The way that this book was written in such a descriptive and detailed way really helped to create a chilling atmosphere for the mystery. The author was able to put into words the bone-chilling vermont winter that made me feel cold just reading it. This helped draw me into the story, and i genuinely felt spooked during certain parts! Overall, i really enjoyed this for a winter thriller read.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was a little slow in the first half for me, but Im glad I was able to push through that. It was funny and thrilling to realize I had guessed the bad guy before Alex did, though my reasoning was way off. Overall it was a well-written read that became difficult to put down. Mahalo for letting me read it.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5⭐️
CORAM HOUSE
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: thriller
📖 320 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 🛶📼✝️😱👀🚔❄️🐦‍⬛🤯🥶✍🏼
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 4/14/2025

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ single POV
◽️ cop interviews
◽️ true crime

💛𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲💛

Thank you @atriabooks @netgalley @baileyseybolt for the #gifted copy!

What a debut novel! CORAM HOUSE was incredible—I couldn’t put it down! The writing was outstanding, & it completely captivated me. Be sure to mark your calendars for its release on 4/14/25 because this is one you won’t want to miss! I even lost sleep over it, waking up in the middle of the night just to keep reading 😅 .

I absolutely loved the MC, Alex. The story, told entirely from her perspective, was packed with nonstop suspense. Just when I thought I had figured out the ending, I was proven wrong! The plot was full of red herrings that kept me on edge & questioning who to trust. Alongside the constant tension, there was also a touch of romantic suspense woven in.

Inspired by the true story of St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington, VT, CORAM HOUSE is eerie, unsettling, mysterious, & deeply heartbreaking. It delves into uncovering the truth & standing up for what is right. I cannot recommend enough!

⚠️ loss of a spouse, sexual & child abuse

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: In 1968, 9-year-old Tommy vanishes without a trace from Coram House, an orphanage by Lake Champlain. Rumors swirl about his fate—some say he ran away, others that he never existed. 50 years later, his disappearance remains a mystery. True crime writer Alex Kelley is hired to investigate the orphanage’s dark history & relocates to Burlington, Vermont. Her search grows dangerous after she finds a woman’s body in the lake & suspects it’s tied to Tommy’s unsolved case, forcing her to unravel the truth before becoming the next victim.

Thank you publisher for the eGalley!

This book is perfect if you are in the mood for a atmospheric mystery suspense story. It was a slow burn, but I did not mind that at all. The ending was twisty and I have to admit that I didn't see it coming until it was too late. Great debut!!

A gothic thriller that will keep you up at night. With its atmospheric setting and chilling plot, it's a must-read for fans of the genre.

Not for me. I requested this to read in October, as I always like to stock up on "spooky stories" to get me in the Halloween mood. This wasn't quite what I expected, and not my favorite.

I really liked this one. The premise of the ghost writing worked really well, positioning the MC to investigate without straining credulity (as thrillers sometimes do) or defaulting to the detective model. I also thought the writing was particularly good, some of the passages involving grief quite poignant, and the characters well developed. Looking forward to seeing more books from this debut author.

Coram House by Bailey Seybolt is an atmospheric mystery that unites the past with the present, drawing readers into a world haunted by unresolved traumas and hidden secrets. The story follows Alex Kelley, a struggling true-crime writer who is ghostwriting a book about Coram House, a former Vermont orphanage. As Alex delves into the orphanage’s dark past, she discovers disturbing secrets surrounding the disappearance of nine-year-old Tommy in 1968. The novel explores the shadowy legacy of abuse claims linked to Coram House, that is also complicated by a recent, mysterious death in the nearby lake. Could the two be related?

The author does a good job of turning up the suspense all while exposing the ethical complexities that arise in the pursuit of the truth through true crime writing. This is an impressive debut novel that explores the tension between historical atrocities and personal redemption but also addresses the psychological toll of uncovering and reliving trauma. Should Alex expose what she has found without thinking about the consequences on the present residents of the town, or move forward with the truth irregardless of the outcome? These are just a few of the questions she struggles with during her investigation.

Bailey Seybolt's Coram House is just the right fit for someone who is into true crime stories. Based on the true story of a death at an orphanage fifty years before and the true crime writer who is trying to save her career, it is both interesting and intriguing and will keep you riveted. When more bodies start appearing during the investigation, things get real dicey real fast. Read quick to find out what happens!

