What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

Around 2008-9, I bought and read a book about a lady who moved into a village, possibly to grieve for the loss of her husband or escape something from where she used to live. She receives occasional visit from friends, but becomes increasingly distrubed when she feels she is being watched by a man, for example, when she goes for a walk she sees him at the top of a distant field. The situation becomes worse over the course of the book,until the 'man' attacks her. It turns out that an elderly couple who have lived in the village for years had a daughter with special needs who was disturbed by the arrival of the lady into the village and eventually attacks her. If I remember right, the woman ends up killing the daughter in self defence, when the truth comes out. Does anyone know the title and#/or author of this book please? It's driving me mad.
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Robin, what's the location (country/seaside/etc.)?

Do you remember the heroine's job/background/etc.?
About how old is she?

Hi, it's set in the country in a little village. I think the lady might have been in journalism, but wouldn't be absolutely sure. I think she's in her thirties and one of her friends/colleagues who visits her is a man who has had feelings for her for a while.
I remember that she was grieving for something, which was why she moved to the village to get away from things

Is the story set in the U.S. or somewhere in Britain?

It's set over here in Britain in a typically small British hamlet. I think there was a little pub in there too.

This sounds very similar in tone to novels by Gillian White - Unhallowed Ground is probably the closest match for the details you've given.

Thank you Anna! That's the one!! I am so grateful I cannot tell you.