Suz's Reviews > Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder

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.