I should preface this review by saying I live in Burlington Vermont so the story hits very close to home and my father and his two closest brothers spent time at Saint Joseph’s orphanage when they were children, and I have a few horror stories of my own that have been passed down in my family about the atrocities that occurred there.
I loved Coram House. My favorite thing in books is character development, and you really felt like you knew the main characters. The history and the mystery combined created a vortex that sucked you in and made it very hard to stop reading this book.
The main character, Alex was hired to ghost write a book about a crumbling orphanage called Coram House on the shores of Lake Champlain in Vermont.
There are many stories about crimes against children that occurred there between 1950 1970 by the nuns and priest that were in charge of caring for the children. Alex, the struggling writer was mourning the loss of her husband and attempting to revive her career that had been hurt by the true crime book she wrote last.
She moved to Vermont to try and right some of those wrongs. Just as Alex starts her research, she stumbles on a crime scene. A woman is pushed to her death on the shore of Lake Champlain. Alex meets a police officer liaison named Parker who she begins to trust and maybe like, but bodies start piling up, and questions still remain unanswered. The orphanage is being made into luxury apartments so there are many who will benefit from quieting the questions about the crimes that occurred there including the possible murder of children. Is Alex in danger becoming the next victim? The story is chilling and it’s authentically and beautifully written. It speaks of the ghosts we all have in our lives and those of us willing to brave it anyway.

This was a twisty thriller/mystery with lots of surprises I didn't see coming. I really enjoyed this story and the setting of Vermont in winter and would definitely read more from this author in the future rating this one 3/3.5 stars. I want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This story had a lot of potential, but it just didn’t pan out. Instead of being immersed in the dark history of the old orphanage like I’d hoped, we just followed the main character around while she asked the same questions over and over again. It was incredibly slow moving, and I found that I didn’t really care at all about the mystery. I was very bored for the last two thirds. And the ending didn’t make up for it. It was just okay.

I did like the wintery setting, and the frequent mentions of coffee and food (I really love when books talk about what the characters are eating 😅). Though I was a bit taken aback by how many of the main character’s meals consisted of only alcohol and carbs 😂

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for a free ARC of this novel and the opportunity to review it.

‘Sometimes too late is the best we can do.’ This poignant conclusion sums up the story of this mystery debut novel whose female lead is true crime writer Alex Kelley. Alex is hired to ghost-write a book about the all-too-true crimes that took place at Coram Hall, a Catholic orphanage in Burlington, Vermont. The background story is loosely based on the history of St. Joseph’s Orphanage, where children were routinely subjected to physical, emotional and sexual abuse.

The story itself is sadly too common. It is obviously horrifying to read about. The author makes the children heard by including their depositions, as adults, as they bear witness in interviews conducted by lawyer Alan Stedsan, who worked for their fair compensation during the 1980s, just after the orphanage was shut down. As if any compensation would be fair after what they were subjected to. such a thing were possible.

Now it is 2010 and Stedsan has hired Alex Kelley to make sense of the boxes of records he has collected. She is expected to live in the town for six months, do further local research, and write a coherent narrative about what happened that he expects to be his ‘legacy’. It’s a straightforward contract just as Alex wants; her first true crime publication was award-winning, but her second sent an innocent man to jail. Stedsan knows that, and offers her the opportunity to re-establish herself. But this is no mere act of compassion. At least in principle, it also keeps her to the script he wants, a story of good overcoming evil.

Grieving the loss of both her young husband and her reputation, Alex is an emotional wreck. She is awkward and jumpy, has a tendency to misread people and situations, and turns to wine for solace. Everything in the written records and in the VHS tapes, is the stuff of nightmares. She is especially disturbed about the drowning of nine year old Tommy one hot summer day. One of the witnesses, Sarah Dale, claimed she saw him get into a boat with the cruel Sister Cecile and an older boy who was a known bully. She didn’t see him resurface. Was it an accident or was Tommy murdered? Sister Cecile and the other staff simply made up a story to explain his disappearance and the children understood they were not to ask.

Alex becomes obsessed with the mystery of a little boy about whom she can find no records, not even a full name. The more she digs into the Coram House story, the more entangled she becomes. Suddenly, others connected to the orphanage dir. Were they murdered to hide the larger truth? She is determined that Tommy’s story is the key to finding out.

Seybolt writes very well and develops the mystery so that I was pulled in from beginning to end. For me, however, her characterization falls a bit short. Alex is clearly in a bad state, but her usual response is drinking a lot or suddenly jumping up and going for a run when she’s been reading and writing for a few hours. Sometimes she has barely sat down to read and write when she takes off. Although there is an attraction between her and police officer Parker, it’s hot and cold, and the draw (other than personal loss) is not explained. The female officer, Garcia, is so nasty to her, with no clear motive, that I thought it might be that she was also interested in Parker. The mostly unexpressed romantic tension between Alex and Parker doesn’t add much to the story, and neither does the Xander storyline. In fact, all the characters are irritating or obnoxious. Maybe it’s the weather. Seybolt’s setting in bitterly cold and wintry Burlington is so well done you can almost feel the blowing snow and crackling ice. And she does ultimately keep the suspense building in ways that trip up any sense that you can see round the next curve, just what a good mystery should do.

