Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC copy of this book.
4 stars because it kept me hooked, especially the last half of the book. I loved the twists (even though they didn’t shock me) and they kept me wanting to read.

I love Sarah Pekkanen and this book did not disappoint! I always try to figure out a the twists (don't we all) and this one kept me on my toes the whole book. I really enjoyed it!!

Whenever I pick up a Sarah Pekkanen novel, I know I’m in for a fast-paced, dark thriller with an addictive plot and a twist I don’t see coming. The Locked Ward delivered many of those elements. I flew through the pages and found it hard to put down.

That said, while the journey kept me hooked, the ending left me wanting more. I felt like something was missing, and it didn’t quite land with the impact I was expecting. Because of that, I’m torn between a 3- and 4-star rating. It could have easily been a 5 for me if the conclusion had been stronger.

Still, Pekkanen’s writing is as gripping as ever, and fans of her thrillers will likely find themselves just as glued to the pages as I was.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Socialite wedding planner Georgia is accustomed to the glamorous lifestyle with a beautiful apartment and designer clothes. But she can only dream of that life as she is now wasting away at a psychiatric ward awaiting trial, maintaining her innocence. Mercifully, her mind remains sharp. She manages to grab her estranged twin sister Mandy's attention and cryptically relays her plan under close watch of the staff. But not all the attention she gets is wanted and she is constantly on high alert. Mandy feels her desperation and goes to great lengths to discover the truth. The more she peels back the layers the more she realizes how deep they are. At times the twins' minds almost merge into one, a testament to their profound attachment.

This book! So many things to fall in love with but amongst the best are the unsettling depiction of existence on a psych ward, sister bonds, (dis)loyalty and mind blowing twists. The author knit together tight tension, suspense, a sense of dread and anxiety all in one package. The anticipation began on the first page and didn't slow down the entire time, yet it wasn't over the top. I liked the originality which caused me to sit up and take notice. The writing itself is compelling and enticing and the ending is richly satisfying. It would be a shame for thriller readers to miss out on this gem!

Twins separated at birth, murder, and a political scandal all contribute to a twisty tale! I really liked the short chapters that were told from different POVs. While you can definitely predict a few twists, there are a few that will surprise you.

Thanks so much @stmartinspress for granting me access via @netgalley.

After Georgia Cartwright, the black sheep of the family, is accused of killing her sister Annabelle, she finds herself locked in a psychiatric institution. If her newly found twin sister can't find the evidence needed to set her free, Georgia knows she will die in jail. Meanwhile, Mandy is going through a bit of an identity crisis after finding out not only that she has a twin, but also that her parents may not have been the people she always thought they were.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a dual-POV psychological thriller with short chapters and an intriguing setting. While it may not have been 100% realistic, I'm always willing to suspend my disbelief and go on a ride with the characters.

I was really excited to read this book, but it took me several days to finish. I can't put my finger on why. The character development was excellent for Mandy and was good for Georgia. The plot was exciting and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. At the same time, I just couldn't give the book 5 stars. It was lacking that special magic; that certain something that makes a 5 star read stand out from the pack. It's still a very strong Read It though!

Note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

Absolutely loved the premise of this story, didn’t love the execution as much. I flew through this in a day so it definitely did its job as a fun, popcorn thriller. I think my problem with Sarah Pekkanens books are that I’m expecting the kind of books that she wrote with Greer Hendricks. Their books together felt deeper, more suspenseful and better written and I think I miss that!

The setting of the psych ward was so creepy. The twin connection was a little far fetched but still a fun thing to read about. It was all just alright.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Overall it’s a good domestic thriller but the twist wasn’t as good and thought out as some of her other books. Too many people with secrets and overlapping storylines, it was hard to remember who knew what.

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press for an eARC♥️♥️♥️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Twisted, Unputdownable Descent into Madness and Sisterly Betrayal💔
Sarah Pekkanen’s “The Locked Ward” is a masterclass in psychological suspense, blending Southern Gothic atmosphere with the claustrophobic terror of a high-security psychiatric ward. From the very first page, I was hooked by the chilling premise: a glamorous adopted twin accused of murdering her family’s biological daughter, locked away in an asylum so creepy it feels like something out of a nightmare. 😳
Georgia Cartwright’s desperate plea—“I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.”—haunts her estranged twin, Amanda, who is torn between distrust and a bone-deep obligation to her sister. The novel plays brilliantly with * unreliable narration making you question every interaction, every memory, every whispered confession.
What sets The Locked Ward apart is its oppressive, almost surreal setting. The psychiatric institution isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a character in itself, with its shadowy corridors, unnerving staff, and the constant hum of unseen violence. Pekkanen ratchets up the tension with slow-burning dread, making even the most mundane moments feel sinister.
And then there’s the wealthy, depraved Southern family at the heart of it all. Are they victims or villains? The layers of deception here are expertly peeled back,with twists that left me gasping. 😳
If you love dark family secrets, psychological mind games, and an ending that will leave you reeling,
Some doors should stay locked… but you won’t be able to resist opening this one.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the review copy of Locked Ward. I was excited to dive into this one, having really enjoyed this author’s previous books. While there were elements I appreciated—like the exploration of sibling rivalry, the experience of institutionalization, and the complicated ties between twins—this one just didn’t fully work for me.

