I really enjoyed this book. Set in a high security prison hospital, a nurse has been murdered and her baby kidnapped. Dr Connie Woolwine is a psychological profiler and is brought in undercover to try and help solve the case. The inmates are all highly dangerous serial killers. This is a very scary story that will keep you guessing to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

4.5 out of 5 stars. Oh my WOW. This was my first book from Helen Fields and certainly wont be my last. If you enjoyed the movie Shutter Island, you MUST get your hands on this one.

This book had me captivated from the very beginning, as the entire plot had piqued my interest to begin with. She did a phenomenal job at presenting every character in this book (there were quite a few) and told all of their back stories with such insane detail. I was constantly questioning every single character and their motives. Her writing style was amazing, and now I lowkey want a job in this field HA

This story completely blew my expectations out of the water, I am so pleased I was able to get my hands on a copy of this book to share my feedback before its release.

I have read & enjoyed all of Helen Fields’ DI Callanach books, but this is only the second of hers I have read outside that series. I believe that profiler Connie has featured in at least one book prior to this one, but I have not read it so came to this book with no prior knowledge of the main character & her colleague. However, this did not hinder my enjoyment of this book book in any way & this could easily be read as a stand-alone novel as prior knowledge is not required.
Although somewhat far-fetched at times this did allow for the storyline to evolve in such a way to grip the reader & maintain interest from gruesome beginning to the very end.

The Institution takes the phrases “edge-of-your-seat” and “pulse-pounding” to the next level.

Dr. Connie Woolwine, a forensic profiler, goes undercover at a high-security prison full of serial killers deemed “criminally insane.”

Connie and her undercover partner have five days to find the culprits responsible for committing a heinous crime: fetal abduction.

Helen Fields has mastered the art of telling a story that is both difficult to read and impossible to put down. Much like another thriller I read by Fields, this book starts out incredibly gruesome. I probably would have DNF’d it if I hadn’t remembered that this is how the author begins her stories. But I am glad I pushed through because this is the best psychological thriller I’ve read in quite some time.

There are twists upon twists. I was suspicious of everyone, facility staff and prisoners alike. Some parts might lean towards OTT, but it only made it more addictive. The banter between Connie and Baarda helped balance out some of the tension.

The blurb did not indicate that this is not the first book featuring Dr. Connie Woolwine, so I’ll have to go back and give that one a gander. I hope there will be more books featuring this duo.

Don’t let the generic cover deceive you, the writing is top-notch and is a real nail-biter.

4.5

Thank you to Avon for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

https://booksandwheels.com

Serial killers, a high security prison hospital in an isolated tower, and a baby. Wait what?! Add in a profiler who is no stranger to a psych ward and a massive storm that cuts them off from the outside world, you get a psychological thriller at its best.

Dr Connie Woolwine is a quirky profiler that has her own demons which makes her who she is and why she chose this line of work. Looking forward to her next assignment.

#NetGalley #AvonBooksUK #TheInstitution #HelenFields #BookReview #ComingSoon

What an amazing ride this was. I read half way through the night as I just had to complete it to find out the ending. There were lots of character to try to get myself around and each one was so well described that I really felt that they were true people. Helen Fields had obviously had researched this topic well .The book gave me the creeps when I was reading as it made me think how bad institutions can be. You hear of prisons, care homes for the elderly or medically ill and needing nursing care but this is the first time I have read about such a place. It was a harrowing, frightening, gripping and enthralling book.
I cannot give it enough of a recommendation or find enough adjectives to describe this story. This is the first book I have ever read by this author ad I shall certainly look forward to more by her.

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

PUBLICATION DAY: March 2, 2023

Eccentric forensic psychologist Connie has many skills and has helped solve many cases - but she’s never been undercover before. When a young, pregnant nurse is murdered and her baby stolen - all the while in a high security psychiatric institution for the criminally insane - Connie will do anything she can to avenge this young mother. But what risks will she face while there? Surrounded by serial killers, who will be the biggest threat of all?

