Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is basically a coming-of-age novel where the main character is in her late thirties, traumatized from a childhood event, and possibly autistic. As a neurodivergent myself, I immediately saw myself in Lenny and was unable to put the book down. If you liked The Maid (by Nita Prose) and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine you will most definitely also enjoy reading about Lenny!
Audio notes: Since the novel takes place in Australia, the narrator is (naturally) Australian. There are a few times where the main character listens to a voicemail or someone on the other end of the phone. I liked how it truly sounded like a voice recording. It was a nice touch.

Thank you to Netgalley, MacMillan and #MacAudio for the ARC/ALC!

I was expecting this book to be cozy mystery, but it was SO much more! I related a lot to Lenny, with having her routine and keeping to herself, and the feeling of being like a fish out of water when something comes up that upsets you natural order of things. I love a strong female main character, and Lenny encompassed that in her own unique way. Equally heartwarming and tugging on my heartstrings, this was a refreshing read in between my usual dark thrillers!

Fans of Finlay Donovan will enjoy this one.

“Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder” is out NOW!

Thank you to NetGalley for both the galley and the audio galley of this book. I really enjoyed learning about Lenny and her life. Lenny is quirky. She’s a teacher. She had a traumatic childhood and you realize early on reading this book that she’s not remembering everything about her childhood. I really enjoyed that as the story unfolded Lenny began to change. She began to make friends and she came out of her shell a little bit. She had been very much a homebody constantly watching reruns of friends and even playing scrabble with an imaginary MONACO roommate. So glad that I read this book and I won’t forget Lenny very soon. I highly recommend this book.

I enjoy going into books as blindly as possible and while this one was certainly not what I was expecting at all, it was such a noteworthy debut!

With a stunning blend of heart and humor,
Lenny makes for such a quirky and unforgettable heroine! I applaud Mayne’s neurodiversity representation and loved that you often felt like you just wanted to give Lenny a hug!

While a bit of a slow burn and build, there’s an enjoyable balance of suspense and emotion. This clever story definitely reminded me of Strange Sally Diamond and Eleanor Olpihant is Completely Fine!, so fans of these will certainly enjoy!

Lenny leds a pretty mundane life and that is the way she likes it, needs it and strives for. That comes to a halt when she gets a letter from the parole board and her memories start to come out. At the same time she rescues/abducts a dog from a man who is mistreating it and this starts a whole new aspect to her life. I'm not sure if Lenny is on the spectrum or just a little bit off but I truly enjoyed all the Friends references (brings back lots of memories) and WOW what a lot of use of the thesaurus this author must have employed while writing this book. Great job!

No spoilers here. Read the book! This one would make a great book club book and open up a dialogue.

Oh Lenny! Quirky, witty, and oh so lovable. I felt protective of her from the beginning. It’s never disclosed if Lenny is neurodivergent or if it’s a result of her childhood trauma. I wish there was more clarity there, as each can mimic the other. I listened to this on audio and was highly entertained! The narrators did a fabulous job. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Lenny in this captivating debut. Lenny is unique, caring, and struggles with making friends, but there's a significant reason behind this. I highly recommend diving into her story and meeting the other intriguing characters involved.

I really enjoyed the audiobook version and the narrator. For twenty-five years, Lenny has tried to forget the day her mother abandoned her at age eleven. Her stepfather’s final words, "You did this," have haunted her ever since. After living with her grandmother, she was placed with her foster parents, Fay and Robert, and although she was happy there, she never spoke about her past.

Now thirty-seven, Lenny teaches fifth grade at Selby South Primary School. She values order and predictability, owning thirty-six copies of The Hobbit, watching reruns of Friends, playing Scrabble with an imaginary housemate, and enjoying her teaching job.

Lenny's life is turned upside down when a letter from the parole board arrives at her school, causing her well-ordered world to fall apart. As old memories resurface, she strives to make her foster mother, Fay, happy by integrating new people into her orderly life. A break from work might help her work through these disruptions.

This story is compelling and richly emotional as Lenny’s past unfolds. Her journey to rediscover and confront her memories is both moving and powerful. The well-developed characters and Lenny's interactions make this book an engaging read. I highly recommend it—it's sure to captivate any reader.

The title of this book makes it seem like a mystery, but in reality, it's a journey of self-discovery and recovery. Lenny is reclusive and introverted. She likes control and has trouble with social situations. At first, I wanted to compare her to Molly in The Maid, but Lenny was just harder to like. Once there was some context as to why Lenny was the way she was, it became easy to fall in love with her character. Lenny couldn't remember her childhood for the longest time, and when she does, we are treated to a heartbreaking and emotional journey of healing. Annie Maynard does a great job as Lenny's voice! If you loved The Maid, this one is for you.

