The Institute
576 Pages
In the middle of the night, Luke Ellis is kidnapped from his home and wakes up in a place called The Institute; a sinister facility hidden deep in the Maine woods. Here, children with telekinetic or telepathic abilities are tested, drugged, and used…for something. What starts as mysterious quickly turns terrifying, as Luke realizes escape might be impossible, and that something far bigger is at play.
Meanwhile, in a quiet Southern town, a drifter with a troubled past is settling into a new job as a night knocker. His story is coming for Luke’s, and when they collide, the consequences will be massive.
The Institute is a tense, fast-paced blend of thriller and speculative horror, with echoes of Firestarter, It, and The Shining, but told with the momentum of a page-turning escape novel. It's King wrestling with power, control, and the cost of exploiting innocence.