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helenakate's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
the_afterword's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
enjali's review against another edition
4.0
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.
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.
kristy_k's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really liked the plot of this novel, an investigative author who goes to a small town to research and write about an old orphanage where abuse and a possible murder occurred. While those connected to the past begin mysteriously dying.
What made me really struggle with this book was the main character, Alex. She was a very unlikeable character to me. In short, I found her annoying. She was someone who jumped to conclusions (mostly incorrect), interfered with law enforcement, was awful to some characters (specifically Lola and Xander), and didn’t seem great at her job as an investigative author.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
What made me really struggle with this book was the main character, Alex. She was a very unlikeable character to me. In short, I found her annoying. She was someone who jumped to conclusions (mostly incorrect), interfered with law enforcement, was awful to some characters (specifically Lola and Xander), and didn’t seem great at her job as an investigative author.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
jaimes_mystical_library's review against another edition
4.0
This was an enjoyable mystery/thriller. I liked the overall mystery of this book and how the main character, Alex, was trying to discover the truth behind what happened at Coram House back in the 1960s. I appreciated the mixed media elements we got with the transcripts every here and there as it helped tell the story. This was an intriguing and atmospheric slow burn thriller and had some great twists. Definitely one to look out for when it comes out in April.
Thank you Atria Books for my giveaway prize.
Thank you Atria Books for my giveaway prize.
bruandthebooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
torih_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Living in Vermont during the period of time the task force was formally investigating the claims made in Christine Kenneally’s Buzzfeed article, and the subsequent restorative justice inquiry, I am no stranger to the events that inspired Coram House. I had mixed feelings going into this book about Seybolt’s fictionalization of the very real events and survivors of St. Joseph’s Orphanage, but I was pleasantly surprised with her handling of the subject matter. Seybolt crafts her story sensitively, consistently centering the children of “Coram House” throughout. Books often serve as a gateway, encouraging readers to seek out the real life events behind a story, and my hope is Seybolt’s novel will encourage her readers to do the same. It’s atmospheric, well-written, informative, emotional, and heartbreaking.
I highly encourage anyone interested in learning more about St. Joseph’s Orphanage, the survivors, and the restorative justice process to visit www.stjosephsrjinquiry.com, where you can hear firsthand accounts of survivors thanks to oral histories recorded and preserved by the Vermont Folklife Center.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
books_in_badgerland's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
I saw some great reviews of this, and the synopsis sounded amazing! Keep in mind it’s listed as General Fiction & Women’s Fiction on NetGalley, not Mystery & Thriller. So keep that in mind if you choose to pick it up.
📖: Author Alex Kelley has a new project in the works. She left her home in NYC to investigate and write about the history of Coram House, an orphanage in Vermont. As she digs into her research, she has more questions than answers about what happened to the children of Coram House, especially a boy named Tommy who some say was drowned, some say ran away, and others say never existed at all.
🤝: This may be a good fit if you enjoy:
books about orphanages with a sketchy past
authors digging into cold cases
slower burn, more emotional suspense
💭: This was a slower burn for me, but the creepy orphanage concept kept me turning pages. At first I didn’t love the major “whodunnit” reveal, but after some thought I think the emotional piece made sense and was quite heartbreaking.
Note: I’m not usually one to nitpick or be overly dramatic about a line in a book, but I didn’t appreciate a line that compared a police officer’s gun to a pit bull, calling it “ugly and threatening”. Ick. Not necessary. After last November, I committed to speaking up more. Here’s a small step.
RATING: I liked it! (3.5)
Pub Day: April 15th, 2025
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook early in exchange for an honest review!
📖: Author Alex Kelley has a new project in the works. She left her home in NYC to investigate and write about the history of Coram House, an orphanage in Vermont. As she digs into her research, she has more questions than answers about what happened to the children of Coram House, especially a boy named Tommy who some say was drowned, some say ran away, and others say never existed at all.
🤝: This may be a good fit if you enjoy:
books about orphanages with a sketchy past
authors digging into cold cases
slower burn, more emotional suspense
💭: This was a slower burn for me, but the creepy orphanage concept kept me turning pages. At first I didn’t love the major “whodunnit” reveal, but after some thought I think the emotional piece made sense and was quite heartbreaking.
Note: I’m not usually one to nitpick or be overly dramatic about a line in a book, but I didn’t appreciate a line that compared a police officer’s gun to a pit bull, calling it “ugly and threatening”. Ick. Not necessary. After last November, I committed to speaking up more. Here’s a small step.
RATING: I liked it! (3.5)
Pub Day: April 15th, 2025
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook early in exchange for an honest review!
lanaconda's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
🛶🛶🛶🛶🛶
"It’s incredible what a person can carry inside, unfathomable from the outside.”
Coram House is one of those books that stays with you. Based on the real history of St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington, VT, Coram House is a work of fiction that dives into the abuse that thousands of children suffered on that property.
We meet Alex, a true crime writer who is contracted to write a novel about Coram House. Grieving the death of her husband and looking for a fresh start, she ventures to snowy Vermont partnering with a local detective and the police department to make sense of the conflicting stories of the orphanage. Seybolt masterfully weaves a web of mystery surrounding an unsolved case of a boy named Tommy. Alex starts to see pieces of a puzzle and will stop at nothing to put those pieces together, and what she finds is corruption, murder, and ghosts who deserve to be remembered along the way.
Coram House, Bailey Seybolt’s debut novel (!) will be released on April 15th. Read this book! It’s a classic mystery with an ending you won't see coming. I read it slowly because I simply didn’t want it to end!! Calling it now, it’s already one of my favorites of 2025. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria Books for the arc!
"It’s incredible what a person can carry inside, unfathomable from the outside.”
Coram House is one of those books that stays with you. Based on the real history of St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington, VT, Coram House is a work of fiction that dives into the abuse that thousands of children suffered on that property.
We meet Alex, a true crime writer who is contracted to write a novel about Coram House. Grieving the death of her husband and looking for a fresh start, she ventures to snowy Vermont partnering with a local detective and the police department to make sense of the conflicting stories of the orphanage. Seybolt masterfully weaves a web of mystery surrounding an unsolved case of a boy named Tommy. Alex starts to see pieces of a puzzle and will stop at nothing to put those pieces together, and what she finds is corruption, murder, and ghosts who deserve to be remembered along the way.
Coram House, Bailey Seybolt’s debut novel (!) will be released on April 15th. Read this book! It’s a classic mystery with an ending you won't see coming. I read it slowly because I simply didn’t want it to end!! Calling it now, it’s already one of my favorites of 2025. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria Books for the arc!
scknitter's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5