The Case Of The Pocket Diary

by Auguste Groner, Grace Isabel Colbron (translator)

Joseph Muller, Secret Service detective of the Imperial Austrian police, is one of the great experts in his profession.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1890

About the author

Auguste Groner (née Kopallik ) was an Austrian writer from Vienna. In english-speaking countries she often is known as Augusta Groner. She sometimes wrote under the masculine pseudonym August Groner, and also published under the pseudonyms Olaf Björnson, A. of the Paura, Renorga and Metis.

Reviews

[Daniel]

Like the other two mysteries featuring detective Joseph Muller that I've read ("The Case of the Golden Bullet" and "The Case of the Lamp That Went Out"), "The Case of the Pocket Diary Found in the Snow" is a quick and enjoyable read, particularly for fans of crime novels similar to Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. "Pocket Diary"'s plot is compelling and, as was the case in the other two books, Muller's warm-heartedness sets him apart from detectives found in other crime novels written at the time -- and those written today.

[for-much-deliberation ...]

Chronicling the work of detective Joseph Muller, who's got an unusual case to solve, surrounding the disappearance of a woman and the discovery of a notebook found on a snow covered street...

[Susan Molloy]

🖋️ A pleasant enough short mystery story, with the detective being “Joseph Muller, Secret Service detective of the Imperial Austrian police, is one of the great experts in his profession. In personality he differs greatly from other famous detectives. He has neither the impressive authority of Sherlock Holmes, nor the keen brilliancy of Monsieur Lecoq. Muller is a small, slight, plain-looking man, of indefinite age, and of much humbleness of mien. A naturally retiring, modest disposition, and two external causes are the reasons for Muller's humbleness of manner, which is his chief characteristic.” Auguste Groner (she) wrote well.
📙 This book was published in 1890.
🟢The e-book version can be found on Project Gutenberg.
🟣Kindle.
🔲 Excerpt of note:

🔹 The young commissioner started up and snatched for the fine white handkerchief which the detective handed him. A strong sweet perfume filled the room. "It is hers?" he murmured. "It is hers," said Muller. "At least we can take that much for granted, for the handkerchief bears the same monogram, A. L., which is on the notebook."

🔷●▬●🔶●🔶●▬●🔷

[Faith Flaherty]

The Case of the Pocket Diary Found in the Snow by Grace Isabel Colbron and Auguste Groner is a free book, offered by Gutenberg eBooks. I thought I would try it. It was very short--a plus! More delightful than that, it was good. I was attracted by Joseph Muller. He is a convicted felon. He has proven himself valuable in solving crimes. So much so, that he is a secret service detective with the Imperial Austrian police.

This particular mystery starts with Ludwig Amster being fired from his factory job. Dejectedly, walking home in the snow, he finds a diary, with a note attached saying to bring the diary to the nearest police station. He does as instructed and ends up not only helping Joseph Muller solving the mystery but also being offered a job with the Imperial Austrian police.

The diary explains that a lady is being held prisoner. Muller and Amster follow clues and figure out where the lady was held. Consequently, they figure out how she was taken by taxi. The next step was to find the taxi driver and go to where he brought the lady and her abductor. The story ends in confrontation with the lady being rescued.

This little Gutenberg eBook will not be my last.

[William]

I purchased this as part of a promotion by Amazon 18 months ago. I am at this time attempting to clean up the books, box sets, and megapacks on my Kindle Fire.

I listened to this as part of The Second Victorian Mystery Megapack. It was a quick entertanting listen.

This is a very good British Victorian novella quick read 2023

[Eileen]

3 stars (liked it)

No major twists or turns but an otherwise very well written Wintertime short classic mystery.

[Teresa]

There isn't much of a mystery here, but it's a pleasant enough read. Interesting for those, like me, who are interested in the development of the crime novel.

[Snoozie Suzie]

This was my first audio book and unfortunately I struggled with the narrator. The story was quite good, but I can only say quite due to the narrator. Plot wise quite intreging with twists etc. worth a read I think as its short. The ending is a bit naff though.

[Jim]

An excellent short, easy read. While not has detail oriented as Doyle, Groner does a good job with the details of the case drwawing the reader in and applying twists and turns keeping the story intresting and worth reading. I look forward to following Muller in more cases.

[Julia]

"The Case of the Pocket Diary Found in the Snow" is a fun, old fashioned detective story, in a similar vein of Sherlock Holmes. An easy read, with intriguing clues and trails. I listened to this book as a free audio download from LibriVox.org.

[Sasha]

Entertaining easy listen.