Unfortunately this book did not give me what I was looking for in a psychological thriller. There were some twists and the ending did surprise me, but it wasn't enough to make up for the rest of the novel. I enjoyed the dual perspectives of Georgia and Amanda, as well as their similarities despite their different upbringings. Overall, if you're looking for a formulaic thriller, this is for you. If you are looking for something suspenseful, that will keep you guessing, this is not it.

I have become a big fan of Sarah Pekkanen-- she always thinks outside the box when coming up with her storylines and this one was just as fascinating.

I typically don't go for stories relating to twins, as they can feel a bit convoluted, but I appreciated how she approached Mandy and Georgia as being fraternal twins. This, coupled with Mandy's strong voice, solidified them into their own personhood.

What I liked about this story was the intrigue of how the two sisters were separated from birth and never knew they were a twin. We spend the span of the novel chasing down that thread as we're also trying to gauge whether Mandy can trust Georgia, why she should, and why she would put her own neck on the line to absolve her newly minted sister of murder.

There was quite a bit going on, but I felt that by the end, everything was resolved in a satisfactory way.

The only thing that threw me was the POV. Mandy was written in first-person POV, while Georgia was second-person POV. At first it distracted me, pulling me out of the story, but then I figured it was done for a reason and ended up getting used to it. It did help keep track of who was who more easily this way and it lent a more atmospheric experience to the psychiatric institution which felt terrifying. That being said, I'm not sure it was entirely necessary; I would have loved to hear more of Georgia's voice in first-person, but that's just my personal preference.

***Slight spoiler***

I liked how everything was resolved by the end, but I did want to see that last thread explored a bit more with the Senator's "helper"-- I wasn't quite sure why that particular person was considered a threat after the fact.

Side note: esthetically, I love how on point and uniform Sarah's book jackets are-- they are distinctly her brand and eye catching.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Sarah Pekkanen is officially on my auto-read list from now on!

This book was hard to put down- it’s going to be a classic ‘one-sitter’ read and I will be recommending it for pub day but also for spooky season!

This was a great, suspenseful read! I wasn’t sure what was what until the very end and I love that in a book. I can usually figure out what is actually going on pretty easily, but this was trickier than most. I thoroughly enjoyed that! The characters also seemed fresh and interesting. Great storytelling!

Unputdownable, edge of your seat, nail biting book! I really enjoyed this and the twist that it held! I loved the fact it left me speechless! I did not see that coming. I will be reading more by Sarah Pekkanen.

A twisty, atmospheric psychological thriller about family secrets, trust, and the bond between twin sisters!

Georgia is an elite, glamorous woman accused of murdering the biological daughter of her estranged adoptive family. She is now confined to a psychiatric institution and her only words to her twin sister are, “I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.”

Mandy doesn’t know what to believe. She didn’t know about Georgia’s existence until that conversation in the locked ward. As Mandy searches for the truth, she is pulled into a web of family secrets, manipulation, and madness.

Is Georgia a victim, or an expert manipulator?

Sarah Pekkanen is one of my favorite authors, so I was incredibly excited to get my hands on a copy of her new book! I loved the short chapters, juicy family drama, and interesting information on twin studies. This one was addicting! I found myself neglecting my responsibilities to read more chapters of this book. There are dual POVs, which I enjoyed for the contrast in perspectives. I loved Mandy’s character and enjoyed observing her strength throughout the book. However, Georgia’s sections were written in second person, and I found that narrative choice quite distracting. As an aside, I really enjoyed the complexity of Patty’s character and found her to be one of the most interesting people in the book. I wish the story had more of her character in it. At times, the twin connection in this story felt exaggerated, almost like a superpower, leaning heavily on every twin trope to the point of near telepathy. It came across as a little over the top, which took me out of the story a bit. Overall, this was a super fun read, and it had a really satisfying conclusion. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers!

Special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an ARC before the publication date in exchange for my honest feedback!

Overall an enjoyable book. An easy read but with an obvious plot twist. I’d call it a perfect beach read. Nothing more nothing less ..
………….

The Locked Ward kicks off with a gripping premise: Georgia Cartwright, adopted into a rich Southern family, is found standing over her sister’s bloody body, holding the murder weapon. She’s sent to a psych ward to await trial and insists to her long-lost twin sister Mandy, who she just met, that she didn’t do it. Wild, right?

The story jumps between Georgia, stuck in the eerie hospital, and Mandy, who’s suddenly thrust into a world of secrets, wealth, and powerful people who may be covering up something darker. One of the strongest moments comes early on, when Georgia hands Mandy a chunk of her own hair and urges her to get a DNA test. It’s a strange and intimate moment that sets the tone for their unsettling connection. Another standout is when Mandy starts digging into the Cartwright family and realizes just how much power and manipulation might be in play.

