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!

This book ended up being much darker than the cover led me to believe! Lenny Marks is settling in to her solitary adult life while coming to terms with her extremely traumatic childhood. Mayne created such an endearing cast of characters and the plot kept me hooked. Lenny reminded me a little of Molly from The Maid and Sally from Strange Sally Diamond.

🎧 Annie Maynard was a fantastic choice to narrate Lenny’s story. Maynard portrayed Lenny’s humor and wit with enthusiasm and her tone perfectly balanced the light and dark moments. I could listen to that Australian accent all day!

Thank you so much Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ALC! #macaudio2024

This is a muuuuuuuuuuuch more serious book than the cover and title and synopsis imply.

There's an impression many people have that the main character is neurodivergent, but that doesn't ring true to me. It seemed very obvious that she had trauma from a childhood event that she had re-written in her mind and built an entire life/persona around this false narrative.

I think the appeal is supposed to be in the characters, but I couldn't connect to them. And unfortunately the story seemed very unoriginal based on the media I've consumed in the past. It all played out exactly how I assumed from the beginning.

This was a great read! I loved the story and character. It kept me engaged the entire time. It was emotional at times. I found myself really connecting with Lenny and just wanting to give her a hug and be her friend. She reminds me a bit of myself and that made the book even more special.

Lenny Marks is not a character I will be forgetting any time soon. Even through repressed childhood trauma she finds a way to be the most delightful human being. The scene in the staff room where Lenny finally tells her co-workers what she’s really thinking was highly entertaining. I enjoyed the discovery of who her neighbour really was and was so sad and horrified to read what really happened with Lenny’s family.Thank goodness for the Marks family being the best possible foster family. The ending of this book was beautiful and is a good reflection of life after trauma.

I really enjoyed the sound effects in this story and the narrator was lovely.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced copy of this lovely audiobook.

I just loved “Lenny Marks gets away with murder”.

Lenny is 37 and single, and she loves and needs order and routines in her life. She works as a school teacher, comes home at the same time every night, eats the same meals every week, doesn’t have many friends, plays scrabble with the imaginary Monica from her favorite TV show “Friends”.

She moved from place to place growing up, as the people that cared for her, left her life for various reasons. She cannot remember what happened the day that her mother and stepfather disappeared when she was young, but she has a sense that she had done something wrong.

Her routine life changes when a letter comes from the parole board – her stepfather is up for release from prison. As Lenny is forced out of her comfort zone, she learns what really happened in the past, and who the people around her truly are. As her life spirals out of control, she learns what really matters and who to trust.

This was such a heartwarming story, with some unexpected twists. I loved Lenny’s character, and was rooting for her through the whole book.

There were shades of “The Maid” and “The Rosie Project” in this book – both of which I had really enjoyed too. Lenny will stick with me for a while.
This is the author’s debut book, but didn’t feel like a first book. It was very well written.

I listened to the audio book, and it was an enjoyable experience. I felt the narrator handled Lenny’s character well, with a lightness to her voice as Lenny navigated difficult social situations.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really liked it, stuck with me & would recommend
This begins as a light character study about a quirky young woman and her relationships. You quickly realize that it is not that. There's a lot of trauma there that hasn't been delved into. A case of its fine, I'm fine, everything's fine... but it's not. 

I fell in love with Lenny and was really rooting for her. It almost becomes a mystery as she starts to piece together what really happened in her childhood. 

Since finishing, I've been thinking a lot about trauma and self preservation. For that, for it's wit, for her triumph, I really enjoyed this book. 

The narrator, Annie Maynard, did a good job, I had no trouble understanding who was saying what, where, when, and with what expression/intension, as well as cluing me into the fact that it's set in Australia. 

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and author Kerryn Mayne for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is out July 9, 2024.

I don't remember the last time I fell so in love with a main character. Lenny grabs your heart and doesn't let go. She is a teacher in Australia and is a loner. Lenny prefers her own company to others, spending her free time playing Scrabble and watching Friends. She does wish to have a real friend but has a hard time socializing and enjoying the things others do. What Lenny doesn't realize is she does have people in her corner who like Lenny and enjoy her company. Throughout the book, it is a delight to cheer Lenny on as she attempts to break out of her shell.

