Coram House by Bailey Seybolt is a slow-burn mystery inspired loosely by the real-life horrors of St. Joseph Orphanage. Through a mixed media format and lyrical prose, Seybolt transports readers to a small town steeped in secrets and silence. The novel follows Alex, an outsider who becomes entangled in the town’s haunted past and troubling present as she investigates long-buried wrongs. As she digs deeper, painful truths resurface—some that the town would rather stay hidden.

I was drawn in by the writing, which was evocative and immersive—especially impressive for a debut. The mixed media elements added atmosphere and intrigue, and the pacing, while slow, built a strong sense of dread. There’s no denying Seybolt’s talent in weaving setting and emotion together, and I found myself genuinely invested in the outcome of the mystery. The concept was compelling and, in parts, heartbreaking.

That said, I struggled with Alex as a protagonist. While well-developed, her nosiness came off as grating rather than endearing, and I couldn’t quite connect with her. The plot also felt overly complicated at times and didn’t always make sense—some twists leaned more toward contrived than clever. Small-town mysteries can be hit or miss for me, and while this one had great atmosphere and promise, the exposition and resolution didn’t fully land. Still, a solid and promising debut that shows Seybolt has a strong voice and a lot of potential.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP |★★★★

Coram House is out now. Huge thank you to Atria for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.  If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.