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Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder
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.
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.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published February 21, 2023
About the author
Kerryn Mayne
4 books208 followersKerryn Mayne is an author, former wedding photographer, and current police officer. When not at work attempting to solve crime, she is writing about it or preparing an endless stream of snacks for her four children. Kerryn lives in the bayside suburbs of Melbourne with her husband, children and a highly suspect lovebird. She only owns 11 copies of The Hobbit (for now).
Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder is her debut novel.
Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,500 reviews
July 9, 2024
“Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder” might sound like it’s a COZY mystery-but it isn’t.
And, if you read the taglines- you might be expecting a thriller-but those taglines are misleading as well.
Lenny Marks is your latest neurodivergent character in search of acceptance after a traumatic childhood, which she doesn’t quite remember, and this is HER story.
Expect a well written DEBUT by Australian author Kerrin Mayne, more in line with “Elenor Oliphant is Completely Fine”.
It builds a bit SLOWLY as we get to know Lenny and her World, but has more “action” in the second half.
Routines help Lenny to stay CALM.
She bikes home from work at exactly 4pm each day, eats the same meals every week, and owns thirty-six copies of The Hobbit (currently arranged by height). She loves “FRIENDS” reruns, and a favorite pastime is playing Scrabble against an imaginary “Monica Gellar”.
She may NOT be good at reading people, or making friends, but she is VERY good with words.
Lenny is thriving as a 5th grade teacher at Selby South Primary School until a letter arrives in the mail from the Parole Board. She tucks it away in an attempt to ignore it but when that fails-Lenny starts to UNRAVEL.
Her BEST coping mechanism- rearranging the letters of words into as many anagrams as she can come up with isn’t working this time…(Maybe a bit overused but I was impressed at all the words she could scramble!) 🤓
“Parole Hearing: orangerie, orphanage, helping, reaping, roaring…”
And, for once, as her past catches up to her present, she may have to break out of her comfort zone, and learn to accept help from others! It’s a wonderful surprise for her when she discovers how many people actually want to rally around her!
I enjoy heartwarming characters driven novels, so I enjoyed getting to know Lenny Marks. And, as an added bonus, the book brought back fond memories of playing Scrabble with my own Grandmother! 👵🏻
3.5 ⭐️ rounded ⬆️
A buddy read with DeAnn and MarilynW. Be sure to check out their thoughts on Lenny too!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
And, if you read the taglines- you might be expecting a thriller-but those taglines are misleading as well.
Lenny Marks is your latest neurodivergent character in search of acceptance after a traumatic childhood, which she doesn’t quite remember, and this is HER story.
Expect a well written DEBUT by Australian author Kerrin Mayne, more in line with “Elenor Oliphant is Completely Fine”.
It builds a bit SLOWLY as we get to know Lenny and her World, but has more “action” in the second half.
Routines help Lenny to stay CALM.
She bikes home from work at exactly 4pm each day, eats the same meals every week, and owns thirty-six copies of The Hobbit (currently arranged by height). She loves “FRIENDS” reruns, and a favorite pastime is playing Scrabble against an imaginary “Monica Gellar”.
She may NOT be good at reading people, or making friends, but she is VERY good with words.
Lenny is thriving as a 5th grade teacher at Selby South Primary School until a letter arrives in the mail from the Parole Board. She tucks it away in an attempt to ignore it but when that fails-Lenny starts to UNRAVEL.
Her BEST coping mechanism- rearranging the letters of words into as many anagrams as she can come up with isn’t working this time…(Maybe a bit overused but I was impressed at all the words she could scramble!) 🤓
“Parole Hearing: orangerie, orphanage, helping, reaping, roaring…”
And, for once, as her past catches up to her present, she may have to break out of her comfort zone, and learn to accept help from others! It’s a wonderful surprise for her when she discovers how many people actually want to rally around her!
I enjoy heartwarming characters driven novels, so I enjoyed getting to know Lenny Marks. And, as an added bonus, the book brought back fond memories of playing Scrabble with my own Grandmother! 👵🏻
3.5 ⭐️ rounded ⬆️
A buddy read with DeAnn and MarilynW. Be sure to check out their thoughts on Lenny too!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
March 3, 2024
Don’t let the title and cover fool you! This book is amazing!! 🤩 In fact, Lenny Marks will probably be my favorite book character of the year!
If you were like me and wanted to bypass this book- because if I’m being honest, the title made me think this book was going to be a quirky, detective, rom-com, mixed bag type of story- don’t let the title and cover mislead you, because this book is anything but that! In fact, this book was emotional and even heartbreaking at times.
In this story we learn about the very routine life of Lenny Marks (formerly Helena Winters). Lenny is 37 years old, single, and is a school teacher. Her favorite television show is “Friends”, and her favorite book is “The Hobbit”. As we learn of Lenny’s childhood and past trauma, we begin to understand why Lenny has so many routines and is comfortable being alone. In fact, there were a few twists that I did not see coming.
All I know is that if I could reach through the pages I would give Lenny the biggest hug. I want to be Lenny’s friend. Which brings me to the point that Lenny’s character and this book will stick with me for a very long time.
This is the author’s debut novel, and I think she did a phenomenal job!! My only gripe with this book is that it seemed to drag on just a teeny bit, and for some reason I’m not liking the title and cover for this book (although it is fitting) 🤷🏻♀️ Otherwise, I highly recommend reading this book!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: July 9, 2024.
Genre~ Women’s Fiction, General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
If you were like me and wanted to bypass this book- because if I’m being honest, the title made me think this book was going to be a quirky, detective, rom-com, mixed bag type of story- don’t let the title and cover mislead you, because this book is anything but that! In fact, this book was emotional and even heartbreaking at times.
In this story we learn about the very routine life of Lenny Marks (formerly Helena Winters). Lenny is 37 years old, single, and is a school teacher. Her favorite television show is “Friends”, and her favorite book is “The Hobbit”. As we learn of Lenny’s childhood and past trauma, we begin to understand why Lenny has so many routines and is comfortable being alone. In fact, there were a few twists that I did not see coming.
All I know is that if I could reach through the pages I would give Lenny the biggest hug. I want to be Lenny’s friend. Which brings me to the point that Lenny’s character and this book will stick with me for a very long time.
This is the author’s debut novel, and I think she did a phenomenal job!! My only gripe with this book is that it seemed to drag on just a teeny bit, and for some reason I’m not liking the title and cover for this book (although it is fitting) 🤷🏻♀️ Otherwise, I highly recommend reading this book!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: July 9, 2024.
Genre~ Women’s Fiction, General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
August 7, 2024
4.25⭐
Thirty-seven-year-old Lenny Marks lives her life in adherence to a set routine – riding her bike to school where she teaches fifth-grade, shopping from the same grocery store, and spending her free time rearranging her book collection comprising thirty-six (and counting) copies of the “The Hobbit, watching reruns of “Friends” and playing scrabble with her favorite fictional character from the show. She doesn’t have much of a social life and her interactions are limited to her colleagues and the people she meets in the course of her day. Though she would like to have more friends, she isn't too good at reading people or interpreting social cues. Whenever she feels overwhelmed, she copes by playing a game of anagrams.
When Lenny receives a letter from the Parole Board, she is forced to revisit her traumatic past and the childhood memories she has repressed – events that have contributed to Lenny’s worldview and the way she chooses to live her life. But as her past comes back to haunt her, she finds herself compelled to step out of her comfort zone. As the narrative progresses, we follow Lenny’s journey as she slowly begins to emerge from her shell and effect changes in her life.
Revolving around themes of trauma and healing, resilience, friendship and kindness and personal growth, Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne is a beautiful story. Shared from Lenny’s perspective, the narrative is well-paced and engaging. Lenny is an endearing character and I appreciated the author’s respectful and sensitive depiction of neurodiversity. The supporting characters are well thought out and I appreciated how the author has depicted how Lenny’s interactions with each of them - her pleasant and unpleasant experiences- help in her journey of self-discovery.
Please note that the title of this book is a tad misleading. This is not exactly the light-hearted cozy mystery that is implied, but an emotional story about a neurodivergent individual with a traumatic past who, with the help of those who care for her, embarks on a journey of healing and self-acceptance. The author injects a fair dose of humor, a few surprises and a sweet romantic track (which is well-woven into the narrative and does not distract from the primary plotline) to prevent the story from becoming too heavy. I did have to suspend disbelief at certain points in the story, but this in no way detracted from my overall experience.
I adored Lenny and wanted to spend more time with her! Exceptionally well-written, at times heartbreaking yet hopeful, full of heart and humor, this is an impressive debut novel and I look forward to reading more from this talented new author in the future.
I paired my reading with the audiobook narrated by Annie Maynard, who has done a brilliant job of capturing Lenny’s sweetness and resilience, her moods and emotions, and breathing life into this story. I couldn’t recommend the audiobook enough!
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the digital review copy and Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Thirty-seven-year-old Lenny Marks lives her life in adherence to a set routine – riding her bike to school where she teaches fifth-grade, shopping from the same grocery store, and spending her free time rearranging her book collection comprising thirty-six (and counting) copies of the “The Hobbit, watching reruns of “Friends” and playing scrabble with her favorite fictional character from the show. She doesn’t have much of a social life and her interactions are limited to her colleagues and the people she meets in the course of her day. Though she would like to have more friends, she isn't too good at reading people or interpreting social cues. Whenever she feels overwhelmed, she copes by playing a game of anagrams.
When Lenny receives a letter from the Parole Board, she is forced to revisit her traumatic past and the childhood memories she has repressed – events that have contributed to Lenny’s worldview and the way she chooses to live her life. But as her past comes back to haunt her, she finds herself compelled to step out of her comfort zone. As the narrative progresses, we follow Lenny’s journey as she slowly begins to emerge from her shell and effect changes in her life.
Revolving around themes of trauma and healing, resilience, friendship and kindness and personal growth, Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne is a beautiful story. Shared from Lenny’s perspective, the narrative is well-paced and engaging. Lenny is an endearing character and I appreciated the author’s respectful and sensitive depiction of neurodiversity. The supporting characters are well thought out and I appreciated how the author has depicted how Lenny’s interactions with each of them - her pleasant and unpleasant experiences- help in her journey of self-discovery.
