Synopsis: Lenny Marks lives a quiet, routine life, but, when she gets a letter from the parole board about her stepfather’s release from prison, her life is upended as memories from her past come back to haunt her.

Thoughts: The title screams thriller and the cover screams cozy mystery, but this book is neither of those things. Not in a bad way - I really enjoyed this book and think it is a fantastic debut - but maybe not marketed quite accurately. Anyway, Lenny is a super endearing neurodivergent character, and I want to give her a hug and be her friend! This book is her story of healing from past trauma and finding joy in her life with her community. While there are quirky and humorous aspects, the subject matter is quite heavy at times so I recommend checking out the content warnings. A note on the audio: I really loved the way the narrator brought Lenny to life, she did a great job!

Read this if you like:
🚲 quirky characters
🚲 found family
🚲 healing from trauma
🚲 slow burn
🚲 character driven

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 343 / Genre: Fiction
Audiobook Narrator: Annie Maynard
Duration: 9 hours 41 minutes
Release Date: Tomorrow! July 9, 2024

Lenny Marks lives a quiet, repetitive, lonely life. But she’s determined to break out of her shell and finally get a life, as her foster mother has been encouraging her to do for ages. She’s on a mission to make friends with the girls at work and do things outside of the solitary bubble she’s created around herself. But there’s a lot more to Lenny than just a shy woman on the spectrum. She has some real trauma in her life and memories she’s buried so deep down that she doesn’t even remember them any more. But when a letter arrives announcing the impending release from jail of her stepfather unless she comes forth and speaks against the decision, the floodgates start leaking and her past and present finally collide.

I really enjoyed this book. Lenny’s lack of social skills coupled with her good intentions add humor to her personality quirks and the real trauma of her childhood adds drama and intrigue to the story.

I listened to the audiobook and Annie Maynard did a great job narrating. I just love that Aussie accent!

Thank you, @NetGalley, @Macmillan.Audio, @StMartinsPress, and KerrynMayneAuthor for my gifted copies of this book. I loved it.

This was a cute, quirky read with characters that are fun and vibrant, but overall it fell a bit flat for me. I found myself a little bored along the way, but that may just be a "me" thing! Lenny is a unique FMC that I'm sure plenty of readers will love — it took a whiiiile for the story to ramp up, so hang in there if you're on the fence in the beginning, it does get better. Overall, just okay for me but like I said, others seem to be loving it so give it a try yourself!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

A very solid debut! Although this one started a bit slow for me, I absolutely loved the way the story unfolded, and the ending hit me in all the feels. Lenny is one of those characters that will stick with me for a long time (and Maureen and Ned are also very well developed characters). There are moments that might be unsettling to some so some may want to check out the trigger warnings before reading. I can't wait to see what Mayne writes in the future!

“Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder” is an absolute gem, reminiscent of “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine” in the best possible way. The blend of literary fiction, mystery, and thriller elements kept me hooked from start to finish. Lenny’s character is so well-crafted and endearing, with a depth and complexity that makes her unforgettable. The story is both gripping and heartwarming, a perfect balance that leaves you satisfied yet wanting more. Highly recommend!

#MiniReviews:

Thank you so much St. Martin’s Press & Macmillan Audio for my gifted copies.

Super short sweet reviews to close out the week.

🚲 Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder:

It took me forever to get into this one. I love the quirky MC trying to figure out life, but nothing really gripped me about Lenny. I just read it to read it. I felt like it was a good journey, but I didn’t know where we were going. People are gushing over this one, so don’t miss out. Audio was great in my opinion, book just maybe wasn’t for me.

Everyone is hyping it up, but Lenny Marks missed the mark for me. (I’ll see myself out on that one)

Out July 9th.

This book by a new to me Australian author has been getting a lot of hype but honestly I was kind of underwhelmed. I emphathized with the main character, Lenny who is abandoned by her mother and grows up in foster care but I just felt like nothing was really happening plot-wise in the story and I ended up DNFing at around 50%. Perhaps more happens later on but I couldn't get invested in this one sadly. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder by Kerryn Mayne
Narrator: Annie Maynard
Rating: 4 stars
Pub date: 7/9

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook.
Lenny Marks, a 37-year-old school teacher, leads a meticulously routine life, biking home at 4pm every day, buying the same groceries, and owning thirty-six copies of The Hobbit, her favorite book. Her only semblance of companionship is playing Scrabble against an imaginary Monica Gellar while watching Friends reruns.

