A murder occurs within a limited social circle and the central account is delivered in first person by a figure close to the investigation; a famous private detective appears and works from clues and interviews to identify the killer.

The novel follows a single day in post–World War I London as a well-to-do woman readies an evening party while the narrative follows through multiple characters' inner thoughts and memories.

Four disparate Englishwomen arrange a month-long holiday at a sunlit Italian castle to escape damp London and the pressures of their social lives.

Set in 1870s upper-class New York, the novel follows a man caught between an established engagement and an unexpected attraction that threatens his place within a rigid social world.

Set just after the First World War, the novel follows a country-house household when a wounded officer returns from the trenches with severe mental shock and memory loss.

An ostensibly ordinary man becomes entangled in international intrigue and must flee to survive after learning of a conspiracy. The setup focuses on pursuit, mistaken identity (or forced suspicion), and a race to uncover key information before hostile agents can stop him.

An orphaned young woman receives sponsorship from an unseen benefactor who sends her to college; she writes regular letters to him detailing her life, opinions, and small rebellions. The letters track her education, friendships, and social adjustments as she negotiates gratitude, independence, and self-definition.

Set in a future where humans live isolated beneath a mechanical infrastructure, the story follows individuals who rely entirely on a pervasive Machine for daily needs and communication.

Set in late-19th-century London, the novel follows an agent involved in espionage for an unnamed foreign power amid a small circle touched by anarchist agitation. The book traces the effects of political plotting and covert operations on ordinary lives, especially relationships marked by dependency and vulnerability.