What appears to be a lighthearted fun book about a quirky character later becomes something a bit darker as events from Lenny's past are uncovered. She experienced true trauma as a child that she has repressed, which we learn is causing a lot of Lenny's anxiousness. The more I learned about what she had been through, the more I wanted to see Lenny beat her demons. She is such a kind, funny, lovable character. I adored the people in Lenny's found family. The wit in this book is great. I listened to the audio which is done fantastically by Australian Annie Maynard. Maynard becomes Lenny through the narration and brings her strong personality to life. Likewise, she performs the additional characters each with their own distinct nuances. I was never lost or confused...only entertained.

This was my first read of July and I can already claim it will be a top read for the month. I highly recommend this novel and hope to see more from Mayne in the future.

Often there is a bit of time between when I get a book for review and when I actually get to read it. So I sometimes forget what a book is about and I don't read the book summary when I start it. This leads me to not knowing what a book is going to be about. That's the case with Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne. With the title and the cute cover with a girl on her bicycle, I thought it might be a humorous book.

I was definitely wrong about it being a light read. It was much heavier than I was expecting.

When I started listening to the book, I quickly figured out that it wasn't set in the U.S. It's set in Australia which seems to be popping up more and more as a setting in the books I read. I was tipped off by the accents but I think it was a few chapters before a place was mentioned. It also became evident pretty quickly that the title character Lenny Marks is neurodivergent, which had me wondering if this would be similar to The Maid. But again I was wrong.

I wondered for quite some time whether Lenny was on the autism spectrum. It might still be possible but I think her quirks are more a result of childhood trauma. If this is a trigger for you, you might want to be cautious when picking up this book. There is only one real scene but several inferences to what happened to her. I don't want to give too much away but if you are concerned you can contact me and I can give you more details.

I usually enjoy character-driven novels, but this one dragged for me. I also think that Lenny reminded me too much of myself. I never told people I had a roommate when I didn't, but I let people believe I had friends who I did stuff with (they assumed and I never corrected them). I totally understood her feelings of abandonment and feeling that people did not want to be her friend. It dredged up some stuff for me so it made for an uncomfortable read, especially since a lot of time is spent setting up her character.

It is a well-written novel and the narrator, Annie Maynard, did a great job voicing the characters. There are flashback chapters but they are dated and it was easy to follow the audiobook.

If you are looking for a book with a complex character then this is definitely a book you should consider.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Saturday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/07/lenny-marks-gets-away-with-murder-by.html

I really liked listening to the audiobook of Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder by Kerryn Mayne. Annie Maynard did a great job bringing Lenny Marks to life. It was mysterious and unfolded unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It was so good and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced audio. All opinions expressed above are my own.

I found this an easy read that had a corky, somewhat strange MC named Lenny. This was a lot like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. This story was a mystery sprinkled with a traumatic event that the writer slowly unravels. It’s not written like a true crime but more like a cozy mystery. I read some of it and listened to most of it. The narrator was Annie Maynard and she did a great job.
Thanks St. Martin’s Press and McMillan Audio via NetGalley.

Looking at reviews, I am seeing many people loving Lenny Marks Get Away with Murder. Unfortunately, this was a DNF at 26% for me. I think it was a combo of the writing style, the tone, and the main character just not being a right fit for me. The 26% I did read/listen to seemed familiar to me too. Lenny Marks is a character who has a very predictable and lonely life but she begins to branch out, socialize, and challenge herself. She also receives a letter from the parole board that brings up unfavorable memories of her past. While I was curious to see the parts of her past that would be revealed, the current timeline wasn't enough to keep me interested in Lenny's day to day life. The narration on audio was wonderful though!!

Lenny Marks Get Away with Murder is out July 9th. Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for my audio arcs, sorry it didn't work for me!

I listened to the audio version of this book. The narration by Kerry Mayne was good. I think she made a great Lenny.

