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 ⭐️

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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.

I loved this book. It had a great storyline, really compelling with the true crime element. Plenty of twists and turns it kept me hooked.

JGreat book. Was up all night reading it. I loved the characters & the storyline. I totally recommend reading this book straight away, the twists and turns are fab. Definitely 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this book. An absolute page turning book.

A widow writer takes on a new job to find the story about Coram House for another writer. Little did she know when taking on the job of the harrowing tales that would come out from this past children's home and the nun' that ran the home. I felt that the ending seemed a bit hurried and really took away from the excellent story so far.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

Lex is a crime writer and a widow looking for a fresh start, and wouldn’t you know it, the perfect story just seems to fall right into her lap.

Set in Burlington, Vermont, with its snow-covered streets and quiet charm, Alex is about to settle in for a six-month stay. But what starts as a simple writing retreat soon has her straying from her own story, getting caught up in the mystery of two deaths that happened years apart.

The author takes us on a cold, shadowy journey, dropping little clues along the way that keep you itching to uncover the truth behind what happened to young Tommy all those years ago. But Alex Kelley better watch her step as she pulls at the threads of this tangled web—if she’s not careful, she might just end up as the next victim. 👀

This tale was masterfully done, with plenty of clever writing that keeps you hooked. My only gripe is that the ending didn’t quite pack the punch I was hoping for, but still, I really enjoyed the book from start to finish

Alex, a bestselling true-crime writer, is going through a dry patch after her previous novel caused controversy and following the death of her husband. She takes the job as a ghostwriter for a lawyer, agreeing to spend six months in Vermont to write up his notes and transcripts. The lawyer’s project is about the settlement he secured for several people who suffered abuse at Coram House, a Roman Catholic orphanage in the sixties and seventies.
Alex goes through transcripts of interviews the lawyer conducted with the victims. As soon as Alex starts reading the huge stacks of files, she sees more than the documented cruelty the lawyer wants in the book. Some statements from former residents of Coram House refer to “accidents” and disappearances. The lawyer says there’s no proof, and witness statements are conflicting. He wants Alex to stick to his brief, but Alex’s gut tells her that’s not where the real story lies. Despite a hostile reception from police and locals, she intends to investigate possible crimes committed at Coram House 50 years earlier.
Most chapters were from Alex’s viewpoint. Her narration was rich in description of the snowy surroundings, and of how she planned her research, and provided an engaging insight into her personality and backstory. She came across as a likeable, rounded protagonist – both tenacious and shambolic. When I spotted the whopping clue the author dropped for the reader, I was willing Alex to pick up on it, but she ignored it. I had a shrewd idea what the story outcome would be although it came as a shock to beleaguered Alex.
The author did a good job of building suspense and making those Vermont pathways twisting as will as icy. The occasional transcripts of witness statements were natural-sounding, intriguing and moved the story forward.
This was a pacy, enjoyable novel and a likely contender for my top-ten reads of the year.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
Upon publication, I will post this review on my blog, GoodReads and Amazon.

Overworn tropes of necking alcohol, coffee, not eating + being irresistible overused. 3.5

This irritably pulled my rating down. Which was a great shame, as the narrative itself is good, and the central character, a grief-stricken ghostwriter with a book which plummeted her credibility was a great idea.

The subject matter of historical child abuse (not only sexual) in an orphanage school with church connection was based on (or springboarded by) a real Burlington, Vermont establishment, and real abuse.

But…somehow these overworked tropes as detailed above pull away from the seriousness of the subject matter, and made that too slightly seem like a ‘timely marketing’ idea, and, on reflection, made me feel a little queasy, serving this up as thriller fodder.

On that ‘overworn tropes’ factor : sure I understood from the off that Alex, the grief-stricken ghostwriter was, well, deeply depressed and, using her assignment also as a way of coping. Sure, there were deadlines, it was a harsh winter in Vermont (beautifully described) but the endless repetition of the amount of alcohol and coffee she was imbibing, the amount of food she wasn’t eating (often because of the morning after the night or day before alcohol and coffee on empty stomach) made two other tropes less likely – firstly, her apparent irresistibility to the only attractive men in town – she would have STUNK!!! – and secondly, her ability to manage the other useful way of stumbling upon dead bodies – the isolated and difficult long distance run – pretty difficult.

Finally I must mention, (without any spoilers) a tremendous twist which not only I didn’t see, but made absolute sense.