I wanted so badly to like this one, but it didn’t work for me, unfortunately. I was disappointed by the big reveal. It took me a bit to get into the story, but it did start to pick up, so I decided to stick with it. It just didn’t turn out the way I was hoping.

This book gave very much Ms. Flynn. In that the mystery element was gripping and kept you pulled in until the end of the book. I legit, with that I could craft a book as amazing as this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. Coram House follows Alex Kelley, a true crime author who moved to Burlington Vermont to start a new book. Alex is looking for a fresh start and she is hoping that the story of Coram House will provide that. Coram House operated as an orphanage until cases of abuse were revealed. There’s conflicting stories, and Alex is determined to find the truth. I enjoyed the story. I found it a little difficult to stay invested, and I guessed the ending. It’s a good story for those enjoy true crime.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s an atmospheric mystery taken place during winter. The fact that this is based on a true story just made it sink deeper into me. The writing is told in one pov in present time from the fmc and then you get interviews from the past. I never saw the twist coming but loved how the story kept me guessing with every piece of new evidence.

This comes out in April but would be good to read during a snow storm. I think this will be a great read for anyone who loves a good mystery!

This book was really good. Gave me sharp objects vibes. Thank you to Netgalley for this arc. It was thrilling and suspenseful. I really enjoyed it.

Dripping with atmosphere and tension, Coram House is a fascinating thriller complete with flashbacks. But the chill factor creeps in from its basis on true stories which gave me goosebumps. I really appreciated getting lost in a dark yet illuminating world.

In 1968, Coram House, an orphanage in Vermont, is the scene of a disappearance of a young boy, Tommy. Differing opinions and suspicions swirl about what happened. The orphanage was a scary place to be for the children who were tormented and disciplined in horrifying ways. Decades later, in the present, Alex accepts a ghostwriting job about the orphanage and discovers a woman's dead body in the lake. Upon further investigation, Alex uncovers grimy layer after grimy layer of how the woman's death was connected to the past. And the secrets didn't end there.

The compelling story itself, the intriguing characters, tension and gorgeous writing captivated me. But the clever interview chapters really clinched it for me. I love how this novel is unsettling but not scary. It is an experience to be mulled over. Do be aware child abuse by nuns is a theme and other abuses are referenced, too. Abuse of any kind is dark but it is handled well here, including how (in)actions of others hang over the heads of subsequent generations.

The ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a slow-burn thriller that absolutely hooked me from the start. The atmospheric setting—an eerie orphanage on a lake and the dark secrets it hides—creates the perfect backdrop for this mystery. It's the kind of book that slowly pulls you in, and by the end, you’ll find it hard to put down.
Set in a small, remote Vermont town decades after a scandal involving the Catholic Church’s orphanages (based on a true story), the story centers around a boy named Tommy, who mysteriously disappears from Coram House, an orphanage with a troubled past. Years later, Alex, a true crime writer, is hired to uncover the dark history behind the orphanage and write a book about its disturbing past. As Alex digs into the story, the tension builds, and secrets long buried begin to surface. The book expertly captures the tension between Alex and the locals. The hostility she faces from the community only deepens the mystery, showing how tightly the town is still bound to the dark history of Coram House. What really stands out in this book are the interviews with the grown children who lived at Coram House, which are scattered throughout the narrative. These snippets of personal history add depth to, giving us a glimpse into the trauma and pain that the characters still carry with them. The pacing is not fast, but the story's slow unraveling is part of what makes it so captivating. It’s a mystery that relies more on atmosphere and careful detail than on rapid plot twists.
If you enjoy atmospheric thrillers that rely on tension and detail rather than fast-paced action, The Coram House will be right up your alley. A solid 4 stars.

"You can leave Coram House but you can't leave it behind."
I just finished reading my advanced reader's copy 0f this work of fiction based on an orphanage in Vermont. I want to thank the author and the publisher, Atria Books for my e-copy through NetGalley. This is my own opinion about the story. It's not a tale about a house or its purpose. It's a story about the people who lived or survived there. Some suffered much longer than the time they spent there on the property.
Alex Kelley leaves NYC and temporarily moves to Vermont per an agreement with lawyer Alan Stedsam. She is to ghostwrite a book about his legacy using documents and information he provides that deals with a case he worked on, orphans against the Catholic church. As she digs into boxes of files and reads depositions, she becomes immersed in the possibility that a 5-year-old boy was murdered under the care of a nun, Sister Cecile.
There are some strong characters here. Alex, a writer, with a painful past that has seemingly dulled her spirit. A widow, she can be driven beyond what she should do and barrel her way into making assumptions, even mistakes. When murders darken her world, things get even more suspenseful. She's an okay character with problems for sure. Drinking in excess is a bit much for instance. Alan Stedsam is strange, as to me he seems to dump the project on her and it felt odd. He's not really hands-on.
The interesting depositions introduce readers to important characters from the past. The reason for a court case. Orphans, neglected and abused by the adults who were supposed to protect them. A nun and priest in particular. Alex involves herself with some of the area citizens including a couple of the orphans, law enforcement officers Parker and Garcia to name a few.
It's certainly a suspense. I did not figure out what was really going on so that's a plus for me with a novel. I give it a 4. I didn't want to put it down once I began reading.
Triggers: abuse, grief, murder.
Foul language and drinking.

