This is drop everything and read book. Two sister’s and one is blamed for the death of the other. Georgia had everything but now she is residing in a psych ward. She is desperate to prove her innocence but will not talk to anyone. Mandy a bar owner is Georgia’s twin but had been raised separately and without the knowledge of a twin sister. This one has many twists and turns. Always love her books.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I love a good twin story, and a good "is she insane or isn't she?" story.... and this book has both. Georgia and Amanda are twins separated at birth and when Georgia gets arrested for murder and locked in a psych ward, Amanda must find the truth about what happened... and shocking secrets arise about her own family history. This audiobook is also very well-narrated, and the book has well-drawn characters and many twists and turns, right up to the final twist which you'll never see coming. Sarah Pekkanen always brings the thrills and surprises and this twisty plot takes you along on a wild ride through the minds of several unreliable (or are they?) narrators. I had fun until the very last

The Locked Ward is a solid psychological thriller that kept me turning the pages, eager to know whodunit.

Georgia, the daughter of a wealthy family full of secrets and shady people, finds herself in the locked ward of a hospital's psych unit after she is accused of murdering her sister, Annabelle. Who does she call to help prove her innocence? Her other sister, her twin sister, Mandy. The catch is that Mandy doesn't know she has a sister or that Georgia is willing to risk her twin's life to escape the locked ward.

Told in alternating POVs between Georgia and Mandy, the story explores the bonds of sisterhood and the depths of a family's betrayal. Georgia's chapters are told from the rare second-person POV. The "you" pronoun puts the reader directly in Georgia's shoes. It was a bit jarring at first, and I questioned the author's intention, but then the effect became apparent. Imagine finding yourself accused of murder by some very powerful people who will stop at nothing to see you locked away for good. In theory, it could happen to anyone. But is Georgia actually innocent? Even more compelling than the mystery of who killed Annabelle (and why) is the mystery of why Georgia and Mandy were separated at birth and what ties their families together.

My only criticisms are that the pace was a bit slow, and the climax was a bit predictable and anti-climactic. But overall, this was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to the author's next book.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

WHAT did I just read?! 😱 From the first page, The Locked Ward had me in its grip, and it did not let go. Sarah Pekkanen delivers a chilling, twist-filled psychological thriller set in the most unsettling place imaginable: a locked psychiatric ward.

Told through multiple POVs (my fave!) and short, punchy chapters, this was the definition of a binge read. I tore through it, totally immersed in the world of twisted twin bonds, long-buried family secrets, and characters you’re not sure you can trust even for a second.

This story has everything I love in a thriller:
✔️ Unreliable narrators
✔️ Wealthy people with skeletons in their closets
✔️ Creepy, claustrophobic setting
✔️ Emotional tension and layered characters
✔️ So. Many. Twists.

The sibling dynamic is intense and unsettling in the best way, and the psych ward setting adds an eerie, atmospheric edge that keeps you on high alert. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the ending hit me like a freight train. And the epilogue?! 🤯 One word: SHOOK.

This isn’t my first read by Sarah Pekkanen, and once again, she absolutely delivered. Her thrillers always mess with your mind in the best way, and The Locked Ward is no exception. If you love psychological twists that keep you second-guessing everything, add this to your TBR ASAP!

Thank you so much to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the e-ARC of The Locked Ward by @sarahpekkanen !

They are all asking why she did it. Georgia Cartwright has always been jealous of her sister Annabelle. That must be why. After all, she was adopted as a baby and raised as a debutante daughter of the wealthy Cartwright family in Charlotte, NC. She's never been the favorite. She had to know she'd be arrested after standing over the body of Annabelle with the bloody murder weapon in her hand. But Georgia is deathly afraid of going to prison, so she simulates a mental illness to go to the psych ward of a hospital. The world seems to be against her, so she turns to the only one who can help her, her estranged twin sister, Amanda. Up until Georgia's lawyer contacted her, Amanda never knew she had a twin sister. In some ways, though, she's always known. Georgia and Amanda share twin intuition, though they barely know one another. Is that bond strong enough to overcome the impossible?

Growing up in NC and having lived in Charlotte for a short time, the southern family dynasty trope hit pretty close to home. I understand the ripple effect of a wealthy family dynasty - not because I was raised that way, but because I have been in its wake. Sarah Pekkanen NAILED it. It's getting more difficult for writers to create original thrillers that captivate and hold their readers' attention. And the wiser the reader, the harder the task is for the thriller writer. So many thrillers are completely predictable and sometimes feel too borrowed from other authors. NOT THIS ONE. Told from the POVs of both twin sisters, the type and timing of information revealed throughout the novel were completely gripping and provocative. I have now been engrossed in two of Pekkanen's books and am finding myself wanting to be the president of her fan club. She's underrated, y'all. I hope this book soars off the shelves in August.