Please note that the title of this book is a tad misleading. This is not exactly the light-hearted cozy mystery that is implied, but an emotional story about a neurodivergent individual with a traumatic past who, with the help of those who care for her, embarks on a journey of healing and self-acceptance. The author injects a fair dose of humor, a few surprises and a sweet romantic track (which is well-woven into the narrative and does not distract from the primary plotline) to prevent the story from becoming too heavy. I did have to suspend disbelief at certain points in the story, but this in no way detracted from my overall experience.
I adored Lenny and wanted to spend more time with her! Exceptionally well-written, at times heartbreaking yet hopeful, full of heart and humor, this is an impressive debut novel and I look forward to reading more from this talented new author in the future.
I paired my reading with the audiobook narrated by Annie Maynard, who has done a brilliant job of capturing Lenny’s sweetness and resilience, her moods and emotions, and breathing life into this story. I couldn’t recommend the audiobook enough!
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the digital review copy and Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
June 10, 2024
Do not judge this book by it's cover!
The marketing of this book is so misleading, I almost passed on it. I don't know why it's presented as a 'cosy mystery', but it's definitely not.
To me this book is more in the vein of 'Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine' than anything else.
The main character, a socially awkward woman, slowly comes to terms with her traumatic past and take action to open up to others.
This story got a lot of heart and humour, and I really found myself rooting for Lenny. It's well constructed and kept me interested until the end.
I liked the narrator for the audiobook version, who helped a lot to give a light-hearted tone to the story even when difficult subjects were discussed.
If you like that kind of personal journey, give this book a chance.
The marketing of this book is so misleading, I almost passed on it. I don't know why it's presented as a 'cosy mystery', but it's definitely not.
To me this book is more in the vein of 'Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine' than anything else.
The main character, a socially awkward woman, slowly comes to terms with her traumatic past and take action to open up to others.
This story got a lot of heart and humour, and I really found myself rooting for Lenny. It's well constructed and kept me interested until the end.
I liked the narrator for the audiobook version, who helped a lot to give a light-hearted tone to the story even when difficult subjects were discussed.
If you like that kind of personal journey, give this book a chance.
May 25, 2023
This debut tells a serious story interwoven with the intricate internal struggles of a smart young neuro diverse woman. Very well written, Kerryn Mayne will be an author to keep a close eye on, as there is nothing at all that speaks of ‘new writer’.
Lenny is a quirky teacher of primary students, loves her routine, her bike, her own space. Simple things keep her life chugging along; it is all she seems to need. Scrabble with her imaginary flat mate, watching her favourite show Friends when stressed, and a routine of the same meals set for each day of the week. All these things while maintaining a job she loves and simple interactions with the people she comes across in life. Usually less is more, and she is quite content.
A clever part of this book is Lenny’s penchant for retreating to words in times of stress. Reaching for breaking down words by way of calming and shutting down intrusive and uncomfortable thoughts. The author makes this an interesting word game and takes un into Lenny’s complicated mind.
The thing is she has every reason to struggle and reach for calming devices, as Lenny is a woman who has suffered extreme adversity, and this is shown through insights and memories of her life when she was a child at the hands of disturbed and dark upbringing in a dysfunctional environment. Lenny was not given the opportunity to thrive.
Every word on the pages provides oomph and strength to Lenny’s resilience (which she does not at all recognise). She has come a remarkable distance as an eleven-year-old child having seen things no one ever should.
Extremely private and hard to warm to others, it is assumed Lenny is weak and many take advantage. Socialisation is not something she can do in the assumed way of today’s society, and of course heartbreaking when colleagues treat her poorly. But beautifully when we see others love her and treat her with kindness.
This book is a unique one, which take us on the path of neurodiversity with gentleness and sensitivity, and of a woman who learns of an unknown capacity for personal growth leading to a new level of satisfaction in her life. It also gives the reader a glimpse into ways others struggle, although ultimately succeed and flourish.
A lovely, provoking, sad and at many times, funny book. Absolutely recommended to all. I am sorry I waited this long to get to know Lenny Marks.
Lenny is a quirky teacher of primary students, loves her routine, her bike, her own space. Simple things keep her life chugging along; it is all she seems to need. Scrabble with her imaginary flat mate, watching her favourite show Friends when stressed, and a routine of the same meals set for each day of the week. All these things while maintaining a job she loves and simple interactions with the people she comes across in life. Usually less is more, and she is quite content.
A clever part of this book is Lenny’s penchant for retreating to words in times of stress. Reaching for breaking down words by way of calming and shutting down intrusive and uncomfortable thoughts. The author makes this an interesting word game and takes un into Lenny’s complicated mind.
The thing is she has every reason to struggle and reach for calming devices, as Lenny is a woman who has suffered extreme adversity, and this is shown through insights and memories of her life when she was a child at the hands of disturbed and dark upbringing in a dysfunctional environment. Lenny was not given the opportunity to thrive.
Every word on the pages provides oomph and strength to Lenny’s resilience (which she does not at all recognise). She has come a remarkable distance as an eleven-year-old child having seen things no one ever should.
Extremely private and hard to warm to others, it is assumed Lenny is weak and many take advantage. Socialisation is not something she can do in the assumed way of today’s society, and of course heartbreaking when colleagues treat her poorly. But beautifully when we see others love her and treat her with kindness.
This book is a unique one, which take us on the path of neurodiversity with gentleness and sensitivity, and of a woman who learns of an unknown capacity for personal growth leading to a new level of satisfaction in her life. It also gives the reader a glimpse into ways others struggle, although ultimately succeed and flourish.
A lovely, provoking, sad and at many times, funny book. Absolutely recommended to all. I am sorry I waited this long to get to know Lenny Marks.
May 29, 2024
What a wonderful debut novel! I found this book to be well written and thought provoking. Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder also evokes emotion. I could not help but root for Lenny the entire book. This book was equal parts entertaining, captivating, and hard to put down. I love having a character to root for and Lenny fits the bill!
Lenny Marks is such an interesting character. She is a teacher who enjoys solitude, order, and routine. She has things she enjoys doing such as watching Friends, playing Scrabble, and utilizing self-soothing word games/anagrams in times of stress. When a letter arrives from the parole board addressed to Helena Winters, Lenny's life of order begins to get messy.
"You did this."
As the plot unfolds, more and more of Lenny's past comes to light. Lenny was raised by foster parents after she suffered loss and trauma in her childhood. As Lenny tries to make changes in her life, I cheered her on with a smile on my face. This book had me thinking of the quote from Winnie the Pooh “You’re braver than you believe and stronger and smarter than you think.” It is hard to make changes, begin relationships/friendships, and Lenny made a tremendous effort in her own unique way while memories of her past began to surface.
As I mentioned, I did a lot of feeling and cheering for Lenny throughout the book. I enjoyed her journey and growth throughout the book. There were some twists and turns along the way which made for an enjoyable read. If you enjoy books where characters grow, overcome, and are resilient, then this book might be for you!
I'll say it again, this was a wonderful debut novel which had me feeling all kinds of emotions. I look forward to more books by Kerryn Mayne in the future. I also appreciate how the author tackled difficult subjects in this book.
*I had both the book and audiobook version of this book and thought the narrator of the audiobook did a great job bringing this book to life.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Lenny Marks is such an interesting character. She is a teacher who enjoys solitude, order, and routine. She has things she enjoys doing such as watching Friends, playing Scrabble, and utilizing self-soothing word games/anagrams in times of stress. When a letter arrives from the parole board addressed to Helena Winters, Lenny's life of order begins to get messy.
"You did this."
As the plot unfolds, more and more of Lenny's past comes to light. Lenny was raised by foster parents after she suffered loss and trauma in her childhood. As Lenny tries to make changes in her life, I cheered her on with a smile on my face. This book had me thinking of the quote from Winnie the Pooh “You’re braver than you believe and stronger and smarter than you think.” It is hard to make changes, begin relationships/friendships, and Lenny made a tremendous effort in her own unique way while memories of her past began to surface.
As I mentioned, I did a lot of feeling and cheering for Lenny throughout the book. I enjoyed her journey and growth throughout the book. There were some twists and turns along the way which made for an enjoyable read. If you enjoy books where characters grow, overcome, and are resilient, then this book might be for you!
I'll say it again, this was a wonderful debut novel which had me feeling all kinds of emotions. I look forward to more books by Kerryn Mayne in the future. I also appreciate how the author tackled difficult subjects in this book.
*I had both the book and audiobook version of this book and thought the narrator of the audiobook did a great job bringing this book to life.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
August 17, 2024
“You don’t have to do this alone, you know.”
“Do what?”
“Life.”
The title of the book says that Lenny Marks gets away with murder. But as I kept reading the book, I kept wondering…what really is the murder that she is getting away with here?
First, let us try and understand who Lenny Marks is.
She is a teacher of elementary school kids. She is deeply flawed. And troubled. She has a past that is not clear. To readers. And, probably to herself. Is she neurodivergent, or damaged because of this past that isn’t clear to her or readers?
Keep reading, I would tell myself. Be patient. There is more to Lenny Marks.
She is deeply sensitive. She has been bullied in her past. And, she doesn’t like to see people hurting others or dogs. Thus, it is no surprise that she now has Malcolm, the dog. And, she really likes the show Friends, yet she doesn’t “appear” to have any. Or does she?
So, with all this being said, is there anything about Lenny Marks that is likable? Do we as readers root for her? Do we care enough about her that we want to know what really happened in her past? Or care enough to find out who this Fergus is, when a letter arrives at her work that she doesn’t seem to read, but readers want to know about it? And him?
And, most importantly, why, oh why, did the author decide to title this book, ‘Lenny Marks gets away with murder?’
And, just when it seemed like we would be close to knowing, the author had Lenny Marks running from that truth. But there was something else the author would give readers.
Short chapters. So, that we would keep reading to find out more. Small clues forward for readers to savor.
What really happened to Lenny Marks? Or, what did Lenny Marks do? How many pages will it take for readers to read before they find out the truth? And whether, Lenny Marks does indeed commit murder, or not?
“She hoped they knew.”
And when readers do…find this “truth,” how will we feel? Will we breathe again and understand Lenny Marks a little more? And, will we care?
My answer…yes. I believe so.
