I really liked her previous book but unfortunately this was a DNF. I just couldn't get into the premise. Why would Mandy believe a random woman saying she's her twin. "The connection" felt forced.

Lots of twists and turns in this book, and I enjoyed the process of it. I thought it was well written, bouncing between Georgia and Mandy, and trying to figure out who killed Georgia’s sister, who was lying and what was real, as well as what was going to happen in the meantime.

The concept of the mental ward certainly added another layer of creepiness and suspense to the book. And the way Georgia’s chapters were written in second-perspective did the same. Well done to build the story.

While there were a couple things that felt a little too easily explained away by the end, overall I really liked it and how it unfolded. Held my attention and had my thinking thru all the possibilities.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

Sarah Pekkanen’s The Locked Ward is a gripping psychological thriller that kept me on my toes from start to finish. This story is a mix of scary mental ward experiences, whodunnit murder mystery, and the unexplained shared twin connection.

I loved how this dual point of view story constantly challenged my theories about the mystery, making each twist even more satisfying. The short chapters made for a fast-paced, bingeable read—something I especially appreciate as a busy mom who often has to read in short bursts. Pekkanen’s writing keeps the tension high and the pages turning.

Overall, The Locked Ward is an engaging, suspenseful read that will keep you guessing until the very end. If you love psychological thrillers with an unpredictable edge, this one is worth picking up! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! This was a pretty middle of the road thriller for me. I was interested in the concept of the setting being a psychiatric hospital, but most of the book took place externally aside from several scenes to show that this hospital is perhaps the worst staffed, most careless hospital in the country that allows random visitors at all hours of the day. There was so many secondary characters that I think were supposed to act as red herrings (the bartender, the senator's sons, some of the other hospital patients), but were ultimately just superfluous and confusing. I guessed the culprit pretty quickly but there were a couple decent twists at the end that I wasn't expecting. Overall, I found this book to be enjoyable for a quick one day read, but it wasn't groundbreaking and will ultimately be forgettable for me.

As I am watching the news, I hear about the woman that killed her sister. Just as I thought, "who could do such a thing," the phone rings. It's the attorney for the woman on the news. He said she wanted to see me because I am her twin sister and she is innocent.

I will admit, I enjoyed this book for the most part. Mandy is the twin who received the call. Her chapters are written in first person. Georgia is the twin in the locked ward and her chapters are written in second person. This really threw me off and made the ending not quite as exciting. I thought there would be some deep significance to the different POV's and there wasn't. The twist was definitely twisty and unbelievable (in a good way). But it all comes back to the POV's for me. I built up multiple ideas in my head, thinking it had something to do with this detail. When it didn't, it was a huge letdown.

I was kind of confused because the sisters were identical and they saw it immediately. But, when Mandy starts to investigate Georgia's life, not a single person recognized her. No one even mentioned similarities.

I'll probably check out other books by this author. As a whole, if you can get past knowing the POV has nothing to do with the twist, it's an enjoyable read.

I could not put this book down, it had me guessing at every page. The story line was very practical and makes you wonder what secrets your own family could have. This book kept me hooked the entire time, it wrapped up any questions you might have and had a nice ending

Man I love this author so much. Everything she writes is truly thrilling which is hard to find. She genuinely keeps me guessing the entire time.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

The Locked Ward is a clever labyrinth murder mystery thriller from the wonderfully imaginative mind of Sarah Pekkanen that explores themes such as familial loyalty, trust, and going up against a powerful omnipresent political force who has almost everyone, including the local police, in their pocket.

Pekkanen does an excellent job of telling this story with compelling subplots - the intriguing story of twins, separated at birth, reunited to rescue the one who is facing either 20 years in prison or life in a psychiatric institution for a murder she did not commit.

Keep writing Sarah Pekkanen, we will keep reading!

Excellent character and plot development in this captivating psychological thriller.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Sarah Pekkanen for the advanced copy of The Locked Ward. All opinions are my own.

I have enjoyed reading everything by Sarah Pekkanen and The Locked Ward was no different! Even though I enjoyed it… I didn’t LOVE it. The story was a bit slow and I would categorize this as more of a mystery than a thriller!

This is a story about the sisterly bond from two POVs after the death of the third sister. It includes murder, affairs, deceit, coverups, and the depths a family will go to in order to protect their name! Although this isn’t a favorite Pekkanen book for me… I can’t wait to read all of her next releases!

Sarah Pekkanen delivers a gripping psychological thriller in The Locked Ward, a novel that masterfully blends suspense, family secrets, and the unsettling question of whether we can ever truly know those closest to us.

The story follows Amanda, who is thrust into a nightmare when her estranged twin sister, Georgia, is accused of murdering the biological daughter of her wealthy adoptive family. Georgia, institutionalized in a psychiatric ward for the most dangerous offenders, insists on her innocence, pleading with Amanda to help her escape. What follows is a tense and chilling unraveling of truth and deception, set against the backdrop of an eerie mental institution and a family that may be hiding far darker secrets than anyone suspects. Honestly, Pekkanen is a master at crafting an atmosphere of paranoia and dread, so if that’s your thing (it’s mine!) then she’s your girl! . The novel plays with themes of trust, sisterhood, and power, making us question whether Georgia is a victim or a masterful liar. The Southern gothic undertones add richness to the setting, making the family’s wealth and influence feel both intoxicating and suffocating. Five stars!!

