Georgia is locked up after being accused of murdering her younger sister. She requests to see her twin sister Amanda - a sister that neither of them knew existed due to being separated at birth. Amanda is shocked by the presence of Georgia, the accusations against her, and Georgia's whispered plea to help her.

Amanda is thrown into a world of secrets and mysteries as she tries to unravel who Georgia is, who can be trusted, and what really happened when these twins were born? This book has its share of spooky moments and twists and turns. Short chapters that alternate between Georgia and Amanda speed the pace of the reading.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen was a fast-paced and thought-provoking read that kept me turning the pages. I was especially drawn to the emotional connection between the sisters—despite being strangers by birth, their bond felt deeply real and powerful. This was my first time reading Pekkanen, and I’m definitely excited to explore more of her work. If you're looking for a compelling story with heart and suspense, this one is a great pick!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Twin sisters who were separated shortly after their births are reunited when one sister is accused of a horrific crime.

Wow. It’s very rare that a book leaves me speechless and this one did just that. Being locked in a mental hospital? No thank you. I felt like I was following right alongside Georgia and felt for her so hard. I loved reading this and easily my favorite book of the summer. The pull between twin sisters was unbreakable in the story which also added another element of depth. Be prepared for a wild ride reading this! My Apple Watch did notify me that my heart rate was high at several points, too.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this advanced readers copy for my review!

This was a five star summer read right here! First of all twins split at birth, thats a good angsty start. I loved the juxtaposition of a sister that grew up with money and one without. Each thinking the other had it better. The story dives into why and how they were split up, eventually. But not before a slew of murders were committed. One sister locked in a psych ward while the other puts herself right in the middle of trouble to help her newfound twin. This book was so twisty it had me guessing what was going on till the end. I highly recommend you go out and get a copy of this book ASAP and add this author to your automatic preorder list!

Thank you to netgalley and publishers for this advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. The words above are 100 percent honest and mine alone.

The Locked Ward is an intense psychological thriller that masterfully pulls readers into Georgia's harrowing experience within The Locked Ward. Pekkanen crafts a deeply unsettling atmosphere, making every page feel like a descent into madness alongside Georgia. The twists and turns are relentless, keeping the reader on edge and questioning reality at every moment. The twin characters are a standout element—both incredibly likable, their dynamic adds emotional depth to the story. Their relationship makes the tension even more gripping, as their struggles intertwine with the eerie mysteries of Annabelle's murder. Overall, The Locked Ward is a thrilling, mind-bending ride that will leave readers breathless. If you enjoy Frieda McFadden and psychological suspense with shocking revelations, this book is a must-read.

OOOOOH this was so good and twisty! Gorgeous and wealthy Georgia has been placed in a mental institution after she was found covered in blood and standing over her sister's dead body. No one believes her, and the fact that she's adopted leaves her feeling more alone than ever. Before this tragedy she had discovered she was a twin. With the help of a P.I. she finds her sister and asks her to come see her and help prove her innocence. This story is filled with lots of lies, drama, and gripping suspense! Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's for my ARC.

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The novel begins as Georgia is found over her dead sister’s body, who happened to be killed with the birthday gift that Georgia bought. She’s sent to the Locked Ward, and Georgia stays silent.

Through an alternating point-of-view narration, we also meet Mandy. Mandy learns that she and Georgia are twins who were separated at birth. Mandy grew up in a modest life while Georgia enjoyed all the luxuries that her wealthy family could imagine. The novel moves back and forth between the two sisters, and I found myself reading more and more so I could return to one side of the story.

The Locked Ward explores the connections between sisters Georgia and Amanda, and how far Georgia’s family will go to protect secrets. There were some twists and turns, and I was engaged to the end. Sarah Pekkanen has become one of my go-to thriller authors, and The Locked Ward didn’t disappoint.

Locked Ward was a fast, twisty read that kept me hooked from the start. I really enjoyed the shifting perspectives—it added depth and kept the story moving. The relationship between the two sisters was especially compelling; seeing how differently they were raised but how similar they still were gave the story an emotional core. While I loved the suspense and turns throughout, the very end felt like one twist too many—almost like it didn’t need that final jolt. Still, a solid psychological thriller with plenty to chew on!

Another great book by Sarah Pekkanen! The writing style is so easy and I found myself in a good flow from beginning to end. This book was hard to put down. Lot's of twists and turns and a surprise ending! Great characters and a great story overall. I loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this title.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC opportunity!

