The Locked Ward is a fast-paced psychological thriller told through dual perspectives, with a unique narrative twist. The story alternates between Mandy and Georgia, twin sisters who were adopted into different families and only learn of their connection as adults. Georgia’s chapters are written in second person, placing the reader directly into her perspective, while Mandy’s are written in third person. This stylistic choice sets the book apart and creates an immersive, unsettling reading experience.

The story begins with Georgia being held at a psychiatric facility as she awaits a competency hearing. She is accused of murdering her adoptive sister, but the truth behind what really happened is tangled in secrets, lies, and the unexpected reunion with Mandy. As the sisters’ stories unfold, readers are drawn into an intricate mystery that builds steadily toward a tense conclusion.

I found this to be a captivating read with several twists I didn’t see coming. The shifting perspectives kept me engaged, and I particularly appreciated the bold use of second person in Georgia’s chapters, it’s not something I come across often in thrillers. While I did feel the ending came together a little quickly and the Epilogue as a concept didn't quite work for me, the novel overall was a gripping and satisfying thriller. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys psychological suspense with an inventive edge.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are entirely my own, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The short chapters zipped along nicely, which helped keep the story moving, but it never quite hit that “can’t-put-it-down” level for me. I’d call it a respectable three-star read: not bad, but not exactly the literary equivalent of a standing ovation. My attention wandered a few times, and I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the psych ward scenes. Let’s just say they felt more TV drama than medical reality.

Then there’s the sudden twin bond between two grown women who’ve never met; sweet in theory, but in practice, it felt unrealistic. I kept waiting for a deeper connection, but it never quite got there.

Still, I’ve enjoyed two of the author’s previous books, and while this one didn’t sweep me off my feet, I’m not giving up. I’ll be back for the next one.

This is another one of those books that sounds like it would be amazing but the execution wasn't done as well as it could be. This is the ultimate family drama- estranged adopted twin sisters, a murder, and a few motives. I feel like this book was a little cheesy and a little predictable.

I will say it was fast and I had a hard time putting it down, but it wasn't because the book was blowing me away. I think this could potentially be better on audio. I love other books by this author and will still read anything she writes. This was just not my favorite (by ANY means).

The Locked Ward
Sarah Pekkanen
Publication date: out now!
4/5 stars

I finished this book in less than 24 hours! Mandy first discovers she has a twin when a woman who is accused of murder requests her as her only visitor in locked psychiatric ward. I really enjoyed the alternating POVs and cliffhangers that make you want to keep reading to find out who is telling the truth.

Thank you Sarah Pekkanen, St Marin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this! I found myself wanting/needing to know what happened next. I think sometimes the mystery/thrillers can get to be a bit reptitive but this had plenty of twists and ones that I didn't antcipate.

I'm a huge fan of Sarah's writing, I've read a few books of hers now and she's great at leading from one chapter to the next and that was no different here.

I think both of the main characters we meet, Mandy and Georgia, were fantastic. I loved learning more about their personalities and then how their lives actually intertwined. Of course I don't want to spoil anything but I was shocked! I also really found the ending to be shocking. I know some people said they figured out the twist but I sure as heck did not.

Anyone looking for a quick read to get them out of a slump, I'd recommend this!

It’s always a bonus when a book is set in the state you live in, and this was a solid thriller with twists I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed the switching POVs between Georgia and Mandy which was done in a way that wasn’t confusing.

This was a really good book. You have twins....a psych ward.....a murder......and political scandal. Watching the twins discover each other through visits in the ward was interesting along with watching Georgia try to survive daily life in a place where she may not belong .

"There is more than one type of death. It just happens more slowly in this place."

Amanda 'Mandy' Ravenel's ordinary life is turned upside down after being told she's wealthy socialite Georgia Cartwright's twin sister. The first time the two meet is in a psychiatric hospital where Georgia is being kept after being accused of murdering her younger sister. Despite being separated for thirty plus years, their connection is strong, and Mandy soon finds herself entangled in Georgia's sordid world as she tries to prove her twin sister's innocence.

The book alternates between Georgia and Mandy POVs, only Georgia's chapters are written in second person. At first, I wasn't too keen on the second person narration. I did eventually get used to it, though I felt like I wasn't fully able to understand Georgia as a person. I really liked Mandy, though. She was a strong, independent woman who didn't mess around and did what she set out to do.

