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anneclareivy's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
dianet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
angelsmomreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book : it is so hard to believe it was a debut.the best debut mystery of 2024 @kerrynmayneauthor
This is not a cozy murder mystery , it is a terrific character driven book that is a testament to how childhood trauma follows you through life, and how memory protects children from the darkest moments of their lives.
Lenny Marks a school teacher is introverted and keeps panic attacks at bay by routine , her love of words , Scrabble and her 36 copies of The Hobbit.
She was the last standing from a brutal murder that she has vague memories of, and her life starts to fracture when she gets a letter from the Parole Board that her father was being released.
"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.”
There is a rescue dog Malcom ..and how she needed to name him that.
She finally allows Ned the grocery store worker in at the end of the book because of his patience and care.
And she is a surprise character because of all she went through she stands and learns how to.move forward. Many reviewers don't understand the quirkiness of Lenny though slightly humorous is a wall she has erected to protect herself. Just like her word games to soothe her fracturing mind. PTSD is not something that ever goes away it sounds like her foster parents attempted to take her to therapy, but most childhood trauma survivors put up walls to block out memories . When Lenny finds herself in the shed in the back of the school she blacked out ..these scenes which were dark were good representation of how a survivor copes
Lenny Mark's Is the definition of a final girl, the last standing , slaying her dragons and coping through all the tragedy . I think the marketing of this book is wrong, because fans of Scream, Halloween, or even I Know What You Did Last Summer would love the retribution Lenny Marks gets in the end.
Thank you to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for my #advancedreaderscopy
This is not a cozy murder mystery , it is a terrific character driven book that is a testament to how childhood trauma follows you through life, and how memory protects children from the darkest moments of their lives.
Lenny Marks a school teacher is introverted and keeps panic attacks at bay by routine , her love of words , Scrabble and her 36 copies of The Hobbit.
She was the last standing from a brutal murder that she has vague memories of, and her life starts to fracture when she gets a letter from the Parole Board that her father was being released.
"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.”
There is a rescue dog Malcom ..and how she needed to name him that.
She finally allows Ned the grocery store worker in at the end of the book because of his patience and care.
And she is a surprise character because of all she went through she stands and learns how to.move forward. Many reviewers don't understand the quirkiness of Lenny though slightly humorous is a wall she has erected to protect herself. Just like her word games to soothe her fracturing mind. PTSD is not something that ever goes away it sounds like her foster parents attempted to take her to therapy, but most childhood trauma survivors put up walls to block out memories . When Lenny finds herself in the shed in the back of the school she blacked out ..these scenes which were dark were good representation of how a survivor copes
Lenny Mark's Is the definition of a final girl, the last standing , slaying her dragons and coping through all the tragedy . I think the marketing of this book is wrong, because fans of Scream, Halloween, or even I Know What You Did Last Summer would love the retribution Lenny Marks gets in the end.
Thank you to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for my #advancedreaderscopy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Abandonment
jagrimm's review
emotional
medium-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
readingmom_jess's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. I went in pretty blind and thought I was going to get Finlay Donovan but instead I got something more like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
Lenny Marks is a 5th grade teacher who loves her routine of buying the same groceries, making the same meals, playing scrabble alone, and watching Friends. She has absolutely no memory of what happened when her step father and mom disappeared when she was 11. She gets a letter from a parole board, and a whole bunch of secrets start coming out.
I related to Lenny and my heart went out to her. This book was nicely paced and had really well done reveals.
Lenny Marks is a 5th grade teacher who loves her routine of buying the same groceries, making the same meals, playing scrabble alone, and watching Friends. She has absolutely no memory of what happened when her step father and mom disappeared when she was 11. She gets a letter from a parole board, and a whole bunch of secrets start coming out.
I related to Lenny and my heart went out to her. This book was nicely paced and had really well done reveals.
bookaddictpnw's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
melby__'s review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
tracyf's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.75