Last year I read "Ghosts of the Orphanage," and frankly, really didn't like it. I thought this novel was much, much better, and did a fairly good job of illuminating the tragedy of St Joseph's without losing the fast-paced plotting and twists & turns of a good thriller. While it won't break any ground, it was thoughtfully done, and I appreciate the nuance of how it looked at victims and perpetrators.

Coram House is a mystery thriller retelling of a true crime story. Our main character, Alex, is tasked with writing a novel about this house that doubled as an orphanage. In her research, she finds out about a little boy who went missing under suspicious circumstances and decides she’s going to figure out what happened to him.

I truly enjoyed the first half of this book, the second half honestly just made me mad. The main character became annoying to me, like she was quick to jump the gun on what she was doing and started to come off as a know it all when it comes to interrogating people.

I picked up this book because the description related it to the book, Sharp Objects, which I LOVE, but I was sorely disappointed. I will say knowing this is based on a true story does make the story itself better, but gosh.. if I could punch the main character in the face, I would. I’m not sure I would recommend this book to people I know, but it’s definitely a good option for people who like trying to solve who did the crime in the books they read!

An author is offered to write a book about an orphanage in Vermont with a horrific past with different accounts of the past. But her getting there might have escalated things with deaths of those associated with the orphanage. But can she uncover something that happened in the past with not many reliable witnesses anymore? Also do people around the place even want the true story to come out? I liked the plot but I did feel it felt the lag at places. It was also a tad bit predictable with some past connection with characters and it didn't feel a great twist. Overall, definitely an impressive debut!

I really enjoyed this book. I think it was really well written and the pacing of the story was excellent! There were quite a few twists and turns that were unexpected and I really appreciated that as a lot of books tend to be easy to predict for me. The characters were brought to life and the descriptions of them enabled me as the reader to "see" them. I also really enjoyed the premise and the realistic setting (religious orphanage). I also felt that including the depositions of the former residents of Coram House was unique and actually helped bring the story together. I would absolutely recommend this book to others!

This book needs to be on your TBR for 2025. Thriller about a Catholic Orphanage and historical claims of abuse. A struggling author attempts to put the story, and her life, together in this thriller that takes her into an old orphanage being turned into condos. Her leads take her into dangerous places with people that could be a killer of a child many years ago. Great story. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

Alex Kelly moves to Vermont to ghostwrite a book about an orphanage where horrific things once happened including the deaths of several children. In delving deeper into her research about the atrocities of how these children were treated, she becomes obsessed with the mystery of a boy who went missing from the orphanage, and she reveals more and more about those involved and those who endured the trauma as secrets are revealed and truths brought to light.
The characters are likable and the main character was relatable.
The book kept my interest and the writing flowed, making it an enjoyable read. It kept me guessing as to where the plot and the "who done it" was going, but I did suspect (and was right) by the ending.
Overall this was a good read, especially for a debut author and I would definitely be interested in reading more from her in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Bailey Seybolt for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows true crime writer Alex Kelley as she, following the death of her husband and the catastrophe of her last book, almost to a remote location to ghost right her new book. This book is to follow the atrocities that occurred at a local Catholic orphanage called Coram House, but as Alex dives more deeply into the case and a local woman is discovered murdered, Alex begins to wonder if the horror of Coram House has really ended.

I’m rating this book of 3.5, rounded up to 4. The story is inspired by real life events and I appreciate how the author tackles them with sensitivity and thoughtfulness. The beginning of the book is engaging, and the pace picks back up at the end, but I did feel that the middle 80% seemed a bit slow. I think this is largely because we never really get to know the narrator. Although we know certain things about her, she comes off as more of a device for moving a story forward than a flushed out character that we can empathize with, relate to, or feel for. Overall, this book had highs and lows for me, but I’m sure it will be a great fit for a lot of people.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read, and ARC Of this book An exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED this! It was haunting, sad and heartbreaking what those children went through. I loved that the main character wanted to find the truth about the forgotten boy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

i honestly don’t have too much to say about coram house. it was a decent read that fell a bit flat for me, it might have been due to the slump that i am in or maybe a pacing issue that i can’t place. maybe a classic case of right book wrong time, but do i have regrets about picking this book up? no. the cover is beautiful, and the writing was also effortless.

Coram House is a dark atmospheric mystery inspired by a real case about abuse in a Vermont orphanage. I couldn't put this one down. It immediately drew me in as the mystery developed along with the back story of the main character. Surprisingly, this is a debut novel....I'll definitely be on the lookout for more from Bailey Seybolt.

