3.5 rounded up. The plot for this one was fun and interesting to try and unravel, however the twist didn’t deliver quite as much shock and I would have liked it to. I loved how short the chapters are because we were able to see both POVs without being stuck too long in one/the other. I also enjoyed the switch from first person to second person because it gave a better “psych ward” feel to think she is talking to herself in her head (in my opinion.) overall a fun read but not my favorite by this author!

“I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here before they kill me.”

Sarah Pekkanen has such a way of writing a psychological thriller. She leaves you with bits and pieces along the way and its not until the ending that you discover where they are all leading to.
This novel involves two sisters (unaware of each other). Georgia Cartwright, who grew up in a wealthy Southern family with her parents and younger sister Annabelle. They have a love hate relationship as Annabelle was the favorite daughter and Georgia was left out of many family activities. On the night of Annabelle’s birthday, Georgia is found kneeling over Annabelle’s dead body with a bookend in her hands. Accused of her murder, she is locked up in an asylum awaiting her trial.
It is around this time, that Georgia discovers she has a sister Amanda (Mandy). Amanda is running her deceased parents bar after giving up her job in the PR world. Georgia reaches out to her for help. Mandy is intrigued enough to go meet up with her in this locked ward and is surprised when Georgia tells her that she did not kill Annabelle.
There is so much mystery and secrets hiding in the Cartwright family. They are so rich and powerful with many friends in high places that have the ability to hide many things.
This novel is such a fast read for many reasons. The chapters alternate between Georgia and Amanda, which makes it easy to follow along. Also, the chapters are short enough to stop and start whenever you pick it up. But the main reason, is that the author lures you in right from the start and you keep turning the pages quickly to try to figure everything out. Did Georgia murder Annabelle? Why was Georgia not close with her family? Why did Mandy and Georgia not know about each other? What secrets did Mandy’s parents take to the grave? Who killed Annabelle?
If you are looking for a quick, gripping story involving family dynamics, then this will be the book for you!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for bringing this book to my attention and for allowing me to read the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. To be published on August 5, 2025.

Mandy finds out she has a twin sister. The first time she meets her is in a psychiatric hospital. Her twin is being charged with murder. Did she really do it, or is someone setting her up? I loved getting to know the characters in this one, it’s a great thriller, with a twist!!

Release date August 5, 2025

A fast-paced thriller that will keep you guessing! Amanda is living her ordinary life when she hears that Georgia Cartwright, a wealthy socialite, is locked in a psychological ward, awaiting trial for the murder of her step-sister. Soon, Georgia requests that Amanda come visit her in the ward, and tells her that they are long-lost twins. Amanda is Georgia’s only chance at freedom. Can Georgia be trusted? Is she really a murderer? Is she really Amanda’s twin? No one is safe, and Amanda has to solve the mystery before Georgia’s time runs out.

I couldn’t wait to finish it and thought it was unique and captivating, can’t wait to read more.

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a psychological thriller about 32 year old twins that were separated at birth.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin's Press, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Georgia Cartwright and Amanda Ravenal are twins.  They have never met,  and have lived vastly different lives for the last 32 years.  They were adopted by very different parents.  The Cartwrights are among the wealthy elite.  The Ravenals owned the bar in a small town.  

But Georgia had a younger sister who was the apple of her parents eye, and made life miserable for her.  Amanda (Mandy) had loving parents, and a good childhood.

However, when Georgia is accused of murdering her younger sister Annabelle, and is put in a psych ward to await her hearing, the only person she wants to see is Mandy.

Mandy didn't even know she had a twin, and doesn't really trust Georgia.  However, if there is the slightest chance that Georgia is not guilty, Mandy is intent on getting her out of that locked ward.  She does know, however, that Georgia isn't telling her everything.

 

My Opinions:
Well, it looks like I'll be looking for more books by this author!  This was really good.

The actual story unfolded slowly, yet it moved quickly due to the short chapters which alternated between the perspectives of Georgia and Mandy.  This worked really well.

Topics include sibling rivalry, the connectivity between twins,  and nature vs nurture.  We also learned a bit about psychiatric wards, though that part is a little questionable....but it made for great story-telling.  For how many times the author mentioned Georgia's paper on the dissociative state in her college psychiatry course, I was expecting Mandy to find that paper at some point.

