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The Institution

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The Institution

By: Helen Fields
Narrated by: Genevieve Swallow
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About this listen

‘Deliciously dark and utterly compelling – I couldn’t put it down.’ – CLARE MACKINTOSH

They’re locked up for your safety. Now, you’re locked in with them.

How do you find a murderer in a prison full of killers?

On a locked ward in the world’s highest-security prison hospital, a scream shatters the night.

A nurse has been murdered and her daughter has been taken.

And with only five days to find the girl, the clock is ticking for Dr Connie Woolwine to find a killer hiding in plain sight…

Welcome to The Institution. The locked room thriller listeners don't want to leave.

©2023 Helen Fields (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Amateur Sleuths Crime Thrillers Mystery Private Investigators Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Crime Detective Fiction Exciting Scary

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Critic reviews

Brilliant! The Institution is a harrowing, nonstop story that will grab you from the first page and not let go. You’ll consume it in one sitting.’ – Jeffery Deaver

‘Quite simply, wow! One of the best high concept thrillers I've read in forever. I raced through this riveting thriller in a single, breathless session of oh-my-God-what-is-going-to-happen-next.’ – New York Times bestseller Lisa Gardner

Absolutely AMAZING. Tense, engrossing and gripping with a truly unique main character.’ Angela Marsons

‘An intense, fast paced, locked room thriller. A brilliant concept which kept me guessing right until the end. Fields is at the top of her game.’ John Marrs

Dark and atmospheric with some brilliantly horrific characters. Compelling and unputdownable.’ – Catherine Cooper

A terrifying, shocking, pulse racing thriller. One of the best crime novels I've read in a long time.' – Jacqui Rose

Criminally compulsive, claustrophobic and captivating, The Institution is Helen Fields at her just-one-more-chapter best.’ – Neil Broadfoot

'Scary, tense and totally absorbing, I just couldn't put it down. Wonderful.' – Simon McCleave

‘A wonderful, compulsively gripping rollercoaster of a read.’ – Liz Nugent

A white-knuckle ride that is completely addictive. Chillingly effective.’ – B P Walter

All stars
Most relevant
It was ok but couldn’t empathise with many characters. Found narration a bit irritating. Didn’t like the main character at all and couldn’t see the point of the character Bader.

Not bad…not credible

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I enjoyed the first half but laboriously long 2nd half interviewing inmates.
It picked up at the end.

Atmosphere and location

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It's a gripping thriller, but it needs to be read from start to finish. There are many characters involved with varying backgrounds and stories. Some of them are dealt with individually some not. There are many plots and twists that keep you guessing and some parts will be shocking and distressing. Ultimately it was a good read with a couple of twists at the end that left me speechless.

Setting

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Well written & interesting but I wasn’t hugely gripped at any stage which is essential for a thriller.

The back stories of the serial killers were the most compelling parts of the book.

The narrator did a brilliant job with various English accents but her attempt at an American was lacking & I found this very annoying.

Good but not great

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I’m a massive fan of Helen Fields, I loved the Luc Callanach series and now I’m invested in the Barter and Woolwine franchise. Brilliant book, loved it all especially that each patient had their stories told!

Absolutely loved it!

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