This book grabbed me from the very first page, and I absolutely devoured it. It’s packed with the kind of suspense I crave - murder, mystery, buried family secrets, and more than one twist that genuinely took me by surprise. I was hooked by the dark, twisty undercurrent that runs through every chapter.

The alternating POVs between Georgia and Amanda worked so well for me. The short chapters and the fast pacing made this an unputdownable read. I was flying through the pages, desperate to figure out what the truth was. And I love a setting that includes a mental health facility. While the locked ward isn’t the sole location, its eerie atmosphere added a haunting tension that never let up.

Amanda’s mix of guilt, mistrust, and determination to uncover the truth about Georgia’s case felt incredibly real. The dynamic between them kept me constantly second-guessing everything. Is Georgia truly innocent, or is Amanda being manipulated?

The story plays with perception, mental illness, and trauma in compelling ways. It leans into the idea that truth can be slippery, especially when filtered through memory, fear, and old wounds. While some parts did require a slight suspension of disbelief, the payoff was worth it.

If you enjoy dark psychological thrillers with family drama, morally gray characters, and an ever-tightening web of lies, The Locked Ward is a great choice.

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Georgia Cartwright is in a psychiatric hospital while she awaits trial for the murder of her sister Annabelle. Georgia has her lawyer reach out to Amanda (Mandy) to have Amanda visit Georgia in the locked ward. Unable to resist the urge to meet Georgia and see what she wants, Amanda goes - she has seen the story in the paper about the murder in the very wealthy, prominent Cartwright family. Georgia tells Mandy that they are twins and Mandy is the only person who can help Georgia prove her innocence. Mandy is skeptical but feels in her bones that they are indeed sisters. Georgia warns Mandy that no one else can be trusted. This was an excellent concept and well executed. The chapters are short and alternate between Mandy and Georgia POVs. Both women were adopted and never knew the other existed and it was interesting to see how they find out truths and secrets while dealing with the creepiness of a locked psychiatric ward. I enjoyed the suspense of the story and thought it was very well written. I give the book 4.5 stars out of 5.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on August 5, 2925.

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

Twin girls separated at birth and the consequences to them and others are at the heart of The Locked Ward. Georgia Cartwright finds herself locked in a hospital when she is accused of murdering Annabelle Cartwright, her adoptive parents' natural child born just months after Georgia becomes part of the family. This hospital offers little protection to Georgia. Through a private detective, Georgia learns of her twin sister, Mandy Ravenel, and begins the process of contacting Mandy in the hope that Mandy can help establish her innocence in the murder.

Told from the alternating perspectives of Georgia and Mandy, Mandy reveals herself through the use of first person "I". Georgia speaks only in second person "you" which may give an indication of which young woman may be the more reliable narrator. When Mandy is finally able to put all the facts together, she will come to name the perpetrator of the horrendous crime while her own haunted past comes to light.

The overall narration attests to the evil that some people feel toward those they are supposed to love and care for, all in the name of maintaining the status quo.

I’ve read Sarah Pekkanen before, but The Locked Ward feels like her strongest work yet. I finished this in just two days—completely hooked from start to finish.
The premise is instantly gripping: Georgia Cartwright, accused of murdering her biological sister, is locked away in a psychiatric ward for violent offenders. When her estranged twin Amanda visits, Georgia insists she’s innocent and begs for help. What follows is a tense psychological puzzle—part family drama, part locked‑room thriller—as Amanda is pulled deeper into her sister’s web. Is Georgia a victim of a corrupt Southern dynasty…or a master manipulator?
The pacing is fantastic—sharp, twisty, and filled with red herrings—and the atmosphere of the ward is claustrophobic and eerie in the best way.
A must for anyone who loves psychological thrillers with family secrets, unreliable narrators, and plenty of jaw‑dropping turns.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced copy.

The Locked Ward is more than a murder mystery; it’s a meditation on perception, power, and the dangers of institutional silence.

