3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

If you’re into twisty investigations, moody atmospheres, and stories that keep you tense in all the right ways, this one’s worth picking up. I’m glad it’s spring, because the story had such a heavy, overcast feel I needed the sun just to shake it off. The ending didn’t quite hit the same intensity as the buildup, but if you enjoy a smart, slow-burn mystery with a shadowy edge, you’ll be into this.

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Coram House By Bailey Seybolt
Publication Date: April 15, 2025
Publisher: Atria Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
(Rounded Up To 5⭐)

Thank you SO MUCH to Atria Books and NetGalley for this #gifted e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

Coram House is a brilliant and atmospherically suspenseful debut thriller from Bailey Seybolt. This book was filled with layers upon layers of mysteries that gripped me from the start, and its isolated wintry setting leveled up the tension in the pages.

Coram House was a mixed media read, with the main character's POV interspersed with interview transcripts from depositions in the past. The way the storyline came together and the manner in which the secrets were revealed, bit by bit, made for a perfectly tension-filled book.

Struggling true crime writer Alex Kelley is asked to ghostwrite a book about an old orphanage in snowy Vermont — and the abuses that occurred there. As she starts digging into the orphanage's traumatic history, her investigation takes a chilling turn when she discovers a woman’s body in the lake. Alex is convinced the woman's death is connected to Coram House’s dark past, but can she convince local law enforcement to believe she isn't just dramatizing a story to sell more books?

This was SUCH a well-written book! The true crime elements really captivated me, and I found myself questioning everyone and everything that was happening. I loved Alex's desire to tell the truth and share the stories, while dealing with the constraints of being a ghostwriter and her signed NDA. And Alex's unhinged character and tenuous grip on really worked SO BEAUTIFULLY in this read.

This debut thriller is for you if you enjoy true crime, mixed media, and suspenseful mysteries that are both compelling and riveting. The fact that this story is loosely based on a real place with its own traumatic history definitely added to the ominous despair and tension that permeated its pages. Seybolt is an author to watch, and I'll be looking forward to whatever she does next!

#CoramHouse #BaileySeybolt #AtriaBooks #ARCs #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #bookreviews #bookrecs #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #crimethriller #booklover #bookaddict

Struggling true crime writer Alex Kelley has taken a new job ghostwriting a story about an orphanage with a past. She gets drawn into the history and tales of children who were mistreated and one missing, rumored to have been killed.

If you’re in the mood for an atmospheric mysterious the past, here’s one for you. Sometimes I prefer action and thriller over atmosphere, but I know not everyone has that preference. There’s a lot of history to this one that needs to be revealed. Major trigger warning for child abuse. I did really enjoy the main characters back history and redemption arc.

“Maybe goodness is like a tank of gas- enough bad stuff happens and one day you just run empty. Or maybe evil is a seed, born inside all of us, waiting for the right conditions to thrive.”

Coram House comes out 4/15.

3⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of Coram House.

Alex has agreed to ghost write a book about Coram House, an orphanage where horrible abuse was taking place. When she arrives in town she gets the information and begins her research. She feels like there is more to the story and she intends to get answers. When a body turns up she realizes she may be in danger.

I enjoyed this book but I wish we had more of the story. It also felt like there were side stories added that did not really need to be there. I will say I did not see the twist coming. Overall it was okay but not my favorite thriller.

Struggling crime writer, Alex Kelley, is risking everything to investigates two murders, decades apart. Set in Burlington, Vermont on the shores of Lake Champlain, Alex is presents the documents for a long closed case of a murder at a local orphanage. As she searches to find the truth for the book, she is not sure she can trust herself or those around her.

This is a twisty atmospheric tale that I binged in a single day! I love the setting and the twist, some I predicted, some not so much, including one that caught me completely off guard. There was one small plot line that I either missed closure or was never closed, but did not detract for the story. A great quick read.

Coram House is the debut novel from Bailey Seybolt.

