I’m pretty sure I’ve read all of this authors books, even ones she has co authored. I would have to say this is one of my favorites. I love that I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it. Because of this, I could hardly put it down.

The idea of having a twin you know nothing about was intriguing enough. Add in the fact she was accused of murdering the daughter of the family she was adopted into you have a hit. Having chapters in both points of view was in of my favorite aspects of this book.

The beginning started off great, shortly after things changed. There were many plot holes in this story, unnecessary characters and just so much time with nothing going on. I found it really hard to finish this one.

The Locked Ward was an excellent read! It's been a while since I've read a well written and suspenseful plot. Pekkanen carefully wove a story together with many red herrings. She tied up all loose ends by the end of the novel, which is a delight! It wasn't the typical story line and was refreshing to read a new idea. The way Pekkanen built the story line was excellent and exciting. It got very hard to put down, especially the last 1/4 of it. By that point, I'm usually bored and ready for things to end, but it wasn't the case with The Locked Ward. Highly recommend!

First, I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sarah Pekkanen for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a fast-paced psychological thriller filled with unreliable characters and unpredictable twists. Told from dual POVs, the story centers around two sisters seeking to uncover truth in a web of lies. It explores themes of family dynamics/relationships, wealth/power, and the complex bonds of sisterhood and the twin connection.

The short chapters keep the story moving quickly, making it an engaging and easy read. The plot constantly keeps you guessing, with surprising twists that keep you on edge.

Highly recommend this read to anyone looking for an unpredictable, unputdownable read!

✨️Review✨️
The Locked Ward by: Sarah Pekkanen
5/5 🌙's

Overview: Georgia has always been the bad sister. The one no one wanted. It's always been about Annabelle the perfect daughter. That is until Annabelle dies. Now the news talks about Georgia. Her mean streak has just continued.

Thoughts: This book kept my attention from the very beginning. The way that Sarah captured a ward in a mental hospital is unparalleled. I used to work at our state mental hospital and the creepy crawly mixed with the misunderstood it is a hard place to stay sane. I truly believe that Sarah did her homework while writing this book. I felt like I was on the locked ward with Georgia from the very beginning. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a mystery. This is a nail biting hooked until the end type of story. So buckle up.



Many thanks to netgally, st. Martin's press, and the author for a DRC of this book in which I had the pleasure in reading. all opinions are my own.
Publish date: 8/5/25

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
This is a very good family mystery that I found hard to put down.
Two women find out they are twins, one of whom is in a mental hospital and the other one gets swept up in helping her newfound twin stay out of jail.
There are some really interesting twists and turns and the ending is excellent. I really enjoyed this book.

Perfectly suspenseful. I never would've seen the end coming. This is the first I've read of this author, and it certainly won't be the last after reading this one! Have already recommended to several of my friends!

I’ve always loved this author; she’s amazing. This book is very good, but it’s not the best of hers by far. The writing style was good, and the plot kept me interested, though it didn’t have many shocking surprises. Overall, it was a very good story, and I would recommend it.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sarah Pekkanen is an auto buy for me so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of The Locked Ward. I flew through it in less than 24 hours. Georgia Cartwright is accused of murdering her younger sister, Annabelle and has pleaded insanity. Locked in a psychiatric ward, the only request Georgia has is for her lawyer to contact, Mandy, a twin sister who has no idea Georgia even exists but who ultimately is the only one who can save her. I loved the family drama, the murder mystery, the sister bond and the setting of this story. The ending is one I didn’t see coming. Bravo yet again Sarah!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Twins separated at birth?! Rich people drama?! Messy relationships?! What's not to like! This book was FANTASTIC. While I did guess the very last twist at the end, that didn't take away from my enjoyment. I can't reccomend this enough.

Georgia is accused of killing her sister. Georgia recently discovered she has a twin sister out there in the world. They were separated at birth. Georgia knows the only person to help her is this sister she has never met.
I love Sarah Pekkanen but this just didn't work for me. The Locked Ward did get my attention at first. But then it just turned in to a story that should have been over way sooner than it was. I didn't really care for any of the characters or storyline as the story progressed.
I will always be grateful for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Special thanks to NetGalley, Sarah Pekkanen, and St. Martin's Press. 3 stars for me.

“You soak it all in and think about how often the tales we tell ourselves are fictions. We’re both the unreliable narrator and the gullible listener in our own life stories”

I love this quote from the book!

