booksandteawithmel_ 's review for:

Coram House by Bailey Seybolt

3.75

challenging dark mysterious 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

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Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book. I was not paid to read and review this book, any thoughts or opinions expressed are my own.

3.75 ⭐️

Coram House follows writer Alex Kelley as she relocates to a new city to research and write a book about the mysterious Coram House. While digging into old depositions from a case that surfaced in the late ’80s, she discovers mention of a little boy known only as Tommy—and becomes determined to uncover what happened to him. The story includes several twists and red herrings, and I have to say, the final reveal genuinely surprised me, which I always appreciate.

Seybolt does a great job building an eerie, unsettling atmosphere—I definitely felt the tension as I read. That said, I had a few issues. I found myself frustrated by Alex’s repeated poor decisions; she somehow escapes danger despite making choices that seem to defy logic. I also felt the pacing was too slow in the beginning. I can appreciate a slow burn, but this one took a while to really find its momentum—it didn’t pick up until around the halfway point.

All in all, I did enjoy the book, especially for its suspense and the twist ending. But the slow start and occasionally maddening protagonist did detract from the overall experience.