Lenny Marks is complicated. But fascinating, too. And, in this page-turning, very different type of mystery debut novel, readers will want to be protective of her. And patient.
And, aware of Malcolm, too. He has quite the story, as well. (To say more…well, you know me and spoilers…I don’t give them.)
“Do what?”
“Life.”
The title of the book says that Lenny Marks gets away with murder. But as I kept reading the book, I kept wondering…what really is the murder that she is getting away with here?
First, let us try and understand who Lenny Marks is.
She is a teacher of elementary school kids. She is deeply flawed. And troubled. She has a past that is not clear. To readers. And, probably to herself. Is she neurodivergent, or damaged because of this past that isn’t clear to her or readers?
Keep reading, I would tell myself. Be patient. There is more to Lenny Marks.
She is deeply sensitive. She has been bullied in her past. And, she doesn’t like to see people hurting others or dogs. Thus, it is no surprise that she now has Malcolm, the dog. And, she really likes the show Friends, yet she doesn’t “appear” to have any. Or does she?
So, with all this being said, is there anything about Lenny Marks that is likable? Do we as readers root for her? Do we care enough about her that we want to know what really happened in her past? Or care enough to find out who this Fergus is, when a letter arrives at her work that she doesn’t seem to read, but readers want to know about it? And him?
And, most importantly, why, oh why, did the author decide to title this book, ‘Lenny Marks gets away with murder?’
And, just when it seemed like we would be close to knowing, the author had Lenny Marks running from that truth. But there was something else the author would give readers.
Short chapters. So, that we would keep reading to find out more. Small clues forward for readers to savor.
What really happened to Lenny Marks? Or, what did Lenny Marks do? How many pages will it take for readers to read before they find out the truth? And whether, Lenny Marks does indeed commit murder, or not?
“She hoped they knew.”
And when readers do…find this “truth,” how will we feel? Will we breathe again and understand Lenny Marks a little more? And, will we care?
My answer…yes. I believe so.
Lenny Marks is complicated. But fascinating, too. And, in this page-turning, very different type of mystery debut novel, readers will want to be protective of her. And patient.
And, aware of Malcolm, too. He has quite the story, as well. (To say more…well, you know me and spoilers…I don’t give them.)
September 2, 2023
3.5~4★
“Lenny ran her fingers over the smoothness of the envelope. Adult Parole Board Victoria was emblazoned proudly in the top right corner, as if this was a regular and not at all concerning place from which to receive mail.”
It’s not only the sender that’s concerning, it’s the name and address of the receiver. It’s addressed to Helena Winters and arrived at the school where Lenny Marks teaches. It’s for Lenny.
I enjoyed the beginning of this book, meeting Lenny and trying to figure out her character and personality. She has many quirks, and it’s hard to know how many are natural and how many were shaped by her childhood. It doesn’t really matter.
She is quiet and private, but not particularly shy. She can be outspoken, but generally prefers not to call attention to herself. When she’s nervous, she latches onto a word someone has said and starts making mental anagrams of it, which seem to uncover some of her current feelings.
“Parole hearing: orangerie, orphanage, helping, reaping, roaring
Silenced: declines, denies, sliced, need
Scared: raced, sear, read, arc, scar
Nightmares: streaming, rightens, nastier, shaming, garish”
She has had a troubled childhood and there are hints of something she has buried and refuses to remember.
“And she’d shelved that period of her life, in a box, sealed tight. She had no intention of reopening it.”
She’s now 37, and her foster mother, Fay, insists she stay in touch, come for dinner, and play with whatever children Fay is currently fostering. Fay is proud she’s now a teacher, but she worries about Lenny living so alone with such strict routines. Fay is a loving constant in her life, the only one.
“When Lenny arrived at Fay and Robert’s she had been barely an outline of a thirteen-year-old girl. The mere fact she was in yet another new home had made her conclude, once and for all, that she was the problem.”
Lenny still thinks she’s the problem – why her mother abandoned her to go with her abusive stepfather, why her grandmother abandoned her, why the only place she’s ever felt safe is tucked into the corner of her wardrobe, hiding under her doona. Even as an adult, the feeling still comes over her.
“Wardrobe: arbored, broader, bared, robed, bear”
It’s not clear whether “bear” refers to her beloved teddy bear, which she still has and won’t part with, or whether it means she can bear whatever is bothering her if she sits in there. It doesn’t matter, and it could be both.
She has strict routines, rides her bike to the shop on the same days, buys the same foods, eats the same meals, has the same TV shows running in the background, particularly “Friends”, all of whom she thinks of as her friends. She knows they aren’t – she just likes to think about them as if they are real.
People definitely see her as ‘different’, which she understands, but we can’t tell at first whether this is an innate neurodiverse issue or a protective mechanism she developed to cope with whatever the trauma was. Again, it doesn’t matter, and it could be both.
She lives her adult life as she chooses, mostly, but when someone from her childhood suddenly reappears as a parent of one her students at the parent-teacher meeting, she feels panicky again. Will he recognise her?
“Suddenly, Lenny was at a loss as to how to begin and pictured herself picking up one of the small chairs and throwing it out the window just to shift everyone’s focus.
‘Diversion: derision, visioned, roved, drove, void, rid’”
I understood what was going on before she did, but there were still a couple of surprising reveals that kept me reading. Although the action picked up at the end, I didn’t feel the result was plausible and the wrap-up was a little too neat for me. Perhaps, as I said several times earlier, that doesn’t really matter, does it?
I know there are many readers who will love that part, and because I enjoyed the story overall, I am happy to overlook my cynical reaction. I liked Aussie author Mayne’s style and the Australian setting (not the bush). I should mention I listened to some of the audio, which was pretty good, too.
A book I enjoyed more, which this reminded me of, is Ginny Moon, by Benjamin Ludwig. You might like to have a look at that one, too. Ginny is a little girl with autism who is also moving between foster families because of some past trauma. But she hasn’t grown up yet.
My review of Ginny Moon
“Lenny ran her fingers over the smoothness of the envelope. Adult Parole Board Victoria was emblazoned proudly in the top right corner, as if this was a regular and not at all concerning place from which to receive mail.”
It’s not only the sender that’s concerning, it’s the name and address of the receiver. It’s addressed to Helena Winters and arrived at the school where Lenny Marks teaches. It’s for Lenny.
I enjoyed the beginning of this book, meeting Lenny and trying to figure out her character and personality. She has many quirks, and it’s hard to know how many are natural and how many were shaped by her childhood. It doesn’t really matter.
She is quiet and private, but not particularly shy. She can be outspoken, but generally prefers not to call attention to herself. When she’s nervous, she latches onto a word someone has said and starts making mental anagrams of it, which seem to uncover some of her current feelings.
“Parole hearing: orangerie, orphanage, helping, reaping, roaring
Silenced: declines, denies, sliced, need
Scared: raced, sear, read, arc, scar
Nightmares: streaming, rightens, nastier, shaming, garish”
She has had a troubled childhood and there are hints of something she has buried and refuses to remember.
“And she’d shelved that period of her life, in a box, sealed tight. She had no intention of reopening it.”
She’s now 37, and her foster mother, Fay, insists she stay in touch, come for dinner, and play with whatever children Fay is currently fostering. Fay is proud she’s now a teacher, but she worries about Lenny living so alone with such strict routines. Fay is a loving constant in her life, the only one.
“When Lenny arrived at Fay and Robert’s she had been barely an outline of a thirteen-year-old girl. The mere fact she was in yet another new home had made her conclude, once and for all, that she was the problem.”
Lenny still thinks she’s the problem – why her mother abandoned her to go with her abusive stepfather, why her grandmother abandoned her, why the only place she’s ever felt safe is tucked into the corner of her wardrobe, hiding under her doona. Even as an adult, the feeling still comes over her.
“Wardrobe: arbored, broader, bared, robed, bear”
It’s not clear whether “bear” refers to her beloved teddy bear, which she still has and won’t part with, or whether it means she can bear whatever is bothering her if she sits in there. It doesn’t matter, and it could be both.
She has strict routines, rides her bike to the shop on the same days, buys the same foods, eats the same meals, has the same TV shows running in the background, particularly “Friends”, all of whom she thinks of as her friends. She knows they aren’t – she just likes to think about them as if they are real.
People definitely see her as ‘different’, which she understands, but we can’t tell at first whether this is an innate neurodiverse issue or a protective mechanism she developed to cope with whatever the trauma was. Again, it doesn’t matter, and it could be both.
She lives her adult life as she chooses, mostly, but when someone from her childhood suddenly reappears as a parent of one her students at the parent-teacher meeting, she feels panicky again. Will he recognise her?
“Suddenly, Lenny was at a loss as to how to begin and pictured herself picking up one of the small chairs and throwing it out the window just to shift everyone’s focus.
‘Diversion: derision, visioned, roved, drove, void, rid’”
I understood what was going on before she did, but there were still a couple of surprising reveals that kept me reading. Although the action picked up at the end, I didn’t feel the result was plausible and the wrap-up was a little too neat for me. Perhaps, as I said several times earlier, that doesn’t really matter, does it?
I know there are many readers who will love that part, and because I enjoyed the story overall, I am happy to overlook my cynical reaction. I liked Aussie author Mayne’s style and the Australian setting (not the bush). I should mention I listened to some of the audio, which was pretty good, too.
A book I enjoyed more, which this reminded me of, is Ginny Moon, by Benjamin Ludwig. You might like to have a look at that one, too. Ginny is a little girl with autism who is also moving between foster families because of some past trauma. But she hasn’t grown up yet.
My review of Ginny Moon
August 13, 2024
If I can tell you anything at all about this book it is that Lenny Marks is an extraordinary human being and I am truly sad to part ways with her. 😢
Lenny Marks lives a life of order and routine and that's just how she likes it. Sure, it can be lonely, but if there is one thing that Lenny has learned in life it's that people let you down so it's better to keep a safe distance before the hurt happens. She knows all too well about that.
Unfortunately, her foster mother, Fay, worries about her. Lenny is 37 years old and needs to get out more, meet people, have a life she deserves. To Lenny this sounds like an absolute nightmare but she has to agree with her on some levels so she decides she'll attend trivia night with co-workers and from here her life transforms in ways she could never have imagined.
