The Locked Ward is the latest book from @sarahpekkanen. I was very excited to receive an advanced copy from @netgalley and @stmartinspress and it moved up to the top of my TBR list!

Georgia is accused of killing her little sister and is locked in a psych ward while waiting for her trial. She refuses to talk to anyone until she asks her lawyer to reach out to Mandy - a woman who Georgia claims is her twin sister who was separated at birth. The story flips back and forth between Georgia in the psych ward and Mandy who is trying to learn more about Georgia’s past and figure out who she can trust.

This was 4/5 for me! Had a slower start but then it really picks up at the end. It will be released on August 5th.

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The Locked Ward throws you right into the twisty story of twin sisters separated at birth. One is locked up, accused of violent murder, believing the sister who doesn't even know she exists is her only hope. Her twin must unravel their story, leaving you wondering what is real and who is guilty?

Told from each sister's perspective, bouncing back and forth, made it an easy read with short chapters. Highly recommend this thriller from Sarah Pekkanen. While The Glass House was still my favorite story from her, this one is a strong follow up.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved how it started from the beginning with a surprise and the unraveling of the mystery. While there were some parts where I’d understand the placement of the characters I enjoyed Georgia and her sister very well. The writing was well paced and love a dual pov narrative. I definitely recommend
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

A good thriller that hooks you and will keep you guessing! I loved the multiple perspectives and different settings. The twists were fun! I wanted a little bit more out of the characters and the action, at times it felt like weird pacing. Many of the characters didn't seem to have a purpose nor did they add anything to the story.

The story started with a plot that immediately drew me in, but the pace slowed a bit as we delved into Georgia and Mandy’s backstories and their connections. While this character development was important, it took a little time to get fully engaged. Once the groundwork was laid, the plot picked up and became much more intriguing. I do wish there had been more insight into some of the other characters in Mandy’s life, as a few relationships felt unexplored. The twists were well executed, though the major plot reveal was somewhat predictable. Overall, it was an enjoyable suspense read—not overly complex, but still satisfying.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and St. Martin Press for this opportunity to read the ARC for this book! Because I enjoyed House of Glass, I was very excited to read this, and it did not disappoint me! I couldn't put it down!

If Sarah writes it I’m going to read it. Everything she puts out is perfection and this is no exception. It was fast paced and kept me guessing the whole time

This one was a keeper. The two main players are Georgia and Amanda. Georgia has been accused of murdering her sister and has been committed to a mental institution for the time being, until a judge decides whether she is competent to stand trial. Amanda is shocked to discover that she has a twin sister, Georgia, and shocked that her twin is accused of bashing in her step-sister's head. Georgia has nowhere else to turn and has asked Amanda for help. There all some suspects here, of course, and both of these sisters are in grave danger, because someone is determined to hide the truth of what happened.

This one is only missing a star because there were some loose ends not quite tied up, some questions that I had remaining, and the last bits seemed a bit rushed while the first bits seemed to drag out unnecessarily. I really liked the book, however, and would definitely recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed reading The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkhanen. It was a bit slow going when learning about the characters Georgia & Mandy and getting their back stories and connections. Once we moved past a lot of that it started to pick up and become more intriguing. I was not expecting most of the twists and turns that occurred throughout the book. I do wish we got a little more info on some of the other connections with characters in Mandy's life. Overall it was a good suspense book and I enjoyed it. I was definitely not expecting the ending plot twist.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Although not my favorite book, I think it is worth reading. For me, the pace was too slow and the ending predictable. Other readers may not think this, so I am recommending this book.

I have not had the pleasure of reading Sarah Pekkanen's work but this introduction bodes well for future reads. The plot twists keep you hanging. A definite read. Well done.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read this ARC!

The Locked Ward* centers on Georgia's journey in the locked ward as she awaits trial for allegedly killing her younger sister. Her only glimmer of hope lies in her twin sister, whom she has just discovered but never met!
This novel features short chapters, multiple perspectives, suspense, and mystery. It keeps you guessing about what to believe, capturing your attention throughout! Overall, it was an engaging psychological thriller. I do wish the psych ward had played a more significant role in the storyline, which seems odd considering that half of the chapters take place there; however, the focus remained more on Georgia than the ward itself.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!!!

