⭐ 4/5 stars

“I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.”

That’s the first thing Georgia says to her estranged sister Amanda after being locked away in a psychiatric hospital. From that moment, I was hooked. Just when I thought I had figured out who the real villain was, the story twisted again. The pacing was nearly perfect. It was fast enough to keep me turning pages (or hitting play) but never rushed. I didn’t want to put it down.

I switched between audio and Kindle for this one, and let me tell you, the audiobook was captivating! This was my first time hearing a narration by January LaVoy, and she absolutely nailed it. I’ll definitely be seeking out more books she narrates in the future.

Thank you @netgalley for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @the.storygraph for hosting the giveaway of the audio version.

Wow, what an insanely twisted thriller!

Mandy has no idea she has a twin, let alone one accused of murder. Hiding her own secrets, she is summoned to meet her twin in The Locked Ward. From there, the story twists and turns until the very last page. While you may think you have it figured out, you probably don't.

Another great thriller from Sarah Pekkanen!

Fast read, and just what I needed to lose myself in last night. Characters were very well written, and while it did slow down towards the middle, it ended with a bang. Perfect summer read.

3.75 ⭐️

2 twin sisters separated by adoption. 2 very different fates. I liked having both POVs. The sisters were both different but calculated and clever. I know some peopled complained about Georgia’s POV being second person but I actually didn’t mind it. I thought it was different.

The little twists and turns were entertaining. At one point I thought I knew whodunit or who was involved, but I was wrong.

I will say the final twist I did not see coming.

There weren’t many likeable characters, but I was rooting for both Mandy and Georgia.

Solid ending.

I was looking forward to Sarah Pekkanen’s new book and it did not disappoint! I did a combination of reading and listening to the audiobook. They were both amazing!

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

I’ve really enjoyed Sarah Pekkanen’s books, including all the ones she’s wrote with Greer Hendricks. Her last release, The Glass House, was a five star read for me so I was pretty excited to get an approval for this one.

The book is told in dual POV and it gives you two sides to this twisty story. We follow Georgia as she tries to prove her innocence and escape the locked ward and Mandy whose life is interrupted by a twin sister she didn’t know she had. The storyline was good and intriguing, I just wasn’t as wow’d by the progression of events and some of the twists as I wanted to be. Some of the reveals felt a little far fetched and you’d need to extend belief to accept.

Overall it wasn’t a bad read, just wasn’t my favorite of hers. It was an easy read and I loved that it had short chapters!

This was a really interesting thriller. I liked how it was told from both Georgia's and Mandy's POV, allowing us to know as much as possible and adding some dramatic irony when we knew something one of our narrators didn't. The second person POV for Georgia threw me off at first since it's not a super common POV to use, but I got used to it as I read. It's really easy to follow along -- there are plenty of details to keep you intrigued, but you're not disoriented by all the moving parts. I think the tension that we see in the psych ward helps to keep tension high during the exposition, which can then be replaced by the actual plot as we start learning what happened leading up to/the night of Annabelle's death. I was surprised by a lot of the reveals, and there were a few things that I thought "this could be x" and it ended up being x. I really wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next, especially past the halfway point when the plot gets more complex. It was also interesting to learn about Georgia and Mandy as characters, as well as their pasts. One thing I didn't love was the constant references to the twins' connection (sharing feelings, dreams, etc.); I know that some of that is documented for specific cases, but it felt a little overboard sometimes. There were also some minor things that felt slightly unresolved/dropped, but it wasn't anything major enough to the plotline to make me feel unsatisfied by the ending. I also thought the pacing was maybe a little unsteady in the beginning (it might've been that it felt a little hard to believe some of the choices?), but that began to smooth itself out further into the story. Overall I would recommend this book to thriller readers -- there were times when I didn't want to put this down (even to go to bed)!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book!

I've been going through a thrillers phase right now and I've read some of the author's other books before which is why I was interested in this book. I was also interested in how the author was going to tackle the topic of adoption as an adoptee. I've noticed that a lot of authors, especially in the thriller genre, have a tendency to be insensitive when writing adopted characters. Adopted characters are either serial killers or orphaned heroes (with adoption being a lazy way of conveniently getting rid of parents). There's also the whole issue where many writers don't do any basic research regarding adoption and while most people won't care, I do find these inaccuracies to be jarring as an adoptee who's very involved in the adoption community. Slightly off-tangent but something I wanted to note about this book, most adoptees I know don't really use the words "real" to describe their parents, because the word "real" implies that one set of parents is fake.

