"Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder" by Kerryn Mayne is a delightful cozy mystery that introduces readers to the charmingly eccentric Lenny Marks, a fifth-grade teacher with a fondness for routine and a knack for unintentionally socially awkward interactions. I adored Lenny's quirky character. While it is never said, Lenny has to be neurodivergent!

Lenny's character captures the imagination with her organized and quirky demeanor, reminiscent of beloved literary figures like Eleanor Oliphant or Fern from Sally Hepworth's "The Other Sister." Lenny is crafted with care, balancing her idiosyncrasies with a relatable vulnerability, especially as she grapples with mysteries from her past that haunt her present.

This was such a fun read. It is not my normal fast-paced edge of your seat thriller, but it kept me guessing and wondering what Lenny's secret was.
Despite its cozy feel, "Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder" keeps readers engaged with its layers of intrigue and the cast of characters that surround Lenny, including her faithful companion, Malcolm the dog. As Lenny navigates through her everyday life and confronts the shadows of her past, the narrative twists and turns, leaving clues that lead to the resolution.

"Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder" is expertly narrated by Annie Maynard.
She does an amazing job narrating the story and adds to the overall interest.

Kerryn Mayne has crafted a story that blends charm, intrigue, emotion, and a touch of whimsy, making it easy to root for Lenny as she unravels the mysteries that surround her. Lenny Marks is sure to find a place in readers' hearts. If you're looking for a book with an entertaining mystery and quirky protagonist, this one is definitely worth picking up.
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I went into this expecting a light, fluffy cozy mystery — instead, I came away rewarded with a deep character study layered with trauma and satisfying personal growth. Lenny Marks is a teacher in her late 30s, firmly rooted in routines, personal rules for life, and a quiet existence enriched by replays of Friends and games of Scrabble with her imaginary flatmate. Her orderly. life is shaken up when she receives a letter in the mail from the parole board. Slowly, her past is revealed, and you begin to understand how much of Lenny's unique character traits are shaped by her past trauma. Lenny is a character that's easy to root for, and I enjoyed seeing her begin to find friendships in those around her. Lenny's mental word games that she plays in times of stress were especially enjoyable. This was a solid debut for Kerryn Mayne and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

My only complaint with this book, and it's a small one, is that the cover art and (to a lesser degree) title seem out of sync with the disposition of the book. I almost took a pass on it because I wasn't in the mood for something fluffy, but I'm thankful I gave it a shot because there's much more emotional depth to this story than you would expect. Annie Maynard does a solid job on narration and the audio production is done well. 4.5 stars rounded up.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Kerryn Mayne for providing an advance copy for my honest review.

🎧 4.5/5 ⭐️ Highly enjoyed this book it came together so well. Quirky character with a troubled past that suddenly starts to come together and help her understand herself, her past, her future and who really matters. Reminds me a little of the book The Maid in terms of character similarities but a completely different storyline. Enjoyed the mystery and the way her history unfolded, very much like her memory. As always the dog helps make the book, a rule worth breaking for sure.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 (𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧) 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤, 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐈 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 (𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐝) 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝟏/𝟑 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨.

𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐤𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝’𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭. (𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 “𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲” 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡—𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.)

𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝒦𝑒𝓇𝓇𝓎𝓃 𝑀𝒶𝓎𝓃𝑒, 𝑀𝒶𝒸𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒶𝓃 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜, & 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.

Lenny is a 5th grade teacher who is extremely routine orientated, has a strict schedule and isn’t very social. But she loves scrabble and watching Friends. But she decides she is going to try to be friendly with the school staff and join them for Trivia Night. And she is definitely going to ignore the letter that arrived for Helena Winters.

Unfortunately, things don’t go quite as well as she hoped at Trivia Night and that pesky letter is still staring at her, as she forces herself not to remember that fateful night with her mother and stepfather when her life came crashing down. But she can’t ignore the past. As Lenny is forced to reckon with her past, she also finds that the right social connections just might be what save her in the end.

