I give this 3.5 stars because every time I picked it up to read, I didn’t want to put it down but the ending just fell a little flat for me.

This story was intriguing, with the chapters flipping between the two sisters and the past and present colliding. I was trying to solve the murder mystery throughout the book and can say I was way wrong and pleasantly surprised for the “whodunnit.”

However; the ending got a little too weird and felt off. I’m sure the twin connections talked about in this book are real but they just seemed too fantastical and made it weird for me lol. And then finding out what Amanda did was anticlimactic, she already said over and over she was full of rage sometimes.

Anyways - good book! My second by the author and I would read more by her. Thank you netgalley for the arc!

If you're looking for a quick and easy read that is fairly surface level, this is a good place to start. I've been in a bit of a slump & this arc got me back into reading. It is not the most thrilling novel pekkanen has written, but it was enjoyable for the most part. I found the characters pretty flat & the storyline a bit predictable at times but I enjoyed the short chapters and the overall pace of the book. The only other part I struggled with was the second person narration of Georgia. It was difficult to engage with it. Overall It was easy to consume and got me ready to dive into some deeper thrillers. 3 stars

I love Sarah Pekkanen so much. I was really excited to receive an ARC of The Locked Ward. When Amanda discovers that she has a twin sister and she is in an institution being accused of murder, she must find out what the truth is in order to help Georgia get out of the Locked Ward. 4/5 stars, really good book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for the early releasecopy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Let me start by saying that I'm a huge Sarah Pekkanen’s work. In her usual style this one was fast-paced, easy to read and kept you guessing the whole time. The characters were interesting and there was some character development.

I dont think that the ending hit with as much of a surprise as was intended. There were so many twists and unreliable characters all the way through that it really wasn't surprising. It did open more questions.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.

This was another fast-paced thriller from Sarah Pekkanen.

The story is told by Georgia and Mandy alternating between past and present. Georgia is accused of murdering her sister and Mandy who just met Georgia is trying to find out who’s responsible while also learning secrets from each of their pasts.

I was left with some questions at the end but overall, I enjoyed it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Sarah Pekkanen for the ARC.

Estranged twin sisters create a new connection threaded together by murder. Yep, the premise draws you in.

Georgia is in the psych ward (instead of jail) for allegedly killing a different sister, her adopted one. Her twin, Amanda, is trying to figure out how to (and if she should) help since Georgia is claiming innocence.

As they learn to trust each other and eke out the truth, there’s an unraveling of the past back to when they were kids. The story is part family drama/part suspense and moves fast so you need to pay attention to the details to avoid getting lost.

There is also an intriguing side story involving a college roommate which I found compelling and wish there was more of.

The chapters alternate between each sister’s perspectives. I was thrown off reading Georgia’s chapters only because it’s written from a second person POV. While I’m not against this, in theory, it was a little distracting and slowed down the momentum.

3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review,

I liked this fast-paced novel and was drawn in by the mystery as well as the connection between the separated twin protagonists. The psychiatric ward was a creepy setting that added to the overall tension of the story.

Without giving anything away, I thought the final twist was unnecessary and didn't add much to the overall story. It seemed kind of gimmicky and I hope the author make it her signature.

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is an absolute mind-bender of a psychological thriller. From the first page, I was hooked—this book is dark, twisty, and had me questioning everything.

Georgia Cartwright is locked up in a psychiatric hospital, accused of murdering her adoptive family’s biological daughter. The case is huge, the media is obsessed, but Georgia swears she didn’t do it. The only person she turns to? Her estranged twin sister Amanda. The problem? Amanda doesn’t trust her. And honestly, neither did I.

The setting is creepy as hell—the hospital feels like its own character, filled with eerie vibes, unsettling patients, and doors that definitely shouldn’t be opened. As Amanda digs deeper into Georgia’s past and their family’s secrets, the tension skyrockets. Is Georgia the victim of a twisted family, or is she exactly where she belongs?

I loved the sister dynamic, the psychological mind games, and how nothing ever felt safe. If you’re into thrillers with unreliable narrators, dark family drama, and jaw-dropping twists, The Locked Ward NEEDS to be on your TBR. Trust me—you won’t be able to put it down! 🔥📚✨

Sarah Pekkanen delivers a gripping psychological thriller in The Locked Ward, a novel packed with dark family secrets, chilling betrayals, and twisted sisterhood. When Georgia Cartwright, a glamorous socialite, is accused of murdering the biological daughter of her wealthy adoptive family, she finds herself locked in a psychiatric institution for the most violent offenders. Her twin sister Amanda, despite her deep-seated doubts, is drawn into the mystery when Georgia insists she’s innocent and begs for help.

As Amanda begins to unravel the truth, the eerie asylum setting and the powerful, possibly sinister Cartwright family create a tense and unsettling atmosphere. Is Georgia truly a victim, or is Amanda being manipulated into something far more sinister?