PROS and CONS:
Fields has become a must-read for me - I love her books with their compassion, empathy, action and ability to creep the heck out of me. I first met Connie in The Shadow Man, and she’s equally good in that one. A slightly implausible scenario (surely there must have been a better way to investigate this one?) is made up for with a plethora of suspects making the truly chilling ending very difficult to guess.

READ IT?
If you’re looking for…an settling mystery in a scary setting and you’re fascinated with serial killers (guilty!) then this one’s for you.

4 Stars

This standalone from Helen – whose books involving Luc Callanach are only waiting to be made into a series – focuses on Dr Connie Woolwine, who has five days to catch a killer. The residents of the world’s highest-security prison hospital wake up one morning and all is not well. Not that many know, but a nurse’s body has been found, her baby daughter removed from her mother’s body (yes, you are reading that correctly) and a ransom has been demanded. Connie, a forensic profiler, has been brought in to assist the family and to find the baby. Skilled at getting inside the mind of a murderer, she new role is to fit in with the prison hospital’s staff, going undercover to find the baby before it’s too late. Through her work, she meets a selection of the great and the good, and those who enjoy making others deeply unsettled. But once you’re in the Institution, it’s difficult to get out. You’d almost think it was created in that manner… Everything Helen writes rings true and this is no different. Expect a few shivers.

Set in a remote institution hosting serial killers and psychopaths, The institution is a twisty and dark locked-room whodunnit that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I was so glad to see Dr Woolwine and Baarda back after loving them in The shadow man; add a bunch of serial killers, cold, almost sadistic doctors and nurses, and a very gruesome murder (I could feel pain while reading the description!!) and well, I'm sold!

The plot was tense and deceiving, I did not see the twists coming. I loved the interviews with the serial killers and Connie's unconventional methods of speaking with the (dead) victims. So interesting!

Definitely a book I recommend!

Thank you Netgallery and Avon for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This rather far fetched thriller set in a remote mental institution was nevertheless quite entertaining. The main characters were slightly unbelievable and the ending somewhat contrived.

The Institution by Helen Fields is a standalone psychological thriller with a locked room style mystery at its heart. This is my second book by this author. Her writing style is superb and it is very easy to lose yourself in the story. A nurse has been murdered and her unborn child stolen from her womb. The catch, this all occurred on a locked ward in an institution that houses criminals found not guilty for reason of mental illness. Our fearless main character must go undercover as a therapist to solve the mystery of what happened and race against time to save the baby. It was this interesting premise that drew me in and kept me guessing the whole time. In a few places the pace felt a little slow but if you can push through these sections the overall book is well worth it. I am really loving this author and will read anything she writes.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an opportunity to read this ebook.

Wow. I was blown away by this book. Thriller, whodunit, twist after twist. I did not see the ending coming. Brilliant. Helen’s character building is so impressive, each unique and well thought out. There were moments of gruesome detail mixed with in with poignant lines of life truths. I can’t rave about this book enough. Starting the year off with a strong contender of best thriller of 2023. Well done.

I am not entirely sure if THE INSTITUTION is the second or third book in the Dr. Connie Woolwine series written by Helen Fields, but I know there is at least one other book - The Shadow Man that features her and her colleague Brodie Baarda. Whatever the case, I did not read THE INSTITUTION's predecessor/s.

Having said that, I did quite enjoy this entry into the series, although the case forensic profiler Dr. Connie is investigating is rather gruesome and not for the faint of heart. I am not usually a fan of explicit descriptions of violence, but it was the setting that kept me going. An isolated castle filled not only with normal psychiatric cases but five criminally insane men that will never see the outside of it. They are housed in their own tower and at least one of them was involved in the horrendous murder of a nurse and the abduction of her unborn baby. Now it is up to Dr. Connie and Brodi Baarda to win a race against time to save baby Aurora and figure out who is behind her kidnapping, while other staff members and patients do everything in their power to make their job that much harder.

