Coram House - by Bailey Seybolt

About the Book

"In this debut that's perfect for fans of Tana French and Gillian Flynn, a true crime writer risks becoming the next chapter of a crumbling orphanage's dark legacy as she unravels the mystery of two deaths, decades apart"--

Book Synopsis

Sharp Objects meets The Appeal in this "atmospheric and chilling" (Flynn Berry, New York Times bestselling author) novel--based on a shocking true story--about a crime writer who risks everything as she investigates a decades-old mystery at a crumbling orphanage.

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. Fifty years later, the opportunity to investigate his disappearance and the orphanage's eerie lore is just the break that struggling true crime writer Alex Kelley needs.

Arriving in Vermont for research, Alex grows obsessed with Tommy's disappearance, until her investigation takes a chilling turn with the discovery of a woman's body in the lake. Alex is convinced this new death is somehow connected to Coram House's dark past, even if Officer Russell Parker thinks she's just desperate for a story. As the body count rises, Alex must prove that the key to finding the killer lies in a decades-old murder--or else she risks becoming the next victim herself in this spine-tingling debut that "is not to be missed" (Tessa Wegert, author of The Coldest Case).

Review Quotes

"In Bailey Seybolt's strong, moody debut novel, Coram House, the husk of a shuttered Catholic orphanage notorious for its legacy of abuse looms on the shores of Lake Champlain. Seybolt maintains high suspense, making even searches through faded papers exciting. Scenes in which Alex learns how the children were disciplined are chilling. Although the Coram House property is being developed into luxury condos, the evil lingers. Seybolt convincingly shows Alex's growth in regaining her confidence as she works to uncover the truth" --Shelf Awareness

"Seybolt blends true crime and fiction in this absorbing debut. Seybolt skillfully blends points of view. Part Gothic novel (with creepy Coram House playing a role) and part investigative reporting procedural, this will both disturb and fascinate readers." --Booklist, (starred review)

"Coram House is a twisty and compelling story that deftly traces how the impacts of crime and loss can creep down through the generations and spiral outward to those you least expect." --Tracy Sierra, author of Nightwatching, a Jimmy Fallon Book Club pick

"A stunningly atmospheric, layered thriller written with a ton of heart. Bailey Seybolt combines spine-tingling suspense with a meaningful exploration of the search for truth. A powerful debut that kept me guessing until the very last page." --Clémence Michallon, internationally bestselling author of The Quiet Tenant

"Coram House is the perfect thriller--the kind you race to finish and simultaneously hope will never end. It checked every box for me: relatable amateur sleuth; lush, gothic setting; mystery spanning from past to present; and--no small feat--a surprising, inevitable, perfectly satisfying ending. This debut marks the entrance of a thriller writer to watch. I can tell already I'll be following Bailey Seybolt the way I follow Tana French. I can't wait to see what she writes next." --Kate Brody, author of Rabbit Hole

"When ghostwriter Alex Kelley arrives in frigid Burlington, Vermont, to write a true crime book about a notorious orphanage, she's prepared for an investigation into its dark past--but Coram House isn't done with its victims yet. The murder of a local with ties to the orphanage opens a chasm of dangerous secrets and lies that compels Alex to risk her safety and career in a hunt for the truth. Combining a high-stakes mystery with atmospheric prose and an indelible story, this debut is not to be missed." -Tessa Wegert, author of The Coldest Case

"Atmospheric and chilling, Coram House reckons with both the long aftermath of violence and the hazards of writing true crime. It is an eerie, suspenseful mystery, sure to find readers among fans of Tana French." -Flynn Berry, New York Times bestselling author of Northern Spy

About the Author

Bailey Seybolt grew up in New York City. She studied literature at Brown University and creative writing at Concordia University. She's worked as a travel writer in Hanoi, a tech writer in San Francisco, and many writerly jobs in between. She now lives with her family in Vermont, not far from Lake Champlain. Coram House is her debut novel. Find out more at BaileySeybolt.com.