Wyllard's Weird begins with the death of a young foreign lady, who falls from a train running over a bridge through the Cornish countryside. Her identity is unknown and it is a mystery weather this is an accident, a suicide, or a murder. Julian Wyllard, a rich landowner, tries to clear matters up by employing a London detective, but he only manages to diagnose a murder and he directs suspicion on Wyllard's wife's favorite cousin, Bothwell Grahame, who will not account for why he was on that train when the young woman was killed. Wyllard's wife, in order to clear her cousin's reputation, asks the village coroner Edward Heathcote to make further investigations into the case and he takes it upon himself to find the truth. Heathcote's inquiries lead him to Paris and the mystery gets a new dimension when clues link the dead woman with a cruel double murder which happened a decade ago.

Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1835–1915) was a prolific English novelist of the Victorian era, renowned for her pioneering work in the genre of sensation novels. Her storytelling often featured elements of crime, mystery, and strong female protagonists, which captivated a wide readership. While she penned more than 80 novels in her career, Braddon is most famously known for her 1862 novel 'Lady Audley's Secret', which catapulted her to fame and became a defining work in the sensation genre. Another noteworthy title, 'Wyllard's Weird', is a late-career work that encapsulates her narrative prowess and continued relevance in the literary world. In this novel, Braddon explores themes of inheritance, love, and the unexplained, showcasing her well-honed ability to intertwine suspense with social commentary. Braddon's contribution to English literature was significant, as she challenged contemporary social norms and confronted the constraints on women in her society. Through her engaging prose and skillful plotting, Braddon has left an indelible mark on mystery and detective fiction, influencing future generations of writers. Her literary style, characterized by melodrama and a propensity for the gothic, continues to resonate with readers and scholars alike, securing her place in the canon of nineteenth-century British literature.