This was a strange one for me I loved the premise but the execution was so unbelievable and jumped around so much I lost interest. In this book we follow Mandy mostly, she wakes up one day to find out the woman she seen on the news in the middle of a murder trial, Georgia, is her biological twin sister she never knew she had. When she gets a message to meet her Mandy can’t resist and quickly finds herself embroiled in a much more dangerous game than she thought. I liked this one but I didn’t love it the characters never quite clicked so it made it a bit long and boring with that said I would be interested in picking up other books from this author since I have loved some of their stuff in the past. I would like to thank Net Galley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy of The Locked Ward. This was my second book by Sarah Pekkanen and I really enjoyed it. The premise of the book is what intrigued me right away. Adopted daughter Georgia is accused of murdering her parent’s biological daughter Annabelle. The only person who can help her now is her estranged twin sister Mandy. It was a fast paced read with short chapters and plenty of twists that kept me guessing. Very early on I thought I knew where the book was headed but thankfully I was wrong so it made the read that much more enjoyable. I liked the dual POV’s from the sisters and the twin dynamics was fascinating.

This kept me up all night reading I was so hooked by this book from the start. Kinda reminded me of the silent patient but more twisted . Sarah Pekkanen never disappoints with her dark psychological twists. This was the first book in awhile i couldn’t put down!

I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I requested this because it was recommended by a book blogger I follow. She did say it strained believability at times, but that it was a fun, bonkers ride. I’ve always found Pekkanen’s books to be hit or miss for me (including the ones she’s written with…Greer Hendrix, I think?). But I’m always down for a fun, bonkers ride!

Twin sisters Georgia and Amanda have never met - in fact until quite recently they didn’t even know about one another. But after Georgia was arrested for the murder of her sister (her parents’ biological child), she reached out to Amanda, telling her she’s the only one who can save Georgia.

Amanda, for her part, is skeptical. First about Georgia’s motives, and then about her own ability to assist. They share narration duties, although Georgia’s are inexplicably in second person, a choice that did not stop bothering me! I guess it’s to show that distance, that Georgia in the locked ward is trying to dissociate, so she’s not herself. But it felt unnecessary - if your two characters sound so much alike that you need a weird gimmick to tell them apart…maybe you need a touch more editing.

Anyway, Amanda quite quickly begins to trust her newfound sister (you kind of have to just go with it here. If she never trusts her then there’s no story) and starts digging into both of their pasts. She learns that her parents weren’t quite truthful with her themselves - she always knew she was adopted, but did her parents know she was also a twin? Given that, when the story opens, they’re both dead, they aren’t available for questions (I thought that would turn out to be some grander conspiracy, but nope. Just sad).

As is sometimes the case in a mystery like this, we end up being TOLD more than shown. If we’re going to give Georgia narration duties, I’d rather her chapters were set in a different timeline, like the months (or even years) leading up to the murder. We do get some of that in flashback, but it felt rushed. And Georgia’s chapters in the locked ward were ultimately pretty useless. I think there’s more question of whether or not she’s this master of manipulation if we aren’t inside her head. I don’t always love an unreliable narrator, but I think that would have worked here…if her chapters weren’t just her inside the ward.

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a solid psychological thriller with an engaging premise. I really liked the overall idea of the book, and the characters were written in a way that pulled me in right away. There’s a lot to enjoy here — the setting is eerie, the pacing moves quickly, and the cast of characters feels distinct enough to keep the story flowing.

That said, I personally found the plot a bit predictable. I guessed the ending pretty early on, which took away some of the tension and suspense. For me, part of the fun of thrillers is being caught off guard, and in this case I felt like I was always a few steps ahead of where the story was going. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did make it feel a little less gripping.

Even with that, I still appreciated the atmosphere Pekkanen created and the way she developed the relationships between the characters. It’s an enjoyable read, just not one that completely surprised me. If you’re looking for a fast, character-driven thriller and don’t mind if the twists are easier to spot, this could definitely be worth picking up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. In this book you will learn about sibling rivalry, twin connections, wealth, what it’s like to be locked up in a psych ward, family relationships, and then we get a little bit of suspense/shock value… I still feel like there were some missing details, but it did bring my rating down a bit because of it.
All in all, it was still a decent read.

