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!

This was such a fun read! I wasn’t sure if I could trust anyone for a huge portion of the book, and it left me guessing who was being honest and who was lying. I found myself incredibly invested in both sisters, and didn’t see the ending from a mile away. The only thing that felt a little lackluster was the final small twist, but overall I really enjoyed this.

First and foremost, I want to thank the St. Martin’s Press publishing team and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review. I also want to express my gratitude to the author, Sarah Pekkanen, as this wouldn’t have been possible without her work!

I went into this expecting a thriller, and I got that plus much more! The story revolves around the "crime of the decade," where Georgia Cartwright, adopted as a newborn, is accused of murdering her sister Annabelle, the daughter of their wealthy Southern family. Throughout their upbringing, Georgia was often treated as the odd one out, constantly singled out and pitted against Annabelle, which created a competitive and jealous relationship between the sisters.

Following the accusation of her sister's murder, Georgia is sent to a high-security psychiatric ward, where she remains mute, leaving a cloud of mystery around her. Meanwhile, she contacts her estranged twin, Amanda. Initially, Amanda doesn't trust Georgia, as she hardly knows her, and the odds seem stacked against her. However, as Amanda continues to support Georgia, she begins to question whether Georgia was framed.

Watching the relationship develop between Georgia and Amanda was both beautiful and unique. Their special bond as twins created a sense of connection that was truly touching. Overall, the story is filled with lies, deception, drama, betrayal, and the challenge of determining who to trust. I would rate it 4.5 out of 5 and highly recommend it as a quick and engaging thriller!

3.5* I enjoyed the story, the fast pace (and short chapters!), and the journey to all those hidden truths. It was totally bingeable and addictive from chapter to chapter but the characters themselves fell a little flat for me. I never felt fully invested in any of them and several red herrings characters felt a little superfluous without ultimate resolve. Overall, an enjoyable read but I don’t think this will be the one that sticks with me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Please note that this ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! The twin connection was interesting and it made the book very readable. I loved the short chapters and the little plot twists. There was nothing super shocking, but I enjoyed it overall.

4.5 rounded up!

I thought this would be an easy-ish, fun book to read and get lost in for a little bit so I didn't hesitate to start reading it. It started off effortlessly enough, but the last 25% just kind of went flat. I felt like there were a bunch of things that weren't answered or resolved. And not in a 'sequel coming soon' way. More like 'um...I hope you don't remember this later...'

I didn't have any problems with finishing the book, but I just found it to be a little disappointing in the end.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

I love anything that Sarah Pekkanen writes, and this one did not disappoint! It really kept me enthralled the whole way through. Separated at birth, one sibling grows up on the wrong side of the tracks, and the other with a silver spoon in her mouth - or so it seems. All is never as it appears, nor is this story about a murder. Who did it? The crazy people in the psych ward gave me the jitters! I highly recommend this book. Thank you for the ARC.

This was an incredible read!! I LOVE high society/socialite murder mysteries and Sarah did not let me down (they never do).

Accused of murdering your sister, suffering from shock and possibly psychosis, awaiting psychological evaluation to determine your ability to stand trial... What could go wrong? If only there was someone to help in your defense: like a twin sister you've never met! What a wild ride this one was!

Thank you NetGalley

As soon as I saw the name of this author on the cover of a book with this title, I knew I had to read it. The combination of a great thriller writer and the atmospheric setting of a psychiatric ward was irresistible and immediately pulled me into the claustrophobic story of twins, previously unknown to each other, one of whom has to help the other escape a murder charge while also escaping the clutches of the real murderer. As you wind down labyrinthine paths to get to the conclusion of this chilling and mesmerizing mystery, you'll be looking over your shoulder and questioning everyone and everything. And the final pages will still come as a shock. Highly exciting, fast-paced and enjoyable. Well worth the read.

This novel was good but not great. I guessed where the book was going about 30% of the way in and while I enjoyed the dual POV it almost felt slow at times when the reader had to jump from one POV back to another and then as a result back in the timeline. I did find the conclusion to have a few unexpected twists with details and to be extremely fast paced which was exciting. But I was looking for that quick pace throughout the novel.

Overall this is an enjoyable phycological thriller that is well written and with a cast of characters that really bring the book to life. I didn't find myself overwhelmed with the number of characters either which was nice.

A great read, scary that this kind of thing is plausible.
Well written, great characters and a solid plot. Thus moved at a good pace and kept surprising me with the twists and turns. A perfect summer time read

This is my first Sarah Pekkanen and WOW did the idea of this book suck me in. A woman is wrongfully accused of murder and locked in a psychiatric ward. All the while, she insists she is innocent. This is the perfect setup for a hooking story.... and that is what we get. This story at its core, while also unraveling a mystery, investigates the relationship between sisters and just how tight those bonds can be stretched before they snap.

This book is perfect for fans of: Freida McFadden, Megan Miranda, and Lisa Jewell.

Received as an arc from Netgalley. I was really excited for this book but unfortunately was left underwhelmed. If you told me this was any other author, I would believe you because this book did not seem like a Sarah Pekkanen book. The premise was interesting but I felt like there were too many plot holes and questions not answered at the end. The twist was underwhelming and the ending felt irrelevant. I appreciated the short chapters and the duel POV between the sisters but I didn't feel like there was any character growth.

This is a hit or miss author for me. I LOVED House of Glass. This book however leaned more towards a miss. I enjoyed the short chapters and alternating POV, but it was hard to be invested in the characters. The only reason I finished was because it was a pretty quick read. But there was nothing memorable to set it apart from so many books with similar plots.

Amanda, adopted as an infant, grew up in a loving family. When her parents passed away, she inherited the bar they owned. Georgia, another adopted baby, was raised in a wealthy family where her parents’ biological child, Annabelle, was favored. Now, Georgia is in a locked psychiatric ward, accused of bludgeoning Annabelle to death.

Georgia reaches out to Amanda, leading Amanda to question everything from her true origin to her parents’ honesty and who she can trust as she investigates what really happened between Georgia and Annabelle.

Sarah Pekkanen weaves a captivating tale, skillfully alternating between two POVs. The plot is expertly crafted, with twists, turns, and deceptions as the suspense and danger build. The fast-paced narrative kept me totally engrossed, and I couldn’t put it down until I finished reading.

This is at least the seventh book I’ve read written or co-written by Pekkanen, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all of them. She has become a “must-read” author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of The Locked Ward. This was a gripping psychological thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. I especially enjoyed the dual POV chapters, which added depth and tension to the story.

The pacing was strong, with plenty of twists to keep suspense lovers engaged. Georgia’s character really grew on me — I wasn’t sure about her at first, but by the end, I truly enjoyed her arc. A must-read for fans of dark, suspenseful reads with layered characters and an unsettling atmosphere.

This was my first Sarah Pekkanen read and it definitely will not be my last!

The Locked Ward is a standout novel that combines psychological insight with a gripping narrative. Its innovative point of view and compelling characters make it a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and literary fiction alike.

The characters are richly developed, each with their own intricate backstories and motivations, adding layers of depth to the story. The setting of the locked ward is portrayed with authenticity and sensitivity, shedding light on the nuances of mental health care.

The twists. Well, I didn't see them coming and boy did they keep coming! The plot unfolds with precision, balancing suspense and emotional resonance. Pekkanen's writing is both eloquent and accessible, making complex themes approachable without sacrificing depth. The story navigates the fine line between reality and perception, challenging readers to question their own assumptions.

An easy 5-star read for me and a favorite read in awhile!! I'll be recommending this to everyone I know.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!