This isn’t what I was expecting based on the synopsis. The first half of the book dragged. It picks up once we learn more about Lenny’s past, but even then there wasn’t a whole lot that kept me intrigued. Not much happens until about 70-80% through the book. This has great reviews so I’m in the minority, but it fell flat for me. Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Kerryn Mayne for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is truly heartbreaking by the end.
I started this book thinking it was a cozy mystery, but that was not the case. However, I was pleasantly surprised because this book is very powerful.

Lenny Marks is one of the first neurodivergent characters I've read about. Her routines keep her safe because nothing unexpected will ever happen. That is, until...she joins in on a trivia night with her co-teachers, begins talking to Ned (the deli guy), and meets Malcom (the dog she secretly stole).

Quick-witted and funny at times, almost without meaning to be, Lenny takes you on her unique adventures and I was happy to go along.

The middle to end of the book (about 60% in), explains so many mysteries and heartaches surrounding Lenny's life. No one has ever chosen her and she always feel left behind. While reading a very important scence, one of the memories that resurfaced for Lenny, I couldn't help but cry. The book was truly moving and much like Lenny, a satisfying and surprising read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the e-audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this thinking it was something along the lines of Finlay Donovan but it wasn’t. This seemed more of quirky character driven stories. Which was fine. And the character is interesting. But wasn’t what I had hoped. The story was good and the narration was well done. It just wasn’t I expected it to be.

🎧 Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder

✍️ By: Kerryn Mayne-debut author

🗣️ Narrator: Annie Maynard voiced all characters. The narrators' voices fit the characters with standouts from Lenny, Ned, and Faye. Lenny's mind was going a mile a minute, Ned was a calm presence in her life, and Faye was the mother Lenny needed. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story . The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along with the E-book and audiobook.

📃 Page Count: 352

🏃🏾‍♀️Run Time: 9:42

🗓️ Publication Date: 7-9-24 | Read: 7-26-24

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for this ARC and ALC ❤️! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Genre: Women's/Adult Fic, Mystery/Suspense

🌏Setting: Australia

Tropes:
❤️family drama
❤️friends to lovers
❤️h illness-has DID
❤️hidden truths
❤️mental health
❤️found family

⚠️ TW: child abuse, DV, murder-death of parent and sibling, bullying

POV: 3rd

💭 Summary 💭
Lenny Marks leads a very routine life as a self-proclaimed introvert. She doesn't have any friends, rides her bicycle everywhere, and watches Friends at The Treehouse. She receives a letter from the parole board that upends her life as she tries to stay in control.

Heroine: Helena "Lenny" Winters/Marks(37) has been a middle school teacher for 15 years. She collects copies of The Hobbit

Side cast: Ned McKnight-the local grocer who talks to Lenny about Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Faye and Robert Winters-Lenny's foster parents; Amy and Ashley-coworkers and Amy dates Ned; Tammy-Lenny's biological mother; Fergus Sullivan-Lenny's stepfather who served 25 years in prison; Maureen-an elderly neighbor Lenny befriends; Malcolm-Lenny's dog;


My Thoughts: This book reminded me of a few others with an unreliable heroine. The novels One of Us Knows and The Other Mistress took me on a ride as Lenny Marks did as she attempted to keep in charge of her version of normalcy. Gradually the truth came out about her family and she had new found friends to support her. Her friendship/relationship with Ned was complicated by him dating Amy-one of the "cool kids" at work. They had things in common that allowed Lenny to trust him. Maureen was another new found friend after she revealed who she was to Lenny. Faye was an understanding and caring woman who just wanted to see Lenny happy. Fergus faced karma and got what he deserved with Lenny out for a little vengeance.

Range of emotions: 😬🤔🙄
🌶️: Spice 1/5-not until the end
🎧:Narration 4/5
😭: Emotion 4/5
❤️: Couple 3/5-Ned loses points for dating a "mean girl"
⭐️: Rating 4/5

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder was not at all the book I expected it to be. I thought I was getting into a fun quirky cozy mystery. I was right about the fun and quirky, at least! Lenny is a wonderful main character--her love of the Hobbit and Friends were deeply relateable to a millennial reader like me. I also enjoyed her struggles to navigate social hierarchies. The story revolving around her difficult past and dissosiative coping mechanisms was quite interesting and at times I wished I could be the friend she needed. I do wish the marketing (cover, title, etc.) had skewed less cozy mystery so I would have been more prepared for the content, but I did end up liking the book quite a bit.

