I saw somewhere that Jakub Żulczyk is sometimes called the Polish Stephen King. This is my first book of his, but I can sort of see where they’re coming from. This is an extremely intense suspense thriller with surprises that just keep coming.

The highlight of the book for me was Agnieszka. She’s broken, an amazing mother, and so hardcore. You do NOT want to stand in between her and her daughter. While some of the other characters were a little thinly drawn, the plot was fast paced (and violent!) and I simply didn’t want to stop reading.

Very happy I read this one!

*ARC via Net Galley

2.5 stars

The Institute by Jakub Żulczyk is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Legend Press, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Agnieszka Celińska took over her grandmother's apartment, which for some reason had been named "The Institute".  She decided to keep the name.  It is a large four bedroom apartment in the center of Krakow Poland.  She has roommates, and at the time that the elevator was locked, the stairway sealed, and their phone lines and internet went dead, there were 7 people in "The Institute".  In addition to Agnieszka, were room-mates Veronica, Iga, Sebastian, and Jacek (Gypsy) along with two of Veronica’s friends, Robert and Anna.  They are all all trapped in the apartment.

There is much discussion as to who "They" are.  Who is it that have sealed this group of people off from the world.  Who are "They"?

As the hours grow, so do tensions and paranoia.  The trapped room-mates start to turn on one another.



My Opinions:   
I struggled with this book.  It is very dis-jointed, and actual chapter breaks seem to be non-existent.  It started with the apartment being closed off,  went  to a segment about Agnieska's daughter who isn't even in the apartment,  and back to the apartment, all without a chapter heading, causing me to re-read the beginning of each section so that I knew where I was.  This continued throughout the book.  Even "Before" and "Now" titles would have been a help.

As well, I found certain things "overly descriptive".  We find out what each individual looks like in detail, where they work, their attitudes, their bedrooms....  It got a little monotonous.  So did going back and forth with Agnieska's life.  Yet for a slow-moving story, the ending felt rushed while the author tried to tie everything up into a neat little bow.

I didn't really like or trust any of the characters. They all seemed to be alcoholics with very few redeeming qualities.  Agnieszka was a weak woman, who moved out (twice) and left a daughter behind because she feared her mother-in-law.  Although she desperately loves her daughter, it seemed like she would sooner drink and party with friends. Veronica can apparently see the future, but she didn't see very much of this.   Iga is a 25-year old punk, who supposedly can't say no to anyone. Sebastian has anger issues.  Jacek (Gypsy) is rich, and doesn't fit with the rest at all.  Robert and Anna are non-entities.  Then there was the apartment, which was truly a character on its own.

All that being said, the premise for the story was still very good.  I fear that part of the problem with the book may be due to the translation, but am not sure.   As well,  things finally started happening around the middle of the book...a little late, but at least it stopped being so boring. I didn't mind the blood and gore, which actually enhanced the book.

Overall, although I may be in the minority on this one,   I think this book showed a lot of potential, but unfortunately, fell a little short.

The Institute by Jakub Zulczyk
Rating: 4 stars

Summary: A restless and troubled women in A failed marriage with a young daughter looks to escape the marriage and gather her daughter along with her and start a new life. When she suddenly inherited a apartment building from her Grandmother she makes her move. She starts a new life and parties hard in her new independent life. She has a group of friends living with her when they find themselves locked in their own apartment with now seemingly way out.

Comments: A ghostly scary tale with some brutal violence. I loved the past story on our propagandists past history. A well done page turner. Hold on tight.

The Institute is a chilling blend of the horror and psychological thriller genres from the man regarded as the Polish Stephen King. Agnieszka Celińska currently lives in an apartment situated at 20 Mickiewicz Avenue in the southern Polish city of Krakow near the border with the Czech Republic. Known as The Institute, it is situated on the fifth floor of the pre-war tenement. It measures one hundred and thirty square metres, has four bedrooms and, as do most of the apartments, a kitchen, a toilet and a bathroom. People used to visit for coffee and to visit those living there but twelve hours ago everything changed. Now, the Institute is no longer an asylum; in fact, it’s the opposite – it’s a trap. Those living there can’t leave the Institute. That is, they can, but only to go to the landing. On the landing is an old wooden lift with a two-winged door. Next to the lift is a stairway leading downwards, which is sealed off by a massive pre-war grating. The grating has always been open, but now it’s fastened with two locks. The residents haven’t got keys to the locks. The lift has always worked, but now it doesn’t. Their phones aren’t working. They can’t get the internet. They're in the very centre of Kracow yet cut off from the world. They call the people who’ve locked them in ‘they’. In a way, that’s how they introduced themselves. A few hours ago, they found a sheet of squared paper on the doormat, torn out of an exercise book, with THIS IS OUR APARTMENT scribbled on it in gory red letters.

