Thanks to @netgalley and @bloomsburypublishing for my ADC. This was a fantastic debut, beautifully crafted and based on a heart-wrenching true story, yet featuring fictional characters.

The story revolves around Coram House, a Catholic orphanage marred by unspeakable abuse in the 1970s.

Alex, a ghost writer, is hired by the retired lawyer who led the case to pen a memoir about the disturbing events of that era.

As she delves deeper, Alex becomes obsessed with unraveling the tragic fate of a little boy named Tommy Underwood, who was allegedly tossed from a boat and drowned in a sinister incident. The sole witness to this shocking occurrence died in an accident, leaving Alex with an insatiable desire to uncover the truth.

Complicating matters, another chilling murder occurs, and Alex finds herself in the harrowing position of discovering the body. Parker, the intrepid detective assigned to assist her in penning down the story of the orphanage, emerges as her only ally, heeding her haunting instincts that something is deeply amiss.

The victim turns out to be none other than Sister Cecile, the nun widely believed to have been responsible for Tommy’s tragic fate.

While Alex tries to find the connection between Sister Cecile’s death and what happened more than thirty years ago, she must first prove that Tommy truly existed.

I truly enjoyed the **atmospheric** setting that drew me in. While I found it puzzling to understand Alex’s fixation on validating Tommy’s story amidst the countless atrocities at Coram House, the novel ultimately held my interest with its **compelling** characters and **thought-provoking** themes. It's a slow burn, and I believe the story would have been clearer if Alex had a personal connection to Coram House, motivating her to write her own story rather than serve as a ghostwriter.

Nevertheless, it was a great debut with an ending that left me contemplating the possibility of a sequel...

Alex Kelley is a true crime writer and is asked to ghost write a book about events at Coram House Orphanage in Burlington, Vermont. Alan Stedsan gives Alex materials on the orphanage and its inhabitants. Alex Kelley sets about uncovering the secrets from the past and to discover the truth behind the mystery. It was well written and very descriptive. All the sub plots wove together to a dramatic conclusion. It was atmospheric, fast paced, gritty and plenty of twists and turns.

This is a difficult review to write because whilst I didn't think this book was great, I didn't quite hate it.
Bailey Seybolt is a debut author and I have to say that her writing doesn't show this. I thought it was well written book, but unfortunately this just wasn't for me.
I struggled to enjoy this book right from the start and the entire reason was the plot. It just never grabbed me and I wasn't invested in the story or the characters. I couldn't care less.
To me this also read like it was the second book in a series, even though it wasn't. Probably because of the numerous references to MC Alex's previous book and personal history. I also would have liked there to be some mixed media involved in this as this would have helped add tension and intrigue. As the story in my opinion was dull and lacking tension, this was sorely needed.
I didn't like the main character of Alex and felt no connection to her and as we only get her POV that really spoiled my enjoyment.
I got the impression this was going to be a slow burn but I found it dull, dry, and ever so slightly boring. The whole plot lacked any tension and I easily figured out what the reveal was going to be.
Unfortunately I just never got into this book, it didn't grab me at all.
Also, this book is set in winter and gives those vibes, so I struggle to understand why this is being published in the UK in the spring?
In fact the only thing I did like about this book was the setting of Vermont but I feel like this could have been a bigger part of the story.
So, whilst I didn't find the writing bad, I just couldn't connect/care about this story at all.

Pub Date 24th April 2025

If you like big twists, un-guessable endings, atmospheric storylines, and falling into Google rabbit holes, then this is absolutely the book for you.

This sensational thriller is set in wintery Burlington, Vermont where struggling true crime writer Alex Kelley has come to stay to ghost write a book about the abuse and dark past of Coram House, a derelict orphanage on the edge of Lake Champlain. As she digs up the troubled history of this bleak place, she unearths long buried secrets, which result in local murders..

It wasn't until the end of the book that I discovered much of the book was inspired by true events that occurred at St. Joseph's Orphanage in Burlington, and omg I tumbled deep into a google rabbit hole concerning this cruel and upsetting history yet the history added so much credence to this story and really sets it aside from other thrillers.

I couldn't get enough of this. It is staggering that it is a debut. So very excited to see where this author goes next.

“ Maybe goodness it’s like a tank of gas – enough bad stuff happens and one day you just run empty. Or maybe evil is a seed, born inside all of us, waiting for the right conditions to thrive. I wonder if you feel it – that moment it starts to bloom.”

Coram House sits at the edge of a beautiful lake surrounded by stunning views of mountain peaks but a darkness and evil lures in its past, which it cannot shake off. It was once an orphanage where the nuns and priests abused those they were meant to care for and whilst these children later tried to get justice, the church settled the case through a settlement and tried to bury it all by also trying to discredit the statements made. But does that pain ever go away? And did those awful things really happen? Did a child drown in the lake whilst a nun watched on? If so, how has his name been erased from all the records?

