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.

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.

Excellent twisty storyline.
Keeps you guessing right to the end.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review

This was a totally brilliant, heartbreaking read. The story managed to convey the isolation of being in a small town in the snow, not knowing who to trust.
Reading the past testimony of the children from Coram House was very sad and I was totally invested in the uncovering of the truth about the little boy in the water.
The ending was very emotional.
This is one of the best books I have read for a while.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

I loved this book. It was a good story, told well and with interesting characters. It was easy to empathise with the main character.
I didn't see the ending coming, which is always a bonus!

A bit slow for my preference but it's well written and very atmospheric. Sad to think it's based on a real place.

I really, really enjoyed this! It felt like it could be the start of a series, although I've no idea if that's the case. The story centres around the mysterious disappearance of Tommy - a nine-year-old orphan living in a church-run children's home called Coram House. From the outset, the reader knows there's more to Tommy's disappearance than meets the eye, although the exact circumstances surrounding this event aren't immediately clear. Fifty years later, Alex Kelley is hired to ghost write a novel about Coram House. As she starts work on the book, Alex becomes increasingly obsessed with uncovering the truth about Tommy's disappearance, much to the dismay of many of the people connected with Coram House.

This is a gripping, pacy and beautifully written novel. According to the blurb, the book was inspired by the real-life stories from St Joseph's Orphanage - Bailey Seybolt does a brilliant job of highlighting the long-term impact of institutional abuse.

The first book I've read by this author but most certainly not the last. An excellent read.

A crumbling old orphanage in Vermont, sinister tales of murderous nuns, conflicting testimonies from the children who lived there, and a burned out writer trying to recover her career - I was definitely immediately intrigued by Coram House!

We primarily follow writer Alex, from her perspective, as she heads out to Vermont to ghost-write a book on Coram House. Recovering from a cloud of controversy and tragedy herself, she is keen to get started on a new - and anonymous - project. But she soon becomes convinced that some of the more violent claims about Coram House might actually be true. And then, people start dying in suspicious circumstances..

The story is beautifully spun, with great pacing, plenty of intrigue, and a whole host of interesting characters. The intensity builds over the course of Alex’s investigation to the shocking final reveal, and the pieces all fall into place neatly. The theme of the book is a difficult one - given how many survivors there still are from these kinds of institutions - but I thought it was handled well, not too cliched or sensationalised.

This is an intensely atmospheric and evocative novel about a writer trying to uncover the truth about a historical mystery at a children’s home. The book is set in winter but the mystery occurred in the height of summer, which creates an impactful juxtaposition. A very well crafted crime novel.

This one felt very atmospheric to me, I felt the cold, I " heard" the locals not talking about the house, I saw the past come to life in that building.
I was as invested as Alex infinding Tommy, and her determination on that matter endeared her to me.
Slow to start, but worth sticking with.
It's one of those books where you are not sure you can trust anyone.
An excellent read.

A true crime writer goes to a small town to investigate historical claims of abuse and murder at a Catholic orphanage, however her investigation seems to hit a nerve and she finds herself at the centre of a spate of killings. This is different from the majority of crime fiction that is out there, the characters are interesting and the plot holds its own. It moves along at a nice pace and is worth reading if you enjoy your crime fiction.

The start of this novel was strong, the premise interesting and the mystery had me hooked. As the book went on, I found the writing a little repetitive and losing interest. While Alex was an interesting main character, I felt that she was simply a shell to tell the story rather than a fully fleshed out person herself. I also found the plot twist predictable, which made the ending a little anti climactic for me. The writing had elements of fear and was easy to read, a bonus for a book like this. A mixed bag for me.

4* Decent read, but not what it felt marketed as via the blurb. Don't expect to like or feel sorry for Alex, though - you won't really get to know her. It's a mystery but not a thriller.

What we know about Alex, the story lead, is that she's widowed; was married to Adam; wrote a book that did well, then another that didn't; got some poor sod accused and imprisoned for the death of his sister, after their parents hired her investigative talents only for new evidence of the actual bad guy to later emerge; had a book pulled because of her 'evidence' and now the washed-up (?) author is employed by a lawyer as his ghost writer for his book about Coram House, an abusive orphanage - because she's cheaper than others and possibly desperate because of her book's failure. And, she doesn't seem to eat, shower much or wash her clothes, but she does drink a fair bit. But, did I need to like her or be rooting for her to enjoy the storyline? Nope, because there was a mix of past and present, kids and evil nuns, memories, interviews, shady characters and something/one that didn't really go anywhere or need to be included, that intrigued me enough to want to find out if she solved the half-century-old mystery. And she got there, though she kind of still jumped the gun a little and...nope, not going to Spoiler.

Was it an enjoyable read? It was dark, slow and dreary but I was invested in finding out if poor Tommy ever got justice, and couldn't really put it down. Did I get all the answers I wanted? Nope. Did I feel justice was served? Yes, sort of. In a cold way, twinned with revenge. Did I end up liking Alex? No, she was too selfish and absorbed and didn't deserve Lola and Kay who left NY to stay with her for nearly 3 weeks when she needed someone. I think, sadly, she's damaged and in need of professional help. But, she's left this town reinvigorated and maybe she'll learn to start living again.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing UK and ANZ, for my reading pleasure.

Dnf 20% read. Didnt really like this from the synopis all was repeated in first chapters and by then as i didnt like the theme i wasnt up for seeing what happened.