A TRILLING MYSTERY. I was sucked in the entire time. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc!

It is 2010 and Alex, a true crime writer, is hired to ghostwrite the story of abuse during the 1960s at Coram House, a one time orphanage on Lake Champlain in Vermont operated by nuns and priests. Her employer is the attorney who represented former residents in a settlement with the Catholic Church. Her contract gives him total control over what she writes, as well as an NDA. Widowed, and the author of a second novel that led to some disgrace, she moves to Burlington in the middle of a cold, dark winter. Haunted by the tale of Tommy, a young child supposedly drowned by Sister Cecile and another student, she doggedly investigates that part of the story despite the hostility toward her inquiries. When a murder occurs, and then another, she is convinced they are related to her investigation. Why the silence about Tommy and who is complicit in keeping it quiet?

Wow! What a debut novel! Inspired by the true story of abuse at Saint Joseph’s orphanage which operated in Vermont from 1854 to 1974, the book is atmospheric, twisty, and suspenseful. I could not put it down. I liked the writing technique of interspersing the story with testimony of some of the characters during the compensatory trial in the late 1980s. This was a great read.

Coram House is a slow-burn, investigative thriller told from the POV of Alex, a recent widow and true crime author struggling with grief and public backlash from her last book. She is commissioned as a ghostwriter to uncover the history of Coram House, a defunct orphanage shrouded in stories of abuse and death. Instead of relying on the information she is provided, Alex goes on a mission to uncover the untold horrors and trauma everyone else seems dedicated to keeping secret forever.

I enjoyed solving the case alongside Alex. We get to see her investigation unfold in real time, so everything that is a surprise or twist to the reader is equally impactful to her as the narrator. The writing is very good, and while the plot progresses slowly, the book is incredibly well-paced. I didn't want to put it down.

The author was inspired by a true story (everything in this book is fictional). I am unsure how I feel about this. She is very open and honest about loosely framing parts of the story on actual events. But something feels morally gray about using children's trauma as a springboard to craft a story about fictionalized kids experiencing similar injustices. Sensationalizing true crime is not a new concept, and inspiration can come from anywhere. I wish she had given more of a tribute or memorialized the real-life orphanage a little more. It is briefly mentioned at the end but felt like an afterthought.

Regardless, I recommend this book and had a great time reading it! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

CORAM HOUSE is a mystery with a very sad backstory, and an interesting main character in Alex, a writer who is sent to Vermont to ghostwrite a story for a lawyer who wants to leave a legacy behind.

Coram House is a long closed orphanage with a seedy history from the 1960s and 70s. With sinister nuns and evil priests, Alex had arrived long after a settlement in the 90s brought these horrors to light. But there are still mysteries to be solved - like was there really a boy who drowned and a nun didn’t save him? How about a girl that fell, or was pushed, out of a window?

I could tell this was a debut but I think the author has lots of promise as a thriller writer. I was kept interested and it had a pretty good twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. A solid mystery for a winter’s eve.

"Coram House" emerges as a riveting suspense novel set in the chilling embrace of a Vermont winter. The narrative enthralled me, compelling me to flip through the pages with an urgency fueled by its gripping tension. I felt a strong connection to the main character, Alex, who is a passionate true crime writer. Her journey begins as she seeks to uncover the dark history of abuses that occurred at an orphanage, but she soon finds herself embroiled in a disturbing series of new murders that unfold around her. This outstanding debut novel by Bailey Seybolt is certainly one to add to your reading list, as it promises an unforgettable experience for suspense enthusiasts!

Based on the true story of a Vermont orphanage, CORAM HOUSE is an atmospheric must-read story for mystery fans. Alex Kelley is a struggling crime writer looking to move forward after the death of her husband. She takes a promising writing job investigating the unsolved disappearance of a boy at Coram House in 1968 .

Alex finds herself an outsider in small Vermont town as she seeks to uncover the truth and give voice to orphan victims. Nestled on the shores of Lake Champlain the dilapidated Coram House has a sordid history waiting to be uncovered. With moody writing, stifling snowstorms, and classic red herrings this chilling story by debut author Bailey Seybolt has it all.