Coram House is based on the true stories of abuse that occurred at Saint Joseph's Orphanage, a Catholic home for orphans in Vermont in the 60s. The nuns and priests who were involved in these despicable incidents are boldly fictionalized by the author, Bailey Seybolt in her debut novel.

Fifty years later, Alex Kelley, a young grieving widow and writer, both successful and not so much so, moves to Burlington, Vermont after she is hired to ghostwrite a book on the deaths of two children in particular. While doing research for the book, she is drawn into the mysteries of locals who know more than they are willing to reveal, and ensuing murders. The wealthy lawyer, Stedsan, who hires her to write the book is a fairly flat character, but keeps his own secrets.

As Alex determines to write, she is compelled to find all the information she can about Tommy, in particular. Another orphan observed Tommy being held under the water to his death in Lake Champlain. Another young girl's death was equally gruesome. As Alex investigates these deaths, she meets several locals including policeman Russell Parker and wealthy entrepreneur Xander and enlists their help.

Although the somber and repetitive descriptions of the cold and wintry environment are certainly effective, they're a bit overwhelming at times, and Alex' eating habits seem hardly enough to sustain her. On the other hand, the ice, frozen lake, slick roads, plummeting temperatures, and fog are evocative, and they contribute to the overall gloom of Alex' quest to solve the orphans' murders and the present-day murders she soon tries to solve, as well.

Thanks to Atria Press and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for my digital advance reader copy.

After the death of her husband and a career stall, Alex jumps at the chance to leave New York City for the opportunity to ghostwrite a crime nonfiction novel for a wealthy lawyer in Burlington, VT. The subject of her writing will be Corham House, a church-run orphanage that had been plagued by scandal prior to its closure. What Alex soon realizes is that there are secrets about Corham House that have yet to be uncovered.

Here’s my quick take: I found the writing and general storyline to be pretty entertaining, but I just couldn’t love nosy Alex as our protagonist, and I thought the plot was a bit contrived and didn’t make much sense. Small town mysteries are hit or miss for me, and this one’s exposition and resolution didn’t quite land for me.

This wasn’t my favorite thriller, but I think if you are headed to the northeast for vacation, this is a worthy addition to your suitcase. I wanted more from all of the characters and more backstory, but I very much enjoyed the backstory of Coram House, which felt fleshed out. Will look out for what this author writes next!

Coram House is about an author going to Vermont to write a book on a mysterious orphanage with a dark past. The writing was so descriptive and captivating, I felt like I was in the story with the main character. I really enjoyed all the imagery that was used to describe scenes, the main characters thoughts and feelings, and the world around her. The writing alone was its own masterpiece and I really appreciate an author who uses lots of imagery and descriptive language to set a scene or get us into the main characters head.

The plot was also great! The storyline and premise of the book was intriguing and kept my attention at all times. I never felt bored because I was always left wanting more, and I got just that. I wasn’t too shocked at the plot twist at the end, but that doesn’t change my opinions on the book overall.

I really wanted to love this one the premise was absolutely intriguing and totally my style. Unfortunately, this was a little too much of a slow burn for me and I found it hard for it to grip me fully. I also felt like the FMC's full personality was her grieving which was a little annoying. The information was really interesting as it is based on a true story, but it did also feel very repetitive. There is a lot of child abuse which I definitely find hard to read sometimes. Was it bad no.. was it fantastic also no. Still a good read just don't go expecting a fast paced read.

Alex is a writer struggling to repeat her early success. She’s struggling with the loss of her husband, and her writing spark seems to be extinguished for good.

So when she gets an offer to ghostwrite a new book about a haunted orphanage in Vermont, she accepts. As Alex digs deeper into the secrets that haunt the town, she realizes this challenge could be a new beginning…or her final chapter.

***

This story is well-written, but I never really got into it. Alex is one-dimensional; we know she’s grieving, but that’s her entire personality. I also found it distracting how the author constantly mentioned how Alex couldn’t/didn’t want to eat.

The “twist” at the end was meh, maybe because I didn’t care about any of the characters.

This one just wasn’t for me.