Mandy is adjusting to life since her parents died and running the family bar when she discovers she has a twin sister who is in a mental ward accused of murder and wants to see her. Georgia is only pretending to be disassociative and slyly tells her during their visits they are twins and she needs help proving she didn’t kill her other sister. Georgia’s adopted family were extremely wealthy with close ties to the local Senator. As Mandy tries to unravel the clues she gets further entangled in the lies and web of deceit surrounding the murder and not sure who to trust. I loved this thriller- the suspense but also the twin sisters! My favorite Sarah Pekkanen to date!

Thank you to St Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC! #thelockedward

The Locked Ward is a tense, psychological thriller that grabbed my attention from the very beginning.

Seriously, this was a two day read for me.

Told through a singular timeline (and a handful of flashbacks) with quick chapters that alternate in narration. The dual points of view are that of twin sisters… who have never met. That detail adds depth and tension, as each perspective offers new insights—and new secrets. Is one of them a murderess?

The plot is filled with smart, unsettling twists—some I never saw coming, which only added to the thrill. The setting of the locked ward itself is both eerie and compelling, and adds to creating a realm where truth and perception constantly blur.

I highly recommend this book to fans of layered suspense, sibling dynamics, and tightly wound mysteries. This wasn’t my first read from Sarah Pekkanen as I quite enjoy her writing style and previous books.

The Locked Ward publishes August 5, 2025, and it absolutely deserves a spot on your summer reading list.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel.

This is a fast-paced book that kept me interested throughout the whole story. There are multiple mysteries happening along the whole ride written so well that you will read past your bedtime! Jealously, Betrayal and Family Dynamics. Definitely need to add to your TBR!
My only negative is the repeated references to "twin connection".
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Ms. Pekkanen and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for another excellent book by Sarah Pekkanen. What a plot, so interesting and it just grabs you. I LOVED the book!!!!! There was a twist inside the locked ward that blew my mind with another patient. The ending couldn’t have been better. Fantastic Read!!! Thanks again.

4.25-4.5 stars

Honestly, this book was a wild ride. I really had no clue where the story was going for most of the book and accepted I was along for the ride. I enjoyed how you weren't sure which characters to root for and which ones to trust. I did not guess the twist and was shook! Would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a good fast paced thriller. The setting reminded me a little of Ward D by Freida McFadden because of the psych ward setting. I did root for Mandy and Georgia to find the happy ever after with their new found sister connection. I did want to know what happened to Colby and Kyle though.

Sarah Pekkanen and I have a tumultuous relationship. I liked some of her stuff and have not liked others. And this falls into the later unfortunately. I wanted to like this but I was bored and uninterested. Everytime I wanted to pick it up i couldn't bring myself to do it.

Georgia and Mandy alternate telling this story of jealousy, secrets, lies, murder, and madness. Twins who were seperated and adopted out at birth, they grew up not knowing about one another. Now, though, Georgia has been accused of bludgeoning her little sister Annabelle, the bio daughter of the parents who adopted her, and she's reached out to Mandy for help. Mandy has lived a happier life but now it's all up in the air. Is Georgia mentally ill? She's in a locked ward but is she ill or something else? I felt for Mandy as she struggled with the revelations from beginning to end. This is classic Pekkanen with short chapters that encourage you to keep reading and a few twists. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good airplane read.

3.5 stars

This was an average popcorn thriller read about twin sisters in a very dysfunctional family. The short chapters made this a quick read and I liked the dual POVs.

Parts of this one were written in the second person perspective which I found a bit jarring and was unclear of its purpose. Also, parts of the plot were far fetched. While not very suspenseful for me, there were enough twists and turns to make this a light, breezy summer read.

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a chilling, twist-filled psychological thriller that dives deep into the complexities of sisterhood, identity, and the thin line between truth and delusion. From the first page, the story pulls you into the eerie, high-stakes world of Georgia Cartwright—a woman accused of murdering her adopted family’s biological daughter—and her reluctant twin sister Amanda, who must decide whether to trust the one person she’s spent her life avoiding.

