I was pleased to be approved for the advanced reader copies of the book and audio book. I believe the narrator brought this book to life and made Lenny shine. While I thought this would be a mystery about a murdered getting away with it,it is actually a book about Lenny who is a very quirky teacher and had massive trauma in her life. She lives in her head a lot while trying to fit in and failing. This is a book is not a cozy mystery, it’s Lenny coming to terms with the child abuse she endured, being abandoned by her mother and grandmother and the news of someone being released from jail. All while trying to have a life, do the right thing and hopefully make friends with the other teachers at school.this is a slow moving book but at the end as things come to light it does pickup.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Intriguing book. I was attracted to the cute cover and thought it was a cozy murder mystery. I was very wrong but enjoyed the book anyway. Lenny Marks is in her late thirties, and lives by her routines. She is a school teacher and riders her bike around her village. She is clearly neurodivergent but it is never explicitly mentioned. As mentioned in the blurb, a letter from a parole board causes memories to begin coming back. She needs to remember her past before she can move forward.

Part of this book is being in the mind of a neurodivergent person. Wanting to do things that are socially normal but knowing she doesn’t always get the cues. The mystery of her past unravels as the story goes on, this isn’t something she sets out to solve. I enjoyed the side characters but Lenny is front and center in carrying this story.

This is not a traditional mystery, but more about the mystery of Lenny's past. Thirty-seven-year-old primary teacher Lenny likes her routine and sticks to it. Two unrelated things trigger a change to Lenny's life and a start to opening her past. One is her foster mother encouraging her to be more social. The other is a notice of a parole hearing for her stepfather. Traumatic events occurred in Lenny's family, but she has blocked it out. We learn what happens as she does. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I enjoyed reading about Lenny because she is such an interesting character. She has limited social skills because of her past, but she slowly evolves and finds real friends. I like watching her grow stronger and better at handling a few stressful and suspenseful events. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder - 6.25.24

This book was completely different than I expected. I thought there would be a quirky protagonist who was slightly off but very charming, and through the care of one or a few others overcame their shyness and social awkwardness to finally bloom as an adult. Think of “Eleanor Olyphant is Completely Fine”.

However it is much deeper than that. Lenny, you see, is quite troubled. But she doesn’t agree. She keeps herself to herself. She avoids social situations, going so far as to invent a housemate named Monica (due to an obsession with “Friends”).

Lenny is also obsessed with right and wrong. Her moral code is quite strict, and not necessarily within the law. She wants things to be right and fair in a world where neither is possible. She even rescues (steals) an abused dog. She lives by denial. If something is too difficult to deal with, Lenny simply opts out. But what caused her issues? And what about the title? There’s a murder? By this girl?

If I had to describe it, this is a case of bait and switch. What you think you see is not what you get. Because there is a change - I wouldn’t say twist, but a decisive shift in tone. The book gets darker quickly as we find out the truth about Lenny’s past. And we discover that nothing is as it seemed.

This change in tone makes the book much more emotional. That emotional attachment drove me to keep reading. I simply had to know. I felt so sorry for Lenny. Lenny being a foster child shines a light on that system’s deficiencies without being preachy. I rooted for her as I disagreed with her actions. And the world is then shown to be shades of gray.

I rooted for Lenny, I wanted to help her, and I was smiling at the end. I was happy for her, but I want to know more. This is a debut novel and I hope there is a sequel. Lenny Marks left a mark on me.

Okay so I thought this was going to be a cozy mystery, and this is not that! So if you came here for that, know it isn’t at all cozy and only by the barest of definitions a mystery.

That said I did really enjoy the book! Lenny is surprisingly a likable character even with all her trauma quirks. The cast of characters surrounding her are amazing. Now when it comes to the ‘mystery’ part I felt it dragged in places and the murder part was like oh yeah wait I should include that. Almost like you build up to the climax the entire book… and then are dropped off a cliff hit the bottom and the story is over. The getting away with murder part was not believable for the time period. Now all that said I don’t necessarily need believability on all my books, but this had some serious themes it was dealing with and it’s not fantasy.

Anyways all that aside I did actually enjoy it even though maybe it seems I didn’t. The author has quite a way with words and a story and I was shocked this was a debut.

Please check trigger warnings for child abuse, parental death, murder obviously, suicide, animal abuse. That’s all I can think of at the moment.

