I enjoyed the ride on the one. The short chapters and multiple POVs made it a quick read. I saw some of the smaller twists coming but the big one I did not! The twin connections were kind of weird and unbelievable to me, but what do I know…I’m not a twin. Overall, I enjoyed it. Worth a read for mystery lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in consideration for my honest review.

I was excited to read this one because I loved The House of Glass. While this book was a quick and entertaining read, I will forget about it come tomorrow. The characters felt a bit flat, and the ending was rushed and anticlimactic. The twin thing didn’t work for me, and the suspense was pretty minimal.

If you like stories involving family relationships, sibling rivalry, being locked up in a psychiatric ward, and powerful wealth, then this is the story for you. It is dark, tense and tragic but fascinating.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC! I love this author and was excited to read this. This is told from the perspectives of twin sisters Georgia and Mandy. The thing is, they didn't know they were twins, or that the other even existed, until Georgia was accused of murdering her younger sister Annabelle and sent to a mental hospital after pleading insanity. Georgia had discovered Mandy a couple weeks previously, and instead of reaching out to plan a meeting, she asked her to help her prove her innocence in Annabelle's murder. The two girls grew up in very different environments - Georgia in the well-connected, wealthy Cartwright family and Mandy with her adoptive, middle-class parents. Everyone thinks that Georgia hated her sister Annabelle and believes her to be her murderer, but as Mandy begins her own investigation, she finds more than she bargained for. The Cartwright family has many secrets and Mandy is determined to figure out the secrets her own parents may have kept from her. This wasn't as twisty and suspenseful as it could have been, in my opinion, but there is a big twist at the end that I didn't expect!

Sarah Pekkanen has done it again! The way that she creates a story that is so twisty and keeps you guessing always creates a great reading experience! I thought that the way that you can genuinely feel the unease and fear that both Mandy and Georgia experiencing throughout the story had me looking around corners and had my heart BEATING! And I love a family drama/thriller so this checked several boxes for me!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. This was a very standard, predictable thriller. I could see the "twists" coming from a mile away, but it was a quick read, so I am not too mad about it.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I picked up this book because I had seen many great reviews of this author's previous titles. I'm always looking for new mystery/thriller authors to read as I really do enjoy the genre. Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book at 68%. I wanted to love it. I wanted to enjoy the story and see where the mystery went. But it was boring for me. I didn't care about what was happening at all and at over halfway through the book I should have felt some kind of pull to finish. I didn't.
The narrator, January Lavoy, was enjoyable enough, though nothing special for me. She could have done better with voicing the different characters, making them more distinct as they all just sounded the same to me. Since it was dual POV, I struggled to remember which character's chapter I was on.
The alternating sister POV was also interesting to me. I like when books have more than one POV. It gives some interesting background. And it was intriguing how the author chose to have one in first person and one in second person, as well. I'm guessing this was to try and keep the perspectives straight, which normally works for me. Plus the author chose to write fairly short chapters which I very much appreciate.
But this was where it stopped being a good read for me.
The pacing was super slow. Even though things were happening, I honestly didn't feel like anything was happening. There was nothing gripping enough to pull me through the book and make me want to know what the mystery was. I didn't care if it was solved or not.
I also found the writing lacking. It seemed rather juvenile to me given it is an adult book. There was so much telling through the book when all I wanted was the author to show me what was happening.
I had zero connection with the characters. Their link was totally unbelievable to me. They were twins, though not identical which I found made their story lacking, who didn't know about each other until a huge tragedy strikes and they are somewhat forced together (I won't expand as I don't want to spoil it). I didn't feel their twin connection at all. The author had the characters telling you it was there, but that's all it was. Being told they had the connection rather than watching the chemistry that would indicate they did. I needed much more emotion and depth to them but their development was underwhelming.
While the opening was a strong start, and set the mystery up quite well, the plot line and pacing killed it for me by about 25% into the book. I kept going because I though maybe it was just a lull. Maybe it would pick up and I'd find more depth to the characters and the mystery. Maybe I'd love the action and the thrill of the chase. Alas, none of that happened for me.
Overall, I was disappointed not only with the writing but with the plot and lack of suspense this book provided. I found myself unable to stay engaged; my attention often wandering so I would have to rewind or flip back in the book to remind myself what was happening. I kept waiting for the shoe to drop, for some emotional spark to happen, or even for it to make sense but it just didn't. The premise was intriguing and the blurb seemed like the book would be entertaining but it just did not deliver. I'm not sure if I'll pick up another book by this author but it's possible I might give one of her older titles a try to see if maybe this was just a one off.

When Mandy’s parents die, she discovers a secret she was never meant to know – she has a twin sister. And not just any sister. Georgia has been accused of murdering the biological daughter of the wealthy, Southern family that adopted her at birth, and is now locked in a psychiatric ward while she awaits trial.

Georgia insists she’s innocent. She begs Mandy to help get her out. But Mandy doesn’t even know this woman – and she has no idea if Georgia can be trusted.

