'The Institution' is another dark, gripping read from Fields. I loved the premise of this, Dr Connie Woolwine finds herself on a desperate race against time to save a baby but in doing so she must enter a high-security psychiatric hospital. The premise and the setting really helped add to the isolated atmosphere and I definitely got the sense of being trapped whilst reading this.
As always, Fields races the plot along, there is a lot going on and the action never relents. There are some dangerous people in the hospital whom we learn more about in ever more gruesome and sinister scenes. This plot does have its gory sections so be warned but my goodness is it a thrilling read.
The characters are fantastic as well, Connie is such a strong, central character and I enjoyed following her. The other characters are strong as well and all bring something to the plot. It was a joy to read about this quirky group of people. Towards the end, I did think the plot started to border on ridiculous but go with it and you will be rewarded.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy.

This book is so chilling and dark. The characters are well developed and the majority are very unlikeable. The setting is so isolated and claustrophobic. It was very well paced.

This claustrophobic thriller features a captivating central character and delivers heart-stopping peril. By the end, I found myself exhaling a long-held breath of relief.

A slow burner but really gripping once I got into it. It's a dark, difficult read at times but to be expected given the setting.

The blurb of this book was super exciting and highly creepy! So, I was expecting an exciting, albeit stressful thriller read.
I’ve been reading Field’s Luc C series, which I’ve really enjoyed for the most part (don’t get my started on the last book of that series - highly annoying!)
This book is set around a high security prison and darkness hovers and descends into a fairly gripping narrative.
I enjoyed it and works well for a dark evening. Keep the lights bright though!

The premise of this was so intriguing and I was so excited to start reading. I did find the start rather slow and it took me a while to really be drawn into the story. But the interesting characters and writing made up for that and I am still glad I have this a go. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for a chance to read and review this book.

The Institution was such an incredible read. The plot was gripping and I thought it was very unique. I loved the setting and how creepy it was made out to be. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, I could never predict what was going to happen from one chapter to the next. A popular pregnant nurse has been found dead with her baby removed, she works in the Institution while holds high risk criminals. Connie, a forensic profiler, is called in to speak with the killers and to help solve the crime. Baarda, an ex-police officer, is undercover, along side Connie, so resume the missing baby.

This book was incredible to read and the pace was kept high. I enjoyed reading the chapters of when Connie was interviewing the criminals. I also liked how the criminals weren’t made out to be scary because of their mental illness and how Connie wasn’t afraid either. She was determined to rescue the baby at any cost. I tried to work out what had happened but the ending came as a shock to me.

I thought this book was complex but written so well. There were quite a few characters but they were all memorable and played a crucial role in the story. The plot was well written and it flowed to well. It was easy to read and I honestly couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book and this author!

The Institution is set on a locked ward in a high security forensic hospital for those who have been declared criminally insane, so for obvious reasons I picked it up with trepidation. I usually spend a lot of the time reading similar stories trying to suspend disbelief while sighing ‘nope, that wouldn’t happen’ but with The Institution I was immediately hooked and needed to know what was around every corner.
Fields writing in this is absolutely razor sharp and within the first few lines there is a huge sense of tension and jeopardy. Many times throughout the audiobook I got genuine shivers and was left uneasy waiting for a resolution.
She isn’t afraid to step into the darkest minds and has an uncanny ability to write amazing fully fleshed characters brimming with the quirks that are only ever found within similar walls, staff and patients alike! The Institution itself even stood out as another malevolent entity with its own idiosyncrasies.
I picked this up without knowing it was book 2 in a series and can say I didn’t miss anything by not reading the first one, in fact I only found out it was a series while writing this review. I will definitely be picking up The Shadow Man though as I’d like to see more of the dark world of Dr Connie.
A gripping, tense rollercoaster of a read that will play on so many of your fears! The thoughts of coming to work one day and never been left back out again….nope!

Thank you to Avon Books for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review!

If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram @TravelsEatsReads for more.

Another completely absorbing and captivating novel from Fields. Once I was in The Institution, I could not leave it and I found my hands glued to the book.

This book is linked to another crime thriller but it isn’t essential to have read any of Fields’ back catalogue – although I loved seeing a guest appearance from another book. The building intensity of this story is reflected in the suffocating setting as Dr Connie Woolwine goes undercover in a high-security prison. I could not imagine anything more terrifying as Connie is trying to find out who is behind a horrific staff murder whilst being surrounded by the criminally insane. Working in a small prison that is miles from anywhere and a ticking clock creates a high-pressure situation that radiates from the pages.

I loved this book because Fields does not reveal any clues until very late in the novel. There are suggestions that had my accusing finger pointing every which way, but I could never settle on a permanent theory. This made the story so much more enjoyable because I felt like I was with Connie as she is trying to determine the facts behind the murder-come-abduction. The characters that Connie coolly interacts with are all threatening in their own way – even the staff – and I relished in the strength she displays throughout.