"Alex Kelley is a true-crime writer that needs a fresh start. She's asked to ghostwrite a book about an orphanage and the abuses that happened there. After moving to Burlington she discovers the body of a woman in the lake - a woman with a connection to the abuses at the orphanage. When another body is found Alex knows one thing - Secrets never stay buried."

Alex is driven by the children's stories - especially the ones that seem to have been forgotten. One boy was drowned but nobody wants to even acknowledge his existence. This leads to a lot of tense moments with Alex and everyone - all while she's still grieving the early death of her husband. Seybolt keeps the tension high with creepy woods and Alex's search through the creepy orphanage - lots of creaks and moans and old stories of ghosts in the attic. There's a little twist and lots of reveals. This is another true-crime novel loosely based on real events.

Nice debut from Seybolt.

Coram House is a chilling and atmospheric slow burn mystery inspired by a true story. Alex Kelley is a true crime writer who has been hired to ghost write a book about Coram House and the abuse that is rumored for have occurred at the orphanage. She hears about a boy from the orphanage named Tommy who was believed to have been drowned there over 50 years ago. Others believe that perhaps Tommy ran away. As Alex delves deeper into Tommy's disappearance, people begin to die! Is she on to something? Is she close to the truth?

As I mentioned, this is a slow burn mystery, and I struggle with slow burns. What I enjoyed was the chilling feel of the book. A young boy who vanished from the orphanage was rumored to have been drowned by a nun while others believe he ran away. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding what happened to him. I also enjoyed the setting and could almost feel the cold coming off the Lake.

While I enjoyed books based upon and inspired by true events, this one was a bit too much of a slow burn for me. That is not to say that this book won't work for other readers, I was just not the right reader for this book.

Rumors swirl around the abandoned orphanage, Coram House. It sits perched on the shores of Lake Champlain in Vermont – and it’s purported to be haunted by the ghosts of residents who may have been abused or killed by the very people who were there to care for them. Ghost-writer Alex Kelley comes to this assignment with ghosts of her own; her husband has been dead for three years, and while a once-successful writer, her last turn at a crime tell-all was a disaster. Eager for a fresh start, she takes an assignment to work with a wealthy lawyer who’s got his own reasons for revisiting the tragedies that took place at Coram House. She’s tasked with going through piles of files and watching police interviews on old VHS tapes. One former resident plays a key role in the investigation and the nuanced details paint a vivid portrait:

“Sarah Dale’s hand goes to the top button of her blouse, just below her throat, and twists, as if trying to loosen the collar. Then she goes still and looks right at the camera. You can leave Coram House but you can’t leave it behind.”

While this could have been a run-of-the-mill thriller, Seybolt’s debut shows skills equal to more experienced authors. Characters are well-written and complicated, and locations are so detailed, you may need to grab a blanket and turn up the lights as this book is a chiller. Coram House is reminiscent of the Dublin Murder Squad books by Tana French and Dennis Lehane’s Shutter Island, the orphanage and the lake that fronts it almost feel like characters themselves. I like my mysteries with emotional heft, and towards the end, our narrator has a moment of real insight:

…”because love is a debt paid only in loss eventually, one way or another. You cannot open the door to one without the other. But you also never know what will come next. Joy on the heels of sorrow on the heels of joy. And we don’t get to pick.”
If your curiosity has been piqued, you may also want to check out the non-fiction story this was based on: Ghosts of the Orphanage: a story of mysterious deaths, a conspiracy of silence, and a search for justice by Christine Kenneally.

I received an advance review copy of Bring the House Down from the publisher through NetGalley.

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

📖 BOOK REVIEW: Coram House by Bailey Seybolt

In 1968, a young boy vanished from Coram House, an eerie orphanage on the edge of Lake Champlain, and the truth was buried with him—until decades later, a struggling true crime writer begins digging into the mystery. As Alex Kelley investigates the orphanage’s haunting legacy, a present-day murder suggests that some secrets at Coram House are still very much alive.