I did feel like overall, this book was well-researched. Many people don't know this outside of the adoption community, but it's considered to be standard policy to remove the biological parents and replace the names with that of the adoptive parents on an adoptees birth certificates, essentially allowing adoptive parents to hide adoptions. I did find it unrealistic that a private investigator was able to unseal their original birth records without any difficulty and in a relatively short period of time. Many adopted children have significant difficulty accessing their original birth certificates which are usually sealed and/or considered to be the property of the adoptive parents.

On another note, I noticed the plot felt like it moved very quickly. I feel like it's due to having short chapters but I found it to be nice since there isn't any unnecessary page-filling scenes. It reads like an airplane novel and it's meant to be a short, quick thrill. Some people don't like this style of thrillers but I find that it does work for certain types of plots. The ending was definitely very twisty and it felt like there was multiple different plotlines happening at once. I did feel entertained and I genuinely didn't see some of the twists coming.

The Locked Ward is an emotionally intense psychological thriller, ideal for your summer binge. Georgia Cartwright had it all—glamour, wealth, and prestige—but now she is held in a psychiatric hospital, accused of murdering Annabelle, her adoptive family’s biological daughter. Georgia maintains her innocence and persuades her estranged twin sister, Amanda, to help her. Amanda becomes embroiled in the chaos, undertaking DNA tests and uncovering family secrets in an attempt to clear her sister’s name.

Pekkanen masterfully creates tension and discomfort within the oppressive atmosphere of a locked psychiatric ward. Using dual perspectives—Amanda in first person and Georgia in second person—can be a bit confusing at first, but it perfectly captures Georgia’s delicate perception of reality. Pekkanen’s fast, quick chapters maintain a steady pace, driving the story forward with each page. Filled with red herrings and revelations, the plot's twists remain both satisfying and immersive.

If you're drawn to dark family secrets, captivating sibling suspense, and exploring themes of trust and deception, you'll find this book hard to put down until the very last page. It's an excellent choice for fans of domestic thrillers filled with psychological tension, mental health themes, and intense sibling relationships. A fantastic summer read with a touch of darkness that will stay with you long after you've finished.
Be sure to pre-order this captivating book; it’s available starting August 5th!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my eARC!
Posted initially on BookshelfbyTori on Instagram!

This book is a chilling psychological thriller that dives deep into the murky waters of family secrets, mental illness, and the fragile bonds of sisterhood. When Mandy receives a call from a lawyer claiming her estranged twin sister, Georgia, is locked in a psychiatric ward for murder, her world tilts on its axis. What follows is a gripping unraveling of truth and deception as Mandy races to uncover whether Georgia is a victim or a master manipulator.

Pekkanen crafts a tense, atmospheric narrative that keeps readers guessing until the final page. The dual perspectives of Mandy and Georgia add layers of complexity, with Mandy’s chapters grounded in realism and Georgia’s offering a more unsettling, surreal lens. The setting—a locked psychiatric ward—amplifies the suspense, making every revelation feel claustrophobic and urgent.
If you love twisty thrillers with emotional depth and a touch of Southern gothic, this is the book for you!


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

The Locked Ward is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the dark, twisted bonds of sisterhood with chilling intensity. From the moment Georgia Cartwright is locked away in a psychiatric institution, accused of a shocking crime, the story is full of tension, mystery, and uncertainty.

Sarah Pekkanen masterfully keeps you guessing—Is Georgia truly innocent, or is she a master manipulator hiding sinister secrets? Her estranged twin Amanda’s journey to uncover the truth is haunting and emotionally charged, pulling you deep into a world where nothing is quite as it seems.

The eerie, claustrophobic setting of the institution adds to the sense of dread, making every scene feel unsettling and urgent. This book kept me hooked with its twists and complex characters, and the ending left me stunned.

If you love psychological thrillers that delve into family secrets and the darkest corners of the mind, The Locked Ward is a must-read. Just be prepared for a wild, unpredictable ride.

Sarah Pekkanen is one of my favorite psychological thriller authors. This book started off slower than her previous books for me. Twin sisters separated at birth not knowing about each other and one is accused of murder. Georgia is locked in a psychiatric hospital and needs her sister Amanda to get her out. Family secrets, political aspirations and family love are the themes in this story. I enjoyed the novel.

Thank you #NetGalley, #St.Martin’sPresss, #SarahPekkanen and #TheLockedWard for the audiobook for my honest review.

3.5 rounded up

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen was just okay for me-- and honestly, I don’t even have a super strong reason why. I’ve loved her books before, but this one just didn’t pull me in like I expected it to.

