Reviews

Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder by Kerryn Mayne

randina's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

cheri325's review against another edition

4.5

Lenny Marks may live a small life, but it’s predictable and comfortable. And so it continues, until a letter shows up, opening up her past.

Don’t be fooled by the cover; this is a serious story about some heavy issues. Yes, there are moments of levity and hope, but check trigger warnings if you are concerned. I ended up loving Lenny and wanting the best for her.

honestlyyours77's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC of this title in exchange for my honey review.

To be honest I accidentally requested this audiobook when I was late night looking for a few audio books to set me up for a few days, but I am glad I did.

The narration was well delivered. I always enjoy International (to me) books where so can hear other accents. It really adds to the enjoyment when reading a book outside of my country (US) and allows you to be present geographically.

It took me a bit to full start paying attention as the beginning was slow. A lot of the book is just describing Lenny’s day to day as her life.  While it never says it outright, she is written as an autistic individual and the plethora of stereotypes that go along with it.  I’m not sure how I feel about using neurodivergency as a literary trope as it gives a very skewed picture of an individual. But I guess at least there is representation?

Over all the book was enjoyable. There are some possible triggering topics as she unfolds her past.

katie_burgert's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

magicshoes's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

angelabeth995's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

chezzreads's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

nickel_books's review against another edition

funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I didn't want to identify with Lenny as much as I did, but living with trauma creates patterns of behavior and ways of being that can come to define us. Lenny has these behaviors in spades, but hasn't interrogated the "why." When her memory starts to return, how will she handle her future?Mayne brilliantly unravels Lenny's reality throughout, giving way to resolutions and possible new beginnings.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Child death, and Animal cruelty

me_alley's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Thank you to Saint Martin’s press and NetGalley for an arc of this book. First 50% of this book I give three stars; the second half I give five stars. Definitely a slow burn, as we got to know Lenny, her coworkers, and the way she thinks. Most of what happens in the second half of the book we are not aware of in the first. I get the sense that the author wanted Lenny to be Neurodiverse, possibly Asperger syndrome. She does not come across that way, like the narrator in Cassandra in reverse, Eleanor Olyphant is completely fine, or Emily Austin‘s novels. Instead, Lenny comes across as an old person. A boomer. Even though she’s only 37. I did enjoy her voice, but she’s not quite as endearing and likable as I would expect. There are memories that Lenny has Tucked away inside of her brain. She has dissociative disorder, and I will not spoil the second half of the book. 

Then again, the biggest spoiler? Well, it’s right there in the title.

imaginethis346's review against another edition

4.0

Thank you to goodreads giveaways for the opportunity to win this ARC. I attempted to read the book the day it came in the mail. I couldn’t get into it, but I decided I would try again. I’m glad I did because I ended up really enjoying the novel. I finished the book in two days. I began to sympathize with Lenny Marks and her neurotic ways. Her behaviors fueled by what some would call PTSD with disassociation due to childhood trauma. Lenny has trouble making friends, but her students love her. It was fun to read as Lenny blossomed and made the ultimate decision to change her life for good. The cover is very fitting as Lenny’s means of transportation is her bicycle. #goodreads giveaways