Alex is an unreliable narrator at first—drinking too much, grieving a major loss, and barely hanging on—but I appreciated that the story didn’t let that become a crutch or an excuse for the chaos that unfolds- because I think we're all over that theme. I found Alex tough to like and occasionally annoying, but her unraveling journey kept me curious. The blend of true crime, trauma, and ghostly echoes from the past made for a dark and atmospheric read, especially knowing it's rooted in real history. It’s a slow burn, for sure, but if you’re patient, the pieces fall into place in a somewhat satisfying, somewhat unbelieveable way. 🕯️📚

CORAM HOUSE is about a crime writer who risks everything to investigate two mysterious deaths at an orphanage in Vermont.

When I first saw the synopsis of this one, I had no idea it was inspired by a true story 😮

This is a gripping novel about long-buried secrets and how they have haunted people for years. Bailey Seybolt brought together true crime and fiction to create an atmospheric setting that immerses readers into the story.

The main character’s story unfolds along with the plot. Alex Kelley needs a career-saving story, and this might be just what it takes.

I love mixed media in books, and especially enjoyed how it played out in this story.

CORAM HOUSE is a slow-burn, atmospheric mystery with a worthwhile ending.

This was a really good, gritty mystery! It is inspired by the true story of the St. Joseph's orphanage in Vermont. Upfront I would like to say that the trigger warning of child abuse that happened in the past is central to the story.
Alex is a struggling writer and her husband has just passed away from cancer. Needing to get away and find her passion for writing again, she accepts a job as a ghost writer for the lawyer that worked on the lawsuit of the orphans of Coram house. Right away, we are introduced to some of the key characters involved in the mystery of the past: a little boy named Tommy disappeared one day. Some think that he ran away, but there is testimony from one girl that says he was purposefully drowned. As Alex works with the lawyer to write the story, she discovers that there are more secrets and cover ups, and no one can prove that there ever was a boy named Tommy. Completely invested in finding the truth, she continues to dig up the history and puts herself in danger. At the same time, a former nun, and some of the now adult children from the former orphanage are being murdered.

This was a dark mystery. Alex is dealing with the death of her husband and is drawn to finding out what happened to Tommy. She is persistent in her searching. I liked the character of Alex. She is well rounded, and I could understand her way of handling grief- getting away and not really addressing it because of the pain. She is relentless at looking at the little pieces of information and clues that come her way, and is able to discover even more tragedy within this story.

The story is told between past interviews given by the former children of Coram house, and Alex. There are some wonderfully written characters- some you like and some not so much! But you come to understand the reasoning/motive behind each of them. I was surprised at the ending- the "who", yet it completely made sense!

The book starts slow. It is more of an intellectual investigation, with a fast pacing at the end. However, I was hooked! I wanted to know the story, and I wanted to see Alex find her passion again! It is very well written, and the story makes sense in all aspects! A Fantastic debut and I am looking forward to reading more by Bailey Seybolt!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Coram House by Bailey Seybolt is the kind of book that sinks its teeth into you from the first page and doesn’t let go until the very end. Atmospheric, chilling, and filled with dark secrets, this dual-timeline thriller had me completely hooked.

Alex Kelley is a widowed true crime writer who signs on to ghostwrite the story of Coram House—a now-closed Catholic orphanage with a twisted history of abuse, scandal, and tragedy. The job seems simple enough… until she learns about the mysterious case of a young boy who vanished without a trace. Some say he drowned. Others say he ran away. But the more she investigates, the more it seems like he never existed at all.

What I loved: ✨ The eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere. Coram House feels like a character of its own, haunting every page. 🕰️ The dual timelines are so well done, shifting between Alex’s present-day investigation and chilling archival recordings that slowly unravel the orphanage’s dark secrets. 🖋️ Alex is such a compelling protagonist. Grieving, determined, and sharp—she’s someone you root for from beginning to end. 🔍 The mystery kept me guessing, and just when I thought I had it figured out, the story took another twist.