Thank you, NetGalley, Sarah Pekkanen, and St. Martin's Press for this incredible eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Georgia wakes up in a locked ward in a mental hospital. She’s been accused of killing her sister, the biological daughter of her adoptive parents. She stays quiet, does not say a word to the nurses, the doctors, or anyone else around. But she does tell her lawyer one thing.. Find Mandy. Mandy… her twin sister. When her twin visits, she whispers, “I didn’t do it.” Mandy then goes and tries to find out who did it if it wasn’t Georgia. The more Mandy starts to dig, the more her life is in danger. Is Georgia telling the truth, or is she manipulating Mandy?

I really enjoy this author, so it was a no brainer to read this book. This was another 4 star read by Pekkanen! The book starts off completely drawing you in, making you want to keep reading. I went into the book blind, so I actually didn’t know that Amanda/Mandy was going to be her twin! From there, the scenes in the ward are perfect. The descriptions of the ward really are spot on. They make you feel like you’re actually in the locked ward. I actually thought it was very interesting that Pekkanen chose to use the second person POV for Georgia’s chapters. The other chapters are told from Mandy’s POV, told in the first person POV. I would love to be able to ask Pekkanen what drove her to make this decision.

I didn’t find the book particularly suspenseful, but I did find it enjoyable. I wanted to know how it was going to all play out. The chapters were short and easy to read. The best part of the book were the scenes inside the ward – I would have loved more of them!

There was one twist that got me – I was completely shocked. It wasn’t the big one, but it was still shocking. As for the big reveal, while I didn’t guess it outright, I had some suspicions – I just had a different reason for them. So I would say that the author was successful in tricking me! This is out now, so get your hands on a copy!

Slow-boiling, addictive, and thoroughly twisted, Sarah Pekkanen pulled out all the stops yet again with The Locked Ward. From the down and dirty dysfunctional family dynamic to the almost soap opera-esque feel, while I definitely had to suspend all disbelief, I was happy to do it just to inhale one more word. After all, with two unreliable narrators taking center stage, I never know who or what to trust as the gasoline was poured onto each increasingly spine-tingling scene. And that’s before I even got to the sinister vibe oozing out of the frightening and creepy locked ward. Evocatively described, Pekkanen managed to create a memorable setting that felt as inescapable as it did chillingly true-to-life.

The biggest win of this unputdownable tale, however, was the onion-like plot that wound down to a dynamite series of truly explosive reveals. And while it didn’t exactly feel realistic per se, the unhinged-ness of the truth hit just the right cord. You see, it all slotted perfectly into place thanks to the well-crafted backgrounds for both of these sisters. On top of that, though, was the original style that was used for one of the two distinct POVs. Told via second-person narration, the prose pulled the reader into the layers of desperate secrets, long-buried lies, and dirty schemes far more than just using she or I could have ever achieved. Bravo, Ms. Pekkanen on making me part of this plot right from the beginning.

All said and done, thanks to the short, punchy chapters, claustrophobic feel, and compelling twin-centered premise, there was no chance of my putting this book down before I reached the last page. In fact, I finished it in one single sitting. With a simmering level of unease that preceded a tense knife-edge climax, even the initial slow pace couldn’t put me off one of my favorite authors. Known for her ability to create perfectly timed suspense, this book only further confirmed my love for her razor-sharp writing. So if you’re looking for a nuanced tale of a family in turmoil that was also undeniably thrilling, you don’t need to look any further as you’ve found it right here. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Sarah Pekkanen, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for my complimentary digital and physical copies. All opinions are my own.

The locked ward is a fun page turning summer palette cleanser, in line with other pekkanen thrillers. The thriller alternates between long lost twin sisters-Georgia and Mandy, Georgia wakes up in a locked psychiatric facility after being detained for the murder of her younger adopted sister. Not knowing who to trust or reach out to, she randomly reaches out to her estranged twin sister, Mandy, who didn’t know Georgia existed. On a gut feeling and in the midst of grief after losing her adoptive parents, Mandy shows up to help Georgia, setting off a chain of events that I will take Mandy down a dark road of secrets, conspiracy, and danger trying to clear her sisters name.
This is a twisty fast-paced thriller perfect for late summer with some unseemly twists and turns along the way. Pekkanan doesn’t reinvent the genre but her thrillers are so fun she doesn’t need to!

Thanks the publisher for providing this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

lots of secrets, high society/rich vibes, cop corruption, payoffs, coverups, and more

kept me engaged but wasn’t very thrilling. i wasn’t on the edge of my seat at all. good reveal ending though, didn’t see it coming!

ty for the arc!!

