Translated by Florian Duijsens — Criminal defence lawyer Björn Diemel is a character who finds maintaining a work-life balance slightly challenging in Murder Mindfully by German crime author Karsten Dusse. The fact that he represents Berlin’s most dangerous criminals, specifically the volatile mob boss Dragan Sergowicz, doesn’t help. However, when Björn misses his daughter’s fourth birthday, his wife Katharina puts her foot down. Either he sorts out his priorities, or he is out the door.
Björn will do anything for Emily, even if it involves the mindfulness coach his wife suggests.
The novel opens wryly, setting the tone with Björn admitting that he did kill anyone until he was 42, though he killed almost half a dozen in the week that followed. Here’s a main character who should be thoroughly unlikable: an unscrupulous lawyer who exploits the system to ensure that bad people escape the law. Yet, his love for his daughter is admirable and using her as the justification for his murderous actions is commendable. Well, almost…
After initial resistance, mindfulness coach Joschka Breitner convinces Björn to embrace living in the moment and the result is a calmer, much happier man. However, Björn will do anything to protect his so-called time islands – those precious moments he spends with Emily. So, when Dragan interrupts Björn’s weekend plans with his daughter, he finds a simple solution.
The trouble begins when Dragan kills the right-hand man of his rival, Boris, at a petrol station. Unfortunately, a school bus full of children witness and record the event. Dragan is subsequently trending on the internet and Björn is called on for damage limitation. With irrefutable evidence against him, the police are eager to find Dragan, as is Boris. Hiding is the only option, and the boot of Björn’s car provides the perfect spot as he departs for Dragan’s lake house to spend the weekend with Emily.
Finally, Björn enjoys some quality time with Emily, deciding that Dragan can wait. Having spent almost a full day crammed into the car’s boot, Dragan is no longer a concern for Björn. Well, except for the matter of disposal. Fortuitously, the wood chipper serves a dual purpose and soon Dragan’s purple remains are scattered across the blue-green lake while the sky turns orange. “Dragan has never looked more colourful,” he quips. Clearly, Björn’s mindfulness practice is working.
Before Dragan’s unfortunate demise, he made the mistake of telling his crew that Björn would be in charge while he’s away. Björn’s mindfulness proves useful again as he navigates Dragan’s business, avoids a turf war and convinces everyone that Dragan isn’t dead. But perhaps his biggest challenge is getting Emily into a pre-school, a feat more brutal than dealing with difficult gangsters. Fortunately, with his new-found power, Björn, easily takes over the Little Fish kindergarten, appointing Dragan’s driver, Sasha, as the new managing director.
Each chapter begins with an excerpt from his mindfulness coach’s Slowing Down in the Fast Lane. Björn also refers to the text throughout the story when in a stressful situation. The contrast between gruesome murders and gang politics on one hand and serene meditations on the other is ridiculous, yet funny.
Murder Mindfully is a suspenseful crime novel wrapped in a parody of the wellness industry and parental demands. It appears to be the first of a series, so we’ll have to see if Dusse, who is a lawyer himself, can sustain the dark humour and relevant themes. There is a Netflix adaptation too, but trust us, the book is better than its screen version.
Also see The Rabbit Factor by Antti Tuomainen.
Soho Press
Print/Kindle
£7.49
CFL Rating: 5 Stars