Although there weren't a lot of surprises in this book,  it was a well-written and intriguing mystery, and I definitely recommend it.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of Sarah Pekkanen’s latest, The Locked Ward! Pekkanen is an auto-read author for me at this point.

Here we get a dual POV from two long lost twins, Georgia and Mandy. Georgia is in the locked ward of the hospital, after being accused of murdering her sister. So she calls the twin she’s never met (Mandy) to help get her out. The problem is, Mandy’s not convinced of Georgia’s innocence.

As always, Pekkanen kept me guessing for the entire book, and I still was surprised by the resolution of story. Pick this one up when it publishes this week, especially if you e enjoyed this author’s previous works!

Georgia had a luxurious life being adopted by a wealthy family. Unfortunately, her family loved Annabelle more being the biological daughter. Now, Georgia is being held in a psychiatric facility awaiting trial for murdering Annabelle.

Mandy, also adopted, has no idea she has a biological twin sister until she receives a phone call that Georgia is requesting to see her. When Mandy meets Georgia she insists that she is innocent and begs Mandy to help her. As Mandy begins to investigate she finds there is so much more to the story.

While I love a book with duel POVs, Georgia’s was written in second person and I had a really hard time getting into it as badly as I needed to know what really happened. I loved Mandy’s POV and all the sleuthing she did. Honestly this is what brings my rating down.

The chapters are short which did keep me intrigued as well. Like I said, I NEEDED to know the truth. There are so many twists and turns that keep you guessing all the way to the end.

If you love psychological thrillers, estranged siblings at birth, and deep dirty secrets The Locked Ward is perfect for you.

<i> Thank you to NetGalley St. Martin’s Press for this ARC Opportunity. This is an honest and voluntary review. </I>

This is a psychological thriller that completely subverts expectations! Unlike other thrillers where you’re constantly trying to guess the twist or suspect everyone, this one lulls you into a false sense of security. The storytelling feels straightforward and almost documentary-like—you accept everything at face value because the narration feels so grounded. But by the time you reach the end, everything shifts. It’s not a loud, dramatic twist, but rather a quiet unraveling that forces you to reinterpret everything you thought you understood. You’re left questioning not just the events, but the lens through which you’ve been seeing them the entire time.

What truly impressed me was how subtly the book manipulated my perception without ever making me feel deceived. The narrators aren’t unreliable in the typical sense—they’re just as confused and limited in their understanding as the reader, and that makes the whole experience feel even more immersive.

The final reveal didn’t feel like a gimmick, but like the final puzzle piece snapping into place. It made perfect sense, yet I never saw it coming. It’s one of those endings that makes you want to immediately go back and reread everything to see how the author pulled it off so seamlessly. A masterfully written, clever, and deeply engaging thriller.

Thank you Sarah Pekkanen, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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¡Este thriller psicológico trastoca por completo las expectativas! A diferencia de otros thrillers donde intentas constantemente adivinar el giro o sospechar de todos, este te adormece con una falsa sensación de seguridad. La narrativa se siente directa, casi documental: aceptas todo al pie de la letra porque la narración se siente muy sólida. Pero al llegar al final, todo cambia. No es un giro dramático y estridente, sino un desenlace silencioso que te obliga a reinterpretar todo lo que creías entender. Te quedas cuestionando no solo los eventos, sino también la perspectiva a través de la cual los has estado viendo todo el tiempo.

Lo que realmente me impresionó fue la sutil manipulación que el libro hizo de mi percepción sin hacerme sentir engañada en ningún momento. Las narradoras no son poco fiables en el sentido típico; están tan confundidas y limitadas en su comprensión como el lector, y eso hace que la experiencia se sienta aún más inmersiva.

La revelación final no se sintió como un truco, sino como la última pieza del rompecabezas encajando en su lugar. Tenía todo el sentido del mundo, pero nunca lo vi venir. Es uno de esos finales que te dan ganas de volver a leerlo todo para ver cómo la autora lo logró con tanta fluidez. Un thriller magistralmente escrito, ingenioso y profundamente cautivador.

