Sarah Pekkanen's The Locked Ward plunges readers into a labyrinth of psychological suspense, masterfully exploring the twisted dynamics of family, identity, and the unsettling nature of truth. When the glamorous adopted daughter, Georgia Cartwright, is accused of a shocking murder within her wealthy Southern family, the stage is set for what becomes "the Crime of the Decade."

Pekkanen skillfully builds an atmosphere of creeping dread as Georgia, confined to a menacing psychiatric institution, pleads her innocence to her estranged twin, Amanda. The core of the narrative hinges on Amanda's perilous journey to uncover the truth, forcing her—and the reader—to question everything: Is Georgia an innocent victim caught in a web of family depravity, or a cunning manipulator leading her sister down a path of madness?

This novel is a gripping exploration of sisterhood's complex bonds, stretched to their absolute breaking point. It's a tale where nothing is as it seems, filled with unexpected twists and a constant sense of unease. Fans of intense psychological thrillers will find themselves captivated by The Locked Ward's eerie setting and its relentless descent into the dark corners of the human psyche. Prepare to have your perceptions challenged; some doors in this ward are best left closed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance readers copy of The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen.
This was an enjoyable read, but was easy for me to figure out. I must read too many books in this genre. Sarah's books are always a fun read.

What really stood out to me in this book was the slow, thoughtful build of each character’s personality. Yes, there’s a murder and the usual “whodunit” element, but what made this story shine was how gradually and organically the characters were revealed. By the halfway point, I found myself less concerned with solving the mystery and more invested in getting to know the characters—it felt like making new friends, one chapter at a time.

Then, as I got deeper into the story—around the 80% mark—suddenly everyone seemed like a suspect. That shift was subtle but effective, pulling me right back into the suspense without losing that strong character-driven focus. There *was* a small twist at the end that felt slightly out of place, but it didn’t take away from the overall experience.

I’d absolutely recommend this to anyone who appreciates a good mystery that doesn’t rely on flashy reveals or constant action, but instead takes its time, letting the tension simmer. Sometimes, the best kind of mystery is the one that creeps up on you, one layer at a time.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Our main character Georgia is in a mental hospital to await a decision on if she is deemed mentally fit to stand trial for murder. Mandy gets a call from her sister who she knew nothing about asking for help to get out of there. They connect instantly and Mandy must work to decide what's true and what's not. It was twisty and entertaining. I deducted one star only because I thought it was very easy to figure out the mystery part of what the truth was.

4.5 ⭐️
• Dual POV

I was super excited for this book! I couldn't wait for it to come out. So when I got approved on Netgalley to read this as ARC I was super excited.

I loved the plot of this book. Its a story where you question everyone and everything. Mandy was my favorite character in this story. Georgia's POV was different and it made it so much more enjoyable. While I found some of the book a little predictable I loved the twists. I didnt want to put this book down.

thank you so much Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

The Locked Ward is a great summer beach read! It was to put down, and the ending was worth the wait!

Soon after the death of her adoptive parents, Mandy learns that she has a long-lost twin sister, Georgia. Even more shocking than that, Mandy learns that Georgia is accused of murdering her adoptive sister, Annabelle, and is currently locked in a psych ward while she awaits trial. Mandy is thrown into Georgia’s world to learn what secrets her parents were hiding, and if her sister is truly a killer.

The premise of this book was strong, and I appreciated that we wasted no time to get the ball rolling with this story. For the first 25% of this book I was hooked. Then I found myself pulling away from the story, less interested but still intrigued. By 80%, I strongly just considered giving up entirely even though the finish line was so close. Why? Because I couldn’t care less about anyone in this book, in turn I couldn’t care less about who the real killer was and what really happened to Annabelle.
My apathy came from not being able to latch onto a single character. We switched between Mandy and Georgia’s POVs and both are filled with far too much internal dialogue. For Georgia, this made sense, as she was trapped and isolated. For Mandy, this just made her a dull character with very few interactions with the outside world. I would have loved a friend or a love interest for her to interact with so that she felt more relatable. Instead, all of the secondary characters were one note and I couldn’t tell you a single thing about them, not even their names. (I had to look up the name of Georgia’s sister that was murdered because in the few days since I read this I had totally forgotten.)
The plot itself starts off great, but then spins out into quite a few convoluted subplots that detracted from the overarching mystery.
Overall, I give this book a 3/5 stars. Good idea, decent writing, but bland characters and a lackluster plot made this a limp to the finish for me.

The locked ward was too much for me. I could not get all the way through., it was such a deep psychological thriller I couldn’t handle it. Good luck with reading it. You are braver than me

I recommend you read this thriller! It kept me glued to my kindle. I especially enjoyed the storyline with sisters, twins, family secrets, and glimpses into high society. The mental hospital setting of some chapters added an extra dose of thrills. This was such an enjoyable read that I wish I could read it again for the first time. I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Mandy isn't sure what to think when a lawyer calls her one day and tells her she has a twin, the one that everyone is talking about, the one who was just arrested for killing her sister. Her sister Georgia wants to meet her... but does Mandy want to meet her?

The Locked Ward is a perfectly crafted thriller that is destined to hold you hostage the whole way through. As soon as I started this one I had a feeling I better settle in because it was going to be a long night of reading. There was no way I was putting this one down without devouring every word first...it SO good.

