It makes me so sad that this book didn’t get more attention when it was released. It’s so much more than the cover conveys—smart, compassionate, sweet—and perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant. Love handselling it.

This felt like a book I should have loved- it had all the components. But the tone just fell a bit flat, and I struggled to finish it.

This book has been sitting in my Kindle for a long time and I just can't finish it. It is no fault of the author but I probably should have paid more attention to the comparison to other books since I didn't enjoy those either. Lenny Marks is a quirky, neurodivergent character just trying to survive in her neatly planned out world. When things don't go as planned, it all starts to fall apart. She is a likeable enough character but this type of story just isn't for me. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing the chance to review- apologies it took so long.

I went into this book thinking it was more of a thriller/mystery but was surprised with a little hidden gem of a more thought provoking novel. Lenny was such a joy to get to know. It was heartwarming and had some mysterious elements but really it was about Lenny finding herself. This novel has similar vibes to Elenor Oliphant is Completely Fine. If you enjoyed that novel this would be one to consider.

While this wasn't my favorite, I couldn't help but feel for Lenny. Great characterization, heartfelt and heartbreaking.

Reading in Between the Wines book review #20/125 for 2025:
Rating: 2 🍷🍷
Book: Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder
Author: Kerryn Mayne
AVAILABLE NOW!!!

Sipping thoughts: I appreciate how this book is written with the protagonist to be atypical. It had Eleanor Oliphant vibes but fell short. I don’t think there was much of a mystery or suspense. I was hoping for more, but others may love it.

Cheers and thank you to @Netgalley and @StMartinsPress for an advanced copy of @LennyMarksGetsAwayWithMurder.

#LennyMarksGetsAwayWithMurder #KerrynMayne #Bookouture #NetGalley #ARC #advancedreader #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bokreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

I adored Lenny Marks. This is such a charming read. It starts a little slow, but grows on you. Lenny is a very unique character, full of quirks and habits that make you love her. Her situation, the things she went through, both as a child and adult, is what tethered me to the story and kept me there. Definitely one to put on those bookish radars.

I didn't realize until after I finished this, that this is a debut. I look forward to what else this author writes.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this one, but I struggled to connect with the main character. Additionally, the way this book was marketed felt misleading—it wasn’t a cozy mystery as advertised. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had approached it with the expectation of something more along the lines of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.

This was a DNF for me. I tried to get through it a few times but kept putting it down for something else.
It didn’t grab my attention the way I hoped and after a few tries I put it down for good.

I really wanted to like this one but the characters felt flat to me. The premise is good but the execution needs a bit of work.

I loved this debut novel from Kerryn Mayne. It was well written and so interesting right from the start.

Revolving around themes of trauma and healing, resilience, friendship and kindness and personal growth - I love Lenny Marks and felt so many feelings for her and her life.

It was probably a tad too long for me and of course I loved the dog character a ton!

Definitely worth the read!

Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley

This book builds very, very slowly. As other reviews have stated, it's hard not to bring up Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and being compared to such a successful book doesn't do Lenny Marks any favors. I didn't connect to Lenny and the true mystery portion of the book comes way too late into the book, about halfway. By the time you're in the thick of the story you start to wonder, what was the point of the first half? I did like the overall plot.

Mayne pulls you in from the very beginning with the random letter from the probation office and Lenny's overall personality. There were chunks that were difficult to get through (and I def cried at least once) so please know there will be mention of physical abuse, child abuse, child death, neglect.

Lenny is quirky and righteous and kind but also brutally honest and doesn't fully understand social norms. She's very introverted, but she's promised her mom that this is the year she gets a life. To get a life, she'll have to face her fears and other things that she's tried to leave in the past.

I won't add any more details beyond that, but omgggg I 30/10 recommend.

3.5 rounded to 4 of 5 stars
Lenny is a creature of habit. She is a teacher, and a bit of a loner. She has a crush on Ned the shopkeeper. She makes up imaginary friends. She has been advised to get some real friends. Then, one day, a letter arrives from the Parole Board for her, and Lenny is terrified that Fergus is back in her life. Fergus was her stepfather who treated her very badly.
This novel shows Lenny's growth in her relationships. It highlights people that are willing to stand by her and protect her.

I appreciated the sensitivity and thoughtfulness in creating and fleshing out Lenny’s character. I also really enjoyed watching her self-growth and journey. Lenny reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant at times (another book I loved).

I loved Lenny Marks. Her way of looking at the world was funny and touching. However, something terrible happened to Lenny when she was a child. The mystery is finding out what because Lenny’s mind is protecting her from the pain by lying about the events of her childhood.

I enjoyed Lenny’s journey to unearth her past but I did feel that it took a little long to get there. I enjoyed the diverse characters and Lenny herself.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder!

Lenny is a quirky school teacher who's social life leaves much to be desired, but hints at the hard times she's been through in the past. The book opens with a letter from the past crashing into the life she's built today. She is set out to understand where she came from to better handle the life of her present.

I loved the quirky main character and the strength and growth she showed over her character arc. Be prepared to shed some tears in addition to laughs while reading this one! As an added bonus there's an adorable dog as part of the plot and dynamic side characters to keep things interesting.
Definitely a fun read for sure.

Lenny Marks is a hero! I was under the impression this book was more chicklit and put off reading it for a long time...I wish I hadn't because I thoroughly enjoyed it. To be honest, the first half is a bit slow but then comes a somewhat unexpected turn of events leading to a deeper and more meaningful plot. There are definitely events in Lenny Mark's past that greatly affect her life and these are revealed as the story unfolds. This is a brilliant debut and I hope we see the return of this quirky but lovable character. My thanks to Bantam Australia Publishing for providing a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.