Gracias a Sarah Pekkanen, St. Martin’s Press y NetGalley por el ARC a cambio de una reseña honesta.

This summer I’ve read new releases by 5 or 6 of my favorite thriller authors. THE LOCKED WARD in my opinion is the best of the bunch. I shouldn’t be surprised though because Sarah Pekkanen has consistently delivered over the years.

Georgia Cartwright is locked in a psychiatric unit after being accused of killing her sister. It will be determined soon if she is fit to stand trial. Georgia remains tight lipped but she manages to enlist the help of Amanda, telling her she’s innocent and to get her out of here. While Amanda doesn’t completely trust Georgia, she is compelled to start digging around to find answers.

I liked the uneasy vibe of the story. Not knowing what was believable and what might be lies and deception. It made for an interesting read and there were some surprises thrown in the mix.

Recommend if you enjoy the author’s books and/or are in the mood for a good psychological thriller.

Georgia Cartwright, is accused of murdering her sister, the biological daughter of the wealthy family who adopted her, and is sent to a psych ward.

Locked in, she is awaiting trial, and reaches out to the only person she thinks who could help her- her twin sister, Amanda, who has no idea she even exists.

When they meet face to face, Georgia has just one thing to say to Manda, “ I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.”

But is Georgia telling the truth ?

I enjoyed this quick popcorn thriller read because of the short chapters, and the back and forth POVs between Amanda and Georgia.

It was an easy to guess who done it, and it got super slow in the middle, but it was a fun read nonetheless.

I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a quick read to get out of a reading slump, or who loves thrillers that are a bit over the top.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, Sarah Pekkanen, and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This one was my kind of crazy. A twisty psychological thriller that had me second-guessing everything. That psychiatric ward felt more like a puzzle box than a hospital. Every patient, every memory, every conversation made me come up with wild theories, and every single one got flipped upside down by the end. The themes of trust, trauma, and buried truth are so well placed throughout the story, I couldn’t stop listening. Highly recommend if you love thrillers that mess with your head and have you questioning all the characters.

This was 3.5 stars for me. The pacing felt a bit slow at times but, overall I did still really enjoy it. The twist had me stopped in my tracks! The characters were likeable and complex to a certain extent but I would have loved if they were just a little more developed. I liked how the story is portrayed one way and as it all unfolds you get a lot of full circle moments. However, it did still seem like there were some loose ends. I would definitiely try more books from this author. The story felt really original and always kept my interest.

The Locked Ward follows Georgia Cartwright, a woman currently in a secure psychiatric ward after murdering her little sister in cold-blood. Georgia is maintaining a catatonic state but her mind is still sharp and present, planning her next move. Everyone knows Georgia was adopted and that she’s always harbored deep feelings of jealousy towards Annabelle but what they don’t know is that she’s actually a twin. And contacting her twin Mandy for the first time from the locked ward and asking for her help seems like a solid plan, right? Georgia processes current events and sorts through her memories while in the ward and Mandy journeys into her sister’s world of privilege and deception. But is Georgia really a murderer? Mandy struggles to remember that because you share DNA with a person doesn’t mean you know them.

Ok so I was prepared for a bone-chilling thriller about a psychiatric ward and an alleged murderer living there awaiting her trial. I was not expecting was a dual story about sisterly love and bonds that simply cannot be broken. It was compelling and gave so much depth to both the story and the characters. It took a bit to really draw me in but overall I enjoyed the way it was written and how the story was developed. That said, there were some interesting narration choices that I’m still not sure I understand. Georgia’s chapters were written in a way that the reader is the one experiencing the ward and taking actions etc. Mandy’s were not written that way. I was convinced there had to be a reason and now that I’ve finished it…. Either there was one and I missed it entirely or…. Regardless, it’s a good book, go check it out!

Huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for offering this title for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Sarah Pekkanen's The Locked Ward is a gripping psychological mystery that masterfully intertwines tension and intrigue. With a riveting plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, the novel delves deep into the complexities of the human mind and the secrets hidden within the confines of a locked psychiatric ward.

Told through the perspectives of two narrators, the story unfolds with a dual-layered narrative that adds depth and richness to the mystery. The alternating viewpoints allow readers to experience the unfolding drama from contrasting angles, each narrator revealing unique insights and hidden truths that propel the story forward.

