An utterly atmospheric debut.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Inspired by the real-life stories of St. Joseph's orphanage in Burlington, Vermont - a Catholic-run institution, home to more than 13,000 children in its 140 years of operation - „Corham House“ depicts a similar orphanage on the shores of Lake Champlain.

True crime writer Alex Kelley - still reeling after the death of her husband and a professional setback that brought into question her ability and integrity as a writer - is lured to Burlington with a deal to ghostwrite a book about the history of the orphanage and the abuses that occurred there. But once Alex starts investigating, she finds discrepancies - like the story of a little boy who supposedly drowned, while the nuns claimed he simply ran away. And soon, the deadly repercussions of what actually happened at Corham House start to reach into her own life.

This book has everything a good, atmospheric thriller needs - it is well-written and features a likeable heroine (who is mostly capable, and even though she does make some pretty stupid decisions at times, at least she‘s self-aware about them), a haunting mystery, and an eerie setting. The author did an excellent job of conjuring up the feel of Vermont in the icy winter, so much so that you can almost feel the cold seeping from the book‘s pages. I also found myself totally invested in the outcome of Alex‘s investigation. Though the whodunnit was not particularly surprising, the story arch was very well done and I appreciated the no-fuss ending.

Overall, I cannot believe this is a debut novel. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

TW for child abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Coram House" is slated to be released on April 15, 2025.

Gripping, thrilling, and utterly intense.
When a recently widowed writer is offered an opportunity to report on a former orphanage, she finds out more than she was expecting and is soon grasped by the terrible history of the place in more ways than one. Uncovering dangerous secrets of those involved at Coram House, she battles with her conscious on who to trust, and who to report. With no shortage of twists and turns, this book holds on and doesn't let go. I wasn't able to put it down, and I urge fans of mystery, drama, and horror to pick this up as soon as they can.
5/5 for Bailey Seybolt's Coram House, masterfully done.

Coram House is a gripping, atmospheric mystery that dives deep into secrets from a half-century ago, as well as the present-day quest to uncover them. The book kicks off with an intense hook—nine-year-old Tommy’s disappearance in 1968—but things get even more twisted when writer Alex Kelley arrives in Vermont to investigate the orphanage's dark history. I loved the suspense in the beginning, though the middle did get a bit tangled with layers of clues and characters. Still, the story does a fantastic job bringing everything together by the end, leaving you with chills and closure. Alex’s journey to uncover the truth while battling personal and professional challenges made her an engaging lead, and the cold, eerie setting of Burlington in winter adds to the book’s haunting vibe. A solid 4-star read if you’re into mysteries that blend true crime vibes with supernatural undertones.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Coram House.

I was intrigued by the premise, especially since it's based on true events.

After the death of her husband, Alex Kelley needs a fresh start.

Tasked with ghostwriting a book about the abuses that went on at a now defunct orphanage, Alex moves to Burlington, Vermont to begin her work.

But she's soon pulled into the mystery of a missing young boy, who may have been murdered and the deed covered up by orphanage personnel.

When Alex discovers a dead body, she's pulled into the investigation and realizes that the horrors of the past never go away.

First, it was hard to like Alex. I didn't dislike her and I understand she's grieving, but that's all she did and was.

I didn't know anything about her except she runs, how much she missed her husband, how they met, and how she messed up her previous book and is now persona non grata.

Is it just me or did people drink a lot in this?

Or maybe I just notice these things because I don't drink?

I also think Alex is a borderline alcoholic.

She has no problem finishing a bottle of wine or two but barely eats..

The author had to stress that. She buys breakfast, but rarely finishes it. A sign of grieving or something else?

Alex is treated as a stereotype in this story; bumbling into the investigation, nosing around like a middle-aged Nancy Drew, and being casually disregarded by law enforcement because of her 'reputation.'

The backstory of the orphanage is terribly sad and yet very common in most of these institutions in those days.

The writing is good, but the narrative is slow, lacking urgency and suspense. The pacing dragged and the story felt 50 pages too long.

Corum House was a well written story. It kept the reader thinking about the book when not reading. The book made the reader want to know what happens next. I know, personally, I was wondering who the killer was or if there were more than one. This was one of the best books that I have read.

I really enjoyed this. It had twists and turns, and as much as I always try to guess what comes next, I barely got my head around it before the end. It still left me shocked. Very interesting premise and a complicated narrator.
Highly recommend for lovers of mysteries and thrillers

It was slow for me to get into, and I felt like I had already read this before. While there was nothing that really stood out as exciting and fresh, I ultimately did enjoy the book.

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.