This was a quick and entertaining read. Though not my favorite by her, but was still entertaining. When I am able to predict the outcome, sadly, the book will never get five stars from me, but that doesn't mean that it was not enjoyable. The atmosphere of the institution is so eerie and menacing that it feels like stepping into another dimension. The short chapters made it impossible to put down, and I found myself racing through the pages with warp speed! 

I rated this novel four stars. The mystery surrounding Georgia’s innocence and the secrets of the Cartwright family are executed with a strong trajectory, featuring short, fast-paced, action-packed chapters. While some twists were a bit predictable, and I had hoped for a more earth-shattering conclusion, I still thoroughly enjoyed the character development and the magnetic—at times, eerie—bond between the sisters. 

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press publishing for the advanced reader copy of this fast paced thriller.

This is a really good story, especially if you are a twin, the story is about twins that were separated at birth, adopted by two different families and finding each other many years later. Georgia was adopted by a very wealthy family, though it was not all roses and sunshine growing up, not long after she was adopted, the mother, after many years of trying, has become pregnant and gives birth to a daughter, Annabelle, of course since she is the biological daughter, she is favorably treated and Georgia is shunted to the side. Years later, at a family gathering, Annabelle lies dead and Georgia is locked in an asylum accused of killing her, she has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Amanda (Mandy) runs a bar she had inherited after her parents had passed, something that she hadn't set her sights on when she was younger, but decided to keep it going as a reminder of her parents. She receives a call from Georgia's lawyer asking her to visit Georgia at the asylum, and she does, not knowing this is her sister. Georgia passes along to her (very secretly since she's supposed to be non communicative) that she didn't do it and to help her get out of there. Mandy reluctantly starts to investigate, she first submits the folic of hair that Georgia had ripped out of her head, to test to see if they were related, they are. She then goes to Georgia's apartment, and finds out that Georgia is extremely wealthy. With little hints from Georgia, Mandy starts to put together information that may or may not help get Georgia out. The story is told from the POV of both woman, Georgia is targeted by a large male who is moved out of the ward after being caught trying to attack her in the shower, and is befriended by another patient. Overall a very good book and I would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #St Martins Press for the ARC.

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. There were so many unexpected elements that I did not see coming. A murdered sister. A surprise twin. And people not being as honest as they should. It's a lot to take in.

Amanda (also known as Mandy) is surprised when she's contacted by the twin sister she never knew she had. Georgia Cartwright currently sits in a locked psychiatric institution after murdering her sister Annabelle at her birthday party. Georgia was adopted by a rich southern family named the Cartwrights as a baby, and her adopted parents had Annabelle less than a year later so the two girls were very close in age.

While she's locked away, Georgia has her lawyer reach out to Mandy, who is the only person who can help her clear her name. But while Mandy is intoxicated by Georgia's lavish lifestyle, she isn't so sure that she'll be able to help. Her sister's story doesn't always make sense and she begins to question everything after things start going wrong.

Is Georgia telling the truth? Or is she mentally unwell, and trying to manipulate her?

I really had no idea whose side to be on as the chapters progressed. I didn't feel secure in trusting Mandy, because she seemed so taken by Georgia's lifestyle (like her fashion, and her apartment). And I didn't fully trust Georgia either. She seemed to have good intentions, and yet her aggression toward Annabelle seemed so one sided. I wanted to root for her but there was just so much of her past working against her.

In the end, I did enjoy the story. But it's not a five star read for me because I didn't really like any of the main characters. I was happy for both Mandy and Georgia to get their closure but was also kind of ready to be done with this book.

I also didn't really care for the Georgia POV chapters. They were confusingly written and I felt like if they were written in a different tense, they could have been more useful to the story. It also might have helped me have more sympathy for her character.

Will upload a review on social & goodreads soon — two sisters, twins, separated at birth and a whole lot to overcome the suspension of belief with the main premise, don’t be swayed away by the seemingly far fetched plot line, a few chapters in and it’ll be a distant eye roll, haha, seriously what a page turner! The style of MC narrative changing each chapter was enough to hook me off the hoo—the authors short chapters and differing perspectives of each sister was easy to follow and enjoyable swapping from first person to third person- it was a consuming read from the very beginning, a literal page turner keeping the reader interested by story and the MC narrative swap made it even more difficult to stop after just one chapter. I didn’t find myself trying to pick up any red herrings or possible twists, just went along for the ride and enjoyed the story ; making the final chapters all the more fantastic. I didn’t think I would be able to keep up and turns out I finished it in 2 days. My favourite pekkanen novel yet!

This is a solid psychological thriller that kept me hooked. The pacing is well done, and I enjoyed the alternating narratives between Mandy and Georgia, which added depth and intrigue to the story.