One of the main things that pulled me out of the story was the alternating POV, especially the chapters written in second person. I found those sections disorienting and honestly frustrating, particularly in audio format. It made it harder for me to stay engaged with the characters and the plot. I also felt the story didn’t quite deliver the suspense and psychological tension I expected from the premise.

That said, January LaVoy’s narration was fantastic—as always, she brought depth and nuance to the story and characters.

I also want to mention that my reaction is shaped in part by personal perspective. As someone connected to adoption, I tend to approach certain plotlines with caution. The framing around adoption and the separation of twins didn’t sit well with me and felt a bit outdated, which impacted how I received the story overall. This one wasn't a hit for me, but I’ll definitely keep reading this author’s future work.

Georgia is in a locked ward. Did she kill her sister? Was she always a problem and a terrible, jealous sister? Can she prove she is innocent? Georgia discovers she has a twin sister. Can her new found twin help her?

This book is told from two points of view. Alternating chapters written by Georgia and the other chapters by her twin sister who she just found. The twists and turns will have you guessing throughout the whole story. I thought I had it figured out several times but was surprised that I was once again wrong. This is an exciting read for any thriller fan.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #SaraPekkanen, and #StMartinsPress for a copy of this book.
#TheLockedWard

When I read any novel by Sarah Pekkanen, I know I am in for a fast-paced, dark thriller with some kind of shocking twist towards the end. The Locked Ward had many of those elements but I was hoping for a bit more at the end.

If you are a fan of the silent patient, ward D this is the book for you. The cover and title alone is what drew me in and had me flipping pages. This book is a fast paced thriller that will have you wanting to know what happens in one setting. If Sarah writes it I’m going to read it. I’m just saying. Go read this book.

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a masterfully written, emotionally charged novel that delves into the complexities of mental health, trauma, and the hidden struggles behind closed doors. Set in a psychiatric hospital, the story follows a dedicated psychiatrist as she navigates the haunting truths of her patients and herself.

Pekkanen’s storytelling is both suspenseful and deeply empathetic. The characters are vivid and multi-dimensional, and the tension builds organically without ever feeling forced. What truly elevates this novel is its compassionate portrayal of mental illness and the delicate balance between healing and harm.

The plot is tightly woven, with just the right amount of mystery to keep you invested, and the emotional payoff is both satisfying and thought-provoking. Pekkanen doesn’t just tell a story she invites you to feel it.

An unforgettable read. Highly recommended for fans of psychological fiction, medical drama, and stories that matter.

Amazing read! A young lady is accused of murdering her sister and is placed in “the locked ward” of a mental institution until it can be determined whether or not she is competent to stand trial. Prior to her arrest, she had hired a PI to track down her twin sister that she had recently discovered existed. She makes contact with her twin and the twin comes to visit her and they talk about what happened and what they can do. Don’t want to give away too much so I will not say anything more, just recommend that you read this book.

Thank you so to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive and read an advance copy of this book!

Twisty and turning with just the right amount of suspense and a touch of the "creep factor" -come together to form a great read!

I just finished The Locked Ward and I have to say that Sarah Pekkanen knows exactly how to grab your brain, shake it like a snow globe, and then leave it spinning on a windowsill wondering what the heck just happened. In the best way. This book is a twisty, psychological thrill ride with family secrets, institutional paranoia, and enough “Wait, WHAT?” moments to make me double back and reread entire chapters just to make sure I wasn’t losing it. Spoiler alert: I wasn’t. Pekkanen just plays the long game with her reveals—and she plays it very well.

The story opens with Mandy, a nurse who finds out she has a long-lost twin sister, Georgia, locked away in a psychiatric hospital. And y’all, I was immediately suspicious. Pekkanen doesn't give us a naive protagonist. No, we get a heroine with a spine. Mandy isn’t just like, “Oh yay, a twin! Let’s braid each other’s hair and escape this building together!” No. She DNA tests the woman claiming to be her sister and asks all the right questions. That alone had me cheering.

From that point on, it’s one twist after another. Secrets buried under more secrets. Motives you think you’ve figured out, and then BAM: nope, you were wrong. I pride myself on guessing twists, but this book had me second-guessing everything.

There’s this growing tension, especially inside the locked ward scenes with Georgia, that made me feel like I was trapped right alongside her. The atmosphere is claustrophobic, eerie, and completely absorbing. There were moments I literally had to stop reading to breathe and remind myself I was not inside a padded cell.