This was a great book to read if you like drama, interesting family dynamics (who doesn’t love that), and other great factors - a claustrophobic feeling, twin connections, and a “whodunnit” vibe.

This had a lot of classic tropes psychological thriller readers love. I enjoyed it and felt it was well paced. I’ll definitely read another book by this author!

Georgia Cartwright finds herself on a psychiatric hold the night of her younger sister’s birthday after she was found standing over the body with blood on her dress. She’s not speaking, well except to one person.

Mandy has never met Georgia Cartwright but is surprised when she receives a call from her lawyer requesting a visit on Georgia’s behalf.

Vindictive characters, salacious relationships, what happened Annabelle Cartwright, and how does Mandy fit in to the mess?

Honestly, this would’ve made a great video game; it certainly read like one (think along the lines of Life is Strange). A bit twisty, but definitely following the thriller/mystery formula, this book was a quick read.

The beginning started off strong and had me hooked, but the middle dragged way too much for my taste. I kept waiting for the tension to ramp up, but the suspense just never hit. For a thriller, it really lacked that edge-of-your-seat feeling I was hoping for. And the ending? Not what I expected—and not in a good way. Just didn’t land for me.

I was able to get a galley of this book and while I enjoyed it, I found myself preferring Mandy’s POV over Georgia’s; the psychiatric stuff was repetitive and some of the characters were unnecessary. I’m also not sure why Georgia’s point of view was in second person? It made me think I was being set up and it wasn’t really Georgia at all, but whoever she was talking to. I definitely found Mandy more interesting and would’ve liked more of a focus on her.

OMG OMG OMG!!! Pekkanen is on my favourite authors list for a reason! What a ride this one is!! Fast pace, twists and turns and that ending!!!? Didn't see it coming! MUST READ!

Sarah Pekkanen consistently delivers captivating, fast-paced thrillers that are easy to binge and filled with many unexpected twists!
This author excels at immersing you in the lives and feelings of her characters.

The Locked Ward kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time!

Sarah Pekkanen is an absolute auto-buy author, and this book will be no exception! From the very first page, I was hooked! Be sure to grab your copy of The Locked Ward on August 5th, 2025! 📚

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC

This is one of the best books I have read in a while! The mystery linked the two twin sisters who came from two different families—the desire for Georgia to be loved the same way as her younger sister Annabelle. Jealousy, envy, and anger rise in Georgia from childhood up until adulthood. Never knowing the reason why she was treated so differently from her sister Annabelle, until one day she decided to take matters into her own hands. Why did Amandas parents keep her true identity hidden from her? Did Georgia kill Annabelle or was she possibly set up? During this crazy period Georgia decided to do a little investigation herself realizing that she was a twin, but what was the reason for her deciding to hunt down her twin? Maybe help to get the real truth out that she wasn’t responsible for Annabells death?

Georgia killed her sister, Annabelle, or so the story goes. When she's found with blood on her dress, all eyes turn to Georgia. Georgia finds herself in a locked psychiatric ward. In a matter of days she may stand trial for the crime of the decade. Then the scales are tipped. Georgia calls upon her long lost sister, Mandy. Mandy will fall directly into Georgia's life and have to find the answers before it's too late.

Sarah Pekkanean writes family drama very well. Everyone is tricky and lying. The sister dynamic is well done but there was also an air of predictability. I think the twists were choreographed well but it was possible to see coming. Overall, this was a quick, easy to follow drama. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.

The Locked Ward, by Sarah Pekkanen is a read until the wee hours of the morning thriller! This novel is about twins separated at birth, but what follows is unbelievable.
Georgia grows up in wealth and notoriety while Amanda has been raised in a working-class couple. Neither one knows they are twins until Georgia starts to suspect and hires a detective to find out. Georgia has been charged with the murder of her sister, who is the biological daughter of her adoptive parents. Although she asserts her innocence, she has been committed to a highly secure psychiatric hospital, where she is determined to find a way out.
I loved this novel, and I strongly recommend this book to all who loves a great thriller!! The ending is so unexpected you will gasp out loud! Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC

WOW. I was so excited to read this after I read The Glass House and it totally delivered! This book is super hard to put down, has a great twist, and an interesting storyline. As a certified thriller hater, I find it very hard to find thrillers that I actually enjoy. 4 stars!