The setting is nothing short of awesome—claustrophobic yet captivating, it perfectly complements the novel's dark, psychological themes. The locked ward itself becomes a character, its chilling atmosphere amplifying the suspense and heightening the stakes.

Pekkanen’s writing is sharp and evocative, pulling readers into a world where nothing is as it seems. The characters are well-drawn, complex, and relatable, making their struggles and revelations all the more impactful.

In conclusion, The Locked Ward is a must-read for fans of psychological mysteries. Its riveting plot, compelling dual narration, and immersive setting make it a standout novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.

I struggle with writing reviews for thrillers because I hate giving away even the most minor of plot points. Sarah Pekkanen is an auto read author for me. Her books are always well paced and twisty enough to hold my interest.

THE LOCKED WARD features a wealthy socialite confined to a psychiatric hospital after being accused of murdering her sister. She maintains her innocence, but no one believes her. She enlists the help of a local tavern owner with whom she shares an unexpected connection. Facing threats from both inside and outside the ward, time is running out.

This started strong, veered into areas that were a bit far fetched, and ended abruptly. It was a perfectly fine thriller that kept me listening, but likely won’t stay in my head for too long.

Once again, the remarkable January LaVoy delivers a stellar performance in the narration of this book. She is able to convey every possible emotion to keep the listener hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen kept me guessing until the very end and I didn't even see it coming.
This book is filled with twists, turns and lots of lies and secrets.
This was just a fantastic read! I loved the story and way that it had me completely sucked in right from the beginning. The things I thought I knew kept changing as the authors slowly revealed new details in the most thoughtful manner.
Captivating and suspenseful. I plowed through this book in about a day.
The Locked Ward is a stunner of a novel that grips you from the beginning and continues to spin you around until the shocking conclusion!

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7795446912

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-locked-ward-sarah-pekkanen/1146167685

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a psychological thriller about Georgia, accused of murdering her sister and confined to a psychiatric ward. Her estranged twin sister Amanda investigates the truth, uncovering dark family secrets and questioning Georgia’s sanity and innocence.

This is the third novel I’ve read by Sarah Pekkanen and I’m enjoying her writing style. Like in her last book, House of Glass, this was a page turner and kept my interest with short chapters that alternated between Georgia and Mandy’s POV, lots of morally gray characters, and creepy vibes. It was pretty twisty with some good surprises, and once again Pekkanen did a nice job tying everything together at the end. An overall solid thriller about power, revenge, sibling rivalry, family secrets, and justice.

Immediately after finishing Sarah Pekkanen’s latest twisty masterpiece, I had to sit down and write my review. Sometimes I wait a bit after finishing to get my thoughts together, but not with the Locked Ward. This book is terrific! I usually love sister books, bonus if they’re twins, but the separated at birth twins adds an extra layer of intrigue. Add in a murder, a behavioral health facility, and one very creepy psychopath named Josh, and I was frantically swiping pages. What I thought I had figured out, I was wrong, and then the very last paragraph blew my mind. All the stars!

Have you ever been doom scrolling on the clock app or on YouTube and come across one or more of those Reddit AITA videos that talks about, “My sibling was the golden child and could do no wrong and I was the black sheep…” videos? Well, take the general gist of all of those videos and that makes up some of the flavor of this book. Or maybe it accounts for the lack of flavor? I’m of two minds about it.

I wanted to like this book, and during the second act I was actually enjoying myself quite a bit; but during the first and third acts I just wasn’t feeling it. The first act felt forced and immature. The third act felt predictable and melodramatic. The book, as a whole, didn’t feel thrilling at all. I’m sure, like all of Pekkanen’s other novels, it will have no trouble finding its audience. It just wasn’t for me. 3⭐️


I was provided a copy of this title by the SMP Early Readers Program, with many thanks. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. All reviews rated three stars or under will not appear on my main social media. Thank you.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen

I love Sarah Pekkanen so much. I've read every one of her books and this might be my favorite yet. Twin girls separated at birth. A high-profile murder. But who can you trust?

Grab this book and find out! You won't be sorry you did.