4 1/.2 Stars

The storyline for The Locked Ward was quite inventive and very well executed.

Georgia is falsely accused of killing her sister. When it happens, she reaches out to her newly discovered sister, Mandy - - her twin that she was separated from since birth. Georgia pled insanity on the charge of murdering her sister, Annabelle. Now she hopes that Mandy can help prove her innocence.

There are several mysteries at play here other than the obvious one of who killed Annabelle. You also wonder about the history of Georgia and Mandy. How were they separated? Why? And who decided not to keep them together? And then more questions about who Mandy's adoptive parents really were because she finds some clues tying them to the area in Rhode Island.

Overall, this was a fun page-turner.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The narration for this book was top notch. It truly helped to keep me immersed in the story. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the ebook and audiobook.

I loved the idea of the main character being locked away in a ward and being desperate to prove her innocence - these kinds of books are usually a hit for me. Unfortunately, this book was not what I expected. Although the concept was good, I feel like the author missed many marks. There were parts that I loved, like an estranged sister having to save her twin who is accused of murdering her other sister, but that was about it. Everything else felt like filler. The revelation of the bond between the two was the most exciting part. By the end of the book, I was left unsatisfied and wishing there was more excitement. I'd say this is a solid 2.5 star read, rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sarah Pekkanen for this ARC.

Pekkanen does suspense like no other. Her twists are masterful in this one! Perfect for a rainy summer night.

A five-star thriller with a side of political/family drama to keep things interesting. Loved this story - and especially the way that it wrapped up in the end. Highly recommend this one!

I DNF’ed around the 50% mark. I could not get into the characters or storyline. I’ve enjoyed work from this author before, but sadly this one missed the mark for me. Some good moments but I didn’t quite love it. Others may enjoy!

Sarah Pekkanen does not disappoint with her latest book "The Locked Ward". Following a woman in a locked area of a psych ward who reaches out to a twin sister neither knew existed as her only chance to prove her innocence. But is she innocent? Her twin sister begins to uncover just how many lies, secrets, and deception that occurs in the wealthy family her sister came from. Looking for the really killer of the younger sister she finds out how dangerous getting to the truth can really be when money, politics, and status can be on the line. Will she find out in time before her sister ends up in jail instead of the locked ward of a psych hospital? Why was she separated from her twin sister when her twin was from a very wealthy family? Digging up secrets and finding a killer is a dangerous game but the truth eventually finds everyone. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review.

This book was fine. But that's all I felt from it. It felt very similar to other psychological thriller books I've read that take place on a mental health ward. Just wasn't a book for me. I felt the twists were more obvious to me. Having said this, I will recommend this book if the opportunity arises at work to individuals who more so enjoy this genre and maybe haven't read other psychological thriller with the same setting. I think it has its good parts and for that, I will share the positives with patrons. But overall, just wasn't for me.

This was my first Sarah Pekkanen read, and it was a captivating story! Following twin sisters Georgia and Mandy, I found The Locked Ward was a perfect balance of twisty thriller and family introspection. The more you read, the harder you'll root for Georgia and Mandy's budding sisterhood and search for justice.

Looking forward to reading more from this author!

The Locked Ward is out now! Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an advance copy of this book to review.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the short chapters and the alternating points of view. The story jumps right into the action, and I loved that. The mystery is interesting. What really did happen to Annabelle? Why are these twins just learning about each other? Who has a name like Honey? Serious matters...

I think the part I do not care for about this book is the title and the cover. Yes, Georgia is stuck in a locked ward. Yes, she is there because she might be mentally unstable. It's intense, but not THAT intense. I don't know if that needed to be the entire focus of the novel. I know she wants out, but the cover and title did not make me want to read it. I chose to read it for the author. I knew that her other works are really entertaining and interesting. This was that. It was entertaining, interesting, and some suspense thrown it. I would recommend to friends for an easy, but enjoyable read.

Thank you for the ARC!

📚: The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen
⭐️: 4/5

Georgia finds herself the newest arrival at the locked ward. Accused of her sister’s brutal murder, she looks to the outside world for help in the form of Amanda, whose bond runs unknowingly deep.

Filled with twists, this book was a page-ripper. I didn’t see the ending coming (but somehow I didn’t have my jaw on the ground, so minus a star for that?). The final twist was glorious - but I only wish it had been integrated into the full story a little more.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Locked Ward is out now.

Okay this book was SO GOOD. So many secrets, lies, twists, and turns. I loved all the drama and could not get enough.

I listened to this any chance I got and I was not disappointed whatsoever.

I love a classic whodunit with a spider web of secrets and lies!