I can't even tell you all how much I loved this debut. I felt every emotion while reading this. It's impossible not to grow attached to Lenny. What a beautiful blossoming flower she is and I loved watching her petals unfold on the page. Lenny isn't the only one to love here. Ned, Kirra, Fay, and Maureen were all exquisitely drawn characters. All with a heart of gold. 💛 I just love a book that takes a tragic story and makes it a thing of beauty. My heart is so full and happy right now. I'm not one for book series but I would happily read another book on Lenny and where her new life leads her. All the love and all the stars for this one! 💖⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.
Lenny Marks lives a life of order and routine and that's just how she likes it. Sure, it can be lonely, but if there is one thing that Lenny has learned in life it's that people let you down so it's better to keep a safe distance before the hurt happens. She knows all too well about that.
Unfortunately, her foster mother, Fay, worries about her. Lenny is 37 years old and needs to get out more, meet people, have a life she deserves. To Lenny this sounds like an absolute nightmare but she has to agree with her on some levels so she decides she'll attend trivia night with co-workers and from here her life transforms in ways she could never have imagined.
I can't even tell you all how much I loved this debut. I felt every emotion while reading this. It's impossible not to grow attached to Lenny. What a beautiful blossoming flower she is and I loved watching her petals unfold on the page. Lenny isn't the only one to love here. Ned, Kirra, Fay, and Maureen were all exquisitely drawn characters. All with a heart of gold. 💛 I just love a book that takes a tragic story and makes it a thing of beauty. My heart is so full and happy right now. I'm not one for book series but I would happily read another book on Lenny and where her new life leads her. All the love and all the stars for this one! 💖⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.
July 8, 2024
What she couldn't change, she would forget. What she couldn't forget she would come to terms with.
This new release about Lenny Marks is an endearing character study. Early chapters suggest she is somewhere on the spectrum. Read on and you will realize what a trooper she is. A 5th grade teacher and thirty-something homeowner who has dealt with some major trauma. Here are four things I loved about this book:
🚴♂️She is organized with her daily routines clocked out and a weekly rota for meals. Lenny also helps out with yard maintenance for her next door neighbor.
🤗Watching 'Friends' is her comfort zone. An imaginary Monica is her favorite Scrabble partner. Her "housemate Monica" comes up often in conversation and helps Lenny to feel less alone.
🐕Malcolm the rescued Rottweiler is a wonderful addition to Lenny's household. Our family had a female Rottweiler in the 90's, so we are a bit partial to the breed.
🎧Annie Maynard is a brilliant narrator for this down under drama. I felt like I was there!
👎There were some ethical dilemmas in this one that I found a bit troubling. So, not a five-star read for me personally.
If you enjoyed books like Ginny Moon and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, then I think you will also want to try this one.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review
This new release about Lenny Marks is an endearing character study. Early chapters suggest she is somewhere on the spectrum. Read on and you will realize what a trooper she is. A 5th grade teacher and thirty-something homeowner who has dealt with some major trauma. Here are four things I loved about this book:
🚴♂️She is organized with her daily routines clocked out and a weekly rota for meals. Lenny also helps out with yard maintenance for her next door neighbor.
🤗Watching 'Friends' is her comfort zone. An imaginary Monica is her favorite Scrabble partner. Her "housemate Monica" comes up often in conversation and helps Lenny to feel less alone.
🐕Malcolm the rescued Rottweiler is a wonderful addition to Lenny's household. Our family had a female Rottweiler in the 90's, so we are a bit partial to the breed.
🎧Annie Maynard is a brilliant narrator for this down under drama. I felt like I was there!
👎There were some ethical dilemmas in this one that I found a bit troubling. So, not a five-star read for me personally.
If you enjoyed books like Ginny Moon and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, then I think you will also want to try this one.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review
July 15, 2024
Lenny Marks is in her 30s, a school teacher in Australia. She's socially awkward, a bit of an introvert and doesn't have any close friends other than characters in her TV shows. Her favourite book is The Hobbit of which she has 36 copies. When she was a child her mother and step-father disappeared and she grew up mostly in foster care. When Lenny receives a letter from the parole board advising her that her step-father is being released from prison, her carefully structured world begins to crumble.
I really enjoyed this book and was rooting for Lenny (short for Helena) to overcome her social awkwardness and for people to see her true self. I liked how Lenny calmed herself by finding and mentally listing words within words. As the story progresses and we learn the truth of Lenny's past, she becomes a real heroine, not to be underestimated. The story elicited many different emotions, some good and some bad, and the writing is top-notch.
TW: Domestic abuse, child abuse, animal cruelty.
Hard to believe this is a debut novel. Kerryn Mayne is definitely an author to watch. All the stars!
Many thanks to Althea Mignone, Marketing Assistant, St. Martin's Press via Netgalley for providing a copy of this debut novel for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: July 9, 2024
I really enjoyed this book and was rooting for Lenny (short for Helena) to overcome her social awkwardness and for people to see her true self. I liked how Lenny calmed herself by finding and mentally listing words within words. As the story progresses and we learn the truth of Lenny's past, she becomes a real heroine, not to be underestimated. The story elicited many different emotions, some good and some bad, and the writing is top-notch.
TW: Domestic abuse, child abuse, animal cruelty.
Hard to believe this is a debut novel. Kerryn Mayne is definitely an author to watch. All the stars!
Many thanks to Althea Mignone, Marketing Assistant, St. Martin's Press via Netgalley for providing a copy of this debut novel for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: July 9, 2024
March 5, 2023
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
My fabulous book blogger friends and author Sally Hepworth have all been raving about Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder so I made it my mission to read Kerryn Mayne’s novel as soon as it arrived on my doorstep. An exceptional, astute, engrossing and highly entertaining read, Kerry Mayne has produced a crowning debut.
Primary school teacher Lenny Marks loves her job, she thrives on order, routine and stability. Lenny is a solo act, she prefers her own company than trying to fit in with others. Lenny is content with her job at a local primary school, her nightly scrabble games, watching Friends reruns and admiring her collection of books. But Lenny has a troubled past and she has tried very hard to put this difficult part of her life behind her. Lenny’s mother went away over two decades ago, but the pain remains. Lately Lenny has felt the need to make her foster mum happy and branch out a little in her social life. But this is met by an ominous letter that Lenny cannot cast aside. Lenny then begins to recall key moments from her past and when her mother left her. Will Lenny finally make peace with the past?
Author Kerryn Mayne is a current police officer and she has also worked as a wedding photographer. Now this Melbourne based author can add writer to her credentials thanks to the amazing success of Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder. This smart, heart-warming and intricate mystery tale is one you need to purchase if you spot it in bookstores.
I generally avoid making comparisons between books and characters. However, I will say that the main protagonist of Kerryn Mayne’s debut definitely sits in the same camp as Eleanor Oliphant from Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Molly Gray from The Maid and Susan Green from The Cactus. I have loved all these books and characters which is why I am linking Lenny Marks to these memorable leads. Lenny Marks is a woman who will not leave your side, even after you have read the final page of Kerryn Mayne’s dynamic first novel. Like many of these types of characters, I spent my sweet time trying to analyse and diagnose Lenny. I will admit that Lenny is very different from the norm, but she is so endearing. I found an instant connection to Lenny based on her occupation and approach to life. Kerryn Mayne has done an excellent job of bringing this unique character’s life to the limelight for us to enjoy.
Mayne also brings us an eclectic set of outer cast members. These protagonists range from Lenny’s colleagues, to her foster family, her stepfather, new friends and pets. I think Mayne should be very proud of her efforts in the character department, as it has been very hard for me to forget this ensemble! What I loved about Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder was the mystery and family history side of the tale. Mayne sends the reader on a journey, where she imparts some clues and information about the backstory of her lead. This was gently dropped into the overall narrative in a way that encouraged the reader to continue on with unlocking Lenny’s past in an addictive manner. It is easy to let your emotions run wild while reading Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder, you will feel sad, angry, disgusted, appalled, bereft, happy, fearful and relieved as our principal character negotiates many obstacles in her life as it stands. Mayne is careful and methodical in her approach to these issues, she never amplifies sensitive topics, or degrades her characters. I was thoroughly impressed by Mayne’s treatment of mental illness, trauma, domestic abuse and loss. I have the greatest respect for Kerryn Mayne and her Lenny.
The last third of the novel really grabbed me and lifted Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder to five star status by the conclusion. My sincere congratulations to Kerryn Mayne, a star on the rise in the Australian contemporary fiction field. I’m excited to see what Kerryn Mayne brings us next!
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
My fabulous book blogger friends and author Sally Hepworth have all been raving about Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder so I made it my mission to read Kerryn Mayne’s novel as soon as it arrived on my doorstep. An exceptional, astute, engrossing and highly entertaining read, Kerry Mayne has produced a crowning debut.
Primary school teacher Lenny Marks loves her job, she thrives on order, routine and stability. Lenny is a solo act, she prefers her own company than trying to fit in with others. Lenny is content with her job at a local primary school, her nightly scrabble games, watching Friends reruns and admiring her collection of books. But Lenny has a troubled past and she has tried very hard to put this difficult part of her life behind her. Lenny’s mother went away over two decades ago, but the pain remains. Lately Lenny has felt the need to make her foster mum happy and branch out a little in her social life. But this is met by an ominous letter that Lenny cannot cast aside. Lenny then begins to recall key moments from her past and when her mother left her. Will Lenny finally make peace with the past?
Author Kerryn Mayne is a current police officer and she has also worked as a wedding photographer. Now this Melbourne based author can add writer to her credentials thanks to the amazing success of Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder. This smart, heart-warming and intricate mystery tale is one you need to purchase if you spot it in bookstores.
I generally avoid making comparisons between books and characters. However, I will say that the main protagonist of Kerryn Mayne’s debut definitely sits in the same camp as Eleanor Oliphant from Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Molly Gray from The Maid and Susan Green from The Cactus. I have loved all these books and characters which is why I am linking Lenny Marks to these memorable leads. Lenny Marks is a woman who will not leave your side, even after you have read the final page of Kerryn Mayne’s dynamic first novel. Like many of these types of characters, I spent my sweet time trying to analyse and diagnose Lenny. I will admit that Lenny is very different from the norm, but she is so endearing. I found an instant connection to Lenny based on her occupation and approach to life. Kerryn Mayne has done an excellent job of bringing this unique character’s life to the limelight for us to enjoy.
