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The Institute

An epic thriller from the No.1 bestseller and an acclaimed TV series

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About this listen

 NOW A MAJOR SERIES FROM MGM +

Combining the suspense of THE OUTSIDER with the childhood camaraderie in IT, THE INSTITUTE is a powerful new TV series and an epic thriller from the ultimate storyteller.

Deep in the woods of Maine, there is a dark state facility where kids, abducted from across the United States, are incarcerated. In the Institute they are subjected to a series of tests and procedures meant to combine their exceptional gifts - telepathy, telekinesis - for concentrated effect.

Luke Ellis is the latest recruit. He's just a regular 12-year-old, except he's not just smart, he's super-smart. And he has another gift which the Institute wants to use...

Far away in a small town in South Carolina, former cop Tim Jamieson has taken a job working for the local sheriff. He's basically just walking the beat. But he's about to take on the biggest case of his career.

Back in the Institute's downtrodden playground and corridors where posters advertise 'just another day in paradise', Luke, his friend Kalisha and the other kids are in no doubt that they are prisoners, not guests. And there is no hope of escape.

But great events can turn on small hinges and Luke is about to team up with a new, even younger recruit, Avery Dixon, whose ability to read minds is off the scale. While the Institute may want to harness their powers for covert ends, the combined intelligence of Luke and Avery is beyond anything that even those who run the experiments - even the infamous Mrs Sigsby - suspect.

Thrilling, suspenseful, heartbreaking, THE INSTITUTE is a stunning novel of childhood betrayed and hope regained. Adventure Entertainment & Celebrities Genre Fiction Horror Science Fiction Small Town & Rural Supernatural Thriller & Suspense Paranormal Fiction Exciting Scary Funny Suspense Parapsychology Extrasensory Perception

Critic reviews

A terrific book - a flat out pedal to the metal thriller. One of Stephen King's best (Linwood Barclay)
Once pigeon-holed as a 'horror-meister', King has become a formidably versatile author, enabling him to pull off a captivating, hybrid novel that shape-shifts through several genres
A testament to the power of resilience and friendship . . . It does everything you'd expect of a masterpiece - and it is one
THE INSTITUTE will delight King's devoted readers and create a whole new generation of lifelong fans. The Master of Storytelling at his very best - which means better than anyone else (Matt Thorne)
Hums and crackles with delicious unease...King is supreme at crafting the building blocks of a story and laying them together in a slick, teasing and apparently simple way
Stephen King has written the most readable and electrifying tale . . . a thrilling, chilling ride
[King] has been a constant literary companion . . . I still look forward as much as I ever did to each new novel or short story collection. The Institute is another winner . . . It's familiar King territory and all the better for it. (Conleth Hill)
This hefty, provocative book will appeal particularly to King's long-standing fans.
King knows what he is doing, and has done for a longtime. His pacing, ear for dialogue and pure storytelling ability are all on display in The Institute
All stars
Most relevant
I have been listening to The Institute straight for 2 and a bit hours and I have had to turn it off for a while just to get some work done! Stephen has introduced some of the main characters so brilliantly I feel as if I could invite them over and chat about their lives. The story has just started to kick off (no spoilers) and I just want to sit and listen with no interruptions and no breaks. Up to now this is Stephen King at his addictive best.

Pure addictive Stephen King

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excellent performance
King at his best
thought provoking
difficult to switch off
sad to come to the end

Another winner from The Master!

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I have never read or listened to a Stephen King novel before, but this book may turn me into a avid reader. Rather than being a far fetched horror story, the institute is a tale of the cruelty humans can display if they think it is for the greater good. The narration was fantastic, and the book was really brought to life with a smooth and easy to listen to voice. The story itself keeps you on the edge of your seat and engaged fully throughout. I would recommend this to most people. The only thing I would warn about, is the language may be offensive to some. It is not excessive, but what you would expect to hear in day to day conversations. Probably not a great idea to listen to in front of children! All in all, a fantastic story, narrated by a fantastic reader.

A fantastic story

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I loved it.. Kept me listening for 3 days!
Brilliant narration
Its a fascinating subject and every character was described in such depth that I saw them all as I listened

Gripping

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I was gripped, horrified and moved in equal measure. As Stephen King masterfully wove the fantastical with the mundane you find yourself believing in the possibility of his tale. I laughed, I cried, I cheered on Luke, Avery and their friends all the way to the end. I can’t recommend the story enough. I’ve read many of Kings novels and short stories and reread many of them too. I’m not sure if I will reread this one as it was emotionally all consuming but that in itself makes this particular story stand out as one of his all time greats.

Excellent

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