Reviews with content warning for Murder - The Institution

I wasn’t sure if I’d like this because I found it quite slow, and I felt like I had to get used to the writing style.

I also feel like because it was just in one location, it felt like as I was reading it, that I felt I was feeling claustrophobic and that I was in the institution.

The murderer reveals did catch me off guard which is very rare!

The last 100 or so pages were very intense.

Some of the violence was graphic and there is a lot relating to mental health and some of the stories of what the killers went through were difficult to read.

Content Warnings

hollyamber's review

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Plotline: A 'whodunnit?' based in a high security psychiatric hospital that houses serial killers. Can Connie, an undercover profiler, identify the killer of a pregnant nurse whose baby was taken from her during the murder?

Whilst I think this would make a great movie, I found the story a bit difficult to follow at times as there were a lot of characters to keep track of! There was more description than I like, but the tension was built well overall, and I liked the setting of the story. It took me ages to finish this though - a bit heavy and slow for me!

Content Warnings

oceanwriter's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I was instantly taken in by the setting. This is probably one of the most perfect locations I’ve read in a thriller. I only wish I had been as taken in by the story and its presentation.

Along with the synopsis, the opening pages hooked me. We meet Dr. Connie Woolwine as she’s examining the body of a deceased woman who’s had her newborn baby taken from her. Connie is determined to find the culprit, believing that there is a chance the baby is still alive. To do so, she must stay amongst the inmates at a high-security prison.

First, I should say that a lot of what I didn’t like about this book boils down to personal preference. I found this to be too gory for my liking with a lot of medical detail, blood, etc. Readers with a stronger stomach will enjoy this a lot more. I also struggled to click with any of the characters and struggled for a while to keep the supporting roles straight, especially with how dialogue-heavy the book becomes as it goes on.

The high points for me surround, again, the setting of the book and the general atmosphere. I would have liked a little more time spent on descriptions even though the cover captures the vibe quite well.

A huge thanks to Harper360 for sending me a free ARC of the book!

Content Warnings

gretamitg's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

nataliect13's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.25

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