Set in a bitter winter, an otherwise scenic town holds some terrible secrets.

Writer Alex Kelly – struggling both with the mistakes of her last true crime investigation and book, and the death of her partner – is offered a steady wage to ghost-write the story of Coram House. Her client, a lawyer involved in a legal case against the church about the abuse of children at Coram House when it was an orphanage, is commanding and secretive, setting Alex on an investigative course where she cannot know who to trust. When Alex finds a woman dead in the woods around Coram House, she begins to fall into conspiracy theories that raise questions about her own conduct by the police.

The setting and themes are well chosen, atmospheric, and believable, and the interweaving of research materials with the narrative itself makes for an engaging structure. To my mind, the tech billionaire type who asks Alex for a date and provides her what may (or may not) be valuable clues in her unofficial investigation is the only off-key note in an otherwise excellent and complex symphony of characters, each contending with their own half-buried misery and small-town grievances. I think this is a commentary on wealthy outsiders and their transformation of small towns' character, but it's a distraction from the main plot and felt a little bit like unnecessary comic relief.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this novel and would love to see its main character appear again. True-crime authors/podcasters make for really fun investigators, helping to avoid some of the artificiality that often comes with having to establish an unofficial detective in these sorts of stories. The tension with the police and the official detectives is something I always really enjoy.

‘Coram House’ by Bailey Seybolt is a slow-burn, eerie mystery about a true crime writer who uncovers chilling truths about a former orphanage by a lake in Vermont. Author Alex, arrives to take her first ghostwriting job after the tragedy of her husband’s death and issues with her recently published and swiftly-cancelled true crime novel. She quickly realises that memories vary and scars of abuse run deep among the community.

I liked the way the novel included interview transcripts and recollections from those who grew up at Coram House, and admired Alex’s determination to find - and broadcast - the truth. I did find the pace a little too languid, and didn’t feel super connected to either the lead character or the various victims, which meant this book wasn’t as gripping as some in the genre.

Ultimately, this atmospheric novel gets four stars from me. I’d recommend to fans of true crime and to anyone who wants to get immersed in a relentlessly dark and awfully believable tale of past wrongs.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Bloomsbury UK via NetGalley. Of course, all opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 24 Apr 2024

I generally like gritty thrillers but "Coran House" by Bailey Seybolt was just that bit too grim for me. Due to the content nuns/child abuse, I really thought this book was set in Ireland. It took me a while to realise it was set in the US and that child abuse by the church isn't just confined to UK and Ireland. I thought the plot was set up well: Alex Kelly is an investigative journalist making a programme about Coram House. In her research she interviews various residents and finds out about Tommy who possibly drowned whilst under the care of one of the sisters. Who is on her side and who is not. All will be revealed as she investigates further. Still sends a chill down my spine now.

3.5 stars.

Grim and gritty, twisty and gripping, disturbing and heartbreaking. A novel that talks about the possibility of restart for a down on his luck writer, the abuse of children and the possible death a small child.
It kept me reading even when I found hard to read. Fast paced and tightly knitted plot, very good storytelling
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book started out quite slow and I wasn't really sure whether I was going to enjoy it.
But then it kicked up a gear and I just couldn't stop turning the pages. Kept me on the edge of my seat, and I loved the development and the characters.
Also being winter when reading the ARC, I really felt more immersed in the story.
Can't wait to read more from this author.

The synopsis of Coram House doesn't give off the feeling of what this book is actually about, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless, even though it isn't something I'd usually find myself reaching for. I was hooked straight away and managed to make my way through this book quite quickly until it started to fall a little near the end. I wasn't a fan of the climax; I feel like it could have been a bit more than it was, which is why I ended up with the rating I did.

3.5

I really enjoyed this book. It is beautifully written and very atmospheric. Characters are well portrayed-I found myself totally invested in the story and wanting to learn the fate of each character, both past and present, at the same time as not wanting the book to end. It is a thought provoking and sad subject, which leaves you somewhat melancholic, but such stories need to be told to honour those that suffered in this way and the author has done it extremely well here.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review and to the author for her excellent work.

This is a page-turning and gritty mystery novel. I liked the backstory of the main character: a true crime writer who has known both wild success and dismal failure with her past projects. Please be aware of trigger warnings, as the plot involves historical child abuse at religious institutions, loosely based on terrible real-life crimes at St Joseph's Orphanage in Vermont. This topic felt grimly relevant given recent news in the UK, but can be tough reading. This is an impressive debut, and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

A brilliant story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, a really great twist in the plot throws you nicely!! Highly recommend.

Alex is a struggling true crime writer who is going through both personal and professional setbacks. She agrees to write about the controversial past of a Vermont orphanage, which has not been adequately documented. She unintentionally starts a new murderous rampage while looking into a couple of potential killings from the past 50 years. Are they all connected? Alex courageously seeks the truth and becomes more resilient as a result. It's difficult to put this mystery/thriller down. The numerous turns have you wondering who the murderer or murderers are and why.