The emotional depth. Sure, it’s a thriller, but Pekkanen doesn’t phone in the emotional stakes. This is a story about identity, trauma, and the terrifying question of: what if the people you trust most are the ones you should fear the most? The smart pacing. After a slightly slower start (more mood-setting than sluggish), the story takes off and doesn’t stop until the last page. The dueling POVs. Georgia’s sections are raw and unreliable, while Mandy’s are sharp and determined. It’s like watching two puzzles assemble themselves at the same time, only to discover they’re both part of a much bigger picture.

If you love a book that makes you feel like a detective but also doubt everything you think you know, The Locked Ward is for you.

I’d recommend it for:

Fans of The Silent Patient or Behind Closed Doors
Anyone who loves Southern Gothic vibes with a side of paranoia
Readers who enjoy emotionally intelligent thrillers with a dark edge
Five stars from me. And a bonus sixth one for making me question my trust in people who say “I just want to help.”

Atmospheric and creepy psych ward setting? Twin sisters separated at birth for dark, long hidden reasons? Messy, messy rich family dynamics leading to murder?? I'll take all of the above!

In case you can't tell, THE LOCKED WARD brings together a few thriller elements/tropes that I'm a big fan of separately into a single story. The hospital/psych ward setting was creepy and a little dangerous, full of impossible-to-trust characters, while the "messy rich family" element added in characters who were untrustworthy and dangerous for *entirely* different reasons. This combination kept me on my toes for a lot of the book.

While I read THE LOCKED WARD fairly quickly, I will say that I found the first half a little bit too much of a slow burn for me. I think I was expecting it to be faster paced from the get go. That said, I was in it, I was *in*, listening to it on audio constantly and then switching to e-book and abandoning my other reads when I wanted to sit down with a book.

The twists were unexpected, but fell a little flat to me. I'm not entirely sure why.. I guess I just didn't feel "wowed" at the end (this could be a symptom of reading too many thrillers lately!)

Sarah Pekkanen is known for writing psychological thrillers that feature suspense and shocking twists and this book is a prime example of her work. This particular story follows dual protagonists, Georgia and Amanda, who are twins separated at birth. I listened to the audiobook in just a few hours, eager to uncover whether Georgia was a killer or if she had been framed. Things aren’t always as they seem…
The narration was superb!
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read/listen to this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Alert the headlines - Georgia Cartwright, daughter of a prominent and wealthy Southern family, has been accused of murdering her younger sister in cold blood. Acquaintances of the family say that she’s always had it out for her sister over the years. They could see it coming. She deserves to be locked in jail, and not in the psych ward she’s been placed in. A message delivered to a virtual stranger - Amanda - stating that she’s her long lost twin sister, separated at birth through adoption, and Georgia needs her help to prove her innocence before something happens to her, as well.

The Locked Ward came across as your typical mystery/thriller. You spend the whole novel trying to play detective as you read along to discover if your theories are correct. In this aspect, the novel is wholly entertaining. However, I feel like it fell into the literary trap of “let me throw one more curveball” in there until you have all these loose ends and you’re left scratching your head wondering why these were thrown in.

Final rating: 3 Stars

Recommended if you like: mystery/thrillers

This isn’t my usual review. I don’t usually review domestic thrillers. I rarely read them.

This one popped up in an email suggestion from NetGalley. I know I need to read other genres. I’ve held off on reading anything in this genre because it always felt formulaic.

What do we read for? To experience new things. To understand new people. To learn more about others.

These are why I read, besides that I like stories. I have since I was little and it will never stop. It’s one of the reasons why I wanted to read this book.

We find one of our main characters, Georgia in a hospital, The Locked Ward of the book’s name. This part is told in second person PoV, which always throws me off in novel length stories. To be honest, I almost stopped reading because of it.

I’m glad I kept going. We learn about their life, their wealth, then we jump into their sister, a twin that she discovered prior to being The Locked Ward. The sister, Amanda, is summoned to the hospital by Georgia, a person they’d never heard of.

This moment sets off many others as the two of them try to discover why Georgia is in the hospital, the actions that precipitated this are violent.

We learn the two of them were separated at birth. There’s an underlying political narrative that gets tossed around throughout the novel. I found that part of the story interesting. As a newbie to Sarah’s books, I would like to see her write something in that vein. If she has, I’ll have to find it.

I enjoyed the story, it’s many twists and turns, as well as the moment when everything clicks together for Georgia and Amanda.

Amanda does the leg work of discovery while Georgia is locked in.

It’s a good story about Southern intrigue, two sisters finding one another, and the differences they faced growing up. It’s a fish out of water story, but it’s well done and I’ll read more of Sarah’s books after reading this one. I understand I have one or two to pick from.