Watching Mandy navigate this tricky situation and bond with her sister was unsettling at times and somewhat heartfelt at other times. Mandy wants to trust what she is being told, but things don't add up and she isn't sure who to trust. It's a twist-filled journey that is certain to keep you guessing till the end. Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

The Locked Ward starts strong and stays compelling through the final twist. We follow Georgia, accused of killing her sister and now confined to a psychiatric ward—pretending to suffer from a dissociative disorder to avoid an even worse fate. Her chapters are written in second person, which makes the experience feel deeply personal and unsettling in the best way. Her long-lost twin, Mandy, has just discovered Georgia exists and is pulled into the web of secrets, danger, and deception.

The strongest aspects of this book are its originality and the immersive writing style. Georgia’s second-person POV added an intimacy and psychological weight that I haven’t seen often in thrillers. Mandy’s chapters were less gripping initially but grew stronger as the story progressed and she stepped into a more active role.

The pacing is steady—more of a slow burn than a race—but consistent and well-balanced. Every chapter moves the plot forward, with twists that feel intentional and well set-up.

This is a standout thriller that offers more than just a mystery. It’s about trust, identity, and how far people will go to protect themselves. Highly recommended for fans of psychological suspense with a unique narrative voice.

Imagine discovering in your thirties that you have a sister. And not just a sister, but a twin. That’s the premise of The Locked Ward. Mandy has just discovered that Georgia Cartwright, glamorous daughter of the super rich Cartwrights, is her twin. Georgia, who’s just been charged with killing her younger sister and is currently locked up in the hospital’s mental ward. In fact, the only reason that Mandy now knows this is that Georgia has reached out to her.
Told in alternating short, quick chapters between Mandy and Georgia, the story moves at a brisk pace. But one of the initial premises, that Georgia was sent to the ward because she’s suffering from a dissociative state, doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. She doesn’t talk on the ward but the staff never seems to realize she’s talking to her lawyer and capable of asking for visitors. We’re also meant to believe that these two strangers develop an instantaneous “twin bond” once they briefly meet. And for some reason, Mandy’s chapters are written in first person and Georgia’s in second person, which irritated me as there wasn’t a reason for it.
I’ll give Pekkanen credit for creating a super eerie setting on the ward. The tension in those segments is palpable. But it wasn’t enough to hold my interest. I’m starting to think I’m losing my interest in psychological thrillers. It’s the rare one that doesn’t require a major suspension of belief. And too often, like here, the character development is lacking. The mother is such a cliche she’s laughable.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

This was a hybrid read for me as I alternated between the digital and audio version.

I was drawn into the story from the very beginning. A twin that wasn't known about, murder and family secrets- this one definitely packs a punch! When Georgia asks Amanda to help clear her name, Amanda isn't sure who to trust and what to do.
I listened to the audio version for about the first half and it was so entertaining I wanted to do nothing else but listen. The narrator is excellent and kept me so engrossed in the story.
I can always rely on Sarah Pekkanen to deliver.

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

I am a big fan of Sarah Pekkanen's work, but this title missed the mark a bit for me. I didn't find the twists as surprising or compelling as usual. The main characters felt flat and underdeveloped, and the villain seemed like a caricature. I would have loved to learn more about their history, because their actions seemed extreme without understanding more about their motivations. Overall, this felt more like a short story than a fully-fledged novel.

Thank you netgalley and St. martin’s press for an ARC copy of this book!

I have never read any of this authors books before, but I own several. I have read You Are Not Alone with dual authors-Sarah being one of them, and I LOVED IT, so when I saw this available, I knew I would like it!

If I hadnt of been so busy, I bet I could have read this is 2 days! I could not stop and when I had to, I couldnt wait to get back to reading!

As always, I love the dual perspective. And short, reasonable length chapters! I loved watching the story unfold, and of course, was suprised at the twist!

I would definitely recommend this book!

Sarah Pekkanen has once again proven herself as the master of psychological suspense with The Locked Ward, a gripping and intricately plotted thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. From the first page, Pekkanen draws readers into the unsettling world of a psychiatric hospital, where nothing—and no one—is quite as it seems.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC for an honest review.

Published date: Aug. 5, 2025

I’m regrettably putting this book down at the 35% mark. It had a promising start and a lot of potential, but I couldn’t seem to get into it any further. I felt like I was missing crucial information and nothing exciting was happening. I was eager to uncover the plot, but it felt like it started off too strong and then lost its momentum. I had high hopes for this book!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the WRC in exchange for an honest review!

The Locked Ward dives deep into the unsettling bond between two sisters who barely know each other—but suddenly need to trust one another to survive. Sarah Pekkanen delivers tension, family dysfunction, and eerie psychiatric ward vibes in spades. I loved watching Amanda navigate the chilling unknown, questioning whether blood really is thicker than truth. A slow-burn psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Thank you Sarah Pekkanen, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

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The Locked Ward is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that excels in short‑chapter suspense and clever plotting. Its unique dual‑POV approach enhances mystery but may alienate some readers, and pacing dips in the middle could slow momentum. If you're drawn to psychological family drama, twin secrets, and a claustrophobic institutional setting, this is a compelling binge‑read—as long as you’re okay with occasional structural quirks.

This thriller grabs you from the first page and never lets go, delivering pulse-pounding suspense and razor-sharp twists. The characters are complex and believable, adding real emotional weight to the high-stakes plot. Its pacing is relentless, yet every moment feels earned and impactful. An absolute must-read for fans of intelligent, heart-racing fiction.