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A review by kba76
The Institution by Helen Sarah Fields
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Dr Connie Woolwone’s methods are unorthodox, and when she is forced to try and aid a police investigation by going undercover in The Institution we see just what she is capable of.
The Institution is a high security prison, where prolific serial killers categorised as psychologically insane are held. When a pregnant nurse is murdered and her foetus abducted, nobody can be sure what happened. Dr Connie and Baarda are tasked with the unenviable task of trying to work out who was responsible as they face a desperate race against time to try and find the abducted baby.
From the time they enter The Institution we are faced with a troubling setting, and a potentially dangerous cast of characters. Not knowing who can be trusted makes for an oppressive and claustrophobic read. Everyone is regarded with suspicion, and even those charged with caring for the prisoners are not beyond suspicion.
As time draws on, Dr Connie starts to suffer triggering flashbacks to her own experience on a psychiatric ward. Hearing the stories of the prisoners is tough - not all of them are quite as clear cut cases as we might be tempted to think. When a major storm hits and they are cut off, things build to a terrifying climax.
Once again, I found myself torn between desperate to read on and find out if things were resolved and wanting to delay finishing as I was so caught up in this.
The Institution is a high security prison, where prolific serial killers categorised as psychologically insane are held. When a pregnant nurse is murdered and her foetus abducted, nobody can be sure what happened. Dr Connie and Baarda are tasked with the unenviable task of trying to work out who was responsible as they face a desperate race against time to try and find the abducted baby.
From the time they enter The Institution we are faced with a troubling setting, and a potentially dangerous cast of characters. Not knowing who can be trusted makes for an oppressive and claustrophobic read. Everyone is regarded with suspicion, and even those charged with caring for the prisoners are not beyond suspicion.
As time draws on, Dr Connie starts to suffer triggering flashbacks to her own experience on a psychiatric ward. Hearing the stories of the prisoners is tough - not all of them are quite as clear cut cases as we might be tempted to think. When a major storm hits and they are cut off, things build to a terrifying climax.
Once again, I found myself torn between desperate to read on and find out if things were resolved and wanting to delay finishing as I was so caught up in this.