🏥I stayed up late for this one! What a thrilling story of two women who didn’t find out they were sisters until adulthood. Georgia is in the hospital’s locked ward and in custody for the murder of her sister. She seeks out Amanda, the biological twin sister she just found out about, and begs her to help. Georgia pleads to Amanda for help; she didn’t do it. Or did she? Amanda has to decide if she believes Georgia enough to want to help her.

🏥The intricate details Pekkanen infuses into this story are so believable, yet so thrillingly off the charts with psychological madness! I don’t know how she does it, but she accomplishes it every time. The family dynamics are heartfelt and learning of each of the twin’s lives apart since birth are gut-wrenching. This has happened before and that is why I find it so interesting.

🏥Twisty and full of turns in all of the unhinged psychological thriller directions we love, this book is already my number one thriller this year.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

This was a highly engaging thriller with a unique concept.

This is my second book I’ve read from this Author and wow was it good. Hard to put down, had me in suspense and then the end 🤯. I guess you can’t really trust anyone, if you like twist I highly recommend you read this. Loved how short the chapters were and the different pov’s between both sisters.

The Locked Ward fell flat for me. The back and forth between the two characters broke up the flow of the story.
I did not care for either Georgia or Mandy… twins separated at birth. Georgia was willing to put her sisters life in danger to save herself and Mandy had this unexplained rage that was never really fleshed out.
There was also multiple times when either of the sitters was in the edge of danger(esp Georgia) that … whew… someone saved them. Seemed like a lazy plot point.
Of course there was a few big twists that this genre depends on … but they were predictable and unoriginal.
Thanks net galley for this arc that allowed me to read and review this book in advance.

Sarah Pekkanen is such a beautifully talented writer, and this book is no different. Her way with words is incredible and this book took me on a rollercoaster ride. I was thrilled to have been granted the opportunity to read this book.

Super interesting and unique concept for a psychological thriller!

Georgia is put into a mental institution under the impression that she killed her sister. Mandy gets a call from Georgia’s lawyer, telling her that they’re long-lost twins.

The book goes back and forth between the two women’s POV’s, but Georgia’s is set in second person.

The beginning of the book was a bit confusing as it leaves a lot for you to wonder about, and it took about 40% to finally feel like something worthwhile was happening. But I really liked it once it picked up and it fully had me sucked in!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

I saved The Locked Ward on my ereader for a day when I knew I could absolutely block out the real world and fall into one of my absolute favorite author's fiction; worlds. I am glad I waited a little bit because I could not put her latest novel down!! So so so so good!!! Twins separated at birth!! Insanity, murder, family drama! Twists, twists, and more twists! The Locked Ward is classic Sarah Pekkanen, taken to the nth degree! Highly recommend!!!!

Thank you NetGalley & St Martins Press for the ARC! Sarah Pekkanen is an auto read for me and I'm so grateful for this copy!

When Georgia Cartwright gets locked up in a psychiatry ward, there's only one person she wants to see and it's someone she's never even met.
Amanda receives this call not believing what she's hearing, she's an only child. How can she possibly have a sister?
Through Amanda, Georgia fights to prove her innocence. She did NOT kill her sister and she should NOT be locked up here.

I love a good murder mystery but throw in some crazy family dynamics that unfold and it makes for a thrilling read. There were so many twists I did not see coming and the dual POV from the two sisters was exciting. There were a few plot points that made me want more, but it was an otherwise fantastic read! I can't wait for everyone to get their hands on this later this year.

A thrilling novel that leads you through a web of deceit, long-lost family, and more. Pekkanen does a great job of showing two sides of this twisted story and keeps you asking, did she do it?

The story revolves around twin sisters who were separated at birth. Georgia is the adopted daughter of a wealthy Southern family, while Amanda lived a quiet life with her parents and is now the owner of her local bar. When Georgia is accused of killing the biological daughter of her parents, she is locked in a psychiatric institution where the most violent offenders are held while she awaits trial. Insisting she is innocent, Georgia makes a desperate attempt to connect with her estranged twin sister and asks her to help set her free by finding the true killer.

Determined to help, Amanda immerses herself in a world foreign to her in an attempt to help save her sister and seek the truth.

This well-crafted thriller hooks you from the first page and propels you through a book you won't want to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read such a thrilling ARC from one of my favorite authors in exchange for my feedback and review!