I always look forward to a Sarah Pekkanen release, and this one was well worth the wait!

Amanda and Georgia, 32-year-old twins separated at birth, have no idea the other exists—until Georgia learns about Amanda. But before the two can connect, Georgia is arrested for the murder of their younger sister. She swears she didn’t do it and begs Amanda for help.

Everyone else insists Georgia was jealous and resentful, making her the obvious killer. But as Amanda digs deeper, she uncovers shocking twists and long-buried secrets that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

A suspenseful, addictive read that demands your full attention until the very last page!

I was able to read the arc of The Locked Ward. I've never read a book by Sarah Pekkanen and let me tell you I'm glad I finally did. This book kept me on my toes the whole time and I never saw the twist coming at the end. I absolutely love her writing style. Very easy read filled with lots of twists. I will definitely be reading more by this author for sure!!

Some doors should never be opened.

Was it bitter, all-consuming jealousy? Pathological sibling rivalry? Pure insanity?

Whatever the cause―and everyone has a theory―it's the Crime of the Decade when glamorous Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a newborn, is accused of killing the biological daughter of her wealthy, Southern family.

Georgia is locked in a psychiatric institution where the most violent offenders are held while she awaits trial. The only words she whispers when her estranged twin sister Amanda visits are, “I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.”

Amanda doesn't trust Georgia, but she can't abandon her in a place so eerie and menacing that it seems to exist in another dimension. Is Georgia the victim of a powerful family that's so depraved murder is the least of their crimes? Or is Amanda being led down a path of madness into the web of a master manipulator?

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, #partner for the advanced copy of The Locked Ward in exchange for my honest review.

A new Sarah Pekkanen book is always cause for celebration and this one is not to be missed! Her books are the perfect summer reads – fast, addictive thrillers with that little something extra that sets her apart from the traditional summer thriller. I think it’s the character-driven storyline that we don’t typically see in a regular thriller and I am here for it. ⁣
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There is something about the twin trope that completely fascinates me and when you add in the fact that in this case, it’s finding out not only that you didn’t know about your twin before now but also that she’s locked away for the murder of her sister. That alone completely sold it for me but then the twists start popping up and I had no idea where this one was headed. ⁣
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I loved how the story alternates between both sisters’ POV…it made for some tense, uneasy moments. And of course, there is always that question of who can be trusted. ⁣
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I really enjoyed this one. It kept me guessing and as someone who loves stories of family dysfunction, this one completely satisfied me as they started digging into all the family drama and secrets. It’s the perfect summer read to escape into!

4.5! Sarah Pekkanen is an auto buy for me and I absolutely loved this one. The twin connections was new for me and she never disappoints with psychological thrillers. Very addictive and could not put it down!

My final rating on this one is lower than expected which is a bummer after such a fun start! Personally - I'm a fan of books that start later in the story. Rewinding time to show you small glimpses and all unspooling the threads of what's going on as you read. The major blow to 'The Locked Ward' was that the urgency didn't continue.

I absolutely loved previous books from this author, but unfortunately, I struggled with this one. 

I enjoyed all the small reveals and ominous hints in the first half. They happened at a steady pace and kept me flipping the pages, needing to know more. Chapters alternating between the two main characters made it nearly impossible for me to find a pausing point in the book, so it was a quick read.

I was initially curious about where things were going with the twin angle, but as the story progressed, things began to feel less engrossing and more unbelievable, with subplots that didn't go anywhere. The big reveals the story built toward ended up feeling predictable and not particularly big.

Overall, The Locked Ward was an entertaining way to pass a few hours, but it didn't maintain suspense and tension for me as with the author's past books. The story pieces just didn't fit together as nicely and neatly as her plots normally do. Not every book can be a favorite, and I'll still be anxiously awaiting her next book.

I felt this was a good twisty read. I definitely liked the psych ward element. I did find it a bit odd that not one person noticed any similarities at all, being that they are twins. Even non identical twins usually look alike or have enough similarities to see them. I also am left wondering what the point of some of the characters were, as they came in briefly, played their part, and that was it. Still, overall, it was a decent twisty read.