This novel was not at all what I expected. It is not a cozy mystery. Don’t be fooled by the cover that it’s a silly read. It’s a bit of a thriller but also a story of childhood trauma, friendship and community. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved Lenny’s character and the overall story. I was lucky to be gifted both the audiobook and a digital review copy and the narration was done quite well and really captured the essence of Lenny.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the audiobook

This just wasn't the style for me. From the marketing, I thought this would be more suspense or dark humor mystery, but the beginning was slow and I wasn't interested in it. Sadly, this just didn't click with my personal tastes and I didn't think it would get better for me.

What a fantastic surprise getting to know Lenny Marks was! This is an incredibly well written debut novel from Kerryn Mayne with a character reminiscent of two of my favorites (Eleanor Oliphant and Molly the maid). The cover and "vibe" of this book is deceptive from the reality but in the best way, for my senses. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and encourage others not to be misled into thinking this is a "cozy" mystery or a thriller. It's a great read with a great lead character!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication!

Lenny Mark's Gets Away with Murder
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lenny has suffered a terrible childhood trauma. This story is very different. It could be emotional for some people. It was quirky, interesting, & kind of eccentric. I did feel that it dragged at times. The narrator did a great job.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio copy to listen to in exchange for an honest review.

If you like books by Emily Austin or Gail Honeyman, you are going to love this book. An excellent story despite the tragedy. Seeing how Lenny Marks changes over the course of the novel and how she processes long ago trauma was so compelling. The writing and characters developed perfectly as the story moved forward. This is definitely a book I will recommend.

I listened to this book with my book club. The narrator was enjoyable, and I enjoyed the flow of the storyline, the character development, and the characters in general. I would definitely recommend to others for an enjoyable read.

I just finished LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER by Kerryn Mayne, and it was a decent debut. The story is unique and somber, centering on Lenny, who has developed quirky habits to avoid confronting her childhood trauma and suppressed memories. As her stepfather is released from prison, her past starts to resurface, and Lenny must find a way to deal with it. In addition to trauma, the novel explores themes of healing, friendship, and personal growth.

Though marketed as a cute and cozy read (see US cover), I found it to be rather dark. Annie Maynard's fantastic audio narration brought the characters to life and added depth to the story. If you're looking for something a bit different, this one might be worth a try.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lenny Marks is a quirky character. She has established routines that she never deviates from. She struggles making friends, plays scrabble with an Imaginary Monica from Friends—which she watches repeatedly. Her parents disappeared when Lenny was younger and she was brought up by wonderful foster parents. One day she receives a letter that triggers memories that she had forgotten. As the memories re-surface Lenny’s routines start to crumble. Additionally she begins to open up to the people around her and makes some connections in the process. This is a heartbreaking story of an unlikely heroine that is forced to deal with tragedy, secrets and murder.

This was not at all what I was expecting. Lenny was such a great character, reminding me of Eleanor Oliphant, or Elizabeth Zott from Lessons in Chemistry. Her social awkwardness, her focus on routines and her bluntness all added to her charm. Her story takes many paths and her childhood is full of secrets and memories that she must face in order to move on. This was a great story full of heart and family.

The audiobook was well narrated, loved the accent.

4 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This felt like a very easy, almost comfort read. There was mystery, but not in a way that creates too much tension or concern. It was an easy read with likable characters.

I don’t read the synopsis immediately prior to reading the book (I read it when I first acquired it) so I thought this would be a mystery or lighthearted tale but it’s so much more. Yes, there is a murder, but it takes awhile to set the scene and it’s all so well done you almost forget you’re waiting for it to occur. Mayne puts you squarely into Lenny’s world, and her head, and you feel as if you’re with her through every awkward interaction, the slow reveal of the past, and how it has shaped her life. A fantastic but heartbreaking read about coping with loss and finding your way after.

