This book was upon based upon a true story which is well captivating in this book. We are introduced to Coram House an orphanage on the shores of Lake Champlain in Vermont. Alex is best selling author who is asked to co-writer book for guy named Alan. It seems like Coram House has so much history that no one wants to revive. Upon Alex arrival she is introduce to officer Parker who she rely on while interviewing people who lived in Coram house. I must say the ending is totally shocking it's something you will never see coming. Definitely a must read!

Alex Kelley is a struggling true crime writer who could use a break, which she hopes she has found when asked to ghostwrite a book about an old orphanage in Burlington, Vermont. However, it is not long before she’s thrown into something darker than anticipated in this novel based on the true stories from St. Joseph’s Orphanage.

Bailey Seybolt does a fantastic job of creating an atmospheric mystery. Seybolt’s description of the setting depicts the cold so well that the reader can’t help but feel the desire to burrow into blankets to ward off the chill. The flashbacks and recordings only add to the feeling.

As a protagonist, Alex is compelling. As she is grieving the loss of her husband while simultaneously licking her wounds from her disastrous last novel, her anxiety is palpable. Seybolt intentionally writes Alex as closed off with the feeling that she could crack open at any moment. When she makes regrettable decisions, it reads true rather than as frustrating, which is typically the case.

While the book makes for a great read, the one area where it lets itself down is the ending. There is something about the big reveal that feels like a letdown; the book is so elegantly crafted, and having the ending go the way it does is disappointing. However, it is still an intriguing book and fans of true crime docuseries like The Keepers will enjoy this one.

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed reading it and didn’t want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I’ll admit that this book was a slow burn for me. But once it got going, it literally didn’t stop. At no point did I know what was coming next. From jaw drops, to audible gasps and the unintentional mouth cover, this book had me on the edge of my seat waiting for more. At times I wanted more inserts of the “interviews” but I think now after reading, maybe less is more. This quickly became one of my favorite new books. The only reason I gave it a 4/5 was that, like I said, for me it was a slow burn. If I could rate it from about 30-40% on, no doubt it would be a 5 star read.

Brrrrr…🥶 This was such an atmospheric and vivid read. I totally forgot it’s actually summertime right now !!

I can’t get over this is a debut novel , Bailey Seybolt deserves fireworks in the park for this clever masterpiece!

Read this if you like :
🥶 Journalistic Investigation
🥶 Smart FMC
🥶 Stories inspired by true events
🥶 Atmospheric Reads
🥶 Fast page turner

Alex is crime writer who is a widow who needs a fresh start in life and the perfect story has landed in her lap .

Burlington Vermont and its snow covered ground is embracing for Alex’s 6 month stay that finds herself swaying from the plot and investigating the mystery of two deaths that happened years apart.

The writer takes us on a dark and cold journey and leaves little bread crumbs here and there to keep us digging for more and more to uncover the truths of what happened to young Tommy all those years ago , but Alex Kelley better be careful as she untangles the web and brings the secrets to the surface or she could find herself as the next victim 👀

This was so well done and cleverly written, my only negative is the ending was not as climatic as I was hoping for , but still overall really enjoyed this book and would definitely read more from this author and if this is her debut then watch because Bailey Seybolt is just getting started!!

Side Note this story touches on heavy grief and abuse in orphanages.

Thank you NetGalley , Atria Books and Bailey Seybolt for this ARC !

Respectfully Another Read by Angie

An orphanage in Vermont once run by the Catholic Church, rampant with stories of abuse, and even murder. A down on her luck writer who dives in headfirst, but gets more than she bargained for.

What an outstanding debut novel from Bailey Seybolt! Full of vivid imagery, a captivating setting, and a horrifying story based on a real orphanage. I have to keep reminding myself that it’s summer and I’m not actually there, in the snow, alongside the characters.

I really enjoyed the main character with her dogged nature, so earnest and likeable, dedicated to the truth simply because everyone’s story deserves to be told.

And, my goodness, what a shocking turn of events that launch the mystery of this story down a path that I simply didn’t expect. I felt like I had no idea where this book was going, and I was right alongside every step of the way on the journey.

Ultimately this story captured an essence of the human condition - abuse happens, everyone is carrying layers of hurt and hidden truths, and people get away with unspeakable things.

I truly enjoyed this book and think it’s a strong debut from Seybolt!

I appreciate the note at the end about the real orphanage this story was based on. I’d highly recommend reading more about it. It added an additional layer onto this story for me, causing me to think deeply about our human instinct to take horrible, real stories and find ways to adapt them into fictional versions that are easier to sit with.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! I look forward to grabbing this one for my shelves in April.

Much more than a novel about journalistic investigation this author grabs you with her vivid details, pace, and story, and leaves you immersed in the cold of Burlington and Alex’s determination to find the truth.
This is a book with depth and character, and deals with the subject matter with care as it explores the far reaching effects of abuse and grief.

I had a difficult time with the writing in this novel. Some chapters of the book were wonderful and others felt like they were written by another author (stiff and/or juvenile dialogue). Not sure what happened here.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214151953

This was my first book by this author and I really liked it. I loved how the story unfolded and how she made me feel like I was the one trying to figure out this story. The different characters were all important pieces in the story and the twist was one that I did not predict. I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong! I would definitely recommend this one and look forward to more from Bailey Seybolt!

First of all, a moment for this cover, which is stunning. The beautiful visual, paired with the compelling premise, immediately grabbed my attention. And while the writing is strong, the story ended up being much darker than I expected. (Yes, even after reading that premise.) The beginning especially details horrible things in such a straightforward manner that it just made me too sad to keep reading.

This book wasn't a fit for me, but I'm sure there are other readers out there who get keep going past the tough parts. I'm just not one of them.

I loved all of the different points of view and timelines in this story. The ending also surprised me to no end!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of Coram House.

I am a sucker for judging a book by its cover...this one is gorgeous and nails the spooky, somber vibe of the story. I was quickly drawn into the unique plot and was interested to discover it was inspired by a real place. I also appreciated that the female main character was intelligent and reasonable (if not a little lost in life). The ending was the only part that fell a little flat for me and I finished feeling a bit unsatisfied even though it answered all my questions.

4 stars!