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Readers Guide to Coram House

04.14.2025 by Jen Ryland // Leave a Comment

My Readers Guide to Coram House has a character list PLUS protected spoilers that include my suspect list and the ending explained. This book, which uses a trope I adore, also needs a readers advisory for content. All of that is below! Let’s discuss the book.

Readers Guide graphic for Coram House by Bailey Seybolt. The book's cover on a dark green background

Readers Guide by Coram House

Cover of Coram House which shows a rowboat on a lake with snowy mountains in the distance

Table of Contents:

  • Jen’s Spoiler Free Quick Take on Coram House by Bailey Seybolt
  • Character List for Coram House
  • Coram House: My Suspect List
  • Spoilers for Coram House and the Ending Explained

Jen’s Quick Take on Coram House

Cover of Coram house, which has a boat floating on a lake
  • Coram House does feel a bit like something Tana French or Gillian Flynn would write
  • It’s about a true crime writer AND based on a real (and very sad) story: decades of terrible child abuse at a Catholic orphanage in Vermont
  • Thus, a significant part of the story is accounts of this child abuse, so readers should proceed with care.
  • It has a “troubled city dweller in an insular small town” vibe
  • It’s also a Chilling Winter Suspense story
  • And a Suspense Story set at a lake
  • If you read a lot of “reporter tackles cold case in a small town,” which is a staple of suspense (and Nordic Noir) you may have a sense of where the story is going.
  • Publication date: April 15, 2025 by Atria. See ALL the new April Releases in this post! Thanks to much to the publisher for the advance review copy.
  • Alex’s second book, Ghost in a White Van (the one she botched because of her tragic personal situation) is also based on a true crime case. Did you recognize it? Tell me in comments! Or leave a comment and I’ll add it to the post!

Character List for Coram House by Bailey Seybolt

A copy of Coram House on a bookcase with other bright green books

Narrator: Alex Kelley

Children of Coram House

  • Sarah Dale
  • Fred Rooney 
  • Karen Lafayette 
  • Melissa “Missy” Graves
  • Bill Campbell
  • Karl Smith
  • Christopher Cooper
  • Linda Bessette

Nuns/Priests

  • Sister Cecile
  • Father Edmund Foster
  • Father Aubry

Other Characters:

  • Alan Stedsan: lawyer who hired Alex to write the book; he filed the lawsuit on behalf of victims against the Catholic church
  • Officer Russell Parker: local police
  • Officer Washington: local police
  • Detective Garcia: state police
  • Jeannette Leroy: town resident
  • Xander Nilsson

Coram House: My Suspect List

SPOILERS BELOW! To protect readers who HATE being spoiled you will need to click on the blue “Show Me” box below and log in with a Grow account, Facebook, or Google. By doing so, you will be added to my email list and receive weekly updates about new books! For more information on why I protect my spoilers, please read this post! If you are having any issues check this tutorial OR leave a comment below as I want to help!


As you read, whom did you suspect of the murders of Jeannette (Sister Cecile) and then Fred Rooney?

I didn’t feel the killer was going to be one of the orphans, as they were all children who were being abused. So I discounted Karen Lafayette and even Bill (though he wasn’t a great guy, he was a victim too.)

Sarah, Missy, and Karl were all dead already.

My top suspects were Xander (to protect his investment in the new Sunrise condo complex) and Russell Parker.

I felt that Xander could have been playing the part of clueless tech bro. Russell might have volunteered to be the media liaison as a way to keep tabs on Alex.

I wondered if Russell could be an orphan, but was he old enough? If he were a child in the late 80s, he would be in his mid 40s. Alex says he’s mid-40s, so maybe.

Coram House: Spoilers and The Ending Explained

Yes, the killer was police officer Russell Parker.

Parker was Sarah Dale’s son. His mother Sarah and his two year old daughter (Sarah’s granddaughter) died in a car accident. It’s implied that Sarah was driving drunk at the time and that she had descended into alcohol abuse as a result of the trauma she suffered at Coram House.

Russell killed Sister Cecile (Jeannette Leroy), Fred Rooney, and attempted to kill Bill Campbell. He had a list of “anyone who had hurt his mother or profited for what happened at Coram House.”

What Happened to Russell Parker?

After being confronted by Alex, he walks (or jumps) into the icy lake and is not seen again.

What Happened to Tommy Underwood?

Bill pushed him out of the boat and held him under until he drowned. Alex is able to identify Tommy and track down some of his relatives.

Did you read Coram House? What did you think?

Categories // Reviews Tags // adult fiction, new books, spoiler discussion, spoilers, suspense

About Jen Ryland

Over 12 years of book blogging and reviewing, I have read over 1500 books. A fair and honest reviewer who loves book discussions, I'm here to help you find a book you'll love to read AND give you a place to talk about it and ask questions.
Find me on Instagram and Pinterest as @jenryland!

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