These are all the questions Alex Kelley, a true crime writer, is asking now, fifty years later, as she is approached by the lawyer who worked on the original case, to ghostwrite a book about the place. Alex, an outsider in the tight knit community, within which Coram House sits, digs deep to find answers. Whilst working all hours, she feels she is always one step behind and is unsure who she can trust and it is not long before she stumbles upon a dead body in the woods… It looks like an accident but Alex is convinced she heard more than one person. Will anyone believe her? And when she is being told to step back but she can’t, will she be putting herself or others at risk? Maybe the past isn’t buried after all, even if some would like it to be because let’s face it: “You can leave Coram House but you can’t leave it behind. […] The worst of it you carry with you.”

An absolutely brilliant debut thriller, which I just could not put down!

By all accounts, Coram House wasn't a nice place to live. As an orphanage, in charge of taking care of children, it left much to be desired. There was talk of a pedophile priest, and nuns who dealt out the cruelest of punishments. Now, as the building is about to be transformed into condominiums, Alex Kelly is hired as a ghost writer to write a book about the building and its history. Alex quickly zeroes in on one event, the possible deliberate drowning of a little boy called Tommy. Those in charge have always refuted the claims but as Alex digs deeper, she becomes convinced that Tommy definitely existed and that he was murdered.

As a true crime author, Alex Kelly is supposed to piece together all the pieces of the puzzle of what may, or may not, have happened at Coram House way back when. But Alex doesn't really come across as reliable. Her last book was a complete disaster, she drinks way too much, and she has a tendency to become rather obsessed which makes her lose sight of the bigger picture.

'Coram House' is one those books that is filled to the brim with unlikeable characters. So when someone is found dead, anyone's name could be on the list of potential killers. Especially as the victim had a rather dark past. But they've been living in this community for decades. Why would someone suddenly set out for revenge? And who? Could Alex's life possibly be in danger if she happens to get too close to the truth?

Well, apparently not. Herein lies a niggle that I had. The story would have been a lot more tense if danger lurked around every corner Alex walked into. As it is, she is allowed to go on her merry way and dig as deep as she likes, while someone else is cleaning house and not at all bothered by her investigation. Of the good though, I never would have figured out the identity of the killer and the reveal was both shocking to me, and also heartbreaking.

However, niggle number two. I would have preferred the story to have centred primarily around the events from the past. I would have liked the opportunity to read more transcripts, hear more stories from those who were there, as harrowing as they may have been. I found myself fully invested into the search of this boy called Tommy, who may or may not have existed, and everything that was happening in the present felt like a distraction to me.

Despite those niggles, I did enjoy 'Coram House'. There's always something rather addictive and compelling about true crime stories and this one is no different. However, I do feel that the author missed out on some real potential here.

<em>Coram House</em> was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I found it constantly engaging and enjoyed reading it overall. But I do think that some of the plotting and characterisations was very messy.

The ghostwriter angle didn't work for me here as Alex constantly oversteps her boundaries. Had she been an actual journalist writing a story on this case, properly investigating the mystery of this boy, then it would have worked much better. But that wasn't her job, and her focus on this one part of the story felt so misguided. I was expecting a big twist towards the end that would have explained why Alex was so invested in the missing boy, but when that didn't come, the pieces just didn't fit together for me.

The answers were somewhat underwhelming too. I really liked the concept around the mystery of this house and unravelling what really went on, but there could have been a lot more to it.

Good, and I'll probably read more by Seybolt as I have no doubt her next book will entice me just as this one did, but it could have been more effective.

True crime writer Alex Kelly is struggling after her last book tanked her career. Her reputation in tatters, she accepts a commission to ghost write a book about Coram House, a former orphanage by a lake in Vermont that is now being turned into luxury condos. Could this be the fresh start she needs?

What a brilliant read. Full of perfect description and mystery. The plot unravels with red herrings and blind alleys like a good mystery should. This is great writing and a gripping read. I look forward to further novels by this writer.

A well written debut. Alex Kelley was an interesting character with a successful debut book and then a follow-up which drew wrong conclusions. With this backdrop she is happy to be a ghostwriter for a story about Coram House. Some of the text is a little repetetive but it was certainly a page turner. Interspersed with the story were snippets of interviews with adults who remembered their time at Coram House but many years later no longer wished to be reminded,
Three and a half stars for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Bailey Seybolt/Bloomsbury Publishing plc for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Coram House lies a lake in Vermont. It is now derelict and being turned into luxury accommodation.
However, it used to be an orphanage and tales and rumours abound of abuse and murder from those days. The Church paid a settlement to some of the children but Alex Kelly, a ghost writer feels there are further stories to tell.
What secrets will she uncover and will the truth actually be told after all these years?