Thanks to Net galley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Alex is an author trying to overcome her last book’s disastrous outcome. A timely offer to escape NY for Vermont as a ghostwriter is just what she needs. She’s given up editorial freedom for a story about a defunct orphanage. And before you think it’s just another sappy victim’s tale of abuse and neglect, it does have unique slants and it was unpredictable. The orphanage is being turned into condos, leaving it’s sordid history in the dust. The story goes back and forth between the past and present including events, staff and children at the facility. Alex believes there’s a mystery to unravel but not everyone involved agrees and some will kill to keep the past buried. I’ve read many orphanage themed stories and this one had a distinct flair, the characters were solid, emotional, evil and innocent. I liked the plot and I thought the author brought history and a strong atmosphere. There were scenes wrought with emotion, sadness and loss. I appreciated the true crime aspect and would read this author again.
Simon & Schuster, Atria (via NetGalley) provided an Advance Reader Copy of “Coram House” by Elizabeth Bailey Seybolt, publication expected 04/15/2025. These are my honest, personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

Very, very well done. A DEBUT AUTHOR?! This surpassed my expectations. Honestly felt this was a captivating story with elements of true crime (apparently is loosely based off a true story?) but definitely a thriller/mystery as well. I am terrible at guessing twists and I did NOT get the big one, as usual.

Regardless, feel this is worth picking up. I enjoyed it!

Chillingly atmospheric. Wow. The writing was like buying into a crispy apple and I could not soak up the words fast enough. This was my first book from this author, and it won’t be my last!

Wow. This was another great read that I was completely surprised by. This book captured me from the beginning.

Well done!

A chilling, slow-burn mystery that kept me guessing! Inspired by the real life abuse and horrors that occurred at St. Joseph's Orphanage in Vermont, the author masterfully weaves the pain and secrets of the past into the present using mixed media. I did find myself skimming at times as some parts moved slow or felt over-detailed, but overall I liked it. This book is perfect for crime fiction fans who appreciate a atmospheric and haunting narrative.

3.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Bailey Seybolt for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review contains no spoilers.

True crime writer, Alex heads to Vermont to investigate Coram House - a Catholic run orphanage that was shut down due to allegations of sexual misconduct. The attorney who settled the case for the victim's hires Alex to write a book about Coram House. Once Alex starts digging through testimonies and old files, she discovers the testimony of a witness who recalls seeing a young boy thrown from a boat and drowning in Lake Champlain. This story was quickly hushed, the girl locked in attic wardrobe, and everyone told that this boy just ran away.

Alex becomes wrapped up in this case, along with the attorney and police, and one morning while out on a run, discovers a dead body. This leads to the unraveling of even more details, more witnesses, and more stories from survivors of what really went on at Coram House.

I highly recommend this book! It kept me reading, and I did not figure out the ending, due to an amazing plot twist! This book was inspired, fictionally, by St. Joseph's Orphanage in Burlington, VT and the atrocities that went on there. The writing was very descriptive, and made me want to know more about the real orphanage. The author cites a website at the end of the book where you can read more about St. Joseph's Orphanage.

I am looking forward to reading more by this author in the future!

When Alex Kelley is hired to ghostwrite a true crime book about a Vermont orphanage with a dark past, she moves to frigid Burlington and begins to dig into the victims’ stories. Some of the children who lived in the house are still in the area, and her interviews with them hold the key to determining whether their disturbing accounts about Coram House and a young boy who died there are true. When a local is found murdered, Alex wonders if her research has triggered an avalanche of dangerous lies and must get to the truth before it’s buried for good. This heartfelt, high-stakes mystery gripped me from the start and delivered reveal after stunning reveal. A brilliant debut that is not to be missed!

Thank you to Netgalley Publishers for sending me an advanced copy.
Seybolt's novel was genuinely in my top 3 august reads. The setting, the set of characters, the mystery -- everything was made to plunge, literally and figuratively, into the story. I particularly loved the "files" where the children of coram house were interviewed.

An entertaining, murder mystery set in Vermont. I liked the context of the story unraveling two mysteries surrounding an orphanage. However, I felt that the author was trying for the eerie vibe but the execution was chunky and the characters fell flat. Keeping in mind this is a debut, overall an interesting story that took me back to the chilly, snowy winters of Vermont.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #CoramHouse

This was a very entertaining fridgedly cold atmospheric mystery novel. The orphanage is based on a real place but the rest is fictional. I liked the small town, author coming to write a book, mystery from the past that leaks into the present. It was good but the story slowed in some parts and some important clues were left out so the reader couldn’t have figured it all out.
3.5 stars