This book reminded me a bit of The Girl Before meets The Silent Patient but with a strong investigative journalism twist. It’s a solid slow-burn with a payoff that’s worth it. I was fully invested in the backstory of Coram House, and that ending left me stunned.

A mysterious orphanage with a twisted history, a struggling true crime writer, a dead body, and a child’s disappearance—this novel weaves all of these chilling threads into a gripping story that kept me turning the pages. What truly sets it apart is the fact that it was inspired by a true story, adding an eerie weight to the fictional elements.

The writing style stood out to me the most. It’s immersive without being overly dramatic. If you're into mysteries with a psychological edge, and especially if you're fascinated by stories based on true events, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

Alex firmly believes the death of a woman in the present- a woman found in a lake-is linked to the disappearance of young Tommy from the Coram House orphanage in 1968. The story is told in a mixed fashion- through transcripts of police interviews, flashbacks and in the present-making for a layered experience that helps move things along when the reader becomes complacent. Alex, a writer, is a stranger to the area and she's looking for a comeback in her ghostwrite about the orphanage. A creepy place, it holds secrets of abuse that echo down the years. Alex might not convey as the most likable protagonist but she's determined. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good debut and read.

Coram House is a murder mystery, thriller, and police procedural mixed into one page turner. Alex, a writer, takes a ghost writing job to bounce back her career after a difficult year including the death of her husband and a sloppy book. Moving to the community where Coram House is located, Alex must unravel a mystery surrounding the possible death of a child named Tommy. Alex uncovers more than she expected, and then the murders start. This book is a page turner, but also nicely concludes the story.

“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”

Coram House is about Alex Kelley-a widowed true crime writer who signs on to ghost write the story of Coram House, a since closed Catholic orphanage with a back story of abuse, scandal, and tragedy, Alex becomes determined to solve the mystery of a young boy who “disappeared.” Some say he drowned. Others say he ran away. It’s like he never existed. While Alex investigates, witnesses suddenly start dropping like flies. Alex must finish her manuscript and solve the mystery and hope she is not next.

I was transfixed by this book and became so invested in Coram House’s back story, much like Alex. Also like Alex, I tried so hard to predict the ending and did not see the twist coming at the end. This was a great mystery/thriller that had me at the edge of my seat.

This is a moderately-paced mystery about events that happened at an orphanage in Vermont half a century ago. The main character is an author who’s hired to ghostwrite a book about the orphanage. As she uncovers clues, the mystery deepens. The author does a good job of capturing the cold, almost barren feeling of Burlington in the wintertime and keeps you guessing. I had a few theories along the way, and I was totally wrong. I’m always pleased when something at the end of a story surprises me, and this did not disappoint.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ok now this got me out of a reading slump. I was struggling to find something to catch (and keep) my attention, and this did that! A tiny bit spooky, and a big old (literally old) mystery, and I loved. Wrapped up pretty nicely with a bow, albeit a dark one. Gets a yes!

Coram House was an interesting read that involved elements of mystery, tragedy and history. Although fictional, the book was based on the St. Jospeh’s Orphanage in Vermont. Alex Kelley is the main character in the story, and she moves to Burlington, VT to ghostwrite a book about a fictional orphanage, Coram House, where priests and nuns abused the children who resided there during the mid-40s through 60s.

Alex brought emotional baggage with her on the trip. Her husband recently died and the last book that she published didn’t do well. As Alex’s is doing her research on Coram House, the emotional baggage seems to impact her interactions with others and her ability to function and trust her instincts. There were times I was cheering for her and thinking wow, she is truly brave and other times that I wanted to tell her to get it together.

Despite all the things that Alex did to find the truth, including putting her own life at risk, it was challenging to connect with her. Also, I felt parts of the story dragged and I did some skimming to keep the story going.

It was a good book, but not a great one. Do I regret reading it – No. I appreciated learning about the history of the orphanage, and I appreciated Alex’ tenacity to find the truth and commitment to be true to herself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

#CoramHouse, #BaileySeybolt. #NetGalley