Mayne also brings us an eclectic set of outer cast members. These protagonists range from Lenny’s colleagues, to her foster family, her stepfather, new friends and pets. I think Mayne should be very proud of her efforts in the character department, as it has been very hard for me to forget this ensemble! What I loved about Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder was the mystery and family history side of the tale. Mayne sends the reader on a journey, where she imparts some clues and information about the backstory of her lead. This was gently dropped into the overall narrative in a way that encouraged the reader to continue on with unlocking Lenny’s past in an addictive manner. It is easy to let your emotions run wild while reading Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder, you will feel sad, angry, disgusted, appalled, bereft, happy, fearful and relieved as our principal character negotiates many obstacles in her life as it stands. Mayne is careful and methodical in her approach to these issues, she never amplifies sensitive topics, or degrades her characters. I was thoroughly impressed by Mayne’s treatment of mental illness, trauma, domestic abuse and loss. I have the greatest respect for Kerryn Mayne and her Lenny.
The last third of the novel really grabbed me and lifted Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder to five star status by the conclusion. My sincere congratulations to Kerryn Mayne, a star on the rise in the Australian contemporary fiction field. I’m excited to see what Kerryn Mayne brings us next!
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
August 30, 2024
3.5 stars
An easy read with a heavy storyline and a quirky main character.
Lenny receives a letter in the mail that starts an unraveling of her routinely organized life.
Lenny was an awkward, endearing, lovable main character who I enjoyed spending time with. Her inner thoughts and over analyzing were entertaining and often humorous. Her daily rituals and personal interactions were an eye opening look into her intricately detailed and planned out life. The secondary characters were unique and added interesting side stories to the narrative.
There are some extremely heavy themes explored within this storyline (domestic violence, murder, loss of a parent, childhood abandonment, among several others). I usually love quirky characters, but for me, the extreme quirkiness of Lenny’s character somewhat took away from my connection to the heavier topics. Lenny’s character should have lightened the heavy tones of the book providing a balance between serious and silly, but for me, her silliness lessened the novels overall impact. Lack of plausibility was also an issue for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed following Lenny’s journey, but didn’t fall in love with the book quite as much as I expected. I think that my recent reading experience of another novel affected this one. Earlier this month, I read and LOVED Interesting Facts About Space which follows another eccentric main character who I connected more strongly with. Perhaps if I had spaced these books out more so, I would have enjoyed this more as my direct comparison of the two novels wouldn’t have been as strong and fresh in my mind. Timing can make all the difference.
Overall, this was a “like”, not a “love”. I recommend you try it out and experience Lenny’s journey yourself!
Thank you to my lovely local library for the physical loan!
An easy read with a heavy storyline and a quirky main character.
Lenny receives a letter in the mail that starts an unraveling of her routinely organized life.
Lenny was an awkward, endearing, lovable main character who I enjoyed spending time with. Her inner thoughts and over analyzing were entertaining and often humorous. Her daily rituals and personal interactions were an eye opening look into her intricately detailed and planned out life. The secondary characters were unique and added interesting side stories to the narrative.
There are some extremely heavy themes explored within this storyline (domestic violence, murder, loss of a parent, childhood abandonment, among several others). I usually love quirky characters, but for me, the extreme quirkiness of Lenny’s character somewhat took away from my connection to the heavier topics. Lenny’s character should have lightened the heavy tones of the book providing a balance between serious and silly, but for me, her silliness lessened the novels overall impact. Lack of plausibility was also an issue for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed following Lenny’s journey, but didn’t fall in love with the book quite as much as I expected. I think that my recent reading experience of another novel affected this one. Earlier this month, I read and LOVED Interesting Facts About Space which follows another eccentric main character who I connected more strongly with. Perhaps if I had spaced these books out more so, I would have enjoyed this more as my direct comparison of the two novels wouldn’t have been as strong and fresh in my mind. Timing can make all the difference.
Overall, this was a “like”, not a “love”. I recommend you try it out and experience Lenny’s journey yourself!
Thank you to my lovely local library for the physical loan!
July 7, 2024
I totally didn't see this coming, but this book is seriously the unexpected gem of the century! Like, I started reading it without any expectations, and bam! It hits you right in the feels with every page turn.
Let's start with our protagonist, Lenny Marks. She's the queen of routines, guys - like, seriously: she bikes home from work every day at precisely 4 PM, buys the exact same groceries week after week for her meals, and has a collection of "The Hobbit" that could rival a bookstore (and they're arranged by height - how cool is that?). But here's the kicker - she's haunted by this deep-seated mystery from her childhood, where her mom and stepdad vanished without a trace. And she's like, totally convinced that she had something to do with it. Can you imagine carrying that kind of guilt around?
Then, out of nowhere, a letter from the parole board shows up, and suddenly, all those buried memories start bubbling to the surface. It's like watching a pot of water boil over, except instead of water, it's memories, and instead of a pot, it's Lenny's mind. But here's the thing - even though it's not your typical fast-paced thriller, I was totally sucked in, desperate to uncover the truth alongside Lenny.
And Lenny herself? She's such a fascinating character, you guys. Sure, she's socially awkward and can't read social cues to save her life, but she's also incredibly intelligent and well-intentioned. As she navigates the murky waters of her past, you can't help but root for her every step of the way.
This was an absolute blast to read. It's Kerryn Mayne's debut novel, which is seriously impressive, and you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be keeping an eye out for more from her in the future. Trust me, guys - this is one book you don't want to miss!
Let's start with our protagonist, Lenny Marks. She's the queen of routines, guys - like, seriously: she bikes home from work every day at precisely 4 PM, buys the exact same groceries week after week for her meals, and has a collection of "The Hobbit" that could rival a bookstore (and they're arranged by height - how cool is that?). But here's the kicker - she's haunted by this deep-seated mystery from her childhood, where her mom and stepdad vanished without a trace. And she's like, totally convinced that she had something to do with it. Can you imagine carrying that kind of guilt around?
Then, out of nowhere, a letter from the parole board shows up, and suddenly, all those buried memories start bubbling to the surface. It's like watching a pot of water boil over, except instead of water, it's memories, and instead of a pot, it's Lenny's mind. But here's the thing - even though it's not your typical fast-paced thriller, I was totally sucked in, desperate to uncover the truth alongside Lenny.
And Lenny herself? She's such a fascinating character, you guys. Sure, she's socially awkward and can't read social cues to save her life, but she's also incredibly intelligent and well-intentioned. As she navigates the murky waters of her past, you can't help but root for her every step of the way.
This was an absolute blast to read. It's Kerryn Mayne's debut novel, which is seriously impressive, and you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be keeping an eye out for more from her in the future. Trust me, guys - this is one book you don't want to miss!
February 18, 2023
You are going to love Lenny Marks. She is a wonderful character that you won't be able to stop thinking about. She will make you laugh, and she will make you cry. She has a big heart and is very misunderstood. You have to meet her.
Lenny Marks is a 37-year-old primary school teacher. She loves her job, The Hobbit and her favourite TV show Friends. She had an unhappy childhood, most of which she has blocked out. It wasn't until she was fostered that she was truly happy. Now her foster mother is telling her she needs to get a life, make some friends, go out more. And she tries, she really does. But her social skills are not great, and she struggles. And then she receives a letter from the parole board, and her life really begins to spiral.
I loved watching Lenny navigate life. She says things like she sees them and is happy with her own company for the most part. Her story is sad, but she has come through to the other side. You just have to read this to understand.
Thanks to Penguin Books Australia for my advanced copy of Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder to read. It publishes in Australia this week.
Lenny Marks is a 37-year-old primary school teacher. She loves her job, The Hobbit and her favourite TV show Friends. She had an unhappy childhood, most of which she has blocked out. It wasn't until she was fostered that she was truly happy. Now her foster mother is telling her she needs to get a life, make some friends, go out more. And she tries, she really does. But her social skills are not great, and she struggles. And then she receives a letter from the parole board, and her life really begins to spiral.
I loved watching Lenny navigate life. She says things like she sees them and is happy with her own company for the most part. Her story is sad, but she has come through to the other side. You just have to read this to understand.
Thanks to Penguin Books Australia for my advanced copy of Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder to read. It publishes in Australia this week.
July 19, 2024
I really didn't know I was going to like this as much as I did. It was heart-wrenching at times, to the point that I had to skip through some pages because I knew they were going to be too agonizing for me to read. Check content warnings - but this is truly a great book!
It's one of those books that make you want to hug a character and never let go!! Lenny is a deeply traumatized woman living a shallow existence trying to get by.. and the ending is something I didn't see coming, but when I did, I felt an extreme sense of justice. A great all-around read to remind us to be compassionate to one another. You just never know what people are going through.
Content Warnings: Child Abus3, Trauma Repsonses, Suicid3 attempts etc.
**Thank you to St.Martin's Press & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋
It's one of those books that make you want to hug a character and never let go!! Lenny is a deeply traumatized woman living a shallow existence trying to get by.. and the ending is something I didn't see coming, but when I did, I felt an extreme sense of justice. A great all-around read to remind us to be compassionate to one another. You just never know what people are going through.
Content Warnings: Child Abus3, Trauma Repsonses, Suicid3 attempts etc.
**Thank you to St.Martin's Press & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋
March 9, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Lenny in this wonderful debut, Lenny is different, caring and finds it hard to make friends, but there is a really good reason for Lenny to be like this and I highly recommend that you get to know her and the other fabulous characters that are part of the story.
For twenty five years she has done her best to not think about the day her mother left her when she was just eleven years old the last words her step father said to her were “you did this” and it replays over and over even to this day, she then spent some time living with her grandmother and then she was moved to her foster parents Fay and Robert, where she lived happily although she never spoke about her past.
Lenny is thirty seven years old and teaches grade five at Selby South primary school, she likes order and a quiet life that runs the same she doesn’t like change very much, she has thirty six copies of The Hobbit, she watches re-runs of Friends and plays scrabble with her pretend housemate and loves her teaching job.
Her life changes when a letter from the parole board arrives at the school and Lenny’s life unravels big time, memories are coming back all while she is trying her best to make her mother, Fay happy by trying to get a life which means bringing people into her quiet orderly life. Sometime of work is needed maybe she can work through everything that is happening.