There were a lot of characters to keep track of, and at times, it got a little confusing.

There were parts I found interesting, and I don’t want to discourage anyone from picking it up because you might love it-- but it didn’t fully work for me. Even the big twist/reveal at the end felt a little over the top and kind of unrealistic? BUT I’ll give it this: I truly had no idea how it was going to end, and even though it felt like a lot-- it still shocked me.

If you like psychological thrillers with a twisty ending I would check it out!

Thank you so much St. Martin's Press & Macmillan Audio for this ARC

I am a huge Sarah Pekkanen fan so I will read all of her books, but I will put Locked Ward a bit lower on my list of favorites.
This story is about solving a murder when the accused,Georgia, is locked up (somewhat voluntarily, as she was faking her mental incapacity to avoid prison) in a mental health facility. This facility, for some reason, scares Georgia to death, mostly due to another resident, Josh. Georgia, who had recently learned that she had a twin sister, who was not adopted into her family, calls on the sister Mandy, to help her solve the murder and get her out of the locked ward.
I didn’t quite believe the drama described in the mental health ward and it seemed like it was a ploy to add suspense. I also did not enjoy the Georgia’s POV, using “you” instead of “she”: ”You can’t go into your room so you stand…”
Overall, some suspense, some intrigue, and a somewhat interesting story that made me read it to the end.
Thank you NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy.

As someone who really enjoyed The Glass House, The Locked Ward just didn’t land the same for me. I’m a mood reader, so maybe it was the timing—I could see this working better as a fall or winter read rather than something to pick up in the summer.

The premise had potential, but I struggled with the characters. They felt underdeveloped and unreliable in a way that didn’t pull me in. A lot of their choices were hard to follow or believe, which made it difficult to connect with either of them.

One thing I did appreciate was the short chapters—it was easy to fly through, even when I wasn’t fully invested. But the narrative style confused me: Georgia’s chapters were written in second person, while Mandy’s were in first. I kept waiting for a twist, like maybe they were the same person or some psychological reveal was coming… but it never really paid off.

Overall, this one didn’t quite work for me, but I know Sarah Pekkanen has delivered before—so I’m definitely still open to whatever she writes next.

Another fast read by Sarah Pekkanen! I think I have read almost all of Pekkanen's books and this one fell slightly flat for me. It was a quick read but I had a hard time connecting to the characters. An interesting plot with an intriguing writing style, "The Locked Ward" tells the story of two long-lost twins who are recently reunited after a traumatic incident that leaves one of them committed to a psychiatric facility.

There was a lot of potential for this story but the author just skims of the surface of the motivations and behaviors of the characters. The Locked Ward felt superficial as it failed to explore the dynamics between the sisters. I also thought there was too much suspension of belief in order to accept the storyline of the crime allegedly committed.

This was the perfect read for a day by the pool or stuck on a plane - short chapters and easily bingeable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’m not going to lie, the beginning of this book started off wildly unbelievable and I wasn’t sure how this was going to go but I found I was in the mood for that sort of read and it worked perfectly.

This book had super short chapters with alternating POVs for each sister and that really sealed it for me. I kept me wanting more and made it really easy to read/ listen to. The audiobook narrated by January Lavoy was really well done.

Some parts of this story could’ve used a little more depth but I was honestly so caught up in the mystery that I didn’t mind. If you’re up for a quick, solid thriller - full of family secrets and you’re down to go with the flow and not look too closely at things, I’d definitely recommend!

The Locked Ward was a gripping read that kept me hooked from start to finish. I really enjoyed the twists and the sense of mystery throughout it felt like every chapter added a new layer.

The Locked Ward is relentless mixture of lies, secrets and misdirection that is a roller coast of a ride.

It is the story of twins.

Georgia is locked up after being accused of murder of her adopted family's biological daughter.

Her lawyer reaches out to Mandy who had no clue she had a sister let alone a twin.

Georgia begs Mandy for help stating she is innocent and they will kill her if Mandy doesnt get her out of the locked ward.

Sarah Pekkanen tells the story from both twins perspective and this works so very well highlighting the sisters differences .

The pacing is perfection and the author presents the reader with a whirlwind of secrets, lies and is brilliant from start to finish.

Enjoy the ride.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review The Locked Ward.

A true psychological thriller, I could not put this book down. I was thinking about this story even when I wasn’t reading. I second guessed my predictions and wasn’t sure which characters I could trust, and I needed to find out how the story ended. Sarah Pekkanen is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC of The Locked Ward. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️