SOLVED. Paranormal/refugee/murder story. Read in 2011-ish. [s]

[Charlotte]

Hi, I read this book back when i was 13 it was aimed more for older teens but it seemed interesting and I couldn't help myself. I don't really remember much of the book itself just bits and pieces.

From what I can recall, it is about this family of four who move into this old home that used to be a place for refugees, it was run by a brother and sister pair. The children of the new family hear running upstairs and they seem drawn to this closet where the children used to hide from the matron.

I also remember that a girl got her first period whilst in the bath and another girl ran to get the matron who then proceeded to call the girl a devil saying she must be evil because she was to young to be a woman, they then killed the girl. Later a young boy got circumcised but died during the procedure, they dumped him down the well he was later found perfectly preserved in the well. I think there was a body of a young woman down there too but I'm not to sure.

Towards the end of the book there was a storm which caused major flooding the matron and her brother ran leaving the children in the house without a care. The brother died either during the escape or just after I'm not to sure. The Sister lived but she became a mute never speaking a word after that night, they later found her in a nursing home.

I'm sorry if this is difficult to understand but any help you can give me would be great.

Thank you.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

What makes it paranormal? Is it set in a real place, or imaginary? Set in a particular time? What year did you read it? Remember the cover?

[Juels]

The Secret Of Crickley Hall by James Herbert?

[Charlotte]

Juels wrote: "The Secret Of Crickley Hall by James Herbert?"
Thanks I will look more into it and see if this is the one.

[Charlotte]

Lobstergirl wrote: "What makes it paranormal? Is it set in a real place, or imaginary? Set in a particular time? What year did you read it? Remember the cover?"
Its paranormal in the aspect that it is a ghost story. I can't recall if its set in a real place or not. I read it in 2010 or 2011

[Juels]

Charlotte wrote: "Juels wrote: "The Secret Of Crickley Hall by James Herbert?"
Thanks I will look more into it and see if this is the one."

If it helps, there is a preview available on Google books:
https://books.google.com/books?id=HwZ...

I'm fairly certain this is your book. Using the preview, I found the menstruating bathtub scene, the botched circumcision, and the perfectly preserved body from the well.

[Charlotte]

Thank you

[Juels]

You're welcome.