I really enjoyed this one even though I only initially downloaded it because of the cover ha! I absolutely LOVE the book cover! However, I was pleasantly surprised by the story, and now I look forward to reading more from Kerryn Mayne!

"Okay, but predictable.
The Stranger at the Wedding had a good idea, but it wasn't as suspenseful as I hoped. Some parts felt a bit cliché."

I DNFed this book at about 50%. It is very slow and I just cannot get into it. I also am not connecting with Lenny Marks or the other characters. Maybe it is because I am listening to the audiobook, but I just do not have a desire to pick it up and listen to it. So for now, this is a DNF.

This was my first time reading Kerryn Mayne, and I received Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder as an ARC from NetGalley. The novel presents an intriguing narrative that blends elements of mystery and psychological drama. The plot is engaging, with a slow build-up that gradually reveals the depths of Lenny's past and the trauma she has repressed. Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a heartfelt and absorbing tale that follows Lenny Marks, a socially awkward primary school teacher who loves The Hobbit and reruns of Friends. Lenny's life is meticulously organized, with routines that help her cope with the trauma of her past. However, her carefully constructed world begins to unravel when she receives a letter from the parole board about her stepfather. This letter forces Lenny to confront long-buried memories and the dark secrets of her childhood, leading her on a journey of self-discovery and healing. The character development, particularly of Lenny, is well-executed. Her journey from a reclusive, routine-bound individual to someone who begins to open up and confront her past is compelling. However, some of the secondary characters felt underdeveloped, which made it harder to fully connect with the broader narrative. The twists and turns throughout the story keep the reader engaged, but some plot developments felt a bit forced and could have been more seamlessly integrated. The ending, while satisfying, left a few questions unanswered, which might be frustrating for some readers. Overall, Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a decent read with a unique premise and a strong central character. Despite its flaws, it shows promise for Kerryn Mayne as a writer. I'm curious to see how her storytelling evolves in future works. #netgalley #LennyMarksgetsawaywithmurder

This book reminds me of the Finlay Donovan series and I am totally here for it. I loved the quirky characters and the humorous elements to the plot.

How is Kerryn Mayne a first time author?!!

She has created an adorable, and quirky character in Lenny Marks. I could not get enough of her!

Lenny creates a very structured life for herself due to a past trauma and her semi autistic-ness. Her inner dialogue is a delight to read!

If you are looking for a quirky but heartwarming story, this is the book for you!

I didn’t reread the synopsis before I started this book so I thought I was picking up a cozy mystery which is my fault. It isn’t and unfortunately I didn’t really connect with the main character. I thought it was a slower read but still well written with a faster paced and interesting ending.

Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder by Kerryn Mayne
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Lenny Marks likes her life orderly. She rides her bike to and from work. She shops for the same things at the same grocery store. And she plays scrabble with her imaginary friend, Monica Gellar. When a letter from the parole board comes and threatens to unravel her life with memories from her past.
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I absolutely adored this book. CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS. This book MAY not be for everyone. But oooooooo how my heart broke over and over and then by the end had slowly mended itself.
The title and cover are slightly deceiving because I started this book thinking it would be lighthearted and funny and some type of cozy mystery. This is hard to define, but there are several serious subjects tackled and Lenny IS our heroine and I just kept wanting to wrap her in a hug and then get us both warm blankets and order thai food and watch friends together. I am hopeless at Scrabble though so not sure if it would even be fun for her to play with me.
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5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I don’t have the eloquent words needed to express how much this book impressed me. It just kept surprising me in new ways. I loved it so much.

Absolutely charming! I love Lenny and sure hope this becomes a series! I love an underdog story and loved the ending to this book!

Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

Lenny Marks is a fifth-grade teacher in her late 30’s, who thrives on routine and consistency. Lenny receives an unexpected letter informing her that her former stepfather will soon be paroled from prison. This news disrupts her life and triggers a series of events that forces Lenny to confront a traumatic past she thought she had buried.

Fans of Liz Nugent’s Strange Sally Diamond and Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine will appreciate Lenny’s relatable character. She's a compelling protagonist, both flawed and endearing, making it easy to root for her journey of self-discovery.

While I initially anticipated a more suspenseful thriller, the novel takes a more introspective turn. It's a character-driven story that delves into themes of grief, guilt, and the complexities of human relationships.