This book was a bit of a surprise. It reminded me somewhat of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. It is the story of Lenny and the way in which her mind has dealt with some horrific happenings in her past. She lives a very mundane life, keeping mostly to herself. But then one day a notice from the Parole Board arrives and she can no longer ignore what happened in her previous life. As she deals with things, she is gradually pulled into a more interactive life.

This was an interesting story, but one that leaves you wondering at the end what you just read and how you feel about it. I'm still processing.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder by Kerryn Mayne is an unexpected story with a twist that I never saw coming. I was gobsmacked. It’s a bit traumatic and I didn’t find it boring. The audiobook narration was lovely. The murder isn’t even the most tragic event in the story. ALC was provided by Macmillan Audio via NetGalley. I received an advance listening copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely loved this book. I went in pretty blind and thought I was going to get Finlay Donovan but instead I got something more like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.

Lenny Marks is a 5th grade teacher who loves her routine of buying the same groceries, making the same meals, playing scrabble alone, and watching Friends. She has absolutely no memory of what happened when her step father and mom disappeared when she was 11. She gets a letter from a parole board, and a whole bunch of secrets start coming out.

I related to Lenny and my heart went out to her. This book was nicely paced and had really well done reveals.

The audiobook was fantastic. @maynard.annie does a great job.

3.5 stars
This would have been higher rated I think if the synopsis didn't mislead me. The first several genres on Goodreads have to do with mystery or thriller. I found it was neither.
This book focused on Lenny Marks and her not so thrilling life. She does not talk to people unless absolutely necessary and sometimes not even then. She has routines that she sticks to religiously. But her life is thrown into chaos when she gets a letter that her stepfather is being released from prison.
Lenny was relatable, she was obviously extremely introverted, and as we get farther into the story, it is easy to guess why. She has traumatic repressed memories and deals with them by doing the easiest things (i.e. her routines - the same meals rotation, constantly rewatching Friends). Lenny pushes everyone away because people have always let her down. It's obvious looking from the outside that there are a few people really trying to get through her walls and they are all so incredibly patient with her. I think my favorite characters were Kira (not sure of spelling, I listened to audio) a coworker who never let Lenny's awkwardness stop her from trying to reach out, and Lenny's foster mom who was one of the only people she ever really connected with, and is still a prominent figure in her life. Also Malcolm her dog.
The plot kind of meandered along, but I was always dialed in. It was easy to follow along with even when the pacing felt a little slow. There was always a bit of mystery around the day Lenny's mom and stepfather disappeared, but almost from the beginning it was pretty easy to guess what happened. Journeying along with Lenny as she gets all the answers was pretty heartbreaking. There were several things that connected from past to present towards the end that made my jaw drop because I really wasn't expecting it, but it fit in perfectly.
From the title, synopsis and top genres of this book, I was really expecting more mystery/thriller elements and was really thrown off by how little it actually included. I think if even the top genre was changed to reflect more of a general fiction genre I would have expected less of a mystery and might have even rated it higher.
The narrator of the audiobook had an Australian accent as the book takes place in Australia. Her voice was very pleasant and I could easily imagine that it was really "Lenny" narrating her own life.

Thanks to MacMillan Audio & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I admit, I was unexpectedly charmed by this book. Lenny presents as extremely emotionally damaged, leading to social awkwardness, lack of friends, and way too much emphasis placed upon her weekly shop at the local grocer's. Lenny also probably has arrested development from the trauma in her past, but her brain will not let her remember the full extent of it. So she goes to work as a teacher, having been raised to be a functional human being by her foster mom, Faye. Lenny loves teaching, but her attempts at befriending the "cool girls" at work is not a rousing success. My one quibble with this book is that Lenny clearly enjoys her alone time, and frequently avoids being around others in social situations, but she definitely throws herself at these other teachers (even while Kira, another teacher, tries in vain to befriend her).

Little by little, more is revealed of Lenny's past, now being dredged up by the release of her stepfather, Fergus, from jail. Lenny gets stronger with each chapter, with a few steps backward of course, growing in her personal life until the (inevitable) faceoff with Fergus.

If you can suspend your disbelief a little, this is a very rewarding book. It's definitely not a cozy mystery, or really a mystery at all, but it is kind of mystery-adjacent.

3.5 stars rounded up