I love this author, so I've been going back listening to her older books.
This one sounded great, but I came away pretty disappointed.
It was really long and definitely could and should have been shorter.
The character Connie, who we met in The Shadow Man (which I loved) came across so differently in this one- she contradicted herself as a character several times and I was left shaking my head in confusion...
I loved Profile K though so I'd definitely recommend that one!

As a Helen Fields fan I was very pleased to receive my early copy of The Institution from Netgalley. On beginning the book I was really taken by Connie's character and the dignity with which she treated the dead. The plot picked up pace and I was drawn in for a time. Whilst chilling and creepy the tension did not really mount until the storm and loss of power but by then I was feeling somewhat put out by Connie's methods and the amount of scenarios I found unrealistic. The ending was also very disappointing.
EDIT: I have now listened to the audio version and the narrator brought the book alive for me in a way that reading it for myself didn't. I don't know if she herself has some kind of speech impediment but she gave a lot of the characters a lisp! I found the American accent quite real though.
It's still a far fetched plot which is extremely dark and at times claustrophobic but I would recommend the audio version.

The depiction of the atmosphere was wonderfully done, creating an immersive experience. The institution's intricate details added an air of mystery that engaged the reader. The unexpected twists, though perhaps better suited for darker themes, added an intriguing layer to the narrative.

I was really looking forward to starting this and I was not disappointed. It was claustrophobic, dark, twisty and suspenseful and there were some great characters. It was full of twists and turns and nail-biting suspense. I really enjoyed this thriller. I’ll definitely be looking out for more by Helen Fields.

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Brilliant premise, scared haunting, moody! Brilliant plot and premise! Liked the narrators, loved the cover

Really enjoyed this novel by Helen fields. I love the perfect series but also enjoyed the Connie woolwine novels. Tense storyline and great writing

I am a huge fan of Helen Fields and The Institution didn't disappoint.
The atmosphere was tense, the story was suspenseful and the cast of characters was diverse.
Connie had the unfortunate task of finding Tara's killer and ultimately, more importantly, finding her new born baby daughter who was ripped from her womb.
Transported to the institution undercover, she has to interview the staff and the inmates to determine if the killer/kidnapper was closer to Tara than was first thought.
There were a few surprises with the inhabitants of the Institution that I didn't see coming and I was kept guessing until the end.
If you are a Helen Fields fan or just a crime/thriller lover then I recommend this book!

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins and Helen Fields for an ARC in return for an honest review.

One word - amazing. I'm a huge fan of Helen Fields but this blew her other books out of the water.
This is disturbing, dark and terrifying. It was an incredible read.
The audiobook version made it even more thrilling - the narrator was outstanding,

With thanks to the author, publishers HarperCollins UK Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. Some of the subject matter and crimes discussed were gruesome, but not obscenely so. The psychological elements of the story were handled brilliantly, and really put the reader in the minds of both the forensic profiler Dr. Connie Woolwine and the different characters being analysed.

The various psychological evaluations of the institution’s “guests” and certain action scenes later in the book once the institution was in lockdown had me on the edge of my seat, more than any other book has done in quite some time. Also, a special mention must go to the narrator Genevieve Swallow, who did one of the best narration jobs I have heard. Her portrayal of the different characters, both male and female, with their different accents and personalities, really brought the story to life.

I had no idea this was the second in a series, but this didn’t adversely affect my enjoyment of the story in the least and the book can easily be enjoyed as a standalone. Having said that, I will be actively seeking out the first installment "The Shadow Man" now, based on how much I enjoyed this one!

The Institution is the second in the series following forensic profiler Dr Connie and former detective Baarda. Whilst I enjoyed the first, The Shadow Man, I felt that this one was even better, as I preferred the main storyline and the two main characters are now firmly established. I also think that this could be read as a stand-alone book as there are sufficient references to explain the respective characters backgrounds.
As with many of Helen’s books, the subject matter is somewhat gruesome. However, the characters are what make the story and what always make me know I will enjoy her books.
An excellent book and I cannot wait for the third in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley the author, narrator and the publisher for an audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having listened to a couple of books by Helen Fields including Connie & Baarda so I was really looking forward to this.
When Tara a popular nurse at the worlds highest security prison is found murdered for her unborn baby, Dr Connie and her partner Baarda who is an ex police detective are brought in undercover to investigate the murder but there is a time limit as the baby was born premature and due to the trauma and her early birth has about 5 days to live if they are lucky and the clock is ticking.