Lenny Marks lives a life of routine. She's a 5th grade teacher who travels by bicycle and plays Scrabble by herself at home. She receives a letter from the parole board which starts to unravel her life.

I really enjoyed and loved this book. It is very well written and kept me entertained. I was enthralled to know what happened in Lenny's childhood. The book reminded me of a mix of Meredith Alone and Sally Hepworth. I had a hard time putting the book down. I had to know how it ended.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder surprised me. The cover made me think this was going to be more of a cozy mystery, but this was definitely not the case. Overall I really enjoyed this debut novel from Kerryn Mayne, coming to love the characters, especially Lenny.

Reading this made me immediately think of Eleanor Oliphont is Completely Fine, so I would recommend this if you enjoyed the style of Eleanor.

I knew going into the book that Lenny would be a quirky character and I am not wrong, but she is so much more than that. Since the story is told in her perspective, you come to grow really fond of Lenny but also intrigued as to why she is the way she is and her history with her family. I felt the plot was written in a good pace as it wasn't "dragging on" on the mystery part - which is what I feel to be the case for most books that have a similar setup. I was cheering Lenny on as she tries to get out of her comfortable zone little by little. In parallel of that, the reader starts to understand what really happened to Lenny as a child and the past is tied to the present very nicely. The ending did shock me as I did not anticipate Lenny to go through with killing Fergus, I could only wonder if she will be able to keep her "new" life with this committed crime.

Lenny Marks is quirky and socially awkward. She struggles to make friends and has found contentment in the quiet, predictable world she’s created for herself. But when she’s forced to confront her childhood trauma can Lenny open herself up to the world around her? What does her life look like on the other side?
Lenny is an endearing heroine and Kerryn Mayne creates an engrossing world around her. Step in to Lenny’s life and you’ll be rooting for her to find her way, stand up for herself and reach for happiness she never imagined possible.

This book was not quite what I was expecting, but I ended up loving it. It was much heavier and deeper than I expected from the title. I enjoyed Lenny's POV as she tries to navigate her life while repressing some pretty serious trauma. I appreciated the ambiguous ending as well.

I thought this was going to be a cozy mystery but it ended up being so much more. The main character Lenny, had me laughing at some of the things she would say, I almost passed out when she said her roommate Monica and her did so many things, the references to FRIENDS was honestly the best. Over time, we come to realize that Lenny has a past she much rather keep buried and honestly girl for the amount of trauma you went thru, I get it. In the end, I really enjoyed this read and would pick up another book by this author.

This book was both endearing and heartbreaking. Getting to follow along as Lenny Marks is forced out of her comfort zone, and learning the reasons she restricted her interactions, and behavior is an amazing experience. You won't want to put this book down. The back cover description simply doesn't do this book justice. It is worth the heartache, and frustration you feel while reading to get to know the quirky and amazing character that is Lenny Marks.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder
Kerryn Mayne
July 09, 2024

Helena Winters was born to Tammy and her husband. Things were simple as a youngster but when her father passed, her memories of her dad faded. Her mother soon married Fergus and she found out how complicated and terrifying life could be with a very angry man.
As a thirty-four year old woman the things she remembers about that time are lost. She teaches 5th grade at a Selby Primary School. Buys the groceries from the same store and always has identical meals each week. Her free time is spent watching the Friends TV series or reading one of her thirty-six copies of The Hobbit.
Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder will be published by Macmillan Publishing House on July 09, 2024. I was able to read and review the ARC via NetGalley. Ms. Mayne’s latest publication begins with Lenny’s boring, daily life given to us in detail. I was a bit put off in the beginning chapters as I was not certain where the plot was heading. Readers should know that this story continues by examining her history as a child and the sad woman she becomes. It is a tremendous story and is filled with her thoughts, memories and a few dedicated characters who become her friend. It is well worth the time to read this tale. Those who work with her have no reason to believe that she is anyone but a lonely, unmarried school teacher. It makes the reader think of others we meet and pass in our lives and what regretful days are spent single and solo without companionship of any kind. This is a book readers should explore and read. The narrative brings Lenny into our lives and she becomes our friend through the pages of this novel. Truly excellent, do enjoy.

