Sarah Pekkanen does it again! The Locked Ward is a page-turner that left me turning pages trying to figure out the final twist. Imagine being accused of murdering your sister and the only person who can save you is your twin that you never knew you had, Add to that, you are locked up in a psychiatric ward and trying to navigate all of the unknowns on your own. I enjoyed all the creative plot twists that the novel had and did not expect the final reveal of who was actually behind the murder. This was an excellent thriller that I highly recommend.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc. The Locked Ward was my first ready from Sarah Pekkanen in a long while and to be honest I am not sure why because this was such a twisty psychological thriller that I read it in a day.

Chapter one hooked its little claws in me and I just couldn’t stop! Highly recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen was gripping from the very first chapter. The complex dual main characters added depth, making the story even more compelling. I was completely engaged from start to finish, unable to put it down. The only drawback was the ending—it wasn’t entirely clear and required some reading between the lines. Still, the suspense, twists, and psychological tension made this an unforgettable read!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC. The Locked Door by Sarah Pekkanen is a psychological thriller on a different level. Right from the very beginning, when Georgia, a girl from an elite family and Mandy, from a working class family meet they find that they have one common link. However, when they meet due to unfortunate circumstances in Georgia’s life, Mandy could never have imagined the turn her own life would take. Through the many psychological twists, this story kept me on the edge of my seat right up until the very end. This was a phenomenal thriller ride that I would recommend to others.

A twisty thriller. It kept me guessing the entire book and couldn’t figure out who to trust. Overall very good!

"The Locked Ward" is a suspenseful novel that unfolds gradually, and I found it thoroughly engaging. The story centers on two twin sisters who were separated at birth and reunited only as adults. Their paths converge when Georgia finds herself in a psychiatric facility, facing accusations of murder. In a twist of fate, she reaches out to her sister Mandy, who was previously unaware of Georgia's existence. This revelation disrupts Mandy's life, forcing her to reevaluate everything she believed to be true about her family. The central mystery revolves around whether Georgia murdered their adopted sister Annabelle, a woman she reportedly harbored deep animosity towards for years. Throughout the narrative, I developed a strong affinity for Mandy, while Georgia kept me uncertain. The characters prove that appearances can be deceiving. This is certainly a book that deserves a read!

I extend my gratitude to Net Galley and the publisher for providing the ARC. This review reflects my genuine thoughts.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and it had a ton of good twists I did not see coming.

It's rare to find a new premise in the thriller genre these days, but WOW does Pekkanen deliver a unique fantastic web of POVs and stories for us to unravel!

A quick story about a long lose twin and being framed for a murder. I read it in a day, it wasn’t too thrilling but I enjoyed it

The Locked Ward is a nail biting thriller. I did not guess the ending or killer in this book. It is a fast paced read with lots of twists. I am giving it 3.5 stars rounded up. I appreciated the twists. I just had a hard time feeling very attached to any of the characters.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Sarah Pekkanen, and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

WOW I devoured this book. Add to your TBR immediately! Excellently plotted and amazing characters made this thriller one of my top ones for 2025 so far. I cannot wait to read her next thriller.

I'm a big fan of all of Sarah Pekkanen"s books as she is one of my "must read" authors. This thriller did not disappoint!!! I loved the way this story was told in the POV of both twins and how the chapters flipped back and worth between them. There's lots that unfold in this story as you try to discover the truth behind Annabelle's murder. This was another great read that kept me guessing who you could trust and who you couldn't all the way to the end.

Always gives a good twist. Really liked behind previous collabs and this was no different. I had high hopes and was not disappointed. Kept me guessing and turning the page

Another great book from Sarah Pekkanen! I really enjoyed the dual POVs and how each plot had it’s own mysteries, but yet they still tied together. I think Georgia’s chapters were my favorite; being inside the psychiatric ward with her was so interesting.

If you like unreliable narrators, dual POVs, short chapters, and a puzzle you should definitely check this one out.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to… almost the finish. While I loved nearly every part of it, the ending took a turn that didn’t quite work for me. That said, it was a minor flaw in an otherwise fantastic read, and I can still wholeheartedly recommend it to my friends.

As a longtime fan of Sarah Pekkanen, I was thrilled to receive this ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. I couldn’t wait to dive into this gripping thriller about twins, and it did not disappoint!

In the past everything that Sarah Pekkenan put out, I would read. And no, it’s not because she has the best name ever 🤭. However, after The Locked Ward I think I need to take a break. While reading TLW, I found myself thinking I’d already read this book…and although I didn’t this book feels like a compilation of parts of her other books rebranded with a new setting. Bummer. Overall, the book was a quick read and while a bit predictable, it was an enjoyable read. A solid 3/5⭐️ read.

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

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen published by St Martin's Press

Wow! So much fun reading this latest novel by Sarah Pekkanen. It's written from the two main characters viewpoints. It's got a great plot, I loved the characters and how the story evolves. There are a couple of great twists that I didn't see coming. I enjoyed the relationship the two main characters had and how their story unfolded.
This is an easy, quick read. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
This author continues to be on my TBR list.

3.5 stars ⭐️ I liked this book but I did not love Georgia’s POV being told in second person 🥲 It was so hard for me to get past that.

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

Thank you to @StMartinsPress for the early edition of Pekkanen's newest novel, The Locked Ward. This book grabs you by the throat right away and makes you hold your breath wondering how someone wound up in a locked ward for the criminally insane. Finding the missing links and connections between the main characters was a roller coaster ride of emotions. This book was the very definition of a page-turner.

Sarah Pekkanen has become one of my favorite authors and her books don't get the recognition they deserve! This storyline was so well written and keeps you guessing from chapter to chapter. She writes really interesting characters and the twists ans turns keep you glued to the pages! Such a great read!