I finished this book in 2 days which is a big deal for me 🤣The Locked Ward is a strongly atmospheric and emotionally charged psychological thriller that hooks you fast and keeps the suspense alive. If you enjoy stories with dual perspectives, unreliable narrators, and dark family secrets—this one’s worth a read. One of the two perspectives was done in in second person which isn’t very common and it throws you off a little bit I adapted quickly 🤣 Thank you for Netgalley for letting me read this book for my honest review.

The Locked Ward is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully explores the dark and tangled bonds of sisterhood, keeping readers on edge from start to finish. With a chilling atmosphere set in a psychiatric institution for violent offenders, the story delves deep into themes of jealousy, betrayal, and the elusive nature of truth. The intense dynamic between Georgia, accused of a brutal family murder, and her wary twin Amanda creates a suspenseful push-and-pull that blurs the lines between victim and villain. Richly layered and full of unexpected twists, this novel will have you questioning everything until the final page.

This author has been a solid three star read for me and their newest book was much the same; entertaining, kept my attention, and had some twists and turns, but was not a book one that left me wanting more. Some of the storyline felt to far fetched to be believable and even as you learned what really happened (and some extra secrets), it felt to convenient for the story that had been building. I’m sure fans of Pekkanen will enjoy this book more than I did.
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Thank you Netgalley and St Martins Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Mandy gets the shock of a lifetime when she finds out that she has a twin sister that she never knew about. Mandy and Georgia were adopted into different families when they were babies and now that Mandy's parents have died, some secrets died with them, like why they never told her about her sister. To make it even more complicated, Georgia's public defender is the one that broke the news to Mandy because Georgia needs her help. She is currently in a locked psychiatric facility accused of murdering her other sister, Annabelle. There's just one problem, Georgia says she didn't do it and she needs your help to prove it.
Review:
I devoured this book. Over the years, I have read a lot of books and I am coming to realize that I love family dramas and that is exactly what this is. The setting of this book was creepy and eerie being in a locked ward. I loved getting both Mandy and Georgia's POVs while the story unraveled. Mandy made some questionable decisions that left me wanting to shake her. As the reader, I wasn't sure if I should trust Mandy, Georgia, Georgia's family, the ward patients, the lawyer, etc. etc. You honestly don't know who is telling the truth or lying. I had a few different theories while reading and my first gut feeling was correct, but the author makes you question your own thoughts and logic. I did think some of the twists were predictable and a little far fetched. But, the way the story pulled me in with the anticipation of more secrets being revealed and the short chapters was addicting and I highly recommend!
The Locked Ward is available now!
Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Pekkanen, and St. Martin's Press for this ARC of the Locked Ward in exchange for an honest review!

I’m unsure whether the chronology of this book is a clever writing style or just a hodgepodge. It begins with Georgia waking up in a locked psychiatric ward after being accused of killing her adoptive (Georgia being the adoptee) sister. She has recently been made aware that she has a biological twin named Amanda who is absolutely clueless about Georgia’s existence. Nevertheless, Georgia summons Amanda to help her prove her innocence. And the book bounces around between the twins and timelines from there.
For me, this book was far fetched and confusing from the beginning. It seemed like the “twin connection” was stronger than common sense. Amanda is portrayed as hardworking and levelheaded until she encounters Georgia and then she becomes reckless. The backstory of how the twins ended up separated was just too unrealistic for me. I’m not from the Deep South but the portrayal of the wealthy southern genteelity seemed unrealistic and annoying. The actions taken to cover past wrongdoings seemed even too extreme for southern politicians. There were some interesting, although very unrealistic twists and I’m rating up for the entertainment value of the book but it was mostly an “eye rolling” read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

The Locked Ward totally got under my skin—in the best way. From the first chapter, I was completely sucked into the story. It's got this perfect mix of psychological tension and emotional depth that had me flipping pages like crazy.

I kept thinking I had things figured out... and then boom, another twist I didn’t see coming. It had me questioning everyone and everything until the very end.

I listened to this one on audiobook and I thought the narration was great. Georgia has been arrested for killing her sister Annabelle, but mimicking a dissociative state she is instead brought to a locked psychiatric unit. She pins all of her hopes on the twin sister she was separated from at birth and she hasn’t even met, Amanda. Did Georgia kill her sister or was she set up and if she was set up why? This book is twisty but I was hoping for just a twinge twistier. The look at the locked psychiatric unit was absolutely terrifying especially since I think it was well done and realistic. This was a fun summer read and definitely one I would recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)

In The Locked Ward, Sarah Pekkanen spins a fast-paced psychological thriller about two strangers—Georgia, locked away in a psychiatric facility for allegedly murdering her sister, and Mandy, a bar owner who’s shocked to learn she’s Georgia’s secret twin. When Georgia whispers, “I didn’t do it. You have to help me,” the real question becomes: is she lying, or is something darker going on?

Told in short, bingeable chapters from both sisters’ perspectives, this book pulls you into a web of family secrets, elite coverups, and twin-bond tension. I wasn’t floored by the twists, but the pacing and eerie atmosphere kept me hooked. Georgia’s paranoia and Mandy’s curiosity made for a great dynamic, and the mystery behind the adoption and murder gave it that extra edge.