Connie is an admirable protagonist and I enjoyed learning more about her past in this novel. I believe there is still plenty of pages for Connie to embed herself in and this was reflected in the open ending of the story… I just hope I don’t have to wait too long for Connie to return. Her relationship with her job is interesting: I found it fascinating to observe how Connie’s past starts to dictate her behaviour and how the other staff at The Institution interact with her.

With the use of pathetic fallacy about half-way through the book, I figured the story was going to get intense. Boy, was I not wrong. I loved how such a claustrophobic setting became even tighter and actually found myself breathless when reading the plot developments. Fields expertly includes the reader into the narrative, making them feel as incarcerated as Connie and the inmates themselves. It led to a very gripping climax and one that felt high-octane to the very end.

This was another brilliant read from Fields. Dark? Yes. Engrossing? Definitely? Thrilling? Undoubtedly. If this author is not on top of your reading pile, this book should convince you that Fields is not an author to be ignored. What a read.

With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and whilst I didn’t love it it was an ok read. I found the first half very long and drawn out and wasn’t sure if I was going to finish it. However as I was reading it as part of a Buddy read I stuck with it and thankfully it did improve for me especially the last few chapters but it’s not one that will stay with me. I know a lot of readers loved it but not one of my favourite reads.

Connie and Baarda find themselves deep undercover within The Institution, a daunting place filled with the criminally insane, notorious serial killers, and a rather unwelcoming staff. The pressing question remains: Can they unravel the mystery before another life is claimed, or before they themselves fall into peril? This narrative shines not just in its thrilling plot but also in its character development. Intriguing, albeit unsettling, backstories of new characters are introduced, adding depth to the narrative. The evolving dynamics between Connie and Baarda further enrich the story. The book is a masterful blend of suspense, unexpected twists, and shocking revelations. It doesn't shy away from graphic details, ensuring readers are constantly on tenterhooks. It's a whirlwind of emotions and suspense that's nearly impossible to set aside.

OMG, The Institution is such a creepy and tense read, and I loved it! Helen Fields has cooked up a nightmare scenario, put all the worst bogeymen in one isolated place and then hidden a brand new baby in the mix. The book is really well written with a threatening atmosphere and a sense of menace that infiltrates every chapter.

The book opens with a floor plan of the ward (one of my favourite devices) and introduces us to Connie and her uniquely terrifying mission. The descriptions of the institution and the specific details of the highest security ward brought it vividly to life in my mind, and it sounded like an unnervingly desolate place.

Connie's increasingly desperate search for the baby is interspersed with the tales of how each inmate came to  be in the institution. As you might expect, the back stories were all very disturbing and each could easily form a story in its own right and served as a reminder of how vulnerable the staff and the baby are.

Somehow the tension ratchets even further up as the book hurtles towards its thrilling conclusion and, if you've got the stomach for it, then I really cannot recommend The Institution more highly. This is the first book I have read by Helen Fields but it certainly won't be the last.

Thanks to netgalley for providing an advanced copy for the purpose of review

This was a dark and tense read that kept the tension ramped up. Well written and well constructed read.

This was an intriguing and interesting read. I was curious to see what would happen next and was turning the pages. I would recommend this book.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to make it through this and had to make the decision to not finish the book.

Eeeee by guy this one had me hanging onto the edge of my way from page one and honestly the ending made me fall off it 😂 this was one of the best books ive ever read! Loved it and can’t praise it enough

This is a rollercoaster of suspense and, at times, terror. It’s fast paced and has its fair share of very interesting characters, most of whom you really wouldn’t want to meet. It’s based in a maximum security psychiatric unit housing the most dangerous and prolific patients/prisoners.

An undercover profiler and her partner are tasked with saving a new born baby who has been kidnapped. The plot is far fetched but the storyline flows and I didn’t care too much that it was sometimes a bit too unbelievable.

I enjoyed it and can recommend reading it.

My thanks to the author, the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and share my review.

My first time reading a book by Helen Fields, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Very gripping book, sometimes the storyline was a little disturbing, but that just added more to the quality of the book.
A very dark and chilling crime thriller.
I must read more from this author

Thank you for the chance to read this book

The Institution is a tense thriller set entirely inside a secure psychiatric facility. Nurse Tara Cameron has been murdered, her baby forcibly removed by caesarian section and a ransom demand made to the family. Desperate situations call for desperate measures, so Connie Woolwine goes in undercover to try and find baby Aurora before it is too late. Having previously met Connie in The Shadow Man, her unorthodox methods are just what is required here if she is to have any chance of success. Ex-Met detective Brodie Baarda is also there posing as a military prisoner that Connie has to evaluate. Unfortunately, this means he is restricted in what he can do to help her. All the staff and inmates are under suspicion. Connie is also triggered by an incident from her past and has to do battle with her inner demons.
The characters are well drawn but thoroughly devious and unlikeable, even the staff. There is the constant pressure of the clock ticking and time running out. The writing is superb and this variation on the ‘locked room’ mystery scared me half to death. I would suggest you don’t read this just before you go to sleep or you might not be able to. I have now read several books by Helen Fields and would not hesitate to recommend them. Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for a digital copy of The Institution to review.

Brilliant! I read this some time ago, thought I’d left my review but it can’t have posted. Such a great author.