This twisty, emotionally driven, eerie mystery will have you losing sleep trying to finish it all at once!

When Alex Kelly accepts a true crime ghostwriting job about Coram House, an orphanage in Burlington, VT, she mostly wants to switch things up with her life. But while investigating the orphanage, a woman is found dead in the town's lake, and Alex suspects her death may be related to Coram House's horrific past. With more deaths happening, Alex is even more motivated to find the answers, hoping her career will skyrocket. But if she doesn't figure it out soon enough, she may never leave the town alive.

This atmospheric mystery had me flipping the pages as fast as I could! Fans of true crime and cold cases will love this one!

*will post review on instagram closer to pub date*

CORAM HOUSE by Bailey Seybolt ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Thank you atria and NetGalley for the advanced copy! This thriller absolutely did it for me. I will warn you, it is more of a slow burn thriller, the pace is not super fast, but it’s a story that will suck you in. A creepy orphanage on a lake and the secrets buried with it? Yes, please. Just the atmosphere of this book is enough to hook you from the start. I loved the interviews of the grown children who lived at the orphanage scattered through the story. By the end, I couldn’t put it down!

A boy named Tommy mysteriously disappears from an Orphanage called Coram House, and he is never found. Years later, Alex, a true crime writer, is hired to write a book about the horrible things that happened at the orphanage. As she starts digging, the truth starts unraveling.

Pub. Date: 4/15/25

Perfect if you like:
•Slow burn thriller.
•True crime.
•Inspired by real life stories at an orphanage in Vermont.
•Haunting & atmospheric.
•Interviews throughout.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 🌶️ (just kisses)
Mood: 🍿🫗

⚠️: explicit language.

Bailey Seybolt delivers a gripping blend of true crime and psychological thriller in Coram House, a novel inspired by real events. The story follows Alex Kelley, a true crime writer determined to uncover the dark history of the orphans who endured unimaginable horrors at Coram House. But as she digs deeper into the past, the present takes a sinister turn—bodies begin to surface, and the line between investigator and target blurs.

Seybolt’s storytelling is immersive, weaving a chilling and atmospheric narrative that kept me hooked from the first page. Her vivid descriptions bring the eerie setting to life, making every revelation feel all the more haunting. Coram House is a must-read for fans of true crime and suspenseful thrillers. I can’t wait to see what Seybolt writes next.

Rounded up from 2.5 ⭐️ I wouldn’t say i disliked this book but it certainly was not my favorite. The plot was entertaining, but i felt like i was constantly just looking for the end. For me the characters didn’t feel super well developed or maybe i just felt them too unreliable to be hooked. I feel like the twist was partially predictable but good!

Absolutely devoured this atmospheric thriller! The book takes place in a remote Vermont town, decades after a scandalous orphanage within the Catholic Church was exposed for abuse and potential fatalities. Alex, a struggling writer, is asked to ghostwrite a book recalling the history within this orphanage. Once she arrives, she is shocked by how much hostility she experiences from the small town, but soon realizes that many people still have ties to the horrible history behind the orphanage.

I loved this slow burn thriller with the moody setting in rural wintery Vermont. The character development was superb, and I found myself truly resonating with main character. The storytelling was unique, with flashbacks to a time when the orphanage was up and running coupled with court documents makes for a spectacular book!

thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own

* posted on Goodreads, will post review on instagram closer to pub date

Coram House was a great read. The cover certainly drew me in!

The main character is a writer who is contracted to ghost write a book about an orphanage with a sordid past. There are rumors of a young boy who went missing in the lake and alleged abuse of the children at the hands of the nuns who raised them. During the writer's investigation, several bodies appear - potential murders? Possibly related to Coram House and its' past? I don't want to give away any endings, so I'll leave it at that.

There is plenty of mystery and intrigue to capture the reader's attention until the very last page.

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for an ARC.

I really enjoyed this book and its nod to the true story of St. Joseph’s orphanage.
I enjoyed our main character, and a few side characters definitely had me fooled.
This book is a slow burn so be prepared to really settle into the story.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bailey Seybolt, and Atria books for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

My jaw dropped at the big twist in this one, book peeps!! Did not see that coming!! 🙌

This was a dark crime thriller that was based on the true history of St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington, Vermont and sheds light on the abuse that occurred in these institutions. This was excellent for a debut and I definitely recommend checking it out! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Bailey Seybolt for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

TW: child abuse