The novel slowly unravels Lenny’s past trauma, stemming from the day her mother and stepfather disappeared. Lenny’s carefully constructed world begins to crumble when a letter from the parole board arrives, forcing her to confront long-suppressed memories and reengage with the community around her.

Kerryn Mayne’s debut leads readers through Lenny’s journey of self-discovery and healing. If you are a fan of Eleanor Oliphant, then you’re going to love this one!

The unexpected twists and Lenny’s gradual opening up to new relationships make for a heartwarming read. I was pleasantly surprised by the story because the book’s title and cover suggest a quirky detective story, but this novel is far from it. Instead, it offers a profound exploration of truth, secrets, and the complexities of family and identity. I listened to the audiobook version and loved the narration by Annie Maynard! She did an incredible job bringing all of the characters to life.

Lenny Marks’ character will linger with readers long after the last page. Her struggles and resilience are deeply relatable, making you wish you could reach through the pages to give her a hug. Lenny Marks is sure to be a favorite character of the year.

Lenny has suffered a childhood trauma.
This story is emotional, quirky and interesting. The narrator did a wonderful job.

Kerryn Mayne’s Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder follows Lenny Marks, who leads a highly structured life to avoid her traumatic past. When a letter from the parole board forces her to confront buried memories, Lenny’s carefully controlled world unravels. As she navigates new relationships and uncovers the truth about her family's disappearance, Lenny’s journey from isolation to connection is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Mayne's debut is a gripping tale of secrets, truth, and the transformative power of community.

Lenny Marks is a neurodivergent woman with carefully built routines, a love for Friends and The Hobbit, few relationships….and a secret, dark past she has blocked out from her mind. A person from her traumatic childhood is back and everything threatens to unravel with her carefully crafted life, but with this, she also finds a community rallying behind her.
Equal parts humor and heart, this story makes it impossible not to love Lenny. I was surprised at how fun this was to read. The narrator was great and instantly made Lenny a character whose story you didn’t want to stop listening to.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I listened to this one and enjoyed the story, characters, and really liked the narrator.

Lenny is in her late 30s, and has her specific daily routines and doesn't deviate much. As Lenny begins to remember more about her past, she's developing new friendships and getting out of her routine.

I loved Lenny -- she was such a sweet and endearing character, I also really loved Ned. I loved all the references to Lord of the Rings and other bookish things, as well as trivia -- right up my alley. I loved all the references to Friends too -- they were so sweet.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a charming book with some heavy topics and a very lovable main character. I am really excited to see what Kerryn Mayne writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

If You liked Eleanor Oliphant, this book is for you!

Lenny is a lovable neurodivergent character who finds herself in a series of tough situations, but always stays true to her heart.

This book had a very original character and fast-paced storyline. I couldn't put it down and loved all of the characters in the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook!

You will fall in love with Kerryn Mayne's smashing debut, LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER! Lenny is quirky, funny, intelligent, and has repressed trauma.

Follow her journey with this heartwarming story and her loveable and memorable character, who will steal your heart from a talented new voice in fiction! This is a moving story of memories, trauma, truth, secrets, love, and loss.

About...

Meet Lenny Marks (formerly Helena Winters). Lenny is an intelligent, 37-year-old neurodiverse woman who loves routines. She is a devoted school teacher. Her favorite TV show is Friends, and her favorite book is The Hobbit.

Every weekday at 4 pm and never before, Lenny ensured her blackboard was clean and her classroom straightened before heading home. She rides her mint green Polygon Zenith bike and rides the twenty-one minutes to her Tree House—which was not actually in a tree as the name may suggest.

She purchased her groceries two afternoons a week (Mondays and Thursdays). She was a regular at McKnight's General Store. Ned was one of the few people outside of work she considered an acquaintance. Often in the company of Ned, Lenny would become discombobulated.

She plays Scrabble with her imaginary flatmate, watches Friends, and follows the same meal routine every day of the week. She also likes self-soothing word games to calm down and relieve stress.

Lenny's existence was many things: simple, predictable, and uneventful. She likes order.

When Lenny receives a letter from Adult Parole Board Victoria, she pushes it back into her bag. It wants to be read, but she ignores it. She knows that if she reads it, her life will get messy and change, and she does not like change. She wants to open the envelope, she realizes. She has to.

Was she a victim? She was Helena Winters, and the letter had reached its intended destination.

Lenny is very good at not remembering what happened the day her mother and stepfather disappeared when she was still a child. The voice in the back of her mind whispers, "You did this."

The author takes us back to June 1991, where we learn about Lenny's past, alternating from past to present (May 2022).

