not at all what I was expecting, but interesting nonetheless…

Lenny Marks is a unique character. She is pretty much on her own in all aspects of life…

She is a huge fan of ‘Friends’…and has an imaginary roommate named Monica.
She teaches the fifth grade, and is actually TRYING to make some friends there (with the teachers…)

She has NO love life to speak of, and she is nearing 40.

I did mention strange, right??

But…the story continually alludes to an event that happened when she was just a child…and she never got over it.

We finally uncover what it was, but I feel like we could’ve shortened the book significantly…but that’s just MY opinion…

And when the ‘problem’ re-enters her life…well, it’s just chaos.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

*** The release date was 7/9/24, so you should be able to find it on shelves already. ***

3⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. Good, but not terrific…but I’m a tough critic. 😮😉

#LennyMarksGetsAwayWithMurder by #KerrynMayne and narrated nicely by #AnnieMaynard.

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“Fay had always told her there were choices, even if none of them seemed desirable.”

Lenny is a creature of habit. She bikes home from work at exactly 4pm each day, buys the same food and eats the same meals every week, and owns thirty-six copies of The Hobbit (currently arranged by height). But when a letter from a parole board arrives at her door, her carefully curated world is in danger of collapse.
Hu
Lenny is such an endearing character and she reminded me quite a bit of Eleanor Oliphant, a character that had stayed with me. She has had some trauma in her life and, thus, has shut the world out. She has created a routine for herself that is as isolating as it comforting. I enjoyed watching her branch out and let people in but I wish I got to know her just a little bit better.

Tha audiobook narration was fantastic! The Australian accent is just so soothing to listen to. An easy and enjoyable listen!

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for the ALC and ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book was so wonderful. Lenny was such a fun character to follow and I absolutely loved her transformation and development over the course of the book. Following Lenny come to terms with her past and also find herself as an adult was so heartwarming. I loved all the details of Lenny's life, especially her Friends obsession! I cannot recommend this book enough! My one issue (which is most likely a personal problem) is I had a bit of a hard time keeping up with all of the characters.

Set in Australia, quirky main character, heartwarming, and mysterious - I'm all in!

I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC.

The one where Lenny Marks gets a life. I love all the friends references. Lenny is socially awkward and antisocial. But she’s trying to change things. Lenny goes on a journey that is truly a journey of self-discovery. Her past and her present will collide in a heartbreaking realization. This was such a great story of how your mind can try to protect you. And things aren’t always as they seem.

Book Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I broke the cardinal of reading and judged this book solely based on its cover!!! I wrongly assumed that Kerryn Mayne’s debut novel, Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder, would be a cozy murder mystery. I came to this conclusion using only the title and cute cover art. While I got a lot more than I bargained for, it is definitely worth the read.

Lenny Marks likes routine. So much so that she has one for just about every aspect of her life. Buy when she receives a letter from the parole board, her routines and life are thrown into utter disarray. Will she be able to re-compartmentalize her life, or has this letter just unearthed the past she has desperately tried to forget?

I found Lenny Marks to be a fascinating FMC. One of the more rememberable ones I have read lately. While she is full of social anxiety and struggles to make connections with those in her everyday life, she is a productive member of society. However, as the story began to unfold I was saddened to learn that those characteristics weren’t just quirks, but came about from repressed childhood trauma (It reminded me a lot of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine).

Overall, I was blown away by Kerryn Mayne’s character development in her debut novel. If this is any indication of the books to come, I will be a devoted reader!

Special thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and Kerryn Mayne for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

* I had the pleasure of both reading and listening to this book and enjoyed both formats. I will say that having the audiobook narrated by Annie Maynard proved a bit challenging. Her thick Australian accent required me to really focus as I listened. Part of what I love about audiobooks is that it allows me the freedom to do other tasks like cleaning, driving, etc. However, with this book I mainly just stayed stationary as I listened.