Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s press for the ARC! I love a good thriller and Sarah Pekkanen is a *must* for this genre. I loved that the two POV’s were in different tenses, it built a very uneasy feeling. There was one reveal that I wish had gotten more page-time but I very much enjoyed this one!

Great read. I really enjoyed it. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. Love the twist at the end.

This twisty thriller dives deep into the complexities of sisterhood and family secrets. Georgia Cartwright, adopted into a wealthy Southern family, is accused of murdering her sister and confined to a psychiatric institution. Her only hope? Amanda, the twin sister she never knew she had.

As Amanda steps into this eerie world, she must decide whether to trust Georgia’s claims of innocence or suspect her of manipulation. The story is a chilling dive into the secrets of a psychiatric hospital, where nothing is as it seems. Pekkanen masterfully blends psychological suspense with emotional depth, keeping readers on edge. It’s an intricately plotted thriller that explores trust, trauma, and the blurred line between sanity and madness.

The characters are richly developed, making the unraveling mystery feel both intimate and intense. This book is a page-turner that challenges perceptions and leaves you questioning every truth. If you’re into psychological thrillers with family drama and unexpected twists, this one’s for you!

First Thank you for the ARC of this book.

Unfortunately for me, I struggled to get into. Didn’t feel like it got overly interesting till about half way through. The last half was good.

This book had me seated from the very first chapter. Told in short chapters and alternating POV’s, I could not put it down. Georgia is accused of murdering her perfect, favourited little sister Annabelle and sent to a psychological floor in a hospital, otherwise known as the locked ward. The only person she wants to see and who can help her escape and prove her innocence, is the long lost twin sister she discovered. Amanda’s life is thrown upside down when she meets her estranged, secret twin in the locked ward. From there, Georgia sets Amanda on a rabbit hole mission of finding the truth and exposing her wealthy, diplomatic family and friends. I loved the secrets, reveals, twists and turns. Georgia’s chapters were the most riveting, getting those detailed descriptions of the claustrophobic, deranged locked ward and the sick, violent people who are sent there. Georgia plays an excellent game inside to buy herself as much time as she could and that tension built the story so well right until the end. Just when I thought I was right about something, there was a twist I didn’t see coming. 4,5 stars!

This book was just okay - I had trouble getting into it and found the character development and depth to be a bit shallow.

A new thriller by Sarah Pekkanen? Sign me up!
Pekkanen's latest book bounces back and forth between two women, one in a locked psychiatric ward, accused of a brutal crime, and one on the outside, trying to help her out. In Pekkanen's typical fashion, this book was a real page-turner, and I could barely put it down. I really enjoyed this story. While I did guess a few of the key plot twists that were revealed at the end, I didn't guess them all, and it was enough to keep me wondering. Overall 4/5 stars, a quick read for those who love thrillers.

A fast and fun thriller to read- I couldn't put it down! I look forward to reading more from this author.

An entertaining popcorn thriller. The premise was intriguing - twin sisters separated at birth are reunited only after one of them is accused of murder and placed in a psychiatric locked ward - and the author does a great job with pacing using dual POV. The scenes inside the psychiatric ward give all the creeps, and I enjoyed the storyline of the twins earning about each other in this intense atmosphere. Parts of the murder storyline felt a bit far fetched or unnecessary and a few characters / scenes a little cliche, but overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend.

This book truly gripped me from the very beginning until the very end. One thing I truly enjoy from a thriller is an unreliable narrator and this one definitely had that. This book opens with the murder of Annabelle Cartwright, a wealthy women in midst of celebrating her birthday with an extravagant party hosted by her parents and with her untimely murder. The accused her adopted older sister, Georgia, covered in her blood. This book is told in Georgia POV as she is sent to a mental hospital while they determine if she is fit to stand trial for the murder of her sister. The other POV is told in the perspective of her twin sister which adds a great and fascinating twist to the already tangled story. I really enjoyed that this book was told with alternating chapters which enticed me to not want to put this down. It is a fast paced thriller with short chapters and it has such great twists at the end. I love a good rich people drama storyline sprinkled with deceit and lies and betrayal. At times while reading this book I thought i knew exactly what was happening and at other times I was so lost. At the end I did predict one of the twist but overall had such a great time uncovering what truly happened and who really killed Annabelle. If you enjoy a great thriller with a fast paced and intriguing plot line I think you will enjoy this one. This is my first book by this author and it will definitely not be my last. I highly recommend this thriller it will not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

🧠🔒 The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen 🧠🔒
(Coming August 5th, 2025!)

First things first — a huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC! 🥹📚

Okay, confession time: I'm someone who usually gets bored with thrillers/mysteries (don't hate me 😅), but "The Locked Ward" completely pulled me in! Was I lowkey waiting for a huge “WTF JUST HAPPENED?!” twist? Absolutely. Did it come in the way I expected? Nope. Was I still thoroughly entertained? HECK YES.

✨ Twins?
✨ Possible affair drama (👀 it’s messy, y’all)?
✨ Wealthy Southern family secrets??
✨ Creepy psychiatric ward vibes???
CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, and CHECK.

The tension between Georgia and Amanda had me on edge the whole time — I was seriously side-eyeing everyone like 🧐. (And let’s be real: if a shady side character even breathes weird, my paranoid self is already screaming “SUS!!!” from chapter three 😂.)

There were definitely moments where I got so irrationally mad at certain characters, I wanted to yeet my Kindle across the room. And when a certain bomb dropped? Let’s just say... I *kind of* saw it coming, but it still made my jaw clench because the audacity??? 😤

Was this a super twisty-turny thriller with jaw-dropping shocks every five minutes? No.
Was it addictive, atmospheric, messy in the best way, and begging to be turned into a Lifetime movie or a Netflix mini-series? 1000% YES.