I think this one missed the mark for me. as a psych nurse I may have over-analyzed the scenes in the actual psych unit but it was very inaccurate, at least to my personal experiences. secondly, the characters felt very shallow. I didn’t see a lot of depth or characteristics to really make me CARE about them. lastly, the epilogue/ending just felt SO unnecessary. I felt like each character had their own ending and nothing was really tied together. the second person POV was also very obnoxious to me. on a good note, I felt like the pacing was good and it didn’t feel too draggy. 2/5.

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a story about the length people will go for love. Mandy finds out she has a twin sister when an attorney contacts her to visit Georgia in the psych ward. Things get complicated and the author keeps the reader guessing, never quite knowing what is going on until it’s slowly revealed and the ending is phenomenal! I look forward to reading more by this author.

This was a solid thriller.

I did have a little issue with pacing. It felt like very little happens the first 65% of the book and then all of a sudden a bunch of things were happening and I had a hard time keeping up with everyone. Some questions were answered a little too nicely while others just kind of went away because they no longer served the plot.

Overall, I think this was good. Not fantastic. But worth reading for sure. I didn’t guess the twist at the end, although I probably should have.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Glamorous and wealthy Georgia is in a psychiatric ward accused of killing her sister Annabelle. She is under the careful watch of all staff and is planning to plead insanity. Her only request is to meet her newly discovered twin sister. She is the only person who knows she exists and therefore the only person who may be able to help her.

Amanda is currently running her family bar after her parents' deaths. She is shocked to receive a phone call and discover that she is somehow involved in the biggest current news story - the murder of Annabelle Cartwright. When Amanda finds out she has a twin sister she is forced to investigate her past and try to figure out of Georgia really killed her sister.

This book was a light easy read, but never really grabbed me. I love a book with short chapters and different POVs, but these chapters were almost too short. I wanted certain story lines to go more into depth and I felt like we didn't get to know some of the characters as much as we could have. Nothing was truly very shocking and I felt like the twin connection was too forced.

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for this ARC of The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen.

This book had me in a chokehold and wouldn’t let go until I finished the very last page.

Mandy is a bartender who has taken over the bar her adoptive mom and dad left her. One day she gets a call that she has a sister. A twin sister. She knew she was adopted but never knew where she came from much less of having a twin.
The kicker is that her twin Georgia is on the psychiatric ward of the hospital. Locked up for killing her other sister. In a dissociative state, she wants to see her twin for the first time. Leaving slight verbal clues, she unfolds a story for Mandy to bring down the people who put her there.

I loved how Sarah Pekkanen authored Georgia’s chapters because Georgia for the most part was talking in her own head. She had little encounters but most of her story was in her head. That was very clever writing and I feel like it would be difficult to keep those chapters going but she executed them flawlessly.

There were several twists and suspects during the story and I was here for them all. I loved the ending. The statue part was so cool.

Definitely would recommend this one.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read The Locked Ward before the publication date. It was such an honor!
This was my first Sarah Pekkanen book to read and it will not be my last. I loved her writing style and the juxtaposition of Georgia and Mandy. This book had plots twists and turns at every turn of the page.
There was not a dull chapter or any fluff filling which was refreshing. I can honestly say, it's one of the first thrillers that I didn't trust any of the characters. It's a true thriller that will keep you guessing and questioning the plot to the very last page!
Overall a truly great thriller and a must read by any psychological thriller fan out there.

This was so good! I really enjoyed House of Glass, so I was so excited for the opportunity to read this. Sarah Pekkanen is now on my must read list! I really liked the characters, and the alternating POV worked so well. I wasn't sure what was truth and whom to trust. Coincidentally, my son was doing his psychiatric ward rotation while I was reading this, so it was fun to chat with him about the book over lunch!

Many thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for this copy to read!

Unfortunately, I was unable to finish The Locked Door. While I was intrigued by the premise and had high hopes, I struggled to connect with Georgia’s point of view. The writing style in her narration felt unnatural and distracting to me, which made it difficult to stay engaged. I recognize that this may be a matter of personal preference, and I’m sure other readers may appreciate the unique voice more than I did. I hope to try another title by Sarah Pekkanen in the future.