Its obviously an inside job and Tara's parents have received a ransom note but in an institute full of the worlds worst murderers who is capable of such an horrendous crime

I really enjoyed this although it was slow to begin with but enjoyed the psychological insights into the different patients histories as well as the members of staff and doctors.

I love a locked in type of thriller and this was an interesting read. Found it a bit slow at the start but once I got into it I loved it.

This is a definite strange plot but it sort of works. The audible version worked really well and did I just lost myself into the narration. The characters really worked and the two main characters work really well together, loved the ending and the reaction of the mother just perfect.

So well written and narrated

I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

A great standalone thriller from Helen Fields. I love all of her books and this was no exception. Connie Woolwine is a forensic investigator sent to a high security prison hospital to investigate the murder of a nurse and the kidnap of her newborn baby. A great read that keeps you guessing.

I've read several of Helen Fields's other novels and really enjoyed them, but I didn't like this one at all. The premise of the book seemed quite promising, but also pretty silly, the more that I thought about it. The cover story made no sense at all - it was no wonder that the staff were suspicious. I couldn't warm to Connie at all - she was really dislikeable - and I wasn't sure what the purpose of her colleague was either, since he didn't seem to do anything. While the murder and kidnap was a good start to the story, a huge section of the rest of the book seemed to just be dedicated to Connie talking to each of the incarcerated patients in depth about their crimes, and I couldn't see the relevance to what she was trying to achieve, nor did it move the plot on much at all. Considering there was a missing child, there didn't seem to be much urgency about finding her. In the final quarter of the book things got very silly, without giving too much away it all got a bit Nurse Ratched, and I almost didn't finish it.

I thought the audiobook narrator did a reasonably good job. The American accent was convincing enough for me, anyway.

What a thrill ride, a ticking clock thriller. Dr Connie Woolvine has five day to find a killer and a baby, full of twists and turn this book will grip you from the start. Characters are well drawn. Full marks to Genevieve Swallow for her narration of this book.
I received this audiobook from HarperCollins UK/Avon and Netgalley for a review.

This is a thriller told from an unusual angle and with a number of twists. The set up, in a mental institution for criminals, lends itself well to a variety of weird and difficult characters who can quite naturally morph into different people from how they first seem. This lends itself to twists in the plot and the way the reader sees things, without it seeming totally unrealistic. As a film this book would be pretty terrifying, as a book it keeps you guesssing!

I was a big fan of Helen Fields ‘Perfect’ series of books. However, with so many great crime writers out there, somewhere along the way I had stopped reading her more recent releases. As I start to rediscover the joy of audiobooks while I’m travelling for work, listening to The Institution seemed like a perfect opportunity to rediscover a once-favourite author too.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t as happy a reunion as I’d hoped. I really struggled with The Institution. In part, it was the narration. The main voice was a very well spoken English voice but the main character, Connie, was American. the American accent wasn’t great. The main narration a little too ‘Queen’s English’ for me.

I might have been able to move past this if the plot had caught me the way previous Helen Field’s plots had. But it didn’t. It felt overblown and convoluted. The initial idea of a woman being killed for her baby and the baby being held for ransom was interesting. Setting the action within an institution was interesting. The two together, however, didn’t work for me. It didn’t make sense.

A big part of the plot seemed to revolve around explaining why each patient was in there – with detailed descriptions of them as killers. I felt they dragged the plot down, slowing the pace when I wanted it to speed along. And I felt like they were the main reason the book had been written – that this idea had taken over the story itself.

As with all my reviews, these are my opinions and not a critical analysis. This just wasn’t for me. 3 out of 5 stars.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely love a locked in thriller and this one was insane. It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout and I thought the narrator was brilliant.

The plot was tense and the twists shocking. A little brutal and gruesome in places so not for the faint hearted.

I couldn't stop listening to this superb audiobook. The Institution is set in the perfect location for a psychological thriller - a remote high security prison for high profile prisoners certified as insane. Profiler Dr. Connie goes undercover when a nurse is violently murdered and her unborn baby is removed and kidnapped. Time is running out to recuperate the baby before she dies from complications arising from her violent entry into the world. Someone inside the walls has links, and Dr Connie must use her skills to determine who that may be an dglean information on the child. This is a nail-biting listen. Dr. Connie feels like she is being watched and followed, which is eerie, but self-doubt also makes her question her own declining mental state. This is such a brilliantly atmospheric book, and as the clock ticks down,it is increasingly nerve-wracking. #theInstitution #helenfields #psychologicalthriller #netgalley #audiobook