Thank you to NetGalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for this ARC. Björn Diemel, 42, is a criminal lawyer with a wife, Katharina, and a daughter, Emily who is 2 1/2 but talks like a 12 year old. He's a stressed workaholic who never sees his family until his wife forces him to see mindfulness coach and author of "Slowing Down in the Fast Lane: Mindfulness for Managers" Joschka Breitner, in order to save their marriage. So when his client, crime boss Dragan Sergowicz interferes with his new found family time, he has no choice but to kill and dismember him. Mindfully of course. Dragan has a lot of people who work for him and Björn has to keep the illusion that Dragan is alive and giving instructions through him. However, the solution that Björn has mindfully come to is that it's easier to kill most of them. So begins Björn's journey into mindfulness and murder, while at the same time trying to get a preschool place for Emily, in his own surprising but mindful way. This is a book by a German author that has been a success in German speaking countries since 2019. "Achtsam Morden" has finally been translated into English and is the first of a series of five books so far, which we will hopefully all be able to read in due course. You get two books in one - a crime thriller and a mindfulness guide. There is a lot of talk about breathing exercises, time islands and mindful action. Mindfulness is all Björn ever talks about now, and he uses it more and more to justify his murderous actions. The advice from the mindfulness guide at the beginning of each chapter is repeated within the chapter, which made me skip the chapter introductions after a while due to overkill (pun not intended). It's a darkly funny story about what happens when a stressed lawyer finds a new way of thinking and addressing his problems. It ends rather abruptly, but we're not done with Björn yet, and in the meantime, if I ever need to murder someone I know how to do it mindfully now. This is an unconventional approach to crime narrated in first person by a smart but rarely likeable lawyer who tries to do what's best for his family in a rather violent but original way. There are plenty of twists in this very engaging read. Recommended for lovers of dark humour who don't mind the occasional torture or dismemberment taking place. "Mindfulness was just autogenic training without lying down. Yoga without contorting yourself. Meditation without sitting crosslegged. Or, as the article in Manager magazine my wife once demonstratively placed on the breakfast table put it: ‘Mindfulness means taking in each moment with love and without judgement."

I thought this was a very clever mix of mindfulness tips interwoven with a struggling lawyer’s descent into a life of crime by his use of those mindfulness tips. My only criticism would be that it dragged a bit three quarters of the way through but then picked up again at the end. Overall, recommended.

I (mostly) really enjoyed this book, it kept me entertained. The only things that put me off were the mindfulness quotes at the beginning of each chapter being repeated during the chapter. I would love to read more of this author’s work. Really good! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the early copy.

*4.5* stars Calm your mind. Be here, now. Take a breath. And kill. We’ve all heard of mindfulness, maybe even practice it, but who on earth would use it to kill? Björn, that’s who! Björn is a lawyer, and he was 42 before he killed someone. Through one of his clients, he found himself involved in organised crime, and ended up killing someone - and then killing became something of a habit! It all started when his wife, Katharina, gave him an ultimatum - get his work/ life balance sorted out or she would leave him, taking their daughter with her. Well, Björn’s first step is to take a course on mindfulness, just to show how serious he is about saving his marriage. Eventually though, he begins to use it in the most absurd and violent ways. You’d expect a novel about a murderer to be anything but amusing, but amusing it is! It’s a unique storyline, fast paced, with characters that come fully fleshed, particularly our protagonist. The bonus is, there are some useful tips on mindfulness, but just use it in a positive way folks! Recommended.

Björn, a stressed lawyer, finds himself facing an ultimatum from his wife, Katharina: restore his work-life balance, or risk losing her and their daughter. Reluctantly, he joins a mindfulness class, only to discover that it has a profound impact on his life, helping him become calmer and more focused as he begins to grasp what truly matters. However, when his volatile client, crime boss Dragan Sergowicz, encroaches on his newfound family time, Björn’s journey takes a dark turn. In a shocking twist, he resorts to violence, killing Dragan in a bid to protect his serenity. This leads him down a path where he can deepen his mindfulness practice in a rather unconventional and violent way. The book is narrated in the first person by Björn, an intelligent and determined protagonist who creatively applies the principles from "Slowing Down in the Overtaking Lane: Mindfulness for Executives," a self-help manual provided by his coach. The blend of humour and suspense creates a fast-paced narrative that keeps readers engaged. This light yet original read is filled with an agile rhythm and intriguing twists, making it a compelling start to what I hope will be a continued series. The mix of mindfulness concepts with a thriller backdrop offers a refreshing perspective, ensuring that Murder Mindfully stands out in the genre. Read more at The Secret Book Review. 3.5/5.