Book cover for The Institute: Five students stepped in front of a train. Only one came back. But what happened on the platform was just the beginning. by Katherine Bradley

The Institute

Five students stepped in front of a train. Only one came back. But what happened on the platform was just the beginning.

2026 Released
400 Pages
5-6 Hours
Ebook Unavailable
Audiobook Unavailable
Paperback Unavailable
Hardback Unavailable
Simon & Schuster UKISBN 9781398514317

The Sanctuary meets Shutter Island in this chilling speculative thriller from the acclaimed author of The Sisterhood.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER.
SOME FLY TO THEIR DEATHS.

A group of students step off a platform into the path of an oncoming train.

Only Billie survives.

She remembers nothing.
But she knows they weren’t suicidal.

At the secretive Arbor Institute, Billie is diagnosed with ‘flock phenomena’: a terrifying impulse to self-destruct with the group.

If it happens again, she’ll die.

Cut off from the world, watched at every turn, Billie begins to understand the truth:

The Institute isn’t trying to cure her.

It’s trying to contain her.

But Billie isn’t prey.

She’s the threat.

‘Brilliantly executed, alarming, deeply disturbing and worryingly believable!’ Trevor Wood, author of The Inside Man

‘Thoughtful and compelling… Moving and memorable’ Jo Furniss, author of Dead Mile

Katherine Bradley

Katherine Bradley enjoyed a twenty-year career managing services for homeless people in Brighton, before retraining as a teacher. She now teaches English in a secondary school academy, finding time to also teach creative writing to adults. She holds a first-class degree in English Literature, in addition to qualifications in teaching, creative writing and coaching. As Kate Bradley, she has published two suspense thrillers –​ To Keep You Safe (2020) and What I Did (2021). Her work has been described as 'addictive, original and brilliantly twisty' by T. M. Logan and 'heart-stopping' by David Nicholls. Katherine lives near Brighton with her family. Follow her on Twitter @kate_bradley

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