The engagement between Dorcas Brandon and Mark Wylder promises to unite two powerful families in the quiet town of Brandon Hall. But when Wylder suddenly vanishes without explanation, unease spreads through the community. As Dorcas turns to the cold and calculating Captain Stanley Lake for support, rumors and suspicions multiply. Letters appear, secrets surface, and a body is discovered—forcing everyone to confront the possibility of betrayal and murder. Rich in intrigue and psychological tension, Wylder’s Hand [1864] is one of J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s most tightly plotted novels, blending gothic suspense with the emerging Victorian sensation genre. With its morally ambiguous characters and slow-burning dread, it showcases Le Fanu’s skill at revealing the hidden motives and buried crimes that shape seemingly respectable lives. JOSEPH SHERIDAN LE FANU [1814-1873] was an Irish mystery and horror author. He had an enormous influence on the horror genre in the 19th and 20th century, especially through his championing of tone and effect rather than shock factor. Among his most noted work is the lesbian vampire novella Carmilla [1872] and mystery Uncle Silas [1864].
