Murder Mindfully

Harried German defense attorney Björn Diemel’s life spirals out of control in Dusse’s witty and inspired debut. Urged by his wife, Katharina, to become “mindful” as a means of dealing with his anxiety, Björn hires self-help coach Joschka Breitner, whose teachings usher him uneasily toward peace of mind. Meanwhile, Björn takes a case defending Dragan Sergowicz, whose pimping, drug dealing, and other criminal operations stretch Björn’s questionable ethics to their breaking point. Then Dragan starts encroaching on Björn’s personal life, causing a father-daughter weekend with Björn’s toddler, Emily, to go awry. Afterward, Dragan vanishes, and Björn takes over leadership of the gang as his proxy. As Björn reckons with betrayals, executions, and a criminal takeover of Emily’s preschool, he clings to his newfound mindfulness—including breathing exercises and meditations suggested by Breitner—even as his efforts to protect his daughter and reclaim control of his life grow darker. Dusse pairs brisk plotting with a sardonic send-up of self-help culture, keeping the suspense taut while supplying plenty of laughs. The result is an inventive, endlessly surprising comic thriller. (Apr.)