I really liked this book even though it's about hard things. It's easy to care about the characters, especially Tommy. Alex tries her best to help the kids, but she's not connected to the house in a special way. There are a few surprises that you won't expect.

I wish we could see what happens to the kids who lived at Coram House. We don't get that, but we do find out what happened, so that's something.

A compelling and dark story that will leave you guessing! I thoroughly enjoyed Coram House and read it in two sittings, it was very atmospheric and I loved Bailey's writing style, it was engaging and easy to follow. The mix between the present and transcripts was very effective and I felt it added an extra element to the storytelling.

Only at the end did I have an inkling on how it may play out, but the overall plot I didn't work out until it was revealed!

I marked it down a star as some of the actions/conversations in regards to Alex did grate on me and were a bit unrealistic.

But otherwise, I highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this book! I had not read a book by this author before but I will definitely look out for more of her work. I think she is a great writer and this was the most atmospheric book I have read in months. Snow, forests, a lake, an old and empty orphanage with a gruelling history, what more could one want? At times I got so consumed by the book that it felt like I was in the middle of winter, that I lived in Vermont and that I would have to wear my thickest winter coat when leaving the house - none of these things are true (sadly).

I really liked Alex and warmed to her despite me wanting to shake her occasionally and tell her to look after herself better. I very much felt for her friend Lola throughout this, because I can totally see how Alex was somewhat self-destructive at times. However, I love how she was consumed by her case, how she wanted to do Tommy justice, how she really wanted to tell the children's stories.

I have to admit, the twist disappointed me. Not because it was a bad twist, but because I really didn't want it to be that way, I was hoping for a different outcome. However, I also enjoyed Alex' screw-that attitude at the end and I clapped in delight, so I guess that made up for it.

Words fail me. Incredible, brilliant and shocking, this chilling story keeps you guessing until the terrifying conclusion.
It’s just ‘WOW’.
Every page is so well written, feeding your imagination with mystery and suspense, crafted so beautifully you just cannot put it down.
HIGHLY recommended and guaranteed to stay in your mind long after the final page.
This is an author whom I now add to my must read list.
Five Stars without any doubt.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC. Coram House is due to be published 24/04/2025.

I really enjoyed reading this despite the difficult themes running throughout. You can't help get invested in this and there's a real need to want to get to the bottom of things. Alex does her very best to do right by the children in this, particularly Tommy. I thought she might have a link to the house and thought that'd be a bit too predictable. She isn't linked in any way and there's a couple of twists you don't see coming so it is good and does keep you guessing.

I did feel like I wanted more and wanted to see at least some positive outcomes for the orphans that had resided at Coram House and who had suffered at the hands of the adults there. You don't get that but you do get answers so I guess that's some kind of closure.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Coram House is a gripping and atmospheric tale that weaves together the mystery and the haunting legacy of an orphanage. Set against the backdrop of Lake Champlain, the story opens on a blistering summer day in 1968, when nine-year-old Tommy mysteriously vanishes from Coram House. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance spark a myriad of conflicting theories—some say he was drowned by a nun, others believe he ran away, and some even question if he ever existed at all. Even fifty years later, his case remains unresolved.

Fast forward to the present, where struggling true crime writer Alex Kelley seeks a fresh start. She accepts the challenge of ghostwriting a book about Coram House and the dark abuses that transpired there, prompting her to relocate to wintry Burlington, Vermont. As Alex delves into the chilling history of the orphanage, she becomes increasingly drawn to Tommy's story. However, her investigation takes a harrowing turn when she uncovers a woman's body in the lake.

Convinced that the death is linked to Coram House’s sinister past, Alex faces scepticism from local police officer Russell Parker, who believes she is merely chasing a sensational story to revive her career. As more bodies surface, Alex must race against time to uncover the truth about Tommy's fate or risk becoming the next victim.

This book unfolds at a deliberate pace, which may not suit those seeking a fast-paced read. However, for those willing to invest their time, the slow burn allows for a deeper exploration of the narrative and characters. The writing is exceptional, pulling at the heartstrings and leaving readers breathless with anticipation as Alex diligently follows leads. The plot kept me guessing throughout, and I was genuinely surprised by the conclusion.

Overall, Coram House is a well-crafted story that expertly blends mystery with emotional depth, making it a compelling read for anyone who enjoys a thoughtful and atmospheric investigation into the past. Highly recommended for those who appreciate a richly layered narrative.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

This was a well-written, heartbreaking and twisty read that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend to all. Thank you for the ARC,

Love love love it
I couldn’t put this down it was amazing!
One of my favourite reads of 2024
Loved how it was set out it was interesting tense amazing characters just over all great !

A beautifully written heartbreaking read. Alex is a writer who after a work disaster accepts a contract to write a book about a children's home run by nuns. The plot develops at an engaging pace and the characters are developed beautifully. An alarming subject matter is handled with genuine empathy and love. I was fully invested in wanting to know what happened all those years ago. A brilliantly crafted novel.