The resolution of the case is satisfying enough. I wish Brodie would have played a bigger role in solving it though and the talk with Aurora's grandmother at the end was a little too bizarre for me. I also think the Professor would have deserved more than what he got in the end. But maybe I am biased since I found his story/character the most interesting.

Thanks for the advance copy!

I really enjoy Helen Fields’ books and this did not disappoint. I was hooked from the start to the finish.The setting was so well described …isolated and claustrophobic, it was a well paced, chilling & tension packed story with great character development. I was trying to guess the ending the whole way through & was not disappointed

The beginning of this book was very slow. I had to really push myself to get through the first 40% of it. The last 60% was very fast paced and really grabbed my attention. I did guess one twist but there were several others that left me shocked. Overall, it was a decent read and I would recommend it.

This book is intense, very atmospheric, and unlike nearly any other thriller I've read. The setting was so well described I could swear I've been there. The book is quite graphic as many of Helen Fields' books are. We get an in-depth description of the characters, both staff and inmates, including the reasons the patients/prisoners are in the Institution, some of which are hard to read. The cameo appearance by Ava Turner of the Luc Callanach series was neatly done. There are some scenes which require suspension of disbelief and a couple of occasions when Connie's decisions were frustrating but overall it was an excellent book. I would rate this 4.5, rounded down to 4 because I actually didn't care much for Connie Woolwine as a character. She was like a chameleon. The ending was okay but I didn't much like the information dump as a way to tie up all the loose ends. It sounds like there'll be another book featuring some of the same characters and I'd definitely read it.

Although I'm a huge fan of this author's Luc Callanach series, I haven't read her standalone, <i>The Shadow Man</i>, and I understand Connie Woolwine is introduced in that book. I'll have to read it sometime soon.

If you're triggered by just about anything to do with indignities to a human body, you should probably think twice about reading this novel.

My thanks to Maddie Dunne Kirby, Harper Collins Publishers, and Avon Books UK via Netgalley for inviting me to read an advance copy of this outstanding novel.
Expected Publication: March 2, 2023

Helen Fields is so reliable for psychological suspense/gritty crime novels so I immediately requested The Institution as soon as I saw it on Netgalley and I’m glad I did!

The premise is extremely disturbing - within a maximum-security hospital for the criminally insane, a popular nurse has been murdered and her newborn baby kidnapped and it’s down to forensic profiler Dr Connie Woolwine to uncover the truth. I read The Shadow Man by Helen a couple of years ago where I was first introduced to Dr Connie and I immediately liked her character. She has a unique way of thinking and it’s a refreshing take on police investigations which can tend to be samey.

I was kept intrigued throughout this story and wasn’t disappointed with the climactic reveal. It was also very interesting to learn about the inmates and the crimes they committed that led to their incarceration. Overall a highly atmospheric and dark page-turner!

Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a fast paced book. It starts slow and gradually picks up pace I almost couldn't read fast enough. It is not for the feint hearted. Totally loved it.

WOW!! That was a doozy! I’ve never read this author before, but she has a real skill for opening a book and grabbing your attention right from the start. The very first few pages were frightening for me because I’ve never read about an autopsy being performed where I actually felt like I was right there. It made me feel so queasy and scared. Well done! You’re taken inside a super creepy place, a maximum-security prison hospital for society’s worst: psychopaths and serial killers. I was really scared the whole time!! Field’s descriptions were very rich so you really feel that you are on this journey with these undercover investigators who need to find who killed this poor nurse and what happened to the baby ripped out of her womb. The entire time you have no idea who did it and you’re worried about the personal safety of the 2 undercover investigators. Not many books can make you feel concerned to this extent like you have a personal stake in it trust me! This is skilled writing. Great and satisfying ending as well! I will be reading this author again, she’s very talented. Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange, for my honest opinion.

I love a mysterious psychological thriller that starts in an eerie atmosphere. The Institution is over 200 years old and currently holds different levels of criminals.
When you are located in the Heaven Ward, things are not always heavenly!
I enjoyed this story and kept my interest. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.