That said, some of the twists felt easy to guess, and the twin-bonding happened a little too fast to fully believe. The pacing is quick (thanks to short chapters), but I was left wanting more emotional depth. A fun ride, just not one that fully stuck the landing.

Good for a weekend binge, but not a favorite.

very good and suspenseful. it was crazy to see what the sisters would do and I would reread this one! I love the medical atmosphere

I read this book in just a few sittings and I have to say it kept me guessing throughout. Every-time I thought I had the plot figured out I was finding out that I was going in the wrong direction. Great book!

This was a really unputdownable read by Sarah Pekkanen. As a thriller lover it encompassed a lot elements I think make a book interesting: long lost twins separated at birth, a psychiatric ward, and a girl accused of a murder.

We follow Georgia, our protagonist who speaks in the second person, about her time in the locked ward after being accused of murdering her adopted sister. She reaches out to Mandy, the twin she didn't know she had, as a last ditch effort to try to get out and prove her innocence. We hear from Mandy's perspective also, and it becomes SUCH a page turner with a twisty and satisfying ending.

I would recommend this book to fans of Ward D by Freida McFadden and people fascinated by twins. If you like short chapters, cliff hangers, and thrillers, this book is for you!

I liked all this authors works with Greer Hendricks but have been hit or miss on her individual titles. This one I enjoyed! The setting was the best part and definitely added to the eerie factor.

Georgia and Amanda’s Story was intricately woven and had me guessing until the very end. Thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC. It was my first of her standalone books that I read, but have read some of her co-author works with Greer Hendricks, but was immensely suspenseful and well written. I was hooked on the story and binged it within a couple of days - which is high praise coming from me as I homeschool two little ones and have a young baby, so life is wonderful and also busy! Absolutely loved it.

I’m a big fan of this author. She knows how to write a compelling thriller.

The Locked Ward isn't a bad book by any means. I particularly liked the location/old money themes and how it impacts the characters actions and behaviors.

Ultimately, my three star review reflects the fact that The Locked Ward is good, not great.

I appreciate the opportunity to read and review.

Oh my gosh!!! This book was so good! It was a little slow in the beginning and then it took right off and I was absolutely hooked! It is about Georgia who was adopted at birth and was raised by a wealthy family who did not think they were able to have children but then the mom ends up getting pregnant with her own biological child and then begins to treat Georgia badly her whole life and the father never would step in and stop it. By the time the girls were adults Georgia gets accused of killing her sister and gets sent to a psych ward and then all the truth starts to reveal!!! This book will have you hooked and not want to put it down and the twist and turns are so good you will be on the edge of your seat!

This didn't feel like it was written by Sarah Pekkanen, and it was a bit of a disappointing read.
I felt the story dragged on for more than it should have, and it focused way too much on the details that weren't relevant to the story.

Also I was really looking forward to this because of the twin dynamics, but that was such a letdown. From the moment they first met, they had this twin telepathy(or bond idk) all of a sudden, which was quite unrealistic I feel and didn't add much to the story.

I did love the short chapters though; it helped me fly through the book.

Georgia Cartwright wakes up in a locked psychiatric ward on the fifth floor of a hospital. She is be held for to see if she is competent to stand trial for killing her sister Annabelle. Amanda Ravenel receives a call from Georgia's public defender, Milt Daniels asking her to meet with his client. Amanda has no clue as to why she would even be remotely connected to his client. He then drops the bombshell that Georgia is her twin sister. Imagine Amanda's surprise when she thought she was an only child. Georgia tells Amanda that she needs her help because she did not kill her sister. Did Georgia kill Annabelle or is she a master manipulator?

This was a quick read with short chapters and alternating POV's from Georgia and Mandy. Sarah Pekkanen delivered another solid psychological thriller. Thank you so much for the ARC!

This was my first Sarah Pekkanen book and let's just say, I'm a fan! This book was fast paced, twisty and kept you hooked, wanting to know more! I loved how the chapters alternated between the two main character's point of view, giving a more in depth perspective which helped the story build up to the big twist that I didn't see coming. The story was great but if I'm being completely honest I was drawn to this book based off the title and book cover. I'm a sucker for psychiatric thrillers and was hoping for more of a REAL psychiatric patient in the storyline, not someone who was pretending in hopes to avoid jail time and/or the death penalty. I was a little bummed out about that but otherwise it was still a great read and I would recommend it.

This was a fun thriller/mystery to read. I loved the twist and turns throughout the book. I did feel it was a bit slow in the middle. It was kind of predicable. I will say, I didn't see the ending happen the way it did. Overall, I did enjoy my time reading this book and would for sure recommend to others. I loved the short chapters and the different points of view.

Sarah does it again! I felt invested in the characters from the beginning of the book watching the sisters tumultuous relationship then left me sad at the end that they never got to truly reconnect. Such a great book!