If you love toxic family relationships ((that aren't yours)) with a side of "did she really kill her sister," then you need to add The Locked Ward to your TBR ASAP. This book is Sarah Pekkanen's latest reminder to us that not all psychological thrillers are created equally, as she delivers an intriguing storyline with characters that keep the reader guessing.

This book is a dream for the readers who like their chapters short, which is one of few things that I wasn't a fan of. Chapters that seemed they could have used some additional detail to fill them out felt unnecessarily abbreviated, leaving a few plot points rushed and less developed than they deserved to be. There were so many storylines going on so quickly rather than focusing on strengthening the larger elements. It makes for an entertaining read, but it was a bit of a miss for me on that respect.

While The Locked Ward isn't my favorite of Pekkanen's books, it's still one I recommend and one I may reread. ((And I will probably snag it if it ends up coming out as a Book of the Month option later this year.))

((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sarah Pekkanen for this complimentary copy.))

I was graciously given an ARC of this title and WOW!! I read this book in one night. I'm a huge Psychological Thriller fan, and this one hit it right on the head. Loved the twists and turns!

Book Review: The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was beyond excited to receive a NetGalley ARC of The Locked Ward from one of my favorite authors, and this thriller did not disappoint! Sarah Pekkanen delivers a book that will keep you reading all night! It is a twist-filled story told from the perspectives of long-lost twin sisters—one confined to a creepy psychiatric ward for murdering her sister at her own birthday party, and the other reeling from the revelation that she even has a twin, especially while morning the loss of parents and taking over their bar business.

From the very start, the tension is high, and Pekkanen keeps the reader guessing with dark, devious characters and shocking twists. The psychological depth and twists make for an addictive read, and I found myself questioning every character’s motives. It’s a wild, suspenseful ride that thriller fans will devour. Highly recommend! Sarah Pekkanen does it again! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I found Sarah Pekkanen's 'The Locked Ward' to be a thoroughly engaging psychological thriller. From the outset, I was immediately drawn into the protagonist, Georgia's, distressing circumstances. Accused of her sister's murder and confined to a psychiatric facility, her situation is undeniably compelling. The revelation of her previously unknown twin sister, Mandy, added a layer of intrigue that significantly heightened my interest.

What I particularly appreciated was Pekkanen's exploration of how wealth and influence can corrupt the integrity of the legal and medical systems. The narrative effectively demonstrates how these systems can fail individuals when compromised by such factors. The author's use of alternating perspectives between Georgia and Mandy was a masterful technique, creating a constant sense of suspense and requiring me to actively question the reliability of each character's viewpoint. I was genuinely kept guessing until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

The fast paced chapters and alternating POV kept me really interested in this book! Characters were nicely developed as well. I didn’t find the ending as surprising as I expected to, which is why I rated 4 stars instead of 5

“The Locked Ward” by Sarah Pekkanen is an absolutely fantastic psychological suspense/thriller. From chapter one, you are pulled into this intriguing plot of how Georgia is accused of murder of her (adopted) sister and is sent to a 2 week hold in a psychiatric hospital. She is faced with impossible odds and must entrust help from her biological twin sister, Mandy, she never knew she had. Coming from a family of wealth and privilege, you see how these factors can easily influence the criminal and medical systems, and not in a good way. The author does a great job of sharing views from both twin sister’s that allow the mystery to unravel. I found myself guessing right up until the very end and I thought the ending was brilliant! 5 ⭐️

The story was a little far-fetched, not my style very unrealistic but I finished it I have liked her other books much more.

I highly recommend this well-crafted thriller to devoted fans like me and to any reader looking for a gripping, unputdownable read from the very first page. This book starts out strong with Georgia, our MFC, who was adopted, standing over her bloodied and dead sister holding a book end that she had bought her for her birthday. Georgia is sent to a Mehran mental hospital where she awaits on whether or not she'll be found competent to stand trial or not. Meanwhile, Mandy gets a call from the hospital advising her that her sister would like her to pick up her stuff. Mandy is shocked because, as far as she knows, she's an only child. When Mandy gets to the hospital, Georgia immediately claims that Mandy needs to help her out.
After meeting Georgia, Mandy immediately feels a connection and wants to uncover the truth. Is Mandy being played, or is there way more to this story then we think? Trust me read it and find out its worth it!

I knew as soon as I saw this book, I had to read it. Of course it didn’t disappoint. I loved it.
We follow twins Maddy and Georgia, who just found out the other existed. Georgia has just been arrested for murdering her other sister Annabelle. Instead of going to jail, she is placed in a pysch ward. When Mandy goes to visit Georgia, Georgia asks Mandy to get her out there as they are going to kill her.
After that line I was hooked. There was tons of twists and turns, some predictable some not. I needed to keep reading to find out what happened.

