Four and a half stars for this brilliant tale of self realization and redemption. Lenny is a well organized mess. The horrors of her past are clamped down deep, too painful, too traumatic to remember. But with her step-father on parole, she might finally have to face what happened to her decades ago.

This book reveals her secrets so gently, and reveals her guardian angel protectors so beautifully, I fell in love with them over and over again. There are definite demons in this book, but the good drowns it out.

The title and cover are deceiving - this is definitely not a light romance, but something much more interesting. A little like Eleanor Oliphant, Lenny is socially awkward and has gone through a lot in her life, but is also lovely. The story definitely deals with some tough topics, but in a way that has you rooting for Lenny and the friends and dog who've taken her under their wing.

Amazing writing of an incredible character!

Lenny Marks is a primary school teacher. For the most part, she keeps to herself and follows her routines. She buys her groceries at the same market, spends her nights at home watching her favorite show Friends, and plays Scrabble with a fictional Monica Geller. She eats the same meals every week and collects copies of her favorite book, The Hobbit. Lenny doesn't drive; instead, she uses her bike to get around.

Lately, people have been suggesting that she make friends or go to therapy. So, she decides to try making some friends at work and step out of her comfort zone. She is also starting to recall events from her childhood. She grew up in foster care after her mother left when she was eleven, and most of her memories from that time are buried deep in her mind.

As a reader, you can't help but wonder what truly happened to Lenny.

Lenny reminds me of Eleanor Oliphant and Molly Gray. She doesn’t always pick up on social cues, and some people try to take advantage of her— or at least, they think they can.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a real attention-grabber from the start. The added element of a dog that needs saving makes it even more compelling. A truly entertaining novel. A great debut!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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.

I thought it was well written and a fun read. Will recommend to others.

I haven't cared about a character as much as I cared about Lenny in a long time. Heartwarming, heavy at times, but an all around wonderful read. The ending will surprise you.
FYI to the reader - there are themes that need content warnings -
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abuse of a child
self harm, unaliving
trauma

I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thanks Netgalley, author and St Martin's Press for the ARC.

Lenny Marks lives for routine: biking everywhere, buying the same groceries, and owning 36 copies of The Hobbit. A teacher with quirks, she’s content with her predictable world and even enjoys Scrabble games with Monica (her imaginary friend from FRIENDS). But when a letter from the parole board arrives, old memories resurface, unsettling her carefully structured life and forcing her to confront a deeply buried trauma.
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I went into Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder expecting a quirky, lighthearted read—something akin to The Maid—but it took me by surprise, diving into much darker and more emotionally complex territory, even reminiscent of Strange Sally Diamond.

Lenny’s perspective, with her routines and endearing quirks, initially seems simple but soon reveals so much depth. Her dark humor and unique outlook add a layer of charm, yet her story is deeply moving and layered with trauma.

Through flashbacks, we glimpse Lenny’s turbulent childhood, living with her mom and stepfather and later with her Zanny (granny) and foster family. Each memory reveals the impact of her past and builds tension as we piece together her history. The way Lenny processes her pain while clinging to routine is both heartbreaking and relatable, and the mystery of what really happened feels raw and unsettling. It’s an emotional journey that’s as much about resilience and identity as it is about uncovering the past.

It's a 4/5 ⭐ read for me.

Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder really dives into Lenny’s inner world, making her past and personality the heart of the story rather than focusing solely on the suspense elements.

That character-driven approach often gives stories a more personal, introspective feel, which can make the dark themes even more impactful. Its a unique blend of mystery and emotional depth!

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is an intriguingly appealing debut crime novel by Kerryn Mayne. Released 9th July 2024 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats (paperback due out from the same publisher in late 2nd quarter 2025). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.

This is very very much a character driven story featuring a neurodivergent main character, strongly suppresed trauma memories, and a quite surprisingly deeply moving story in places. There are trigger warnings aplenty, domestic violence, child abuse, PTSD, trauma, suppressed memories, and more; it's a comprehensive shopping list.

The author writes with unvarnished, sometimes clinical detachment on otherwise horrific actions and it is impressively effective, given the slightly wonky personality of main character Lenny.

The denouement and resolution are satisfying, if also slightly off kilter.

Four stars. All in all an effective and very well written debut. It would be a good choice for public or home library acquisition, buddy read or mystery book club selection.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

What a wonderful debut novel from this author. This book is not what you think from looking at the cover. It is an emotional and intricate story about a Neurodivergent woman who is very rigid and particular life Is shaken up when the past comes back to Hunter and she has to come out of her shell and find that there is more love around her than she ever knew. Thank you to NetGalley For this arc in exchange for my review.

Lenny Marks might be my new favorite character. I absolutely adored her character. She had been through so much in life and all I wanted to do was talk to her and tell her everything would be ok. The author portrayed Lenny in such a real way, which made the story much more interesting to me. The beginning felt a little slow, but this really picked up steam in the second half, with more action and more details about what happened to Lenny. I almost passed on this one, but I'm so glad I read it! Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book to review!

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne is a blend of mystery and contemporary fiction. Lenny Marks is a woman with a traumatic past who’s doing her best to live a quiet, ordinary life. When a letter arrives about her mother's death, Lenny’s life is shaken up, pushing her to confront long-buried secrets and piece together the truth.

The novel dives into themes of trauma, resilience, and self-discovery, but there are lighthearted moments and humor that make it more digestible. Lenny's character is both relatable and complex, and her story is both heartfelt and suspenseful, A great character-driven mystery.