This is such a great story, there is a lot happening as we see Lenny’s life change as she finally remembers everything from her past, unlocking those memories is filled with emotion what she went through was terrible but her strength through it all shows, I loved seeing her react to other people add to that the characters that are there for her this story is compelling and so well told, I do highly recommend this one it is sure to keep any reader entertained.
My thanks to Penguin AU for my copy to read and review.
For twenty five years she has done her best to not think about the day her mother left her when she was just eleven years old the last words her step father said to her were “you did this” and it replays over and over even to this day, she then spent some time living with her grandmother and then she was moved to her foster parents Fay and Robert, where she lived happily although she never spoke about her past.
Lenny is thirty seven years old and teaches grade five at Selby South primary school, she likes order and a quiet life that runs the same she doesn’t like change very much, she has thirty six copies of The Hobbit, she watches re-runs of Friends and plays scrabble with her pretend housemate and loves her teaching job.
Her life changes when a letter from the parole board arrives at the school and Lenny’s life unravels big time, memories are coming back all while she is trying her best to make her mother, Fay happy by trying to get a life which means bringing people into her quiet orderly life. Sometime of work is needed maybe she can work through everything that is happening.
This is such a great story, there is a lot happening as we see Lenny’s life change as she finally remembers everything from her past, unlocking those memories is filled with emotion what she went through was terrible but her strength through it all shows, I loved seeing her react to other people add to that the characters that are there for her this story is compelling and so well told, I do highly recommend this one it is sure to keep any reader entertained.
My thanks to Penguin AU for my copy to read and review.
August 31, 2024
On the surface this is a book I should have loved, yet I did not.
There were aspects of Lenny’s character that I loved, especially her word games. Yet I still failed to connect with her. I hate to bring up Elinor Oliphant, as each book should stand in its own, but it’s inevitable. I was completely charmed by Elinor, who was endearing …..Lenny, not so much.
It’s not as whimsical as the cover suggests, which is fine, but some humor would have been welcomed. The story is a slow burn with a lot of telling, with little showing.
Lastly, I’m tired of the ‘survivor of abuse’ trope.
This didn’t hit the mark with me, but I’m obviously an outlier so do read all the stellar reviews.
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
There were aspects of Lenny’s character that I loved, especially her word games. Yet I still failed to connect with her. I hate to bring up Elinor Oliphant, as each book should stand in its own, but it’s inevitable. I was completely charmed by Elinor, who was endearing …..Lenny, not so much.
It’s not as whimsical as the cover suggests, which is fine, but some humor would have been welcomed. The story is a slow burn with a lot of telling, with little showing.
Lastly, I’m tired of the ‘survivor of abuse’ trope.
This didn’t hit the mark with me, but I’m obviously an outlier so do read all the stellar reviews.
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
February 1, 2024
“Lenny Marks seldom found herself unprepared.”
I love triumph over adversity stories as much as I love supporting debut authors!
At first, 37-year-old Lenny Marks appears to be a competent Grade 5 teacher at Selby South Primary School who just prefers living alone and is disinterested in a busy social calendar. You’ll soon discover that she’s found tremendous peace in organization because it’s stable and reliable - unlike happiness. Lenny has carefully curated her world to protect herself: Thai carryout on Saturdays, Friends reruns and groceries on Mondays and Thursdays, rearranging her 36 volumes of The Hobbit, and endless Scrabble games with an imaginary opponent, Monica from Friends. At first, these idiosyncrasies brought a smile to my face and I wondered if perhaps she was on the spectrum, and then I felt saddened when I realized that her unique personality had been shaped by her repressed, traumatic past.
“There was something very wrong with Lenny, and she wasn’t sure it was repairable.”
When a letter arrives for Lenny, memories of her past threaten the ordered lifestyle she’s curated and she appears to remember what drove her to a life of order over happiness. As the author slowly reveals bits of Lenny’s mysterious past, readers are left wondering if Lenny can cope with the new direction she’s taken
“You did this.”
Three words. Three syllables. Lenny’s world comes crashing down around her….
Kerryn Mayne’s examination of survivors and their coping mechanisms highlights mental illness, grief, family, friends and happiness. You’ll agree that justice is served.
If you loved Eleanor Oliphant or Molly Gray you’ll enjoy this one.
I promise you, Lenny Marks will leave an impression. You’ll be thinking of her for days afterward.
I love triumph over adversity stories as much as I love supporting debut authors!
At first, 37-year-old Lenny Marks appears to be a competent Grade 5 teacher at Selby South Primary School who just prefers living alone and is disinterested in a busy social calendar. You’ll soon discover that she’s found tremendous peace in organization because it’s stable and reliable - unlike happiness. Lenny has carefully curated her world to protect herself: Thai carryout on Saturdays, Friends reruns and groceries on Mondays and Thursdays, rearranging her 36 volumes of The Hobbit, and endless Scrabble games with an imaginary opponent, Monica from Friends. At first, these idiosyncrasies brought a smile to my face and I wondered if perhaps she was on the spectrum, and then I felt saddened when I realized that her unique personality had been shaped by her repressed, traumatic past.
“There was something very wrong with Lenny, and she wasn’t sure it was repairable.”
When a letter arrives for Lenny, memories of her past threaten the ordered lifestyle she’s curated and she appears to remember what drove her to a life of order over happiness. As the author slowly reveals bits of Lenny’s mysterious past, readers are left wondering if Lenny can cope with the new direction she’s taken
“You did this.”
Three words. Three syllables. Lenny’s world comes crashing down around her….
Kerryn Mayne’s examination of survivors and their coping mechanisms highlights mental illness, grief, family, friends and happiness. You’ll agree that justice is served.
If you loved Eleanor Oliphant or Molly Gray you’ll enjoy this one.
I promise you, Lenny Marks will leave an impression. You’ll be thinking of her for days afterward.
January 13, 2024
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Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder by Kerryn Mayne. (2023).
Lenny Marks is good at not remembering: she has spent the last 20 plus years not thinking about the day her mother left but she's never forgotten her stepfather's parting words, 'you did this'. Now 37, Lenny prefers contentment and order over the unreliability of happiness and the messiness of relationships. She's a primary school teacher who plays Scrabble with an imaginary housemate, watching Friends and rearranging her 36 copies of The Hobbit. But to appease her foster mum, she's going to 'get a life'. Then a letter arrives from the Adult Parole Board and when her desperate attempts to ignore it fail, she starts to unravel and worse, remember...
This is a great debut novel for the author. The storyline focuses on Lenny, a quirky and intelligent woman who I would say is implied to be neurodivergent. It becomes quickly clear that something traumatic has happened in her childhood which resulted in her living with a supportive foster family in her teens with her still being connected to her foster mother who has some concerns about the way Lenny is living her life. Just as Lenny starts attempting to make some changes such as trying to make friends, she receives a letter from a parole board which immediately has a detrimental effect on her. The storyline is quite the combination of light and dark moments and when Lenny finally remembers everything that has happened in her childhood it is quite confronting. There is a wide-ranging cast of characters with my favourite standouts being the immediately loveable grocery store worker Ned, the kind-hearted colleague Kirra and the beautiful rescue dog Malcolm.
Overall: a great read with an unforgettable and unique lead in Lenny.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder by Kerryn Mayne. (2023).
Lenny Marks is good at not remembering: she has spent the last 20 plus years not thinking about the day her mother left but she's never forgotten her stepfather's parting words, 'you did this'. Now 37, Lenny prefers contentment and order over the unreliability of happiness and the messiness of relationships. She's a primary school teacher who plays Scrabble with an imaginary housemate, watching Friends and rearranging her 36 copies of The Hobbit. But to appease her foster mum, she's going to 'get a life'. Then a letter arrives from the Adult Parole Board and when her desperate attempts to ignore it fail, she starts to unravel and worse, remember...
This is a great debut novel for the author. The storyline focuses on Lenny, a quirky and intelligent woman who I would say is implied to be neurodivergent. It becomes quickly clear that something traumatic has happened in her childhood which resulted in her living with a supportive foster family in her teens with her still being connected to her foster mother who has some concerns about the way Lenny is living her life. Just as Lenny starts attempting to make some changes such as trying to make friends, she receives a letter from a parole board which immediately has a detrimental effect on her. The storyline is quite the combination of light and dark moments and when Lenny finally remembers everything that has happened in her childhood it is quite confronting. There is a wide-ranging cast of characters with my favourite standouts being the immediately loveable grocery store worker Ned, the kind-hearted colleague Kirra and the beautiful rescue dog Malcolm.
Overall: a great read with an unforgettable and unique lead in Lenny.
July 13, 2024
Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne
Contemporary mystery, fiction. Australia.
Lenny Marks lives a very structured and regimented live. She bikes home from work at exactly 4pm everyday, buys the same groceries for the same meals each week, and plays scrabble against an imaginary Monica Gellar while watching Friends reruns.
Lenny is good at not remembering what happened the day her mom and stepdad disappeared. A letter for the parole board triggers changes to Lenny’s life and routines. Hiding and ignoring are no longer easy options.
I prefer to avoid spoilers, but it’s kind of hard when the title is telling what’s going to happen. Back to the beginning, as I was reading, I wasn’t sure if Lenny had developmental issues, possibly on the spectrum or if it was all trauma related. It doesn’t matter because she navigates her life just fine, but it was an interesting correlation between her blocked memory and how she lives her daily life. I loved the dog story throughout. A beautiful and humane way she expanded and added love to her life.
Extraordinary life story resolution, even though it’s fiction. Ultimately hopeful and simply a good book. I’m going to remember details of Lenny’s story for a long time to come and will recommend it to my bookclub.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Contemporary mystery, fiction. Australia.
Lenny Marks lives a very structured and regimented live. She bikes home from work at exactly 4pm everyday, buys the same groceries for the same meals each week, and plays scrabble against an imaginary Monica Gellar while watching Friends reruns.
Lenny is good at not remembering what happened the day her mom and stepdad disappeared. A letter for the parole board triggers changes to Lenny’s life and routines. Hiding and ignoring are no longer easy options.