4.5 ⭐️

#CoramHouse by #BaileySeybolt leaves you cold. It makes you crave a hot drink, a blanket, a roaring fire. The cold creeps in under your skin. You share the pain with Alex and through every page, it pulls you in. I read this novel in two days. I couldn't put it down.

[Trigger warning] child abuse

Coram House is published on April 24, 2025

My thanks to @bloomsburypublishing and @netgalley for the free e-arc in return for an honest review.

This is a cracking read and a fabulous debut novel. It was a real page-turner, and I enjoyed the story very much. The flashbacks work well, and the writing is gritty. I look forward to more from this talented author.

Twisty! This was a good thriller, and I enjoyed being able to pick out the twist while not knowing exactly what or how it would go. However, I felt it took a little long to get started/going, though it was enjoyable throughout and an important topic with the links to residential schools.

This was a fantastic debut thriller, the atmosphere, the vibes, the characters... everything was so dark and mysterious. There were so many secrets being held within the orphanage that Alex was determined to unravel and with unravelling, she found herself in the middle of death and betrayal. The plot twist was definitely one I couldn't have seen coming but made a very satisfying ending.

𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐭
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫
𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫: 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝟐𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
True Crime writer Alex Kelly is struggling after her last book tanked her career. Now she’s received an opportunity to ghost write a book about Coram House, a former Orphanage.

The rumours of Coram House are that children were abused and then silenced about their abuse by those that were supposed to protect them.

I didn’t realise this was a debut book, it’s 100% captivating. I was invested in solving this mystery alongside our main character, Alex, a complex yet great FMC.

I really enjoyed the mixed media throughout.

I guessed the twist but it doesn’t take away from the storytelling. I really enjoyed the build up and how atmospheric this book was. I just expected a little more with the ending.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘵 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩’𝘴 𝘖𝘳𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵

Thanks to NetGalley for this eArc

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟑.𝟓 ⭐️

#bookstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #booktok #thriller #mystery #booktok #netgalley #netgalleyuk #netgalleyreads #bookblog #bookish #booksanddocs #drmartensandbooks #booksandboots #bookstaghouls #books #bookst #bookworm #bibliophile #bookishhabits

Debut novels don't get much better than this. I loved the way the story was told, in a linear, not flip - flop way. An orphanage beside a lake, long abandoned but now undergoing extensive renovations. Obviously its past forms the scaffolding of the story but the thing about orphanages is, those children grow up and become members of the community and for their whole lives, carry the scars with them. Alex Kelly is tasked to ghost write a book about the orphanage; Coram House. Her failure as a true crime writer was why she was hired, in an effort project a different narrative for an elderly lawyer's swan song. Things however, don't quite go as the lawyer would wish.
Atmospheric and brooding, I loved every minute of reading it and along with Alex Kelly, uncovering the truth about Coram House.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for approving me to read this, I’m rating it 3.5 stars.

This book had a great atmosphere, it had twists and turns with a satisfying ending. I feel like parts were a little slow, but I can appreciate this is a mystery, and we were moving at the pace of the main character as she unraveled the clues and connected the dots.

I highly recommend for murder mystery lovers who enjoy a steady paced story.

After a bit of a reading slump, I was looking for a book that I could get my teeth into, and Coram House certainly stepped up to the mark. This novel is based loosely on a true story and follows Alex, a true crime writer, as she investigates the mystery of two deaths. They’re decades apart but centre around a disused orphanage in Vermont. It’s a dark and atmospheric tale that gradually builds the tension as the body count rises. Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC and the author for the chance to review.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc and Raven Books for the advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Trigger warning - this book contains child sexual abuse and child abuse. Please read this with caution if these things will be triggering to you.

I feel like the last 20% of this book was much quicker than the first 80%, and it's around that point that I felt like I finally got into a groove with reading it, and that's not to say that most of the book was bad, it was just a slow burner.

From the start I was drawn into the story, the authors writing was a big draw for me, the words flowed onto the pages and I liked the way it was broken up with excerpts from interviews, bringing the story forward by using the past.

The author did a brilliant job of submerging us in the atmosphere of the whole place too, I felt so drawn in as if I was there with Alex.

I did find the characters a bit difficult to like, and I feel like because they were such a big part of the story it put a small dampner on my enjoyment of the book. I particullarly would find myself getting irritated with Alex, and seeing as she was the main character it did spoil things a little for me.

I also did sort of figure out the ending for myself, quite a way before we got there.

However, there were still some parts that were a shock to me and I feel like knowing what I had figured out didn't really make that much of a difference to my reading experience to be honest.

On the whole, Coram House was a really atmospheric read that definitely creeped me out and left me with a very heavy feeling after finishing. I likely won't reread this, namely because it's not the kind of story you forget and so the twists and turns wouldn't hit the same way.