I absolutely devoured this book and read it in one day. However, the ending felt somewhat disjointed from the rest of the book’s grounded tone. Despite this, it’s still a book I would highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this eARC for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lenny has issues with her memory, and she has issues remembering what happened on the day that her mother left her when she was a child. She does remember the words her stepfather told her that she was at fault. She does have a connection with her foster mother that is unfailing, and her foster mother did go to the bat for her several times. Her foster mother also encourages her to make friends and to go out with other people.
Lenny does have a different thought process with her inner dialogue, although at times her thought process is rather strange. I believe she is on the spectrum, and that can cause her thought process to be different.
Throughout the story, Lenny has different flashbacks of her childhood which is a traumatic childhood, to say the least. My only complaint is that the beginning of the book moved along rather slowly, and her inner dialogue at times is a bit much and she takes over thinking to the max.
The second half of the book is more eventful and gets a faster pace and things really start connecting together so this is a stick-with-it kind of book and kinda trust the process. Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this one!

I would like to start by thanking netgalley for the arc of this book. There is something so comforting about the way Mayne writes, the heroine, Lenny Marks, is equal parts frustrating and love-able. She cannot remember what happened the night her mother and step father disappears, which causes an underlying tension throughout the first part of the book. You follow her life where she takes the same route home from work at exactly 4 o'clock, buys the same groceries for the same meals and even has the same book, the hobbit, arranged in size order on her bookshelf.

There is one problem though, she has this little voice in her head saying that she is the one that caused something to her mother and stepfather. When a letter from the parole board arrives at her door can the life she recently attained all fall apart?

If you love mysteries, crime, and a little bit of a thriller with chosen family and of course vengeance than this book is exactly what you should read.

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"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?" -Goodreads

This book is so full of heart. There is so much going on in this book, but it ties together so perfectly! At times heartbreaking, but also endearing. I absolutely loved this book! Highly recommend it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I thought this was enjoyable and quite different from other books I've read. I felt like this was such a fun well written read. I've never read this author but would totally again. A fun premise that had interesting fun characters that I couldn't put down! Hands down an awesome book!

Honestly, I thought I was going to DNF this book. I put it down several times as the build is very slow. However, I am glad that I stuck with it as the story picked up and I genuinely cared about Lenny and her true friends. It was a thoughtful story with an unlikely heroine. I have read other books with characters who exhibit nonsocial personalities and had a hard time relating so often gave up. However, Lenny's back story intrigued me enough to want to learn more. There are some triggers in this book regarding abuse so be forewarned. Otherwise, give it time to build and you will be rewarded with a satisfying ending and good story arc.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne is a unique novel with a neurodivergent protagonist. I loved this part of the book, although it felt a bit slow and was hard to get into this book. I think the character’s introduction was carefully planned to show her neurodivergent nature, but this really slowed the book down. Still, it was a really solid read once you got into it. The backstory made so much sense. This is a great debut novel. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Thank you net galley and author for this arc. Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a highly impressive debut novel that is both thoughtfully written and emotionally engaging. The narrative is captivating, with a compelling central character in Lenny, whose journey evokes deep empathy from the reader. The book expertly balances entertainment with thought-provoking themes, making it difficult to put down. Lenny’s character is particularly well-crafted, and readers will undoubtedly find themselves rooting for her throughout the story. An absorbing and memorable read.

I think this is such a great debut novel. it was a long time since i read debut novels with such a great developing plot and characters.

i found it difficult to get into the book, at the beginning. the plot was dragging and i was lost in settings and dialogues, however, by 100 pages, i was invested in the book. i really enjoyed main character, lenny, and her journey of healing and kind of reliving trauma.

some scenes were definitely unnecessary and i believe they kind of dragged the book down and therefore i was loosing interest throughout my read.

overall, great read if you want a book with mystery but also a great developed characters and plot

Quirky characters are always a big hit at our library and this book has a lot of potential for our patrons. I think the marketing, title, and cover are a bit misleading but the story was a mix of emotional and heartwarming. While the pacing of this book is a bit odd, it is still a decent story and will be well received in our library. It read more like a women's fiction than mystery/thriller. I think those who like stories like The Maid by Nita Prose might appreciate this one.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book and test it out before adding it to our library! The audiobook is very well done and made it feel more lighthearted than simply reading the book- I really liked the narrator.

This was such a unique and interesting read! Lenny Marks isn’t your usual heroine and I love that her quirks were highlighted as what made her such a special person. The dual timelines and flashbacks were perfect and made me question and wonder what in the world was going to happen. The supporting characters were amazing and added so much value to the story. The pacing was a little slow at times but overall I really enjoyed!