The premise of this book sounded very promising and just like the kind of thriller I’d love to dive into. Having read House of Glass, I was excited to give this one a shot. However, a little disappointed in the execution. Things I liked: the short chapters, alternating POVs/narrators, the build up to the dark and twisted secrets at the center of the plot. Loved the twin angle as well, and the fast pace.
Things I didn’t like: why was one narrator’s POV in second person? But the other was not? This was weird. And made all the writing feel a little stilted. For me, the ending fell a little short and was a bit predictable.
Overall not sad I read it but a little sad it didn’t live up to its promise. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

ARC REVIEW- Thriller

Pub Date: August 5, 2025

Gripping and intense! I loved that I was pulled in from the very first page. There was so much tension I didn’t know which character was hiding something up until nearly the very end. Lots of emotional turmoil, family bonds, and hidden truths. I didn’t not want to put this down until I finished!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for a gifted copy of this book!

4.25

Quick and easy read that keeps you engaged and invested!

As this book hasn’t been released yet, I did find two errors during my read (filler words were missing - nothing too crazy) but that did not take me out of the story at all!

If there were things I’d nitpick about…why did one of the POVs refer to themself in second person while the other didn’t? I was expecting a twist there but none came. Also, I feel like we were told about a character’s dark, hidden nature but weren’t shown it. That would have been cool to explore for a chapter or two.

The ending got me though (which I’m surprised I didn’t guess it but nevertheless).

Towards the very end when two characters were able to openly talk (I’m trying not to spoil anything) the prose felt…awkward BUT I will chalk that up to the ‘getting to know you’ stage of things 🤷🏽‍♀️

All in all an interesting mystery that I’d recommend as a palette cleanser between your more standard fast paced thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced read!!!

TW: some expletives (few and far between), psychological child abuse, attempted sexual assault, rape, drugs, alcohol abuse

Full review on GR: loveM

Book Review

📖📖📖📖📖

Shoutout to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this advanced readers copy, due out August 5, 2025!

I am absolutely a Sarah Pekkanen fan and this one did not disappoint. Twins separated at birth, an affair, a heinous murder, a mental ward, a cover up, and the hints of a budding romance. This one has all the things!

The story is told between two sisters, Mandy and Georgia, who have no idea they are twins until later in their lives. Will one twin be able to save the other? I loved the two points of view and the shorter chapters. That always keeps me wanting to come back for more.

There was a twist I didn’t see coming and I will admit, made me dislike one specific character (no spoiler) more than I thought possible.

I don’t want to give anything away. But put the release date on your calendar and grab this one!

#twins

There is nothing more I could want in a psychologically thriller than a psych ward and murder! That is what I got out of this book. Filled with twists, turns, twin to twin energies, and mental illness. I really enjoyed this read. It was a quick and enjoyable one. The story line was well though out in my opinion and it transitioned smoothly. I liked the dark secrets revealed as well.

Trigger warning: This book has moments of potential triggers for some such as mental illness, assault, and child abuse.

If you like those types of reads, this is a high recommendation from me.

The book was so good, it told through the life's of two sister and a murder and a locked ward highly recommend

Sarah Pekkanen does it again! From the very first chapter—one of the strongest openers I’ve read in a long time—this book pulls you in and refuses to let go.

I’m a huge fan of thrillers with multiple POVs, and this one absolutely delivers. The alternating perspectives aren’t just a stylistic choice—they’re essential to the story’s structure and suspense. Each character’s voice is distinct, and the pacing is sharp while still offering just enough detail to fully immerse you in the story.

The plot twists come fast and hard, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, Pekkanen throws in another layer. The stakes keep rising, and the scope of what’s really happening is bigger and more shocking than you’d expect.

The Locked Ward is a tightly woven, high-stakes psychological thriller that’s going to be a hit when it drops on August 5th. Don’t miss it—this one’s a must-read!

This book kept my interest, but lacked character development. I feel as if there was so much we could've learned about the characters, but they were described superficially. I understand that the twist was a big aspect of the plot, but it was lackluster.

e-arc provided by Netgalley

This was a solid thriller, very much like Sarah Pekkanen's other works. I am also not the biggest fan of some random reveal happening in the last chapter but that honestly happens a lot in thrillers

I like author and I like the book, but it didn’t blow me away or keep me in suspense. Yes, it leads you down a certain path with a nice little twist. But it wasn’t as shocking as I expected or needed it to be for me to give it the 4th star.

Ever since reading Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen, I have been anxiously waiting for this novel to come out! I am so glad to say that the wait was worth it, and this book did not disappoint!

This book follows the story of two sisters, Georgia and Mandy. They have only recently discovered that they are twins, as they had been seperated at birth when they were both adopted. Unfortunately, Georgia is locked in a psych ward after allegedly murdering her other sister, and is hoping that Mandy can help her create a reasonable doubt that she is the murderer.

Pekkanen keeps the reader engaged not only through the various twists and turns throughout the book, but also ny diving deep into the complicated family dynamics both sisters face. Some of the themes regarding adoption and grieving are described so beautifully, and I think a lot of readers will relate to Pekkanen’a descriptions throughout the book.

