Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne

LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER by Kerryn Mayne is set in Australia and Lenny is a wonderful, emotion-stirring character. A bit awkward socially, she is a teacher who values neatness, order and repetition. At 37, Lenny is a loner by preference, “pretending there were people in her life seemed to quell the concerns of others,” although she does gradually bond with grocer Ned and her older neighbor Maureen. It is difficult for her to interpret the adult “mean girls” at her school, and bullies prompt some sad moments, but the novel has plenty of humorous episodes, too. Readers will want to wrap their arms around Lenny and cheer as she ultimately stands up for herself and deals with childhood trauma. Suggest LENNY MARKS GETS AWAY WITH MURDER to anyone who enjoyed The Maid by Nita Prose.