This is only my second book by the author, and I’ve noticed that she does a great job of building paranoia, making me constantly question the characters’ motives and what’s really going on.

The twist was clever, not overly predictable, and it kept me engaged without losing my interest. Overall, it was an enjoyable read with a good mix of suspense and mystery.

Sarah Pekkanen just hits. This book was full of twists and turns. The characters are really good and the twists I didn’t see coming. The sisters meeting each other first in a really awkward situation and then growing there dynamic was beatifully written. Will read her books over and over again.

This is the third (solo) book written by Sarah Pekkanen that I've read and, even though, this is now my least favourite, I still enjoyed it a lot and I can't wait to see what Pekkanen will do next!

I love books (regardless of the genre) about siblings or family drama. And this book has it all. Two POVs (one for each twin sister) - one is told in the first person, the other in the second person -, dark secrets, romance, a twin locked up in a psychiatric ward, political drama and short chapters, which makes it fast-pacing and very quick and exciting to read. There is also some conversation on how twin siblings can share some feelings and experiences that I, personally, never knew about.

The only reason why I didn't love this book as much as I did Gone Tonight and House of Glass, is because I don't particularly enjoy political drama or mystery. Not that this book has a 'political story' per say, but it involves politicians in a way, and I really don't like that. What's more, the conclusion was just OK for my taste. I mean, considering what I've read from this author before, I was expecting something more complex and interesting, and less 'soap opera' style.

I would still easily recommend this book to anyone who is into psychological thrillers and/or has read a book by this author before and enjoyed it.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This was the seventh book by Sarah Pekkanen I've read. Every one of her books that I’ve read so far has been a five-star read, except for one that was a four-star read. Until this one, that is.

While The Locked Ward had an interesting overall storyline, it lacked tension and felt slow-paced despite the short chapters. Although it was a decent read, it didn’t meet my expectations, given how stellar her previous books have been.

I will definitely continue to read her future books, but this one didn’t resonate with me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

All in all this was a solid bounce back from Pekkanen’s previous book. 4.25/4.5 stars rounded up because this kept you on your toes right up until the last page.

I loved “An Anonymous Woman” so I was eager to read more work by Pekkanen. Then “The Glass House” was brilliant right up until it wasn’t. So going into this I was guarded but excited by the premise. Pekkanen’s clearest skill is her premises and novel concepts. The ideas feel well situated within the thriller genre but unique enough to rise above the throng. The premise of this book itself carries a lot of weight and propels a reader forward. It is the shining star.

So let’s break the rest down:

What I liked:
The dual POV. This will be a polarizing factor among readers but I loved the immediacy of a 2nd person narrative style for Georgia and the proximate 3rd person for Mandy. For me, this worked well and helped me to really get into the fear of Georgia. I can see how this will repel another reader though.

Around the 100-130 page mark the tension really picked up for me (this is not to say the first 100 pages were boring, just more set-upesque) and I did actually start to gasp out loud. The shower scene…phew my heart; that’s the scene I (as a fairly normal person) started wishing for the brutal murder of one of the characters…

The overall all sensation that everyone is a bad guy is well done. I never trusted anyone and still a bunch caught me off guard. The characters were complicated in their motivations and everyone had a dark side lurking.

I actually thought the overall pacing of this was much better than The Glass House as well. I was a bit curious about why the post solving of the crime got long but…worth it.


What I didn’t like:
The twin telepathy did feel a bit forced and also a bit rushed at the start. They started clicking really quickly and it was kinda hitting readers over the head with it at the start to get us to buy in. I think I would have bought into this more had it been more subtle.

Small but the fridge clue felt like a lil unbelievable to me 😂 sorry that’s dumb I know.

The payoff with that character I mentioned above? Not good enough. Y’all who read it will know. Come on girlie, give us something more there.

I will read more from Pekkanen in the future.

The newest book from author Sarah Pekkanen was a delightful and engaging thriller. I loved the premise of story about twins separated at birth and how being raised completely different affects their outlook on life. Mandy isn't even aware she has a twin until a lawyer reached out to her to visit her twin locked up in an asylum for the murder of her sister.
Will Mandy be able to help Georgia before she herself is killed? Will Mandy's life be in danger?

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date August 5,2025

Georgia is accused of murdering her sister Annabelle. She is currently locked in a psych ward while the investigation takes place. Georgia was separated at birth from her twin sister and they were adopted by different families. Mandy is the only person she will talk to. She tells Mandy she didn’t kill Annabelle and needs help to get out.