This book had me hooked and intrigued from the very beginning. It begins with Georgia being locked in a psychiatric ward for killing her sister Annabelle and the only person she wants to see is her estranged twin sister Mandy. The chapters alternate between Georgia and Mandy’s point of view, while unraveling two different storylines: did Georgia kill her sister Annabelle? And how did Georgia and Mandy become estranged?

I enjoyed the short chapters as they often ended in cliffhangers and made me want to keep reading. I also enjoyed the alternating chapters between Georgie and Mandy. There were a few twists and turns along the way that I didn’t see coming. However there were some characters and subplots that were underdeveloped which had me feeling less invested in some pieces of the story. A big theme of the story is the connection between sisters and twins, and the book ends with another twist I didn’t predict. While I enjoy a book that ends with a twist, I felt this particular ending was too random and the author could have done a better job of setting up the ending by developing more details throughout the book.

Overall it was a good thriller, it kept me on my toes and I found myself often saying “just one more chapter”.

I only made it to 20%. The writing felt rough—maybe because it’s in second person? The premise sounded intriguing, but it quickly became too ridiculous. She attended her twin sister’s sister's wake, and not a single person recognized her? There should be at least some resemblance, right? It’s disappointing because I really enjoyed House of Glass, but this one needed more work in the editing department.

I adore Sarah Pekkanen and will always read anything she writes! Unfortunately, this one fell a little flat for me.😭

I am so grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press!

Thank you Netgalley and St Martins Press for the advance copy of this book.

Was it...
Bitter, all-consuming jealousy?
Pathological sibling rivalry?
Pure insanity?

Whatever the cause—and everyone has a theory—it's the Crime of the Decade when glamorous Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a newborn, is accused of killing the biological daughter of her wealthy, Southern family.

Georgia is locked in a psychiatric institution where the most violent offenders are held while she awaits trial. The only words she whispers when her estranged twin sister Amanda visits are, “I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.”

Amanda doesn't trust Georgia, but she can't abandon her in a place so eerie and menacing that it seems to exist in another dimension. Is Georgia the victim of a powerful family that's so depraved murder is the least of their crimes? Or is Amanda being led down a path of madness into the web of a master manipulator?

Nothing is as it seems in Sarah Pekkanen’s The Locked Ward, a shocking psychological thriller about the complex bonds of sisterhood—and what happens when they are stretched to the breaking point.

Some doors in the Locked Ward should never be opened.

I enjoyed the short, quick to read chapters. However, I did not like most of the characters in the book. I've read several books by this author. This one was not one if my favorites. 3 out of 5 ⭐️

I really loved this all the way through. The plot was compelling and kept me hooked until the end. I always love books from this author and would highly recommend to anyone.

Wow this was so great! It kept me engaged throughout and the twist and turns throughout were crazy! This is my first book from this author and now I want to read more from her! Thank you so much for the ARC copy

Another great thriller by Sarah Pekkanen. I loved the small details about the twin relationship. I found it hard to like most of the characters for most of the book, but that feels like it was the point. Interesting perspective on whose stories are heard and how “truth” shifts based on perspective.

I’m a huge fan of this author and read anything Sarah Pekkanen releases so I was elated to read her latest book, The Locked Ward set to be released on August 5, 2025. This one pulled me in right from the very start and it was such a page turner that I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed the dual POVs and the constant unraveling of the truth. I kept thinking different scenarios of who was innocent or not and I was blown away with all the twists and turns. This was a truly fun and twisty thriller and fans of psychological drama and mystery will be pleased. Also the short chapters make this a quick page turner and can be read in one sitting. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

I had pretty high hopes for this as the author's last novel, one of my favourite thrillers of the year. But I found this to be just OK. I did love the short chapters and how fast paced it was though!

I always enjoy Sarah Pekkanen novels, and I was super intrigued by The Locked Ward, so I was excited to get a chance to read this early! There's a lot of twists and turns in this, and it kept me very engaged. Mandy and Georgia have never met, and have no idea that the other exists, until Georgia is committed to the locked ward for murdering her other sibling. Both women have issues, baggage, and secrets, but dang did they keep me guessing!

Twin Sisters. One successful, the other not so much. Separated when babies. One twin winds up in a mental hospital. She will need her estranged twin to get her out. Many twists and turns and a totally engrossing adventure. This author never misses writing a story that causes the reader to think. Loved it!