Well this one was definitely a surprise. A case of judging a book by the cover and being so very wrong. I thought this would be your cozy little murder mystery about Lenny Marks, but no. Lenny has some depth to her. I loved how we are introduced to her quirkiness in the beginning. Then, there is a point where it turns serious and we truly come to know who Lenny is and what shaped her.

This book was heartbreaking and heartwarming as it’s described. I recommend giving it a try and going in blind. That element of surprise is what gets you is this one for sure!

The audiobook was very well done. The narrators voice was perfect for Lenny and I really felt I got to know and connected to her through the narrators voice! This was a pleasant surprise and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The marketing is incredibly misleading. Contrary to its presentation as a 'cozy mystery,' this book is far more akin to 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.' With a lot of heart and humor, I found myself truly rooting for Lenny. The well-constructed plot kept me engaged until the very end.
The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job, lending a light-hearted tone to the story even during its more difficult moments. If you enjoy personal journeys filled with growth and resilience, give this book a chance.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder. Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me. I was pulled to read it because of the location of Australia, but really it could have been set in any place. This one made its way to the US a few years after original release in 2022. A friend pre-read before I did, and she gave it glowing reviews which made me hopeful, but alas having a character with the same name as a friend's dog, that I hear often, made it a little difficult to stay in the story as I pictured the man as a wire-haired dog, haha. So maybe some of the issue is just me. I will agree with many comments about the cover and title not matching what you expected to read which was a light fluffy who-done-it but what you got was a neurodivergent MC who tries to stay calm and cope while working through her childhood trauma.

I loved this book! It was so fun and I had a great time listening to it. I really enjoyed the narrator. I am loving these types of humors light mysteries, and I am recommending this book to lots of our patrons!

"Not everyone in life is gonna let you down, you know." ... "It's safer to assume people will."

Lenny Marks is a grade school teacher in Australia who is doing just fine on her own, thank you very much. Or is she? Confronted with the news that her stepfather could be paroled two decades after committing a crime against her family, Lenny retreats farther into denial about what happened while also trying her best to fit in at work and in her community. As a neurodivergent woman, it's not always easy for her to read the room and she fumbles her way through daily life. But she's trying. Sort of. She's much happier at home watching Friends, playing Scrabble, and mentally rearranging the letters of words.

I think it's safe to say that Lenny is my new favorite unreliable main character. Even though she struggles to build relationships, I found her easy to like on the page/in my ears. Her story is an exploration of what can happen to a person who has been through repeated trauma and abandonment, especially at a young age, and I wanted to hug her throughout this book (although she doesn't like being touched, so maybe I shouldn't).

"Revenge will set you free."

I cheered for Lenny all the way as she steals a mistreated dog, makes friends at work and in her neighborhood, gets acquainted with a love interest, and struggles to understand and make peace with her past. She's truly remarkable. Hats off to the narrator for portraying her so well.

Also, props to the author for suspending reality and setting this book in 2022 without mentioning the pandemic even once. I don't have the stomach for COVID-era fiction just yet.

Content warnings feel necessary for this one. There is domestic violence and, at the risk of a spoiler, a child death that I found very difficult to get through. Still, a full five stars are deserved here.

I quite liked Lenny Marks. Her kind heart and (likely) neurodivergent brain were so relatable. I loved her relationship with her adoptive mother and watching her grow throughout the novel. Some of the twists were a bit obvious, but to me this book was primarily about Lenny's journey forward, rather than what happened to her before. There was enough suspense to keep it interesting, and the romantic and social bits were handled well.

I listened to this one and loved the Australian narrator.

This was the perfect mix of heartwarming and challenging, and I will recommend it liberally.

Thank you NetGalley and LibroFM for the ARC.

This book was a delightful surprise for me. Lenny Marks is an odd duck. She is a thirty seven year old elementary school teacher with little to no social life, social skills or even friends. As the story unfolds we learn why Lenny is this way and how she got to where she is today. Lenny had a terrible thing happen to her in childhood and has repressed her memory of it in order to survive in an inhospitable world. I really liked her character and her story which is told with humor and honesty. I don't want to say too much about the story line and give it away but I truly enjoyed this book and think others will too. It is an unusual story that kept me guessing and fully satisfied me at the end. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for a chance to listen/read and ARC version of this audio book. My opinions are my own.