Don’t let the title and cover fool you; this isn’t the typical cozy mystery it appears to be…in the best way! I will start off by saying please strongly consider the content warnings, as some of this audiobook was hard for me to listen to. The narrator, Annie Maynard, is absolutely perfect for the role. Her voice is sweet and quirky, and adds so much to Lenny’s story. I highly recommend the audiobook!

Lenny Marks is such a heartwarming character that I really enjoyed getting to know. A neurodiverse, eccentric young elementary school teacher, Lenny finds comfort in her simple, predictable routines. She collects issues of The Hobbit & has a penchant for reorganizing her bookshelf, loves the show Friends, and retreats into the breakdown of words and anagrams in times of stress.

As the book goes on, we slowly unravel layers to both Lenny’s daily life, thoughts, and her past. All of the characters introduced are unique and wonderfully written. We meet her good friend, Ned, who works at her favorite grocery store, and I absolutely adored him and his storyline as well! I loved being immersed in Lenny’s world, even the difficult parts of it. Her way of thinking was so refreshing and raw; it resonated with me in more ways than one.

I really want to write more, but I don’t want to spoil anything. So, I’ll end with saying the conclusion was absolutely perfect, and it makes me wish that this was the first in a series. More Lenny, please!

Fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, this book is for you! A must listen, and a physical book I pre-ordered after listening that I need on my bookshelf.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC!

This book was so unexpected! I didn’t know what to expect, but definitely not what was delivered!

Lenny is such a quirky, endearing, & likable character. On the surface this is a point in time life story about a woman and her ordinary life but… it is much more than the ordinary you would believe from the surface. Especially when we are introduced to bits and pieces of Lenny’s dramatic and traumatic past.

I loved the side characters in this story and the themes of found family, self worth and finding one’s passion in life.

Thank you to m MacMillan Audio for my ALC and St Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for my review!

This book is a good choice for someone who enjoys an autistic heroine and loved the television show Friends.

I loved the growth of our character throughout the book as she adapted to new relationships in her life. I didn’t enjoy the last 10% of the book and it isn’t the resolution I would have chosen. But it’s the author’s prerogative to take the story where they want, and it wrapped up nicely.

Trigger warnings for childhood abuse and trauma.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The title and cover of this book gives the idea of a lighthearted romp with a case of accidental crime or a darkly humorous villain story, but that is not at all the case. Fans of Elanor Oliphant is Completely Fine will find Lenny Marks similar, but all little less devastating. The story itself is very alike, but the main character Lenny is much more palatable with characteristics that are easier for the reader to connect with than Elanor was.

I did enjoy this book more than I thought I would, but it wasn’t a new concept and didn’t particularly stand out. The characters were well fleshed out and many were kind, adding to the overall comfort of the book. Given the traumatic nature of the story, I was pleasantly surprised how hopeful and cozy the overall story was.

I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator, Annie Maynard, was delightful and performed Lenny’s character perfectly.

I enjoyed this very much! It reminded me of Elinor Oliphant, and I imagine a fair number of readers will draw that comparison as well. Still, this wasn't so alike that I felt I had already read it; Lenny Marks was a thoroughly enjoyable character and I loved living in her world for a little while. Perfect blend of tragedy and comedic relief.

The story revolves around Lenny Mark, an unassuming man who becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation. The plot kicks off with the discovery of a body, and all evidence points to Lenny, who appears to have the perfect motive and opportunity to commit the crime. As the investigation unfolds, readers are taken on a journey through Lenny’s past and present, uncovering hidden truths and unexpected connections. Mayne’s skillful storytelling and unique blend of humor and suspense make this book a must-read for fans of the genre. Whether you are looking for a thrilling whodunit or a story with rich character development and engaging dialogue, this novel delivers on all fronts.

The narrator did a wonderful job reading this fun book! If you're looking for a riveting audiobook to listen to while doing chores or shopping- this is the one! Get ready to be transformed into a murder mystery