I requested this book pretty much because of the title. The premise sounded interesting aswell, sadly it really didn’t work for me. Wich was mostly because of the characters, especially the main character.

I received the e-arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Something that really liked about this book is the character description of Lenny, however, I felt like there was too much of it first part of the book, where then there was nothing that really happened. Second half was more packed and more engaging, but felt a really rushed. 
Thanks netgalley and the publishers

The story of Lenny Marks who is a schoolteacher, loner, socially awkward and an OCD stickler for details. Flashbacks of her past and not so great childhood come out and lead her through life. Really interesting and engaging great debut read! Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press and the Author, Kerryn Mayne for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder offers an intriguing blend of dark humor and moral ambiguity, following its eccentric protagonist as he navigates a series of misadventures that blur the lines between right and wrong. The author’s witty dialogue and quirky supporting characters add a lively touch, making for entertaining moments throughout the story. However, the pacing feels uneven at times, and some plot points may come off as implausible, detracting from the overall impact. While Lenny's journey is filled with comedic mishaps, it sometimes lacks the depth needed to make the story truly memorable. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read that may leave some readers wanting a bit more substance.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder presents an intriguing premise that blends dark humor with a coming-of-age narrative. Lenny, an unconventional protagonist, navigates his morally ambiguous world with a mix of charm and chaos, which keeps the reader entertained. The book explores themes of guilt and redemption, offering moments of insight amidst the absurdity. The dialogue sparkles at times, and the quirky supporting characters add depth to Lenny’s journey, providing both comedic relief and emotional resonance.

However, the novel occasionally struggles with pacing and coherence, leading to some plot points feeling rushed or underdeveloped. While the humor is sharp, it sometimes overshadows the more serious themes the author aims to address, leaving readers wanting a deeper exploration of Lenny’s psyche. Overall, Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is an enjoyable read with a unique voice, but it falls short of delivering a fully satisfying narrative experience.

Initially Lenny Marks comes across as a neurodiverse adult, someone that is perhaps somewhere on the spectrum, as she is incredibly literal and has some OCD tendencies. But, as the reader slowly learns about Lenny’s background, it becomes apparent that this poor woman obviously has serious trauma that has shaped her personality.

Lenny’s carefully crafted routine begins to unravel when a letter from a parole board shows up and a hallucination from her past asks her to remember the day her mother and stepfather disappeared. Painful memories that were blocked in order to survive begin to surface, and Lenny is forced accept help from the community that has always been there, but she has kept at arm’s length.

Despite the serious content related to Lenny’s childhood, this debut is remarkably heartwarming. Lenny is a heroine readers won’t soon forget. As a character study, she is fascinating living in a bit of a dissociative state for years, but as a person with a disturbing past, she is awe inspiring in her ability to adapt and survive.

Filled with short chapters, the book reads very quickly. Though the cover implies a more lighthearted mystery, do not be fooled as the content is actually quite heavy. Readers will find themselves debating the ethics of revenge before they finish the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and author Kerryn Mayne for the advanced copy of the book. Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is out now! All opinions are my own.

Lenny Marks is a 37 year old single elementary school teacher, which suits her fine. She likes her life orderly and predictable. She rides her bike to and from school, has the same meal accordingly to the day of the week, and relies on no one. She’s easily stressed, and to calm her nerves, she spells in her head all the words from the word that’s stressing her (i.e. stress -tea, set, etc.). Lenny had a tumultuous childhood that has led to this solitary life, and even though her foster mom Fay has tried to encourage the adult Lenny to make friends, she’s hesitant.

Awkward at best in social situations, in an effort to fit in, she tries to hang out with the new prep teachers (insert mean girls emoji here), and that doesn’t end well. When her stepfather is released from prison, Lenny must finally face her past. But will she face this alone, or will she let her new found friends (a teacher at school, the son of the owner of the grocer, her elderly next-door neighbor) help? I really enjoyed this one - Lenny reminded me a lot of Molly the maid in Nita Prose’s books. Out now, and available to purchase wherever you get your books. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and St. Martins press for an ARC of this book; all opinions are my own.

Lenny has an eccentric personality and deep-rooted trauma that she avoids by leading a highly regimented life. I struggled to get into this story, as it has a slow pace with heavy focus on Lenny’s inner journey. I wouldn't consider it a suspenseful, mystery-driven plot. Lenny is a likeable character with charm and she experiences a lot of growth throughout the story.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lenny Marks lives a very unremarkable and lonely life, but she knows that it's a sure way to stay safe. It starts to unravel when a desperate attempt to ignore a reminder of her past sets her on a path of new relationships and activities that will force her to examine her past and present.

It's a read that grows on you. Lenny is an unusual character that's hard to relate to in the beginning but becomes fascinating as more details about her life and inner thoughts are revealed. I greatly appreciate the way Mayne shows how trauma has shaped Lenny's life without ever getting too deeply into the trauma itself, which makes it an easier read to digest while still hitting the emotional points enough that you're rooting for Lenny to get away with murder.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the interesting read!

I didn’t get to finish this book, I got a new Amazon prime account and my kindle deleted everything associated with my previous account including all of my downloads and I only just figured out why it wasn’t appearing whenI tried re-sending to my kindle multiple times. Now I’ve finally found the source of my problem and changed/updated the kindle email and can now download books again. It really messed up my reviews for all of the books I’d requested over the past few months, I apologize. I liked what I was able to read so that’s what I’m rating. This was one of my most anticipated books and I will be reading and properly reviewing it in the future and will thank NetGalley for the ARC.