READ THIS IF YOU:
-can’t resist a story with past and present mysteries
-enjoy discovering talented debut authors
-can tolerate mentions of child abuse (off the page)

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: April 15, 2025

Many thanks to Atria and Netgalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced reader copy.

The beginning of this novel is a bit slow (honestly, I skipped the prologue because it felt like the writing was prizing "atmosphere" over content), but once the present day story got going I really enjoyed the ride. Alex is a sufficiently messy character and all the reasons that she shows up in the wintry New England town made sense (sometimes non-law enforcement characters getting involved in a case can feel very inauthentic). The twist at the end didn't feel totally earned (hence four stars instead of five) but worked well enough to create a lot of drama and interest. A worthwhile read.

Coram House will be published on April 15, 2025

Wow! This was easily a 4.5 star read for me. It's very rare for me to encounter a mystery book that actually keeps me guessing for more than half of the book, but Coram House absolutely accomplished that. My predictions were all over the place and I ultimately only tied things together shortly before the main character, Alex, did herself. It was a slow burn but well worth it.

The author, Bailey Seybolt, clearly put some thoughtful planning into this book. Not only were the twists and turns interesting, her main characters were also well fleshed out with back stories and problems to overcome. I also appreciated the setting and that's what made me want to read the book when I first read the description. There is a deep history in orphanage style institutions in America. In my opinion this was a worthy homage to the trauma children in those places encountered and the way that trauma could manifest in their lives even decades after they grew up.

I hope Ms Seybolt continues to write. I'd be eager to read her future writings!

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was really good. Atmospheric and a good page turner.
I definitely want to read more from this author.
If you like true crime then this is for you.

Coram House was everything I needed in a winter-time thriller! It was spooky and had me flipping pages so fast to figure out what was going to happen next. I love when thrillers include multiple formats (articles, interview audio, etc.) to enhance the reading experience, and I think it really worked in this novel. It was more of a slow burn, but I didn’t really mind since the pay off was satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the arc!

I really enjoyed this book. There were so many different storyline converging and I enjoyed the perspective of each character.

A struggling true crime writer is given a chance to write about a long abandoned orphanage in winter in Vermont. The nuns and priest were accused of abuses, children disappeared. There was a trial, then a settlement. Alex tried to untangle the web of lies and secrets surrounding Coram House as she struggles with loss and grief of her own.

Love true crime podcasts? Psychological thrillers? This one is for you!

A published author is hired by a Vermont lawyer to ghostwrite the history of a Catholic orphanage where children suffered horrible abuses in the 1960s. The lawyer represented the now grown children in a lawsuit against the church. This is to be his legacy but as the author digs deeper into the case, she realizes that there are still many unanswered questions. Specifically, is the mystery of a young boy who was either drowned or ran away.
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery story

I enjoyed that this was loosely based on St Joseph’s Orphanage as I learned at the end of this book.

Alex Kelley gets the opportunity to be a ghost writer. She hopes this will be opportunity to turn her life around. She is asked to write about Coram house which closed after allegations of abuse, torture, neglect and murder.

She starts to investigate and believes it all is connected to a boy Tommy who disappeared. As the bodies start to pile up she is frustrated as she keeps getting who did it wrong and knowing she is racing to reveal the killer before she is next. It gives off such creepy vibes and you know someone knows the truth.

This is a slow burn but once she starts putting the pieces together it is shocking to see who is behind it all.

3.5 🌟

I really enjoyed this book. The snowy atmosphere was fantastic and I really enjoyed the cold case mystery mixed with a current mystery. Recommended for a fun thriller read.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

Pub date: April 15th 2025

This book is about Tommy a boy that vanishes from an orphanage (Coram House). This was a gritty suspenseful mystery that kept me reading way later than I should have. Gave it 4 stars. After reafing this one i will be picking up her next book.

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.