This was a surprisingly delightful read I went in thinking this was a sort of cozy mystery due to the cover and title but what I read was a lot better storyline than expected.
Lenny Marks is a quirky delightful character the more you read about her the more you grow to adore her. It's a bit of a slow burn storyline that builds Lenny's character. Lenny is not good with people she has her routines and coping mechanisms to get her through the day.
As her past catches up to her present Lenny may not be able to keep up her routines and depend on help from others. I think fans of Elenore Oliphant is Completely Fine will adore Lenny Marks gets away with Murder.
I'd rate this debut a 3.5 just for is being a bit of a slow burn.
I think a second book would flow better as a quicker read since we now have Lenny's back story. I can also see this one turned into a bingable tv series.

🌏Quietly powerful😟

4.5🌟 stars
I am really glad that I read this novel. Lenny Marks is different, unique, and yet she has so many concerns and challenges that are universally relatable.

Through most of this moving story set in contemporary Australia, I felt indignant and sorry for Lenny Marks and the way she was treated by the people she most wanted to like and accept her. Her early life was so sad and the way she compensates by fading into a loner life of routine and obscurity made it even sadder. Nevertheless, this was a thought-provoking and well-written novel that, fortunately, ended on an upbeat note after a few twists involving a newly-empowered Lenny finally confronting her tragic childhood.

Very worthwhile, though a bit sober, and and recommended read from me.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

"Lenny Marks is excellent at not having a life.

She bikes home from work at exactly 4pm each day, buys the same groceries for the same meals every week, and owns thirty-six copies of The Hobbit (currently arranged by height). The closest thing she has to a friendship is playing Scrabble against an imaginary Monica Gellar while watching Friends reruns.

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

Until a letter from the parole board arrives in the mail - and when her desperate attempts to ignore it fail, Lenny starts to unravel. As long-buried memories come to the surface, Lenny's careful routines fall apart. For the first time, she finds herself forced to connect with the community around her, and unexpected new relationships begin to bloom. Lenny Marks may finally get a life - but what if her past catches up to her first?

Equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, Kerryn Mayne's stunning debut is an irresistible novel about truth, secrets, vengeance, and family lost and found, with a heroine who's simply unforgettable."

It's bad I want Lenny's life right? I mean, before the letter from the parole board arrives...

Lenny Marks owns thirty-six copies of The Hobbit and that was all I needed to know about her to love her.

This book is very much like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, and if you enjoyed that one, you'll like this one too.

The audiobook production was very well done! I didn't want to stop listening, not only to find out exactly about Lenny's past but to see what else she gets into in the present (and of course to have an Australian accent in my ear). And there's some standout side characters too, with nice complexity. But Lenny gets the most development, and I appreciated the journey she went on to get it.

The ending did throw me a little (I wasn't expecting the title to be so literal), and kind of clashed with how the rest of the novel feels. But I appreciated how it came full circle.

Definitely check this one out if character-driven novels are your thing!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for my audiobook!

Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder is a book that does a good job showing how abuse shapes personality traits. Lenny Marks is weird. She isolates herself and has few friends. When a letter from the parole board arrives, Lenny begins to try to make friends. About at the 60% mark of this book, the story begins to dive into why Lenny is the way she is. She begins to remember the things that her mind hid to protect her sanity. The last 40% of this book flies by compared to the awkward slow tale of Lenny’s life that the book begins with. This book is more a literary tale than any kind of mystery or suspense novel. The whole murder thing is really nothing but a passing note. This book was just okay for me and not really what I was expecting. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Very good debut book. Lenny Marks is an unforgettable character. Quirky and introverted she has suffered a traumatic past. I enjoyed this book. My only complaint is that it was a little draggy in parts.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is the debut novel from Kerryn Mayne.

"Lenny likes her routine. And she likes her 36 copies of The Hobbit. She's very good at forgetting what happened the day her stepfather and mother left her. Until a letter from the parole board arrives in the mail. Lenny tries so hard to ignore it. But her memories come back. She is forced to connect with people and finds some unexpected friendships. Lenny may finally get a life - but what happens if her past catches up to her first?"

This book initially gave strong Eleanor Oliphant vibes. But the more time you spend with Lenny, the more differences you see. And the more you want to know her story. There are several characters looking out for Lenny, but she doesn't realize it at first. Mayne slowly reveals the events but even Lenny doesn't remember until the end. There are some emotional scenes that are really tough. You want to go back and protect Lenny.
There's also a wild scene near the end and some interesting reveals about the people in Lenny's life. I love her ending. And her interactions with Malcolm, her rescue dog.

I think Lenny will surprise some people this year. I hope you enjoy getting to know her, too.

Nice debut from Mayne.