I prefer to avoid spoilers, but it’s kind of hard when the title is telling what’s going to happen. Back to the beginning, as I was reading, I wasn’t sure if Lenny had developmental issues, possibly on the spectrum or if it was all trauma related. It doesn’t matter because she navigates her life just fine, but it was an interesting correlation between her blocked memory and how she lives her daily life. I loved the dog story throughout. A beautiful and humane way she expanded and added love to her life.
Extraordinary life story resolution, even though it’s fiction. Ultimately hopeful and simply a good book. I’m going to remember details of Lenny’s story for a long time to come and will recommend it to my bookclub.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
January 28, 2024
Lenny lives by a routine. A strict routine. She has an imaginary friend, and they play Scrabble and watch Friends reruns.
One thing Lenny excels at is forgetting what happened the day her mother and her stepfather disappeared.
When a letter from the parole board arrives, Lenny is forced to deal with her past. As the memories surface, Lenny’s routines begin to fall apart. However, for the first time, she finds herself beginning to connect to the community around her and new relationships begin to surface.
This book made me think of Strange Sally Diamond. I enjoyed it, it just had similar vibes, not in a bad way. Lenny really came into herself over the course of this book. Yes she’s a little neurodivergent, yes she is a little orderly, but routine is okay. I’m with Lenny, I like routine. I like to wake up at the same time, and then from there things go on a schedule, I get angsty when things diverge from it. So, for me, Lenny was utterly relatable. I do struggle at times with cozy mysteries because they seem to be a little neat for me and this one ended up in that boat, but that’s okay, the journey was fun. I enjoyed how the side characters helped shape Lenny’s character and really bring her to life. I do think that the ending wrapped up a little too neatly for my liking and it didn’t really fit the rest of the book.
This book was a lot of fun. I particularly enjoyed that it was a debut!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, @StMartinsPress and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.
Publication Date: July 9, 2024
One thing Lenny excels at is forgetting what happened the day her mother and her stepfather disappeared.
When a letter from the parole board arrives, Lenny is forced to deal with her past. As the memories surface, Lenny’s routines begin to fall apart. However, for the first time, she finds herself beginning to connect to the community around her and new relationships begin to surface.
This book made me think of Strange Sally Diamond. I enjoyed it, it just had similar vibes, not in a bad way. Lenny really came into herself over the course of this book. Yes she’s a little neurodivergent, yes she is a little orderly, but routine is okay. I’m with Lenny, I like routine. I like to wake up at the same time, and then from there things go on a schedule, I get angsty when things diverge from it. So, for me, Lenny was utterly relatable. I do struggle at times with cozy mysteries because they seem to be a little neat for me and this one ended up in that boat, but that’s okay, the journey was fun. I enjoyed how the side characters helped shape Lenny’s character and really bring her to life. I do think that the ending wrapped up a little too neatly for my liking and it didn’t really fit the rest of the book.
This book was a lot of fun. I particularly enjoyed that it was a debut!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, @StMartinsPress and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.
Publication Date: July 9, 2024
August 7, 2024
“You did this!”
Looking for a cozy mystery? Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is delightful! Having seen much praise for this book, I was intrigued to find out what the buzz was all about.
Lenny Marks follows the same daily routine. She teaches school, bikes home from work at 4pm each day, buys the same groceries, owns 36 copies of The Hobbit, and watches re-runs of Friends on Netflix. Recently, she has been hearing a voice telling her “You did this.” When she receives a letter from the parole board regarding her stepfather, Lenny begins to unravel and uncover repressed memories about her past. Her routines fall apart, and she is forced to make connections with the community.
Lenny has been compared to Molly from Nita Prose’s The Maid series, and while I can see some similarities, Lenny is not intellectually challenged. Rather, she has endured and witnessed horrible abuse, which stunted and narrowed her world view. She is a quirky and endearing character who seemingly gets away with murder and falls in love at the same time.
While slightly predictable (just read the title), this heartwarming character-driven mystery is an excellent debut from Aussie Kerryn Mayne.
I listened to the audiobook which is expertly read by Annie Maynard. I highly recommend this format.
4/5 stars
Looking for a cozy mystery? Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is delightful! Having seen much praise for this book, I was intrigued to find out what the buzz was all about.
Lenny Marks follows the same daily routine. She teaches school, bikes home from work at 4pm each day, buys the same groceries, owns 36 copies of The Hobbit, and watches re-runs of Friends on Netflix. Recently, she has been hearing a voice telling her “You did this.” When she receives a letter from the parole board regarding her stepfather, Lenny begins to unravel and uncover repressed memories about her past. Her routines fall apart, and she is forced to make connections with the community.
Lenny has been compared to Molly from Nita Prose’s The Maid series, and while I can see some similarities, Lenny is not intellectually challenged. Rather, she has endured and witnessed horrible abuse, which stunted and narrowed her world view. She is a quirky and endearing character who seemingly gets away with murder and falls in love at the same time.
While slightly predictable (just read the title), this heartwarming character-driven mystery is an excellent debut from Aussie Kerryn Mayne.
I listened to the audiobook which is expertly read by Annie Maynard. I highly recommend this format.
4/5 stars
July 7, 2024
This is an amazing debut novel with an endearing, lovable character, Helena (Lenny), who you want to hug. I read this in one day as I couldn’t put it down, staying up very late to finish it. One of my favorite reads of the year!
Told in 2022 with flashbacks to the 1990s, the story deals with serious issues such as mental health, domestic violence, bullying, repressed trauma, family, love and friendship.
Lenny is a socially awkward woman who takes things literally and has trouble deciphering social cues. She looks to structure and routine to guide her through life until events occur that force her to step outside her rigidly controlled life and confront her past. She is a wonderfully developed character and one I won’t soon forget.
The story unfolded at an even pace as we get to know Lenny and her backstory unfolds. The plot built to a very satisfying ending with some unexpected revelations and I turned the last page feeling happy that I read this wonderful story but sad that it was over.
If you love stories with neurodivergent representation, characters with heart, and a plot that pulls you in, you will definitely want to pick this one up!
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Told in 2022 with flashbacks to the 1990s, the story deals with serious issues such as mental health, domestic violence, bullying, repressed trauma, family, love and friendship.
Lenny is a socially awkward woman who takes things literally and has trouble deciphering social cues. She looks to structure and routine to guide her through life until events occur that force her to step outside her rigidly controlled life and confront her past. She is a wonderfully developed character and one I won’t soon forget.
The story unfolded at an even pace as we get to know Lenny and her backstory unfolds. The plot built to a very satisfying ending with some unexpected revelations and I turned the last page feeling happy that I read this wonderful story but sad that it was over.
If you love stories with neurodivergent representation, characters with heart, and a plot that pulls you in, you will definitely want to pick this one up!
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
July 16, 2024
You will fall in love with Lenny right from the start, and then your heart will break for her as you continue through the book.
Her sweet, naive, always-follow-the-rules personality will endear you to her.
And her repeated comment about nothing could fix what I'd done keeps you intrigued about what this gentle soul could have done.
We meet Lenny as she bicycles to her teaching job where she does her job, goes home, and does the same things over and over again.
She had some childhood trauma that makes her the way she is.
Everything needs to stay the same.
The trauma from her childhood returns every once in a while, and it came back full force when she received a letter from the parole board asking her what she thinks about Fergus her stepfather being released from prison.
She doesn't want to do anything...she just wants to forget.
We follow Lenny as chapters go back and forth from past to present.
A truly touching, but heartbreaking book you won't want to put down, and with Lenny being someone you would love to befriend and help bring out of her shell.
A marvelous debut with great descriptions, a heartfelt storyline, and wonderful characters.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Her sweet, naive, always-follow-the-rules personality will endear you to her.
And her repeated comment about nothing could fix what I'd done keeps you intrigued about what this gentle soul could have done.
We meet Lenny as she bicycles to her teaching job where she does her job, goes home, and does the same things over and over again.
She had some childhood trauma that makes her the way she is.
Everything needs to stay the same.
The trauma from her childhood returns every once in a while, and it came back full force when she received a letter from the parole board asking her what she thinks about Fergus her stepfather being released from prison.
She doesn't want to do anything...she just wants to forget.
We follow Lenny as chapters go back and forth from past to present.
A truly touching, but heartbreaking book you won't want to put down, and with Lenny being someone you would love to befriend and help bring out of her shell.
A marvelous debut with great descriptions, a heartfelt storyline, and wonderful characters.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
August 5, 2024
This book is messy. It's impossible to tell what the main storyline is until the last 100 pages.
Full Review:
Thank you to the author Kerryn Mayne, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER. All views are mine.
Everything seemed exactly like it had always been and Lenny couldn't quite work out why she wasn't satisfied with that anymore. p138
Dear Kerryn Mayne: your book reminds me of Sally Hepworth, so congratulations. And enjoy the many quibbles below, which I often also find with her books.
I recommend LENNY MARKS to readers of mysteries and family sagas, lovers of unlikable leads, and fans of ASD rep.
"Amy. I don't know that I particularly like you very much. But you should really like yourself better than this." ...Amy blanched and her face sagged with defeat. p242
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. Lenny isn't my favorite character ever, but she's more than a collection of stereotypes. She also an interesting person with interesting quirks, like the word game she plays with herself, and this: Lenny wished she could pull off nail polish. The few times she'd tried it, she ended up feeling like a child who'd raided her mother's makeup drawer. p57
2. This book is plot-strong and character-strong, proving a story doesn't need to be one or the other. *edit Plot weakens along the way. At the beginning of the book, Lenny really seems like she has a point to make, but the story quickly devolves into a scene-by-scene description of the fmc's day-to-day life.
3. Omg the posters!!!
4. This book strives to do a lot of things, but it only succeeds at one: it's a really good abuse/survivor narrative. Because it's fiction and not a memoir, it deals with the abuser using murder. It's a good reading experience to follow this line. Unfortunately, there are too many other things going on.
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. Check check, check for all the mindless stereotypes that authors plug into their ASD book characters. You authors are embarrassing yourselves, not ASD people.
2. Lenny's coping mechanisms are garbage and I would suggest no one to ever emulate them. For example, she rejects a friend's offer of immediate emotional support and labor, and instead tells herself to push it down and deal with it alone, even though doing so is very difficult for her.