Pekkanen expertly crafts a suspenseful narrative full of shocking twists and mind games. Fans of psychological thrillers will be hooked from the first page, questioning reality until the very end. A must-read for those who love dark, fast-paced mysteries with an emotional core.

Although I didn’t find the suspense to be quite as compelling as some from Pekaanen, I liked the “twin” element. And still thought it was well paced and entertaining!

on the edge of my seat, couldn't put it down, absolutely ENJOYED THE HECK (!!!) out of the locked ward. it's been awhile since i've read a thriller that's kept be engaged - it felt good to not know what was coming next! thank you so much for the arc !!!

I am always thrilled to read the latest Sarah Pekkanen thriller! The Locked Ward kept me guessing till the end.
Accused of killing her sister, Georgia turns to the only person that can help her, her twin she recently found out about. As Georgia’s twin gets sucked into the story more and more, Mandy doesn’t know if she can trust Georgia or not, and I didn’t know either!
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s for this advanced reader copy. My opinions are always my own.

This book kicks off with a gripping start: Georgia, our main character, is found standing over her dead sister’s body, a bloodied bookend in hand—the very gift she had given her for her birthday. Accused of murder, Georgia is sent to a mental institution, waiting to see if she will be deemed competent to stand trial.

Meanwhile, Mandy receives an unexpected call from the hospital, asking her to collect her sister’s belongings. But as far as Mandy knows, she’s an only child. When she visits the hospital, she meets Georgia, who immediately insists that Mandy must help her. Despite her skepticism, Mandy feels an undeniable connection to this stranger and is determined to uncover the truth.

As Mandy digs deeper, she learns that Georgia is actually her twin sister—separated from her at birth. But the biggest question remains: Did Georgia really kill Annabelle, or is she being framed? Georgia pleads innocence, warning Mandy that she’s in danger if she stays locked away. The more Mandy investigates, the more she uncovers dark family secrets, powerful figures pulling the strings, and a web of lies that puts her own life at risk.

This thriller is fast-paced and suspenseful, with short, action-packed chapters that keep the tension high. While some twists were a bit predictable and the ending didn’t completely shock me, the complex relationship between the sisters and their emotional bond added depth to the story. Overall, I rounded my rating up to 4 stars because I couldn’t put it down.

If you love intense psychological thrillers with family secrets, mystery, and high stakes, this one is definitely worth reading!

I really enjoyed this book. I have read a few books by Sarah Pekkanen and enjoyed them all. This may be my favorite so far.

The story had me reading it once as I was done work for the day and I couldn't wait for work to be over to read some more.

Quick moving and lots of twists and turns. That's how I like my thrillers.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the arc copy of this! I have read many of this authors books and have enjoyed all of them so I was BEYOND excited that I got to read this early.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5! Georgia and Mandy’s story was quite the doozy. They had so much stacked against them from the beginning. There were so many twists and turns that I couldn’t put this book down until I had finished it. Both the setting inside the ward with Georgia + being Mandy outside in the real world being watched, were both spooky and kept me hooked. I did not see the twist at the end that really put all the puzzle pieces together. The senator gave me murderer, stalker, and crazy vibes. Like I realllly was on his case while I was reading. This author writes consistent great novels! If you’re into thriller, you should definitely read this one.

This was a twisty thriller. I did not see the twist coming. The story is told in 2 povs but what threw me was how the one pov was in second person. It was like reading you all over again. I didn’t get the purpose especially since the chapters were labeled. Overall would recommend

Although psychiatric ward settings don’t usually interest me, I love Sarah Pekkanen’s other books and was excited to give this one a try. I’m so glad I did—it was impossible to put down! The story was twisty, gripping, and full of surprises. I never knew what would happen next, which made it even more thrilling. A solid 5-star read!

Thanks to NetGalley for the early release in exchange for an honest review.

I thought I had this book figured out about half way through …. But boy was I wrong haha. Kept me on my toes. Great thriller !

I always love Sarah Pekkanen books, and this book was no exception. Twins, separated at birth, discover each other in the middle of a murder mystery. If this sounds a little out there, it is, but it is in the best possible way. Although this type of story probably wouldn't likely happen in real life, this story caught my interest and held it for the duration. I enjoyed the characters greatly, and the misconceptions that one character in particular had that really made the story a little more twisty and interesting. I enjoyed the story, and would definitely read more (and more and more!) by this author!

When Georgia is locked in a psychiatric ward after she is accused of killing her sister, she relies on the help of her twin, Amanda, to prove her innocence. Amanda doesn’t know if she can trust her, yet she sets off to investigate to see what really transpired.

This book took me a bit to get invested in but once I did, it was off to the races. A very quick read with lots of twists that you won’t see coming!