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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Alex is a struggling true crime writer. She gets a job as a ghostwriter in Vermont to write about an orphanage that is being developed into a residential development.
The story is very atmospheric and as Alex speaks to more people and dig into the disappearance of Tommy that happened 50 years ago, things are starting to happen in this small town.
I loved that you didn't know whose story to believe and what really is happening and why are so many people dying and how is this all connected.
There was a full cast of narrators: Cassandra Campbell, Chris Henry Coffey, Jason Culp and Jackie Sanders did a great job with this debut novel.
Thank you @atriabooks @simon.audio for a copy of the book and audiobook.
The story is very atmospheric and as Alex speaks to more people and dig into the disappearance of Tommy that happened 50 years ago, things are starting to happen in this small town.
I loved that you didn't know whose story to believe and what really is happening and why are so many people dying and how is this all connected.
There was a full cast of narrators: Cassandra Campbell, Chris Henry Coffey, Jason Culp and Jackie Sanders did a great job with this debut novel.
Thank you @atriabooks @simon.audio for a copy of the book and audiobook.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Wow, this book really sucked me in quickly! It was slow but also perfectly paced to allow me to immerse myself in the story. I enjoyed the dual timelines of present day and the recordings from the 1980s and how the past was woven into the present. There were also a few unexpected twists that I appreciated! I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by a cast 5 narrators and I really recommend that you listen to the audio if this book is on your list!
Coram House is an amazing debut!
The premise of this book had me hooked before I even opened it. Our main character, Alex, has been hired as a ghostwriter to write a book on Coram House, an orphanage with a dark history of abuse. She arrives in Vermont in the midst of its freezing cold winter and is quickly entangled in the secrets of Coram House and isn’t sure who’s telling the whole truth.
The premise of this book had me hooked before I even opened it. Our main character, Alex, has been hired as a ghostwriter to write a book on Coram House, an orphanage with a dark history of abuse. She arrives in Vermont in the midst of its freezing cold winter and is quickly entangled in the secrets of Coram House and isn’t sure who’s telling the whole truth.
This was a slower paced book, but it fit the story perfectly. There were moments where I was confused about the timeline - it felt like the entirety of the book took place over a couple days and a month, simultaneously. But that’s really the only “negative” I have about the book!
Coram House is divided into parts and before each part, we get transcripts of interviews with the former children who lived at the house. I absolutely love when books include different elements like this and I was constantly looking forward to the next transcription.
As for the big twist, I didn’t see it coming and really enjoyed how it played out! I’m rarely good at guessing twists and this one definitely caught me off guard. This was a really enjoyable read and I flew through it in just a couple of days.
Definitely recommend!
Thank you to Atria Books and Bailey Seybolt for a DRC in exchange for my honest review!
A slow burn atmospheric mystery.
Alex is an author that needs to make a come back after her last investigative book went terribly. She is contacted by someone connected to a super cold case at a catholic orphanage. The orphanage was shut down after many cases or abuse and neglect but one person remembers a child dying and no one believes her. Alex is hopeful she can uncover what happened and write a book that rectifies her last mistake.
I thought it was a little slow in the middle but I was engaged and interested to see what actually happened.
Thanks to netgalley and atria books for an eARC
Received an ARC via NetGalley.
Even though I had a hard connecting to the narrator, I still got into the story and was curious as to how it would unfold. I picked up on a couple little tidbits dropped along the way but I couldn’t figure how they’d play into the ending and ended up being surprised by the outcome.
Even though I had a hard connecting to the narrator, I still got into the story and was curious as to how it would unfold. I picked up on a couple little tidbits dropped along the way but I couldn’t figure how they’d play into the ending and ended up being surprised by the outcome.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC.
First off, this was a really enjoyable thriller. The setting was fun, I liked the characters, and I didn't see the twist coming fully. It's a really good police thriller. The problem is that it felt marketed as something different. I absolutely loved the depositions mixed in too
The things I didn't love that pull down the rating:
- I thought the creepy old orphanage would play a bigger role. I wanted atmospheric creepy vibes and you don't go into the orphanage but twice. Sure it's central to the story but not much of the setting.
- This would be a fantastic winter read, I am a little confused by an April publication. The winter setting is the most atmospheric part of the book.
- Alex does some really stupid things, I really don't know how she doesn't get herself killed.
If this would have been marketed as a police procedural thriller without the creepy vibes and I had read this in the depths of winter I think it would have been rated much higher. However the expectations were off on the marketing and I feel like I owe it to try and set them more right for future readers.
First off, this was a really enjoyable thriller. The setting was fun, I liked the characters, and I didn't see the twist coming fully. It's a really good police thriller. The problem is that it felt marketed as something different. I absolutely loved the depositions mixed in too
The things I didn't love that pull down the rating:
- I thought the creepy old orphanage would play a bigger role. I wanted atmospheric creepy vibes and you don't go into the orphanage but twice. Sure it's central to the story but not much of the setting.
- This would be a fantastic winter read, I am a little confused by an April publication. The winter setting is the most atmospheric part of the book.
- Alex does some really stupid things, I really don't know how she doesn't get herself killed.
If this would have been marketed as a police procedural thriller without the creepy vibes and I had read this in the depths of winter I think it would have been rated much higher. However the expectations were off on the marketing and I feel like I owe it to try and set them more right for future readers.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Coram House delivers a chilling, atmospheric mystery with a richly layered plot and a haunting wintery setting. The mixed media chapters added a unique touch, and I appreciated the real-life inspiration from St. Joseph’s Orphanage. While I enjoyed the overall mystery and uncovering the orphanage’s dark secrets alongside Alex, the main character, the slow pacing and overly long narrative made it a bit of a struggle at times. The ending, though fitting, was surprisingly predictable. Ultimately, while this was an impressive debut, the writing style just wasn’t for me, which kept me from fully connecting with the story.
Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy! 💙
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I try to keep my ratings consistent across platforms, but I really wish Goodreads would allow half stars. I would have given this 3.5 stars if Goodreads allowed it.
It was an interesting story, but I couldn’t get into it at first. Around 100 pages in, there was a murder, which finally captured my attention.
In my opinion, there were too many unnecessary details and descriptions. I realize details are needed to set the scene, but I felt there was too much repetitiveness. Because of this, I found myself not wanting to pick the book up to finish, but forcing it, which is never a good thing for me - and is why I couldn’t give it 4 stars.
It was an interesting story, but I couldn’t get into it at first. Around 100 pages in, there was a murder, which finally captured my attention.
In my opinion, there were too many unnecessary details and descriptions. I realize details are needed to set the scene, but I felt there was too much repetitiveness. Because of this, I found myself not wanting to pick the book up to finish, but forcing it, which is never a good thing for me - and is why I couldn’t give it 4 stars.