This book was on my radar the moment I heard it likened to Flynn’s ‘Sharp Objects’ and any of Tana French’s work. It fits right in with those thrillers-that-are-so-much-more-than-just-thrillers niche. The parallels between so much more creates a dialogue. Keeps the reader engaged. Add to that the atmosphere and the haunting that is woven through so many levels? It’s an amazing book. Definitely grabbing a physical copy of this one!

I could not get into this book. It was slow from the start. I got to 52% before I said no more life is to short to read books you don’t enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Coram House is about an author going to Vermont to write a book on a mysterious orphanage with a dark past. This piece of literature is a masterpiece. I can not explain how much I enjoyed this read! This is my second ARC I’ve ever read and I swear you would never know that this is a debut novel of Bailey Seybolt’s. The writing was so descriptive and captivating, I felt like I was in the story with the main character. I really enjoyed all the imagery that was used to describe scenes, the main characters thoughts and feelings, and the world around her. The writing alone was its own masterpiece and I really appreciate an author who uses lots of imagery and descriptive language to set a scene or get us into the main characters head.

The plot was also great! The storyline and premise of the book was intriguing and kept my attention at all times. I never felt bored because I was always left wanting more, and I got just that. I wasn’t too shocked at the plot twist at the end, but that doesn’t change my opinions on the book overall.

The history of Coram House is sad and dark, but I was rooting alongside Alex to figure out all the mystery behind it all. It’s sad that these things happened, but justice needed to be served and Alex was doing just that, which I felt made her a very likable character. To know this was loosely based on true events also made the story very immersive.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bailey Seybolt for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Coram House coming out April 15, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was intrigued that it was compared to Sharp Objects. I love that book and show. This book was a little slow for me. I really liked that it was based on a true crime story. The writing was good yet sad. I would check out more books by this author.

I read Coram House in October, which I highly recommend for maximum spooky thrills. I didn’t know what to expect, so it did take me some time to get through because of the dark subject matter — while not all described in graphic detail, readers should be aware that child abuse and CSA are a central focus of the plot. Our narrator Alex is a thirtysomething true crime writer who has come to Burlington, Vermont to ghostwrite the story of Coram House, a church-run orphanage where children faced daily abuse, went missing, and — some say — were killed. Alex’s problems start when her investigative work digs up more information than the locals involved with Coram House had bet on, resulting in a series of deaths and deception, all played out against the moody backdrop of winter in northern New England.

In fact, Burlington is the real main character of Coram House, which will make this an enjoyable read for locals or anyone else familiar with the area. Most of the book takes place along the waterfront and in the Old North End, and every location, business, and street mural referenced throughout the book are real and accurate. Seybolt clearly didn’t just choose Vermont at whim for the vibes, but rather crafts the setting with respect and authenticity. The only detail that requires suspension of disbelief is that Alex effortlessly lands an affordable short-term rental within walking distance of Church St. (in this economy?).

I also liked that Alex is a protagonist we can get behind and root for. I’m a bit tired of female main characters in thrillers being unreliable, confused alcoholics. While Alex does struggle with real human issues, like grief for her recently deceased husband, she doesn’t hallucinate or get distracted by a romance or any similar trope. Similarly, I appreciated the frustratingly realistic depiction of misogynistic dismissiveness from the old men she has to work with.

There were a couple details that didn’t quite work for me — Alex has a revelation in Chapter 26 about someone’s name which I thought was supposed to be clear to us all along. Also, why is Stedsan so defensive about her fact-finding if he gets editorial control over what gets published anyway? I don’t think the timing of all the events that unraveled was fully explained either, as 60-year-old crimes just happened to be avenged very conveniently so that discoveries were all made within a month and by the same person? I’m willing to accept that I might have overlooked something here, though. There was a reveal in the climax that was done well — I didn’t see it coming, but in hindsight there were clues (as twists should be). It wouldn’t make sense for that to have been written well while leaving holes in the timeline issue, so that could be a me problem.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Coram House and will look forward to Seybolt’s next work. I’d recommend it for fans of smart thrillers, true crime, detective stories, and of course, Vermont. Readers averse to reading about child abuse at the hands of corrupt religious figures should proceed with caution. Thank you to Atria for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.