Read a good mystery novel for a surefire ego boost. But here's the clincher:
The case must be crackable yet still satisfying, with a reliable "Aha!" moment, found an Ohio State University study. While all readers enjoyed not knowing for sure whodunit, those whose self-confidence was down at the time got a bigger boost when the villain turned out to be the one they sort of suspected all along. To strike that sweet spot, Kate Stine, the editor-in-chief of
Mystery Scene magazine, recommends books by Alexander McCall Smith (
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency mysteries), Margaret Maron (
Deborah Knott series) and Lindsey Davis (
Marcus Didius Falco mysteries).