They don’t know who ’they’ are. Now, all they can do is wait, sitting or pacing the apartment. There are seven of them living there: Veronica, Iga, Agnieszka, Sebastian, Jacek and two of Veronica’s friends, Robert and Anna. None of them can escape. Each of them is effectively imprisoned but by who? Soon, an avalanche of macabre events begins. Someone is playing a sickening game. Can anyone escape this hell on earth? This is a riveting, compulsive and genuinely terrifying thriller with one hell of a first chapter. Żulczyk throws you right in at the deep end so there's no filler or messing around with this increasingly creepy and claustrophobic tale. It's literally a thrill a minute with never a dull moment and a whole lot of tension, shocking twists and devious games throughout. The Institute is a compelling psychological thriller and an uncomfortable and troubling study of human fears featuring a dark, menacing undertone and is wonderfully addictive from the outset. References are made to Poland and its history, as well as many psychological (alienation, unwillingness to fit in) and cultural themes (modern life’s falseness, shallowness of interpersonal relations) and the author, focuses on the world existing more in the characters’ heads than on the grey streets of the city. This is a visceral, disturbing and violent read. Highly recommended.

The Institute by Jacub Zulczyk is certainly strange,and it's not for those of a nervous or squeamish disposition. It was a big hit in Poland in 2010,this is the English translation.
Agnieszka has left her husband and is living in an apartment inherited from her Grandmother in Krakow. The apartment is one that her family had no idea she owned and instead of her name in the usual place to show who lives there is the legend, "The Institute".
The story begins when Aga ,the flatmates she has accumulated since moving in and 2 of their friends find themselves isolated as the stairs are barred , all the usual means of contact with the outside world are cut off, and the lift no longer works.. Things become increasingly weird,claustrophobic and scary as their food runs out and outside forces terrorise the "inmates" of the apartment.
As events enter very much into Stephen King territory Aga's background is revealed and possible motives and perpetrators of the madness suggested.

While I enjoyed the book I was left thinking that possibly it was some kind of allegory about the Polish political situation over the years, a kind of Polish animal Farm. The little I do know about politics in Poland ties in with some of the events and characters but I don't know enough about the subject to know if I'm right or wide of the mark. The publishers do call author Zulczyk a "Dissident" and a quick Google shows that at the time of this review he's in big trouble for insulting the President of Poland .
There are also throughout the book references to Polish characters that I haven't heard of,again I suspect a bit of biting satire but not knowing the people mentioned I have no idea.

An interesting book but one I'll have to discuss with my Polish friends, the book was a best-seller there in 2010 so hopefully at least one of them has read it.

There is some graphic violence and the whole thing is distinctly odd in places bit it's also gripping and edgy.. I think someone more versed in various aspects of Poland would get a lot more out of this book than me.

Too many of the references went right over my head as I just didn't know the people referred to and I was left thinking ,not least given that author's background,that I'd just read something with a message that I hadn't understood. If I'm right about it being some kind of political satire an afterword for non-Poles would have been very useful. If I'm wrong,it was just a bit too strange for a "straight" story..

3 stars

I simply cannot abide any story that has animal cruelty in it. That being said I found the characters in this book thoroughly unlikable. I got through most of it (until the animal cruelty), and had to stop.

I think that the premise of the book has much promise, but the execution of it was pretty awful. I was drawn in by the comparison to Stephen King, and perhaps that was my first mistake.

I want to thank NetGalley and Legend Press for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

The Institute is a claustrophobic thrill ride that is perfect for fans of The Cube movies! Agnieszka, her four roommates, and two friends wake up trapped in her apartment in Poland. The stairs are barred. The elevator never comes when called. Their Wi-Fi, phones and internet are not working. Threatening notes are shoved under the door. Why are they being held? More importantly, how will they escape?

You can definitely tell that The Institute was written by someone familiar with Poland and its history. I am fairly sure that I missed many of the nuances that a native would have picked up. However, I definitely felt the menace and dread in the air while reading the book.

Agnieszka is like a mother anywhere. Trying to keep moving forward and make her child’s life better than her own. I feel the mystery in the book, who was holding them captive and why, was unsolvable by an armchair detective. Or, at least, I couldn’t solve it. It is best to go in and read this as a thriller instead. If you like The Cube movies, I think this book will be enjoyable for you too. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

Thanks to Legend Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this and was so desperate to find out what was going on and what was going to happen I read it in one day. Keeps you wondering and puts you on the edge of your seat.

This novel is so good it almost made me late for work! It’s claustrophobic, creepy, horrific and incredibly addictive. It’s also hard to define and there are no easy explanations. The residents of an apartment in Krakow are trapped in their flat and can’t even communicate with the outside world. Who’s doing it and why? Agnieszka inherited the residence from her mysterious grandmother and she doesn’t heed the multiple warnings she receives. Once they are isolated, Agnieszka and her roommates slowly but surely start losing their minds, suspecting everyone and revealing their darkest sides. These are not likeable characters, but they do have redeeming qualities. They are also willing to do anything to break free. The horror is psychological and physical. Some parts are extremely disturbing (including some animal cruelty). This is not a pleasant book to read. It’s raw and violent and really messed up. It is also excellent.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/ Legend Press!