3. The character is neurodivergent, not the narrator. It shouldn't read this way. This style is so dry I can't engage with it. All the sentences have simple form. Diction is pedestrian. The narrator, unless it's first person, doesn't reflect the characters' traits.
4. The climax occurs on page 195, making this book approximately 60 pages too long. In general, the pacing is very awkward. *edit This is actually the inciting incident! Why take this long to set up a book?
5. Lenny acts completely out of character in the climax, and therefore gets no resolution. It's just such a confusing read because the pace is everywhere.
6. The stand off between Lenny and her Rottweiler, and Jase, a drug dealer and the dog's former abusive owner, is such a ridiculous scene. The characters behave unnaturally. Not even the dog acts like a big dog facing his past abuser.
7. Once Lenny starts getting her stride, she's really a judgy bee. She's overtly mean to people. This whole book's value system on what makes someone likeable is a little *wiggles hand*.
8. The writing is not great. Complicated sentences are clumsy, like on page 174: "...she was ushered into the courtroom with unfamiliar faces everywhere except one."
Rating: 🦮🦮 "adopted" dogs
Recommend? sure
Finished: Jul 7 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🔪 murder mysteries
👨👩👧👦 family stories, family drama
👭🏽 women friendships
💇♀️ women's coming of age
🐶 puppers
🔥 slow burn
Full Review:
Thank you to the author Kerryn Mayne, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER. All views are mine.
Everything seemed exactly like it had always been and Lenny couldn't quite work out why she wasn't satisfied with that anymore. p138
Dear Kerryn Mayne: your book reminds me of Sally Hepworth, so congratulations. And enjoy the many quibbles below, which I often also find with her books.
I recommend LENNY MARKS to readers of mysteries and family sagas, lovers of unlikable leads, and fans of ASD rep.
"Amy. I don't know that I particularly like you very much. But you should really like yourself better than this." ...Amy blanched and her face sagged with defeat. p242
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. Lenny isn't my favorite character ever, but she's more than a collection of stereotypes. She also an interesting person with interesting quirks, like the word game she plays with herself, and this: Lenny wished she could pull off nail polish. The few times she'd tried it, she ended up feeling like a child who'd raided her mother's makeup drawer. p57
2. This book is plot-strong and character-strong, proving a story doesn't need to be one or the other. *edit Plot weakens along the way. At the beginning of the book, Lenny really seems like she has a point to make, but the story quickly devolves into a scene-by-scene description of the fmc's day-to-day life.
3. Omg the posters!!!
4. This book strives to do a lot of things, but it only succeeds at one: it's a really good abuse/survivor narrative. Because it's fiction and not a memoir, it deals with the abuser using murder. It's a good reading experience to follow this line. Unfortunately, there are too many other things going on.
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. Check check, check for all the mindless stereotypes that authors plug into their ASD book characters. You authors are embarrassing yourselves, not ASD people.
2. Lenny's coping mechanisms are garbage and I would suggest no one to ever emulate them. For example, she rejects a friend's offer of immediate emotional support and labor, and instead tells herself to push it down and deal with it alone, even though doing so is very difficult for her.
3. The character is neurodivergent, not the narrator. It shouldn't read this way. This style is so dry I can't engage with it. All the sentences have simple form. Diction is pedestrian. The narrator, unless it's first person, doesn't reflect the characters' traits.
4. The climax occurs on page 195, making this book approximately 60 pages too long. In general, the pacing is very awkward. *edit This is actually the inciting incident! Why take this long to set up a book?
5. Lenny acts completely out of character in the climax, and therefore gets no resolution. It's just such a confusing read because the pace is everywhere.
6. The stand off between Lenny and her Rottweiler, and Jase, a drug dealer and the dog's former abusive owner, is such a ridiculous scene. The characters behave unnaturally. Not even the dog acts like a big dog facing his past abuser.
7. Once Lenny starts getting her stride, she's really a judgy bee. She's overtly mean to people. This whole book's value system on what makes someone likeable is a little *wiggles hand*.
8. The writing is not great. Complicated sentences are clumsy, like on page 174: "...she was ushered into the courtroom with unfamiliar faces everywhere except one."
Rating: 🦮🦮 "adopted" dogs
Recommend? sure
Finished: Jul 7 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🔪 murder mysteries
👨👩👧👦 family stories, family drama
👭🏽 women friendships
💇♀️ women's coming of age
🐶 puppers
🔥 slow burn
July 9, 2024
This book reminds me of several other books but is unique in it's own way. I really liked Lenny as a character and I definitely see why she manages her time/life the way she does. I love that she steps out of her comfort zone whether by choice or not and decides to do things out of her norm.
At first I could not tell if perhaps she was on the spectrum or if she was suffering from PTSD or just really regimented but as soon as that letter arrived I knew something was amiss.
I did find the end of the book a bit predictable but it was still quite an enjoyable read.
I think this book would be a great read for fans of books like "Eleanor Oliphant", "Where'd You Go Bernadette" and possibly even "Convenience Store Woman".
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Kerryn Mayne for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 7/9/24
At first I could not tell if perhaps she was on the spectrum or if she was suffering from PTSD or just really regimented but as soon as that letter arrived I knew something was amiss.
I did find the end of the book a bit predictable but it was still quite an enjoyable read.
I think this book would be a great read for fans of books like "Eleanor Oliphant", "Where'd You Go Bernadette" and possibly even "Convenience Store Woman".
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Kerryn Mayne for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 7/9/24
Want to read
November 9, 2023"She owns thirty-six copies of The Hobbit, arranged by height."
Say no more.
Say no more.
March 3, 2023
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
You have to read this book!
What a delectable package this was! Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder by [author:Kerryn Mayne|23045995 was perfectly crafted and I couldn’t get enough of Lenny Marks. What a gorgeous debut and a perfect combination of suspense and charm.
I love Lennys character, she has dissociative disorder and uses anagrams to calm her thoughts and shut them down. She’s a teacher at the local primary school and spends her evenings with her ‘imaginary’ mates from the TV show Friends, playing scrabble with Monica and rearranging her thirty plus editions of The Hobbit.
Lenny hasn’t had the best childhood, her foster mother is telling Lenny affectionately that she needs to get a life. Unexpectedly Lenny receives a letter from the parole board and it triggers some bad past memories ….. and she slowly starts to remember!
This is a clever and uplifting story with some unexpected twists that I can’t recommended high enough, exceptional! A must read!!! I can’t wait to see what this author brings us next!
Publication Date 21 February 2023
Publisher Bantam Australia
Thank you so much to the fab team Penguin Books Australia for sending me a copy of the book to read.
You have to read this book!
What a delectable package this was! Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder by [author:Kerryn Mayne|23045995 was perfectly crafted and I couldn’t get enough of Lenny Marks. What a gorgeous debut and a perfect combination of suspense and charm.
I love Lennys character, she has dissociative disorder and uses anagrams to calm her thoughts and shut them down. She’s a teacher at the local primary school and spends her evenings with her ‘imaginary’ mates from the TV show Friends, playing scrabble with Monica and rearranging her thirty plus editions of The Hobbit.
Lenny hasn’t had the best childhood, her foster mother is telling Lenny affectionately that she needs to get a life. Unexpectedly Lenny receives a letter from the parole board and it triggers some bad past memories ….. and she slowly starts to remember!
This is a clever and uplifting story with some unexpected twists that I can’t recommended high enough, exceptional! A must read!!! I can’t wait to see what this author brings us next!
Publication Date 21 February 2023
Publisher Bantam Australia
Thank you so much to the fab team Penguin Books Australia for sending me a copy of the book to read.
May 31, 2024
Synopsis:
Lenny is a school teacher who lives alone and has a very regimented lifestyle. She has suffered past trauma that she doesn’t fully remember and we follow her in that discovery and her attempts at recovery.
Review:
I thought this was a lovely debut. The character of Lenny is well developed and done with respect to trauma victims and those who are neurodivergent. That’s not always the case, so I appreciate that.
I liked Lenny’s use of anagrams in stressful situations and the Friend’s references. The story has its own unique take on a main character who has suffered from past trauma and is doing their best to move forward. There were times when the pace felt a bit slow and some suspension of disbelief is needed to enjoy the story.
One thing I find disappointing in reviews is comparison. The publisher’s and book seller’s are guilty of this. I understand they are trying to sell books, but it’s very misleading. It’s unfair to the author and also the consumer. Lenny Marks is being compared to Eleanor Oliphant, Bernadette and Meredith when in reality she is nothing like those characters, their stories and their trauma. All female main characters should not be painted with the same broad brush. We do not do that comparison nearly as often with male main characters or authors. These are individual women with very different lives and trauma. All women are not the same. It reminds me of so many blurbs that compare every mystery/thriller to Gone Girl. I’ve read nothing that is truly comparable to it, yet a female writer and a female main character in a thriller will often be labeled as “the next Gone Girl.” The authors and the readers deserve better in my opinion.
3.5/5 rounded up.
Lenny is a school teacher who lives alone and has a very regimented lifestyle. She has suffered past trauma that she doesn’t fully remember and we follow her in that discovery and her attempts at recovery.
Review:
I thought this was a lovely debut. The character of Lenny is well developed and done with respect to trauma victims and those who are neurodivergent. That’s not always the case, so I appreciate that.
I liked Lenny’s use of anagrams in stressful situations and the Friend’s references. The story has its own unique take on a main character who has suffered from past trauma and is doing their best to move forward. There were times when the pace felt a bit slow and some suspension of disbelief is needed to enjoy the story.
One thing I find disappointing in reviews is comparison. The publisher’s and book seller’s are guilty of this. I understand they are trying to sell books, but it’s very misleading. It’s unfair to the author and also the consumer. Lenny Marks is being compared to Eleanor Oliphant, Bernadette and Meredith when in reality she is nothing like those characters, their stories and their trauma. All female main characters should not be painted with the same broad brush. We do not do that comparison nearly as often with male main characters or authors. These are individual women with very different lives and trauma. All women are not the same. It reminds me of so many blurbs that compare every mystery/thriller to Gone Girl. I’ve read nothing that is truly comparable to it, yet a female writer and a female main character in a thriller will often be labeled as “the next Gone Girl.” The authors and the readers deserve better in my opinion.
3.5/5 rounded up.
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