This book got a 4/5 stars for me because I did feel as if there were a few storylines that felt incomplete at the end, and I did have some questions….however, the main problem in the book was resolved nicely at the end. I did also feel that the book was a bit too long, and that it started to drag a little towards the middle. However, I flew through the last 75%, and needed to know what happened!!

I think that this would make an excellent book club pick as there are a lot of topics in here that can be discussed and debated. I am excited for everyone to read it!

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of the novel in exchange for my unbiased review! This book is out in the U.S. on August 5th, 2025!

Georgia is locked up in a psychiatric ward after allegedly murdering her sister at a party. She needs help and she turns to her twin sister for help…who she found out about a month ago and doesn’t know she exists. There are a lot of twists and turns throughout the book. I loved the short chapters, it kept me turning the pages quickly. While I enjoyed the book, it wasn’t as good as her others and not quite as gripping.

Holy twists and turns! This book kept me guessing the whole way through. I loved the locked ward aspect and the different POV's. I thought the book was going in a direction I've read 100 times in different books, but it really surprised me with its unique premise. I love this author and this book is one of my new favorites!

♡ thank you to St. Martin's Press and Sarah Pekkanen for an ARC of this book via NetGalley ♡

3.5/5 rounded up⭐️

okay this book... you'll be on your toes the entire time. it literally pulls you every which way & you don't know what to believe THE WHOLE TIME. 10/10 suspense & tension!

📖 plot & pace: this is a dual POV story following Mandy and Georgia. Georgia is being accused of murdering her sister, Annabelle, but Georgia swears she's being framed. Georgia asked Mandy (who, by the way, is Georgias twin... except she JUST found this out) for help clearing her name. the story is super juicy with lots of rich people power & secrets!! the pacing was slow at first, i honestly found it hard to get into. it speeds up a bit and the slow burn of it all added to the thrill at the end.

👥 characters: there are so many players in this story.. the sisters, prominent political figures, rich families... and honestly most of them are terrible people HAHA. BUT that just had me rooting for Mandy even more (i came around to Georgia... eventually)

🤩 tropes: unreliable narrator, morally gray characters, secret affairs

this was overall a good read! i'd recommend this to all my thriller besties out there!!

Big fan of Sarah Pekkanen. This book did not disappoint. Excellent story line. Would highly recommend this book

I loved this story - I LOVE a good story with 2 "narrators" and short chapters, flew through this in 24 hours as I NEEDED to know what happened. REALLY enjoyed it!!

Twins separated at birth, reunited when one is accused of murdering her adopted sister, and the other trying to help prove her innocent, set in a sinister, creepy mental hospital - a great premise. Some of the twists and turns are predictable, but overall this is a gripping story well worth reading.

Intense, Thought-Provoking, and Emotionally Charged

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a gripping psychological drama that dives deep into the complexities of mental health, trauma, and trust. Set within the confined, unsettling world of a psychiatric unit, the story is both claustrophobic and compelling, with tension that simmers just beneath the surface.

Pekkanen does an excellent job crafting layered characters, particularly the protagonist, whose vulnerability and resilience drive the narrative forward. The plot is well-paced, with a steady unraveling of secrets that keeps you turning pages. While a few moments leaned into familiar tropes, the emotional depth and ethical questions raised throughout the story elevate it beyond a standard psychological thriller.

A compelling read that lingers in your mind long after the final page.

Amanda, or Mandy to most, was raised by modest parents who loved her and did all they could for her. When they passed away rather suddenly Mandy found herself the new owner of their bar. Georgia was raised by wealthy parents, but she never received much love from them; they were too focused on her sister Annabelle and her happiness. When Annabelle is found murdered at the family estate Georgia finds herself locked in an asylum, accused of the murder. Georgia believes that there is only one person she can trust to help her: her twin sister Amanda, a sister she didn’t even know existed until recently. Can they trust each other? Can they uncover who the real murderer is? Or are they leading each other down a dangerous, possibly deadly, path?

-The Locked Ward is made up of short chapters which alternate perspectives between Amanda and Georgia, which I greatly enjoyed. I liked that I could see things from the perspectives of both characters, allowing me to better understand them and their motives, and the short chapters made for a fast-paced story. The chapters also added to the suspense; many chapters ended in cliffhangers and questions, making the novel hard to put down
-There were some parts of the ending that surprised me, but nothing surprised me quite like the final revelation at the very end…WOW!!!!
-There were a couple of events that seemed to be glossed over or almost forgotten about as the novel progressed.
-I absolutely flew through The Locked Ward; I wanted to know what happened, what would happen, and who the murderer was. While it has a very low reread potential, it was a novel I enjoyed nonetheless.

The Locked Ward, available August 5th, is a fast-paced novel full of mystery and revelations. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for gifting to me an electronic copy of the The Locked Ward, given in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me an early digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Locked Ward is psychological and will have you evaluating each character's motives to see who is at the bottom of these actions. Filled with internal monologues fighting to stay sane, familial conflict, and real dangers, The Locked Ward is a great book for someone wanting a page turner with very short chapters.
It is a 4 star for me, just because I have read all her other books, and this one was not up to the caliber of her other ones I've enjoyed, such as House of Glass or her partner writes with Greer Hendricks.
That being said, I do recommend this book.