As Mandy begins to dig into the case, she uncovers a family history of dark secrets and tangled loyalties. Was Georgia pushed to the edge by jealousy or a craving for the life her sister had? Is she a victim of a family willing to do anything to protect their own, or a master manipulator pulling Mandy into a dangerous game?

I spent a blissful weekend working on a latch hook rug while The Locked Ward kept me company – and it turned out to be a solid, layered mystery/thriller that kept me hooked (ha) for hours.

This is a story about sisters and secrets, and Sarah Pekkanen does a great job layering those secrets as Mandy and Georgia each investigate from different angles. I loved watching the puzzle pieces come together while also questioning whether Georgia is a victim or a master manipulator – and whether Mandy’s grief is making her vulnerable to being pulled into a dangerous game. Both women were compelling characters in their own ways.

A few things didn’t fully work for me. The psychiatric ward setting had my hackles up from the start – there’s nothing particularly egregious here, but I’m sensitive to how these spaces and populations are depicted, and one “ominous unstable patient” plotline fizzles out without much payoff. I also wasn’t sure the second-person narration in Georgia’s chapters really worked for me. It felt a bit gimmicky, and unlike Harrow the Ninth (where there’s a clear reason for second person), it seemed like it was mostly there to show Georgia’s detachment.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this as a layered, twisty listen, perfect for readers who love dark family secrets, unreliable narrators, and the eerie tension of “can I really trust this stranger?” stories.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

For someone who isn't the biggest thriller fan, this one really had me hooked. I appreciated that even though the main characters were twins, the writing style seemed to change so you could easily follow the story. I kind of saw the ending coming, but the way in which the story was told really kept me engaged.

Thanks again for the ARC!

Thank you to St. Martins Press for the advanced copies of The Locked Ward. Here are my thoughts!

Georgia was adopted as a baby into a wealthy home, but present day she is sitting in a psychiatric institution waiting trial for the murder of the biological daughter of her adopted parents. She reaches out to her long-lost twin, Amanda, to try to have her name cleared. Georgia and Amanda are both completely unaware of just how dangerous their situations are.

Sarah Pekkanen can do no wrong. I wanted a twisty, quick reading thriller for the summer and boy oh boy did she deliver. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I was so happy that it met expectations.

I liked both Georgia and Amanda. I thought the twin similarity thing was done just the right amount to tie them together and didn’t become annoying. Because each of the twins grew up in such different lives, they were still unique fully fleshed main characters.

The chapters were short and sweet, and flipped back and forth between the two sisters’ perspectives. The mystery Amanda was solving kept me intrigued, while the terror that Georgia was facing in the psychiatric institution brought that thriller anxiety. I loved that the author decided to write Amanda as first person, and Georgia as second person, painting a picture of the differences in control they have over their lives. Really clever writing!

Of course, everything is resolved. I thought I had the plot figured out and I was wrong! But I love that with a thriller. I want to be shocked and surprised, and this novel did just that.

The Locked Ward is hitting shelves August 5, 2025!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC of The Locked Ward! As a longtime fan of Sarah Pekkanen, I was thrilled to receive this advanced copy. I devoured the entire book in just 7½ hours and trust me, it was impossible to put down.

Synopsis:
When Georgia Cartwright the glamorous adopted daughter of a wealthy Southern family is found standing over the body of her biological younger sister, Annabelle, it becomes the Crime of the Decade. Deemed not guilty by reason of insanity, Georgia is confined to a high-security psychiatric ward. Enter Mandy (short for Amanda), a bartender raised by loving adoptive parents with no idea she had a twin. Out of nowhere, she’s contacted by Georgia’s lawyer, and a DNA test confirms what neither sister imagined they’re twins separated at birth.

Told through alternating POVs, we watch Mandy navigate the shocking revelation of her twinhood while racing to uncover if Georgia truly murdered Annabelle or if she’s been framed. Meanwhile, Georgia endures the chilling, claustrophobic atmosphere of the locked ward and insists, over and over, “I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out.” Mandy becomes obsessed with uncovering the tangled secrets of family, wealth, and betrayal.

Edge‑of‑your‑seat tension filled every page. The story twists and turns so frequently I found myself second‑guessing everything. Just when I thought I had it figured out, Pekkanen blindsided me again. I was literally checking the time, thinking, “I’ll just read another chapter” and before I knew it, 7½ hours had passed and I was done.

Pekkanen masterfully peers into the dark side of family legacy, mental health, and identity. The locked ward setting is eerie and oppressive, grounding the psychological suspense in vivid reality. And that sibling bond? Twisted, complicated, compelling I felt for both Mandy and Georgia, torn between empathy and suspicion.

Final take:
One of Pekkanen’s most immersive, twisty thrillers yet. Gorgeous pacing, dynamic narrators, and so many unpredictable choices that kept me guessing until the last page. If you enjoy dual narrative psychological suspense that messes with your mind this is a must‑read.

