SOLVED. BRIT FICTION - Read in the 80s, I think [s]

[Steph (loves water)]

A family moves to the country, near a circle of stones, and strange things start happening. I think either a child dies or a child comes to live with them, and that's the end of the happy family.

Can't remember anything else, I know it's vague but I thought the stone circle might ring a bell. Appreciate any help at all, thanks!

[Andrea]

This reminds me a bit of "A String in the Harp," by Nancy Bond, though I can't remember if a stone circle features in it. An American family comes to a little village in Wales for a year; mother has died, father has a teaching job. One child has remained in the US for schooling and then comes to Wales for vacation. The family is very unhappy. One child finds a mysterious object that turns out to be an old harp key; this object provides mysterious links with a Welsh bard from the Middle Ages. Does any of this sound familiar?

[Tab]

What genre would you say this fits in? Horror, suspense, fantasy, etc?

Anything about the cover?

[Steph (loves water)]

Steph wrote: "A family moves to the country, near a circle of stones, and strange things start happening. I think either a child dies or a child comes to live with them, and that's the end of the happy family.
..."

Hi, no, that's not it, although it sounds great!

[Steph (loves water)]

Tab wrote: "What genre would you say this fits in? Horror, suspense, fantasy, etc?

Anything about the cover?"
Can't remember the cover, I'd say it was mystery/horror.

[Cumbling Michael]

Hi Steph,

In Britain, there are more than 900 prehistoric stone circles. They're ancient, mysterious, and enigmatic. No-one really knows who built them, or why. If a writer wants to introduce an element of fantasy, arcana, mystery or the occult, it's easy to throw a stone circle into the mix. And thousands of writers, from Geoffrey of Monmouth, through Thomas Hardy, to Terry Pratchett, have done just that. The stone circle reference is not as much of a help as you might think.

However, this might be a possibility - In The Stone Circle

(edit) Ooops. Probably not the above. Published 2001.

Mike

[Steph (loves water)]

Mike wrote: "Hi Steph,

In Britain, there are more than 900 prehistoric stone circles. They're ancient, mysterious, and enigmatic. No-one really knows who built them, or why. If a writer wants to introduce an e..."

I know, it was kind of a long shot, and that book you posted looks good. I wish I could remember the book, it was pretty good and I hate half-remembering things!

[Ayshe]

Could it be The Lurkers or Children of the Stones?

[Steph (loves water)]

Yes! I'm pretty sure it was The Lurkers, thank you so much!