Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
#gifted
Coram House is a chilling, slow-burn mystery that draws its horror not from jump scares but from the weight of history and the silence that so often surrounds it.
Struggling crime writer Alex Kelly heads to Vermont to ghostwrite a book about Coram House, a former Catholic orphanage being transformed into luxury condos. Fifty years ago, a young boy vanished. Some say he ran. Others believe he was drowned by one of the nuns. A few claim he never existed at all.
What starts as a last-ditch job quickly becomes something darker, as Alex uncovers secrets the Church, the town, and even the lake seem determined to keep buried. When fresh evidence comes to light, it becomes clear the past isn’t finished with Coram House, and it’s not done taking victims either.
One of the novel’s most effective aspects is its use of mixed media — transcripts, interviews, and snippets of archival material — which cleverly mirror Alex’s own investigation, bring the children’s memories to the forefront, and heighten the tension. These blur the lines between fiction and reality, adding an extra layer of unease and authenticity to the unfolding mystery.
This is a deeply atmospheric, character-driven story with a brilliant, emotionally complex lead. Alex is funny, sharp, and damaged, not always likeable, but always believable. The shifting timelines and layered perspectives are masterfully executed, consistently unsettling, and keep you second-guessing everyone, including her. This is a book that drips with dread.
Coram House is fiction, but it’s rooted in real-world tragedy. The novel draws from the devastating history of St Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington, Vermont, one of many institutions where abuse was perpetrated under the veil of faith. Seybolt handles this influence with care, crafting a story that is part mystery, part reckoning.
Gothic, gritty, and gorgeously written. A cracking debut. Seybolt is one to watch.
Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy. All views are my own.
Coram House is a chilling, slow-burn mystery that draws its horror not from jump scares but from the weight of history and the silence that so often surrounds it.
Struggling crime writer Alex Kelly heads to Vermont to ghostwrite a book about Coram House, a former Catholic orphanage being transformed into luxury condos. Fifty years ago, a young boy vanished. Some say he ran. Others believe he was drowned by one of the nuns. A few claim he never existed at all.
What starts as a last-ditch job quickly becomes something darker, as Alex uncovers secrets the Church, the town, and even the lake seem determined to keep buried. When fresh evidence comes to light, it becomes clear the past isn’t finished with Coram House, and it’s not done taking victims either.
One of the novel’s most effective aspects is its use of mixed media — transcripts, interviews, and snippets of archival material — which cleverly mirror Alex’s own investigation, bring the children’s memories to the forefront, and heighten the tension. These blur the lines between fiction and reality, adding an extra layer of unease and authenticity to the unfolding mystery.
This is a deeply atmospheric, character-driven story with a brilliant, emotionally complex lead. Alex is funny, sharp, and damaged, not always likeable, but always believable. The shifting timelines and layered perspectives are masterfully executed, consistently unsettling, and keep you second-guessing everyone, including her. This is a book that drips with dread.
Coram House is fiction, but it’s rooted in real-world tragedy. The novel draws from the devastating history of St Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington, Vermont, one of many institutions where abuse was perpetrated under the veil of faith. Seybolt handles this influence with care, crafting a story that is part mystery, part reckoning.
Gothic, gritty, and gorgeously written. A cracking debut. Seybolt is one to watch.
Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy. All views are my own.
challenging
dark
emotional
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
This was an interesting mystery, where history and modern day are intertwined. But it can be frustrating when so much of the thrill occurs because the main character doesn’t like to call someone before walking into an abandoned property. BUDDY SYSTEM.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
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
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
This book was pretty slow, but a really interesting story! There were a TON of characters, which definitely made it hard to follow along, especially with duplicate names. Overall pretty good and worth a read!
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated