In the Onyx Lobby

In the Onyx Lobby, written by Carolyn Wells in the early 20th century, is a detective novel set in Manhattan's fashionable apartment building, The Campanile. The story revolves around the murder of Sir Herbert Binney, who is found dead in the lobby with a cryptic note implicating women in his demise. Central to the plot are the long-standing rivalries between two women, Miss Letitia Prall and Mrs. Everett, and their impact on the lives of their children, particularly Richard Bates and Dorcas Everett, as they navigate love amidst familial tensions. The novel explores themes of ambition, social class, and the consequences of grudges within a murder mystery framework.