A woman learns that she has a twin sister who is in a psychiatric institution accused of murder. As she tried to untangle secrets from their past, she begins to wonder who is lying and who is telling the truth and if she, herself, may be in danger.

I liked the long lost twin premise of this as well as the psychiatric ward setting which created much tension. Pekkanen skillfully wove in family secrets and there are several surprises at the end. For fans of Megan Miranda and Mindy Mejia.

Phew y’all this one is crazy, and I just ate it up! An adopted daughter of a wealthy family is accused of killing the biological daughter (her sister), and she ends up in a psych ward. Then she recruits her estranged twin sister to help prove she is innocent…or is she??

Family secrets and lies, dangerous patients in the psychiatric hospital, and a murder to be solved had me so captivated by this story. The chapters are SUPER short which always makes for a quick read, and I loved the alternating viewpoints with Georgia and Amanda (the estranged twins).

Amanda infiltrates herself into Georgia’s high society life, and while making some interesting decisions, she’s doing her best to help prove her sister’s innocence. All while scared for her life. The middle section was a tad slow (not for very long though) as some backstory was shared that I didn’t think was necessary, but the ending was WILD!! I did not guess the twists which I always enjoy because I love having the shock factor!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a gifted copy of this novel!

I went into this book pretty blind, as I a fan of this author’s work - and this book didn’t disappoint! It had all of the trademarks that I love about this author’s novels; short chapters, fast pacing, lots of twists and turns, and ultimately a book I don’t want to put down. I finished this one very quickly when I started it as well. I loved the premise behind this novel as well as the dual POVs from the sisters. I did not guess most of the twists coming, although some of the smaller ones I was able to figure out on my own. I did feel that some of the aspects of the novel were more akin to a salacious mystery rather than a thriller, but I enjoyed the ride regardless. I definitely recommend giving this one a read!

I was hooked right from the start with this story of twins separated at birth. When Georgia is accused of murdering her other sister, the only person who might be able to save her is the twin she never knew existed. The plot was such a carefully woven web with twists at every turn, and I was left guessing all the way until the very end. I felt like I got to know both sisters and the lives they grew into.

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a chilling, emotionally layered psychological thriller that explores the fragile boundaries between truth, perception, and identity. The story centers on Georgia Cartwright, a glamorous wedding planner from a wealthy Southern family, who wakes up in a high-security psychiatric ward accused of murdering her younger sister Annabelle. The media paints her as a jealous, unstable woman—but when she reaches out to Mandy Ravenel, a bar owner from a nearby town, the narrative begins to unravel. Mandy learns that she and Georgia were adopted separately as twins, and Georgia’s desperate plea “I didn’t do it. And if you don’t get me out of here, they’re going to kill me” sets off a tense investigation into buried family secrets.

This was my first read by Sarah Pekkanen, and I was immediately struck by her command of psychological tension and narrative structure. The alternating perspectives Georgia’s chapters told in second person, Mandy’s in first create a disorienting intimacy that mirrors the claustrophobic setting of the psychiatric ward. Pekkanen doesn’t just build suspense; she excavates emotional trauma, using the locked ward as both a literal and metaphorical space where identity is questioned and reality is manipulated. The pacing is deliberate, the atmosphere oppressive, and the characters especially Georgia are rendered with a complexity that keeps you guessing until the final pages.

What makes The Locked Ward stand out is its refusal to offer easy answers. Pekkanen explores how trauma can fracture memory, how family can be both sanctuary and weapon, and how truth is often a matter of perspective. Mandy’s journey from skepticism to reluctant ally is compelling, and Georgia’s unraveling whether real or orchestrated is haunting. For a debut experience with this author, it was a gripping and emotionally resonant ride, and I’m eager to explore more of her work. If you enjoy thrillers that blend psychological depth with moral ambiguity, this one delivers.

Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this book

Very entertaining fast paced read, kept me interested from the beginning but I didn't really feel a connection with any of the characters so I was just reading more to get it over with rather than being invested in story, It was good but i still felt compelled to be honest.

I always seem to enjoy this author, and this book did not disappoint. You should make sure that you like twin stories first. This has short chapters with alternating pov's. It had a strong storyline and good character development. I really enjoyed this and would recommend and as easy read thriller.
4 star