What an intense read this was! I loved it. Excellent story and character development and overall a very exciting book. I kept thinking I figured out what was happening but I definitely didn’t. This was such a great read.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review. Publication date Aug 5, 2025.

I really enjoy this author's books. This book was worth the read! Especially the second half which kept me completely engaged, it was page turning. I definitely look forward to more books by this author. Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for this opportunity!

This was the first book I've read by Pekkanen, despite having HOUSE OF GLASS on my TBR since it was released last August. I usually love thrillers, but I felt this one was just average.

I may have read it in two days, but I wasn't really engaged until around 40-50%. While the plot was moving, there wasn’t much suspense or chapter-ending cliffhangers that made me eager to continue. However, once I reallyyy started to enjoy it, I flew through the rest in one sitting. The pacing picked up, so much was uncovered, and I felt like it was getting harder to trust ANYONE. It was also giving LISTEN FOR THE LIE vibes, which I enjoyed as well.

This book is a prime example of what happens when people try to bury secrets and spread rumors and lies - because it only leads to misunderstandings. SO MUCH was revealed in the last parts of the book that, without spoiling anything, showed that certain events could have been prevented if people just didn’t try to bury secrets to secure their reputations!

There was a twist about 80% in that had me COMPLETELY shook. Unfortunately, I did guess part of the “big” plot twist towards the end, and I was also a bit disappointed by the ending. It seemed a bit random, but maybe that was the point?

Overall, this one won’t become one of my all-time favorites; I think if the author had upped the suspense earlier in the novel, this would have been a 4 or 4.5 star read for me! I certainly still enjoyed it, however, and I'd love to read more of Pekannen's backlist moving forward!

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a raw, honest look at her time in a psychiatric hospital. With sharp writing and deep vulnerability, she breaks the stigma around mental illness and inpatient care. A powerful, eye-opening read that stays with you.

Was this one a teeny bit ridiculous? Yes. Did I devour it anyway? Absolutely. Delightfully twisty and fast-paced, the latest of Sarah Pekkanen's thrillers lives up to her stellar reputation as one of the genre's best.

The Locked Ward by Author Sarah Pekkanen was an enjoyable thriller mystery.

It is a well written book that weaved two stories into one.

A story of murder, sisters, and a mental Institution.

As I read along trying to find out who the killer was it kept my attention, and interest.

I did enjoy the writer’s style in this book of short chapters, which kept the book flowing well

Thank you to NetGalley, Author Sarah Pekkanen, and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy to read and review.

This gripping psychological thriller follows twin sisters Georgia and Mandy, whose lives collide in a shocking way—Georgia is institutionalized for allegedly murdering their stepsister, while Mandy, who never knew she had a twin, is drawn into unraveling the truth. As Georgia insists on her innocence and warns of a deadly conspiracy, Mandy dives into the secrets of the powerful Cartwright family, risking her own life to uncover the past. With fast-paced chapters, eerie twin connections, and a suspenseful mystery, this well-crafted novel keeps readers hooked, despite some predictable twists. A compelling read for thriller fans, earning a solid 4-star rating! Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed getting yo know Mandy and Georgia. I have some questions. Unfortunately, I can’t include them to avoid spoilers for future readers. It was a good book. I would encourage others to give a chance. My opinion is mine alone.

When you get approved to read a book by an author you have put on auto-buy, you drop everything and read it, and this one did not disappoint!

This was so suspenseful and the character development was so good with these twins. The Locked Ward is a fast paced thriller that I couldn't put down. The twists had me gasping and the ending was everything. Thank you NetGalley for the arc! You did it again Sarah!

Four Stars!!!

This was another book that I was eagerly anticipating. I loved the author’s previous book “House of Glass”, so I had high hopes for this book. While I did like this book, I didn’t love it unfortunately. I did love the short chapters, and the alternating POV’s between Georgia and Mandy. But the shock value just wasn’t there for me in this story, and I still feel like I have some questions/details that need to be addressed.

Georgia Cartwright, a wealthy woman wakes up in a locked ward accused of bludgeoning her younger sister to death. She is refusing to speak to anyone, but only wants to see one person and that is Amanda (Mandy) Ravenel.

Imagine Mandy’s surprise when she receives a call from Georgia’s public defender to go and meet his client- considering they have never met before. Due to curiosity and some sort of connection, Mandy goes to visit Georgia and she learns some deep secrets that turn her life upside down.

In this book you will learn about sibling rivalry, twin connections, wealth, what it’s like to be locked up in a psych ward, family relationships (or lack thereof), and then we get a little bit of suspense/shock value… I still feel like there were some missing details (which probably shouldn’t be that big of a deal), but it did bring my rating down a bit because of it.
All in all, it was still a decent read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for a DRC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: August 5, 2025