Thanks again to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. Can’t wait to see what Pekkanen delivers next!

The Locked Ward is an easy quick thriller. Hooks you immediately, and keeps you invested throughout the whole thing.
What would you do if you were called to a psychiatric institute to meet your twins sister, who you didn’t have any idea you had? Amanda has to do just that, and then help her brand new sister, Georgia, solve the crime she was committed for. Will they be able to figure out the mystery before it’s too late? The locked ward is full of its own dangers.
Great read. Better listen. Loved it.
Thank you netgalley for this arc!

First of all, thank you for this ARC. I really enjoyed it!

Captivating from the beginning, short chapters alternating between the 2 main characters which made it very easy to keep reading "just one more", Written in such a way that you suspect Georgia's true motives...definitely will be recommending to my friends!!

thanks

Sarah Pekkanen books are always a wild ride, and this one was no different.

Right off the bat I was intrigued by the setting - a creepy psych ward sounded right up my alley. While I did find some issues with and thought the locked ward was a bit over dramatized (think soap opera), it did make things interesting, and the short chapters made this an easy read.

The characters weren’t exactly likable to me. They didn’t feel fully formed, and I had a hard time connecting with either of them. I also didn’t like how their POVs were written, with one being first person and the other being second person; this felt confusing at times and bogged down the writing for me. The twists were interesting, but I didn’t love the ending as much as I was hoping to.

This wasn’t my favorite book that I’ve read by this author, but I think it’s worth a read if you’re a fan of her work.

Sarah Pekkanen's latest work, "The Locked Ward," is a twisty, unsettling story that pulls readers deep into a world of family loyalty and long-buried secrets. Taking the classic psychological thriller and infusing it with emotional stakes, the story follows twin sisters Georgia and Amanda, who were separated as infants and adopted into different families. When Georgia is accused of brutally murdering her adoptive sister Annabelle, she is committed to a psychiatric facility, despite her claims of innocence. Amanda is shocked to learn the murderer she's been hearing about on the news is her own twin sister, whom she's never known. This begins the search for the truth about Annabelle's killer.

One of the strongest elements of this book is its setting. The psychiatric hospital is a perfect backdrop for this chilling story. It's eerie and unpredictable, and feels like a character itself. Pekkanen's writing is quite vivid, creating a creeping feeling of unease that permeates the story. This is a great thriller that doesn't rely solely on plot twists, but attempts to delve deeper into the topics of sibling rivalry and personal identity.

"The Locked Ward" will keep readers on the edge of their seat, questioning what the real story is, who they can believe, and just how far people will go to protect the lives they've created for themselves. Fans of Pekkanen's previous works, as well as psychological thrillers in general, will not be disappointed by this dark, twisty story.

This was a tough one to get through - mostly because I had it all figured out nearly instantly. Predicability is fine as long as the rest of the story has its claws in me, and it didn't. Unfortunately this one wasn't my favorite by this author.

This was a fast paced thriller that kept me guessing constantly throughout the book. I love dual POVs in the book and this did not disappoint! One character was likeable and the other was not so much 🤷🏼‍♀️

The psychiatric ward, made the setting of the book that much better. Along with the patients within the ward. I kind of wish we got more back story on them 😅
I enjoy rich people and their secrets and the drama that comes along with it.

I do wish we got a bit more out of the story, but overall it was good and enjoyable to read!

This book just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t get into it and found myself skimming to try to get through it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Sarah Pekkanen for the ARC of The Locked Ward.

Sarah is quickly becoming one of my most favorite thriller authors. She has a way of creating original stories with twists and turns that keep you guessing the entire way through. The Locked Ward is a great example of that! This one is dual POV. One MC is locked up. It's up to the other MC to figure out what is going on and get her out before it's too late. This is a solid thriller that I definitely enjoyed!

WOW - yet another example showing that Sarah Pekkanen really knows how to write a thriller! I always know I’m in for an exciting ride when I pick up one of her books!

Mandy grew up in a quiet town with her adoptive parents. They owned a local bar, and after they passed away, she took over running it. Despite being raised in a loving family, she always felt like something was missing.

Georgia was also adopted, but her life looked completely different. Her parents were rich and well-known, but she always felt like an outsider. Georgia’s parents had a child of their own four months after she was adopted. No matter how hard she tried, Georgia stayed in the dark, in the background while a light shone on Annabelle as she took center stage.

Even though they’ve lived just 70 miles apart for years, Mandy and Georgia don’t meet until something big happens—one of them is accused of murder. When they finally come face to face, the connection between them is instant. But as they start asking questions and digging into their pasts, they discover shocking secrets someone would do anything to keep hidden.

This FOUR STAR story had mystery, family drama, and twists I didn’t see coming. I thought for sure I knew “whodunnit” to be delightfully proven wrong!

Thank you NetGalley, Sarah Pekkanen, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review before the proposed release date of August 5, 2025.