Anyone who knows me knows I’m a bookworm, especially when it comes to mysteries and crime novels. Not the dark, heavy ones, but the cosy, clever, joy-sparking kind. The ones that make you smirk, think, and settle comfortably into another world for a while.
So when I picked up Miss Merkel: Murder at the Castle, I knew it had all the right ingredients:
Angela Merkel in retirement ā her pet pug named Putin ā humour ā a whiff of Agatha Christie flair.
Honestly, that combination was irresistible. š„°š
I had saved the book to read while in hospital, hoping it would give me something uplifting, familiar and fun. What I didnāt expect was to become utterly hooked. I cannot wait to find out who did poor Baron von Baugenwitz in.
And the descriptions are so vivid that every time I read it, I feel like I am wandering through a small German village with cobblestones, timber-framed houses and the scent of fresh bread drifting through the air.
āØ The Mindfulness Hidden Inside a Good Mystery
As I curled up with the book, I realised something simple but powerful. Reading mysteries is one of my mindfulness practices.
When we talk about mindfulness, we often imagine meditation cushions, gentle bells or breathing exercises. But mindfulness can also be the act of:
š losing ourselves in a story
š following clues and noticing details
š¾ smiling at a fictional pugās antics
š visualising a whole new setting
š letting humour carry us for a moment
A good mystery invites us to pay attention and to be fully present and curious. These are core ingredients of mindfulness.
Cosy mysteries offer something even deeper. They give us a soft place to land. They reassure us that, eventually, the clues will line up, the fog will lift and things will make sense again. There is hope in that. And comfort.
āØ Why Joyful Little Moments Matter
Life can be overwhelming, noisy or simply tiring. Whether we are healing, navigating change or juggling a messy week, we all need moments that give our minds and hearts a gentle reset.
These joyful micro-moments can help with that.
ā They recharge our inner battery. Even a few pages can shift our energy.
ā They reduce stress. Getting absorbed in a story settles the nervous system.
ā They spark happiness. Curiosity and humour are powerful mood boosters.
ā They connect us to something soothing and familiar.
Joy does not have to be big to be meaningful. The small things often hold us together.
āØ Happiness Is in the Details
Reading Miss Merkel was more than entertainment. It became a tiny act of self-kindness, a reminder that happiness and wellbeing often grow from simple, nourishing rituals.
A cosy mystery can be a form of mindful rest.
A humorous character can brighten a heavy moment.
A fictional village can give your mind a peaceful place to wander.
Sometimes, in the middle of uncertainty or recovery, all we need is a clever retired chancellor, a slightly ridiculous pug and a mystery begging to be solved.
That is more than enough to make the heart smile.
Jenn Barfield - Holistic Career Development Coaching 