If you love sibling drama, morally questionable rich people, and psychological mind games — or if you're just a thriller/mystery bestie looking for something that feels fresh but not over-the-top — "The Locked Ward" needs to be on your TBR. 🖤

Mark your calendars: August 5th! 🗓️

As a longtime fan of Sarah Pekkanen — both her solo novels and her collaborations with Greer Hendricks — I was thrilled to receive an ARC of The Locked Ward. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Pekkanen’s storytelling shines once again with a fast-paced, suspenseful novel that hooked me from the very first chapter. I love suspense novels, and The Locked Ward delivered with short, compelling chapters and multiple threads that kept the tension high. Each chapter ended on a small cliffhanger, making it extremely hard to put down.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, it wasn't my absolute favorite of Pekkanen's works. The ending felt a little abrupt, and the twist regarding Mandy being the "bad twin" came across as somewhat forced and not as fully developed as I had hoped. A bit more depth to that reveal could have made the story even stronger.

Overall, I really liked The Locked Ward and would highly recommend it to readers who love psychological suspense and are fans of Sarah Pekkanen’s previous books. Her ability to create gripping, readable thrillers remains impressive. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Was it...
Bitter, all-consuming jealousy?
Pathological sibling rivalry?
Pure insanity?
Whatever the cause—and everyone has a theory—it's the Crime of the Decade when glamorous Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a newborn, is accused of killing the biological daughter of her wealthy, Southern family.
Georgia is locked in a psychiatric institution where the most violent offenders are held while she awaits trial. The only words she whispers when her estranged twin sister Amanda visits are, “I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.”

I dove into this one without reading the summary, but based on the title, I knew either someone was crazy or someone thought they were. The story is told from alternating POV's, Mandy and Georgia. One of my favorite parts was the way she wrote the perspectives of the sisters. Of course there is always a header so you know which sisters perspective it’s in but Mandy is always written with “I” while Georgia is always written with “you.” It definitely helps to highlight the difference between them while also demonstrating the disassociative state Georgia is in. While the plot isn't her strongest, her writing has true technique. This will really help on audio as well. This wasn't my favorite, but I did enjoy it and finished it in less than a day. I don't have any real critiques other than the story line is not that unique and it wasn't a jaw dropper, but it is engaging and easy to read!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved Gone Tonight and House of Glass so I was over the moon to receive this ARC as well! Sarah Pekkanen is definitely an author I keep an eye on for new releases!
Expected publication
August 5, 2025 by St. Martin's Press

Two sisters separated at birth. Is one a killer? Follow Georgia and Mandy as the reconnect and save each other.

This thriller had me hooked from the very first page. Set inside the chilling walls of a psychiatric hospital, the story expertly weaves suspense, emotion, and razor-sharp twists that kept me guessing until the final reveal.
The setting is claustrophobic and vividly detailed, creating an atmosphere of creeping dread that perfectly mirrors the unraveling minds within.
Highly recommended for fans of psychological suspense and character-driven thrillers.
This was my first book by Sarah Pekkanen and will not be my last.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy.

What’s stronger than love? Hatred.

Georgia Cartwright, one of Charlotte’s most notable socialites has been accused of murdering her younger sister. But Georgia’s not talking, not to anyone but the twin sister no one knew she had.

This book was full of wild twists and turns that kept me guessing up until the very end what might have happened. Normally I’m pretty good about figuring out the big twists, but I really didn’t guess this one until it was happening, which is an added bonus.

The story felt like something that could have definitely happened in a world where the pressure is on to be perfect. All the characters felt multi dimensional and well fleshed out.

I love Sarah Pekkanen’s writing, she always writes the best thrillers and I was so happy to have been given the privilege to read this one early! If you’re looking for a great new thriller, look no further.

A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this book early through netgalley.

I didn’t see that coming! I’ve read a few books by Sarah Pekkanen and this may be my new favorite. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, this is a must read.

Review Copy

Offer me a book about mental asylums? Oh, yeah, I'm in!

THE LOCKED WARD was an easy read told from two point of views. Each chapter alternated from one person and back. It was very easy to tell when the character/pov changed as the writing style changed from first person to third.

The story centered on family secrets and murder. I was surprised and pleased with the accuracy of the details of the fifth floor. I was a little disappointed with the 'twist' at the end. It seemed a little silly and unnecessary.

Overall though I enjoyed the book and thank St. Martin for making it available for advance review.

3.75 stars
Love the alternate POV and short chapters! It makes for a fast and intense read. It kept me guessing and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Another great one by Pekkanen!

In The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen, glamorous Georgia Cartwright is accused of committing the “Crime of the Decade” when she’s charged with killing the biological daughter of her wealthy Southern family. Locked away in a psychiatric institution for the most violent offenders, Georgia’s only plea to her estranged twin, Amanda, is that she didn’t do it. Torn between distrust and guilt, Amanda sets out to uncover the truth—whether Georgia is the victim of a twisted family conspiracy or a master manipulator herself. As Amanda digs deeper, it becomes clear that nothing in the Locked Ward—or in their family—is what it seems.

This book was a pretty easy read, and I finished it in just two sittings! I liked it. I enjoyed the short chapters and the alternating POVs between Georgia and Mandy, which kept the story moving fast. I found the story intriguing but I’m left with a few lingering questions! The ending was pretty confusing but that may be the point? Overall, a quick and easy thriller!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! The Locked Ward is will be published on August 5, 2025.