Lenny's past begins to unravel; raised by foster parents after she suffered a loss in her childhood and painful trauma. What memories has she repressed? Is it too difficult to remember? Long buried memories rise to the surface, and her carefully planned routines fall apart.

Will she have to connect with the community and friends and rely on others for the first time?

My thoughts...

I loved LENNY MARKS! The author grabs you from page one to the end with this creative, fun-loving, quirky, loveable character. Thought-provoking and compelling, the author tackles high-charged emotional topics mixed with humor with a heroine that will linger long after the book ends.

Mayne's writing is impressive, as is her well-developed cast of characters. She handles topics of mental illness, domestic abuse, trauma, and loss with sensitivity. The book is full of heart, deliciously entertaining and clever, packed with wit, mystery, and suspense. It is heartbreaking and heartwarming, an endearing and charming story. I can't wait to see what comes next from this newfound author.

Audiobook...

I had the privilege of reading this exceptional book and listening to the engaging and entertaining audiobook, narrated by Annie Maynard making the characters come alive for a superb performance!

Recs...

Lenny Marks is for fans of Sally Hepworth's The Good Sister, Elizabeth Berg's The Story of Arthur Truluv, Gail Honeyman's Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Fredrik Backman's Britt-Marie Was Here

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, #MacAudio2024 and NetGalley for a gifted ARC and ALC.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 9, 2024
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This book was not at all what I expected. The cover and title had me thinking cozy mystery, and it wasn’t really, but I was far from disappointed. Lenny Marks seems like a poorly adjusted adult, but the more you read, you find that Lenny has had a tough childhood, living under the thumb of an abusive stepfather. She bounced from her grandmother’s to a foster home, believing no one wants her, but Lenny might be misremembering the events of her life, only now being forced to examine them as her step father is eligible for parole,

I’ve been trying to listen to this but I just can’t really get into it! I don’t know if it’s Lenny and her quirks, the accent or just the story itself that just isn’t resonating with me.

Did Lenny Marks get away with murder? She might be neurodivergent, she keeps to herself, and lives a small, quiet life. How could anyone possibly think that Lenny could murder someone? When author Kerryn Mayne throws a wrench into her character’s life, we readers might think twice about Lenny.

The wrench in the works is a letter from the parole board, and Lenny is so discombobulated and disturbed by its arrival that she begins doing very uncharacteristic things. She goes out with coworkers. She meets the grocery store manager at the dog park. She starts remembering things she long ago buried for survival, and her imaginary friend, Monica Gellar, is replaced by the apparition of a younger Lenny.

Lenny is a fantastic character. She is odd, lovable, and empathetic. Her story is both heart-wrenching and heartwarming. The book is fun and sometimes humorous while still having depth and presenting readers with some very serious issues and beautiful messages of love, family and friendship. This is one of my #MustRead2024 books.

Annie Maynard’s narration of Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is brilliant. She made the characters sparkle.

I absolutely ADORED this. I found Lenny to be deeply relatable and my heart hurt for her at many times throughout the book. This story gets an indisputable 5 starts for plot, emotions, character development, and so much more.

I loved the narration. I listened at 2.0x speed. I think the narrator really brought Lenny to life and did an excellent job with all the dialogue as well as Lenny’s internal thoughts.

In Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne we follow Lenny, a neurodivergent school teacher with an imaginary housemate, Monica Gellar, to help her seem like a normal person with friends. Lenny has had a difficult childhood, and her memory is not accurate about everything that happened to her - a method of protecting herself - as is the imaginary friend. Lenny has 36 copies of The Hobbit, and that was all I needed to know about Lenny to know that I would be friends with Lenny. I loved this complicated character and her story. It is maybe a little long, and the first half of the book moves more slowly in the world building and character development, but overall a very good read. This book was released last year in Australia and will be released next week, July 9th in the U.S. Thank you to Net Galley #netgalley and Macmillan Audio for my advanced copy.

Lenny Marks is a protagonist who is easy to love! She’s a school teacher who is socially awkward, but who has a strong work ethic and sense of justice. This story was quirky, fun, and humorous at times, while still having depth and a serious side. (Think Eleanor Oliphant.) I couldn’t help but laugh at some of Lenny’s thoughts, but I also felt empathy for her.
This is a mashup of drama, humor, with a bit of mystery thrown in. I think the title is deceptive, as it implies that the story is primarily a mystery.
I wish that the last third of the book had moved as quickly as the beginning! It felt somewhat drawn out. I think that anyone who loves a neurodivergent main character will enjoy this book.
Enjoyable audio narration!