Another fantastic read from Sarah Pekkanen! This was fast-paced with a twist I didn't guess. I was excited to keep picking this up and couldn't wait to see how it ended. Sarah Pekkanen has become an author that I will always read.

Could this be it? Could this finally be the first Sarah Pekkanen book I didn’t like? I certainly thought so in the beginning. In fact, I thought I wasn’t going to finish it - I have so many other books to read and this one isn’t grabbing me. I set it aside for a while, and then, I picked it back up…

Georgia and Mandy are twins separated at birth. Mandy is in for the shock of her life when she finds out that Georgia is her twin sister…and she’s also currently in a locked ward for killing her sister Annabelle. She needs Mandy’s help to prove her innocence, but how can Mandy trust this woman she doesn’t even know? And is Georgia even able to trust Mandy, a woman she only found out about a month or so prior? The twists and turns made this the ultimate thriller for me. I didn’t see them coming, and I was completely satisfied with the ending, even though one or two questions were left unanswered.

So no, this wasn’t the first SP book I didn’t like, because as with all of her books, I ended up loving it by the end. In fact, this was one of my favorites! Highly recommend if you enjoy psychological thrillers.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is an emotional and compelling contemporary novel that explores the complexities of family, secrets, and personal healing. The story follows a young woman named Grace who, after a personal tragedy, takes a job at a psychiatric ward. As she becomes entangled in the lives of her patients and co-workers, Grace confronts her own trauma and begins a journey toward understanding herself and those around her.

Pekkanen’s writing is sensitive and insightful, offering a deep dive into the lives of the characters. The novel balances suspense with emotional depth, keeping readers engaged as it explores themes of forgiveness, mental illness, and the struggles of personal growth. The character development is strong, and the setting of the locked ward adds an atmospheric element to the story.

Overall, The Locked Ward is a powerful, thought-provoking read that will resonate with fans of character-driven narratives, offering both emotional intensity and a nuanced look at mental health and recovery.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! An absolute page turner.

Georgia Cartwright is in a locked psychiatric ward for the murder of the biological daughter of her adoptive family - a sister with which she has always had a strained relationship. Georgia reaches out to Mandy, her estranged twin sister for help - telling her she didn't do it and there's a much bigger story here. The chapters alternate POV between Georgia in the locked ward with glimpses into the past, and Mandy who is investigating and trying to figure out what exactly happened.

I adore this kind of thriller - short chapters that convince you to stay up way too late telling yourself "just one more!" - dual POV and questionable reliability of EVERYONE! And a very satisfying ending with all of my questions answered.

A bonus for me is that this book is set in Charlotte, North Carolina, where I live! I have friends that live in the Vue - the apartment complex where Georgia lives - and it was fun to picture events at the real restaurants and neighborhoods the author used in the book.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC - all opinions are my own.

THANK YOU, Netgalley for the ARC! I really enjoyed this book. Couldn’t put it down. The story kept me on my toes and I didn’t see the final twists coming.

“The Locked Ward” by Sarah Pekkanen is such a fun thriller.

Secret twins, murder, a psychiatric facility, and hidden pasts, come together to create the perfect storm of twists and turns.

I could not put this one down and enjoyed every minute.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for gifting me this ARC.

While I don't generally mind if books are embellished or exaggerated, I feel like this one was too much for me. Discovering you have a sibling, let alone a twin, after thinking you were an only child for 30 years. Suddenly Amanda goes from owning her parents bar to becoming Sherlock Holmes (with the help of Georgia) and discovers what really happened the night the murder happened. It was all just a bit out there and unbelievable for me to really enjoy. It was a quick read, but I wasn't wowed by it.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sarah Pekkanen for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date for The Locked Ward is August 5, 2025.

This book hooked me from the start. I loved both Mandy and Georgia’s POVs. I thought it was such a wise choice for Pekkanen to write Mandy’s POV in first person and Georgia’s POV in second person. Such a unique way of storytelling that helped me differentiate between the two perspectives. I've only ever read Pekkanen's work that was co-written with Greer Hendricks, but now I am excited to read more of her solo backlist.

Book: The Locked Ward
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub Date: August 5, 2025

I felt like this story was a little too unbelievable – too far-fetched to be believable. I lost interest quickly and started skimming it. The sisters didn’t know each other existed and after 30 years apart they meet and they have twin telepathy immediately. But you would have thought growing up they would have felt a piece of themselves were missing the whole time. The dialogue was cringe and robotic. I just didn’t make a connection to the characters nor did they make a connection either. I have found I enjoy this author more when she is co-authoring with Greer Hendricks.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is August 5, 2025.

Another winner by Sarah Pekkanen. I flew through this thriller in less than 48 hours! While I enjoyed the way the story wrapped up I didn't need the very last twist - It felt inorganic to the rest of the book. I held my breath through the scenes in the locked ward and was hoping that my narrators were reliable. I loved that the foreshadowing led in a different direction and will definitely suggest this book to all thriller lovers.