There weren't crazy plot twists, but one reveal near the end shocked me, though in hindsight it made a lot of sense and maybe a person paying closer attention could have figured it out. Regardless, I enjoyed this story. The short chapters had me saying, "Okay, I'll just read one more," every time I wanted to put it down.

The sisterhood vibes are tough in this one! I loved that with everything thrown at these two they could weather the storm and fight for the truth.

I love that whenever I pick up a Sarah Pekkanen book I know I am not going to be able to predict the twists and I know I'll be hanging onto every word. I stayed up way too late binge reading this one and I loved it!

I did not guess the twist at all! I thought it was fast paced and wanted to see what was going to happen. I could tell the difference in writing between the two PoV s and was not trying to get through one just to get the one I enjoyed more. Overall a good showing from this author and I am definitely excited to read whatever come next from them.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it had great character development. I really liked the plot and concept of this book. I was expecting a little bit more from the ending though. The ending fell a little bit flat for me.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.


Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Sarah Pekkanen for the copy of The Locked Ward.

This is the first book of Sarah’s that I’ve read and I enjoyed it so much! It was such an interesting concept. I loved the alternating perspectives and how it seemed almost every chapter left you hanging.

The basic plot of this character-driven mystery is simple. The main characters are Georgia and Mandy, twin sisters who were adopted by two different families at birth. At the opening of the book, Georgia, (who was adopted into a wealthy, well-connected family), is in a mental hospital awaiting a competency evaluation. She has been accused of killing Annabelle, her adoptive parents’ daughter by birth, presumably out of jealousy. Georgia has tracked down Mandy, her twin, in order to work on the case from the outside.

Did Georgia kill Annabelle? Georgia and Mandy don’t really know each other so Mandy cannot vouch for Georgia’s innocence and there is ample evidence that Georgia and Annabelle frequently fought, and that Georgia had done physically harmful things to her in the past. Is Georgia simply manipulating Mandy? Or is Georgia innocent, and incarcerated against her will by powerful suspects who also had motives to do Annabelle in?

This was a solid unreliable narrator story where you don’t quite know who did what. It’s a fun read and I’d recommend.

Thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a ARC of this book.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Sarah Pekkanen for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of The Locked Ward.
This story is a fast paced mystery with lots of twists and turns. Most of the characters are unlikeable and unreliable which makes figuring out the unknowns almost impossible. The characters are complex and tend to protect themselves by covering up the truth.
The chapters are short and the plot is missing key pieces. Putting the pieces of this puzzle together kept me focused and wanting more.
This was quite the roller coaster ride which was enjoyable from start to finish. I have read many of Sarah Pekkanen’s novels and I look forward to more.

I received this for free as an ARC, and this is my honest review.

This was a good quick mystery/suspense read. I liked the dual POVs between the sisters. It kept me on edge for some parts. I was able to predict some things and the ended seemed a little rushed, so I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.

This was a twisty read! Overall I enjoyed this book, really kept me on my toes and I liked the ending.

3.25⭐️! The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen was an interesting premise with plenty of potential, but it didn’t fully land for me. The story of Georgia, accused of killing her biological sister and placed in a psychiatric institution while awaiting trial, had the setup for a gripping psychological thriller. The eerie setting and the complicated sibling dynamics between Georgia and Amanda definitely added some tension.

That said, the pacing was uneven. Some sections felt slow and dragged on, making it hard to stay fully engaged. There were moments where the suspense picked up and pulled me in, but overall it didn’t keep me consistently intrigued.

Still, it wasn’t a bad read. The themes of sisterhood, trust, and manipulation were compelling enough to carry me through to the end, and Pekkanen’s writing style is smooth and easy to follow. For me, this one was just okay—not amazing, not terrible, but somewhere in the middle.

The Locked Ward is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on edge from the first page. Sarah Pekkanen masterfully explores the twisted bonds of sisterhood, weaving jealousy, secrets, and suspense into a tense narrative. The story’s unpredictable twists and chilling setting make it impossible to put down. Fans of dark, twisty thrillers will be captivated until the very last page.

Loved!!! I was intrigued throughout and had no idea where it was going. The dual POV, the family dynamics, the suspense, and that ending!! 🤯 Definitely recommend!