It veers a bit into soapy territory in the second half, but honestly? I didn’t mind. If you're into fast, twisty thrillers with a touch of drama and heart, this one’s worth picking up.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you St. Martins Press and Netgalley for this ARC! When Georgia lands up locked up in a mental ward for killing her sister the only she knows what to do is keep quiet. But she discovered some family secrets before for she was put away and one of them is that she has a twin separated at birth, if she can get help from Mandy who grew up so differently then her own privileged life can the truth about her sisters death come out. This story weaves a lot thru the book inching closer to the truth, keeping you engaged and guessing.

Rich people misbehaving, buried secrets from the past, twins separated at birth and murder combine to make a suspenseful, unpredictable mystery. The alternating POVs masterfully kept the story engaging. Georgia’s chapters had an eerie vibe while Mandy’s were equally twisted. The final twist was completely unexpected making the conclusion surprising and satisfying. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my copy.

I love Sarah Pekkanen books, and her other books with Greer Hendricks.

The Locked Ward did not disappoint, actually, it is my new favorite now. An accelerating and propulsive psychological thriller, Couldn't put it down.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley, for the free ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fine and for the most part will be forgettable. It's not one that will stick around in my mind afterwards. I definitely enjoyed House of Glass more than this one. I liked the two POVs, especially Georgia's. Georgia's POV inside the locked ward had those moments that were eerie and made you want to know what was going to happen next.

Overall this book had nothing really shocking to it for me. It's a decent thriller/mystery though.

The Locked Ward is told in two POVs- Georgia who has been accused of murdering her sister and is now in a psychiatric facility and Mandy who recently finds out she is Georgia's TWIN!

This is a fast paced book with short chapters that was easy to read. It kept me entertained and is full of twists and turns that kept me guessing.

Scandal and secrets are the heart of this book and if you're a veteran of thrillers and suspense, the book may feel predictable. Overall, I liked it and after reading a few of the author's books, she's an author I can count on to entertain me

Thank you so much to Sarah Pekkanen, St. Martin's Press and netgalley for this eARC

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!

Last year I read Pekkanen's novel House of Glass and loved it. This book was fast-paced and exciting and I read it in 2 days. I liked the back and forth between Mandy and Georgia, with Georgia's perspective in second person. I found the mystery engaging and ultimately I really enjoyed this book. Can't read to read more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-arc. I love Sarah Pekkanen. The Locked Ward kept me engaged and I wanted to know what truly happened in the Cartwright house.

This book follows along Georgia Cartwright who is accused of murdering her litte sister and is locked in a psych ward until they can say whether or not she was mental impaired or what happened. Turns out Georgia has a twin sister and she gets her to help investigate since she is locked up. Who can she trust? Nobody!

A thrilling and twisting read.
Things I liked: fast paced
duel pov
good characterization
Things I didn’t care for:
Tidy ending
I enjoyed this book but the ending was a little too neat for my taste and there was a short romantic moment that didn’t really lend itself to the story, in my opinion. Besides that I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest opinion.

This was fast paced and intriguing! This author always delivers a fascinating engaging thrill ride. 5 stars

"...you know no matter what you say or do, you will not be allowed to leave. You are no longer Georgia Cartwright, a thirty-two-year-old woman with a job as a high-end wedding planner, a city apartment with a wall of windows, a weakness for ugly dogs...From this day forward, you are the newest resident of the locked ward."

"Antipsychotics given to a mentally healthy individual can cause the same symptoms they are intended to relieve. They alter brain chemistry and can cause mania, impaired cognition, twitching, and extreme agitation. In other words, this place can make you insane."

Oh Georgia is definitely losing her mind in the unhinged The Locked Ward, by addictive psychological thriller author, Sarah Pekkanen.

Accused of killing the biological daughter of her adoptive parents, her life long sister, Georgia hasn't spoken a word since she was found with the body. She knows only one person that may believe she's innocent and help her...her twin sister Mandy. Too bad Mandy doesn't know she exists...or does she?!

Right from the start this writer pulls us in with a wild premise, a twisted murder mystery and an upended dysfunctional too wealthy family.

The short quick chapters are enhanced in the audiobook by the always brilliant voice actress January Lavoy. She plays these sisters with precision sincerity so that the crazy is amped up to a more even shocking degree.

So grab the popcorn and get ready for a fun thrilling dual narrative between Georgia and Mandy that will leave you whiplashed searching for the twisty truth. The Locked Ward will open up just for your entertainment.

I received free copies of this book/audiobook from St.Martins Press and MacMillan Audio via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

When glamorous Georgia Cartwright is accused of killing her sister – the biological daughter of her wealthy Southern adoptive family – she’s locked in a psychiatric institution while awaiting trial. Was it a fit of rage? Sibling rivalry gone too far? Bitter, all-consuming jealousy?

No one knows because Georgia won’t speak to anyone. That is, until she summons her estranged twin sister Amanda, whispering, “I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.” What ensues is a crazy ride that has Amanda – who didn’t know she even had a sister, let alone a twin – questioning whether she should trust Georgia or if she’s being led down a path of madness by a master manipulator.

This was a fun read that had me intrigued until the very end. I always enjoy the author’s work and this one did not disappoint!

Thank you to Sarah Pekkanen, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a gifted digital copy of the book for an honest review.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, for the advanced readers' copy. This book was a perfect psychological thriller on the head. I enjoyed the characters and the twinssssss!! Like what??