The setting of the psychiatric institution is deeply atmospheric, adding an extra layer of unease to the already high-tension plot. Pekkanen does a fantastic job keeping you off balance, constantly second-guessing what’s real, who’s telling the truth, and how far people are willing to go to protect secrets. Georgia and Amanda’s dynamic is fraught, messy, and totally compelling.

There were a few moments where the pacing dipped or the plot got a little tangled, but the suspense and emotional stakes more than made up for it. If you love a thriller that leans into unreliable narrators, dark family secrets, and mind-bending twists, this one’s for you.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen
This book really takes the reader on a journey. Imagine you are living a perfectly normal life and then all of a sudden you learn that you have a long lost twin. This is what happens to Amanda when she learns out of the blue that she not only has a twin but this twin is locked away in a mental institution being accused of taking the life of her sister (biological daughter of Georgia's adopted parents).

This book is told from two POV, one is Amanda (Mandy) and the other is Georgia. Mandy’s POV mainly explores the present time while Georgia goes from past to present.

Mandy is intrigued by the discovery of her twin and she decides to visit her. She then has to decide if she believes her sister is guilty or if there is more to her story. Just when you think you have it figured out…you don’t!

I truly enjoyed this book. It kept me wanting to read more and more to uncover the truth!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own.

The Locked Ward was a decent read. I did really enjoy the short chapters. I didn’t feel like this book had many twists , but still a good read.

"Was it...
Bitter, all-consuming jealousy?
Pathological sibling rivalry?
Pure insanity?"
I could not wait for this one to come out then there were other obligations to other books first.
"I didn't do it. You've got to get me out of here." From a locked ward in a psychiatric institution, Georgia tries to convince others she did not kill the biological daughter Annabelle of her wealthy, adopted family. She pleads insanity as she awaits trial. She has never met her twin sister due to separation at birth, but her lawyer summons Mandy to come see her in the ward. When Mandy meets her sister, Georgia asks for her help and if she doesn't comply, she may be killed.
When Mandy investigates the Cartwright empire, she sees so many details that are dark and emotional. She begins to second guess her sister. Is she manipulating her? Is there a connection between her adoption and the family that raised her. Scandalous but so much to reveal....
"Some doors in the locked ward should never be opened."
A highly anticipated book from one of my favorite authors. She writes with tension and drive and well developed characters. The cliffhangers are nudging you to find out with each chapter and twists. A lot to peel back but anticipated...very enjoyable.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3 stars.
I didn’t love it, but the mystery and short chapters kept me interested. I loved “Gone Tonight” by Sarah Pekkanen & the premise of The Locked Ward sounded intriguing and intense.
I was underwhelmed with the story. The first 10% was strong, as well as the last 20%. Everything in between was just okay for me.
I also could have been happy without the epilogue. It felt like I had more questions by the end with things now wrapped up in certain areas of the story.
I will continue to read more of Sarah’s work, but this one wasn’t a favorite.

*The Locked Ward* is a raw and gripping memoir that offers an honest glimpse into the world of psychiatric care. The author's perspective as a doctor navigating the complexities of mental illness brings both empathy and insight to each chapter. The writing is straightforward yet deeply affecting, making it easy to connect with the patients' stories. What stands out is the balance between clinical detachment and genuine human compassion. It’s a thought-provoking read that challenges stigma and sparks important conversations about mental health.

Whenever I read a book by this author, I always know I have to question absolutely everything and everyone!
I loved the vibe of having our main characters be twin sisters who didn't know about each other, it added instant drama to the story and, of course, the fact that one of the sisters was locked up in a mental institution and accused of killing her other sister.
This book was thrilling in every way and anytime I had to put it down my mind was left spinning trying to connect all the dots and read between the lines. I really enjoyed going along with our main character and trying to figure out what actually happened, then also switching t0 the "crazy" twin and getting her perspective in the locked ward.
From start to finish I was so entertained, on the edge of my seat and couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next, I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes thrillers!
Thank you so much to netgalley and Sarah Pekkanen for my arc copy, these opinions are my own.