Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the audiobook! 

 

With the cute book cover and fun book title, LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER, it sounds like it’s a cozy, silly mystery novel, but it’s not. There is so much more to it - depth, heart, humor, sadness, and unexpected moments of I need a hug feeling. It has an excellent neurodivergent character, Lenny Marks, as the lead, reminiscent of Molly the Maid and Eleanor Oliphant. Kerryn Mayne has written an outstanding debut novel with a character you want to root for and ultimately be friends and play chess with. 

 

Annie Maynard is the perfect narrator for this novel. I adored her as Lenny and being the voice inside Lenny’s head. I think listening to the book made me love it more than if I read it with my eyes. I still would have adored it, but hearing Lenny come to life was a beautiful experience. 

 

I also get so surprised when I find out books like this are authors' debut novels because if this is how they start, I’m so excited for what comes next! 

 

Lenny is so special to me. Reading the book felt like getting to know a friend better, and I was sad to say goodbye when it was over. But it’s definitely a book I will reread! 

 

Content warnings: domestic abuse, child abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, child death, familial death, grief, gaslighting, animal cruelty, violence, injury detail, toxic friendship