An atmospheric mystery that had me visualizing every scene, Coram House took me into the dark, snowy depths of a spine-chilling Vermont tale. Based on a true story, you could feel the ghosts of the past echoing into the present as the protagonist searched for the truth in this complex, deftly woven case full of long-buried secrets. Like unraveling a ball of yarn, we were escorted closer and closer to a series of shocking revelations via a plot that shifted and turned until the final jaw-dropping reveal. The best piece of all, though? That had to be how I guessed not one single twist from beginning to end of this compelling slow burn.
But let’s get down to business. From the immersive mixed media format to the lyrical prose that made the setting come alive, this well-written debut novel pulled me in deep. You see, despite the intricate plot and many “what ifs,” I became fully invested in both the outcome of Alex’s investigation of the past and who was up to no good in the present. What really won me over, however, was Alex. Fully fleshed out and intensely well-developed, her flaws humanized her and, via a dynamic character arc, made the book sing. All told, the characterization was downright perfection in my humble opinion.
All said and done, thanks to an original premise and plenty of individuals who made me suspicious, this dark tale had me applauding. After all, looking back, there was no end to the subtle clues that were mixed in with clever red herrings. As for the truth to the story, the narrative managed to expertly craft a dark history that burned with veracity while also treating it with sensitivity and tact. Ultimately, it was no great surprise that I was blown away. Taut, intense, and hypnotic, once I got pulled into this two-pronged whodunnit, I wasn’t able to put the book down. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
On a blistering summer day in 1968, nine-year-old Tommy vanishes without a trace from Coram House, an orphanage on the shores of Lake Champlain. Some say a nun drowned him, others say he ran away. Or maybe he never existed. Fifty years later, his disappearance is still unsolved.
Struggling true crime writer Alex Kelley needs a fresh start. When she’s asked to ghostwrite a book about the orphanage—and the abuses that occurred there—she packs up her belongings and moves to wintry Burlington, Vermont.
As Alex tries to untangle the conflicting stories surrounding Tommy’s disappearance, her investigation takes a chilling turn when she discovers a woman’s body in the lake. Alex is convinced the death is connected to Coram House’s dark past, even if local police officer Russell Parker thinks she’s just desperate for a career-saving story. As the body count rises, Alex must prove that the key to finding the killer lies in Tommy’s murder, or risk becoming the next victim.
Thank you to Bailey Seybolt and Atria Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: April 15, 2025
Content warning: murder, blackmail, suicide, mention of: child abuse and pedophilia within a Catholic orphanage