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. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5⭐️
The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is an interesting twist on a psych ward thriller. The setting itself is right for being a creepy mystery and it amps up the suspense with twins, a conspiracy, a ticking clock, high-level politics, and of course murder. The whole combination was entertaining and extremely intriguing.

However, I found the switching back and forth between first and second person perspectives off putting at times, particularly in the beginning of the book. There were also few last minute players that were confusing (and random.) At one point, 80% of the way in, I was asking why is one sister involved at all? All the situation did was complicate her life. Is she some sort of gossip addict? I also questioned a big change of heart (unless I missed something) with a major character. I find people rarely reverse years of opinion and action overnight without a major catalyst.

Overall, the book drew me in with a great plot and intriguing writing. The conclusion was satisfying and most of my questions were answered by the end. I recommend giving it a read.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC! No compensation—just my honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed this book! I read the digital copy while listening to the audiobook and it was quite the experience. I loved the short chapters. I did feel like that ending was heavily implied much earlier on in the book, so I wouldn't call it a twist per se, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment.

Absolute page turner, this book had me hooked from page one! Dual POV and short chapters written brilliantly. Every chapter had a mini cliff hanger that just kept you wanting to read more. The reveal at the end is a little dull, but the pacing of the book makes up for the lack of a jaw dropping twist.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC.

This was a fantastic book! It is my first by Sarah Pekkanen and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did not see a couple of things coming which is always a plus when I am reading a thriller! I cannot wait to read some of her other books!

I've been a longtime fan of Sarah Pekkanen, and will jump at a chance to read her books! The Locked Ward brought another twisty, well paced thrill ride!

Georgia is locked away in a psychiatric ward, charged with the death of her sister Annabelle. Desperate to get help, she reaching out to the only person she knows can help her. Her long lost twin. Mandy, has no idea that she has a twin sister, and is skeptical when she is contacted by a lawyer telling her that Mandy is the only person Georgia is willing to talk to. Hesitant, Mandy meets Georgia and is chilled by her statement that is Mandy doesn't help get her out, she will be killed. Once Mandy confirms that Georgia is in fact her sister, she feels compelled to know more. This sets in motion the deep dive into the family, and secrets held close and finding out who is the real killer and what possible threats still exist?

I really enjoyed the pacing of this novel, and the small twists throughout. I also love a thriller that changes perspectives, giving readers the minds of both sisters as they navigate this mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have enjoyed previous books by this author both as a solo author and in her collaborations. So, I was excited to get to read this. That being said, I liked the book, but I did not love the book.

The story of two women, who learn that they are twins separated at birth. Georgia was raised in a wealthy family and has been accused of murdering her sister. Georgia is being held in a mental health facility. And the only person that she calls is her twin. Mandy is startled to learn of this but begins to unearth some mysteries of her own, all while trying to help her newly found sister.

The chapters were short and alternated between the women. But there was a lot left out of the story. Some aspects felt that they needed to be more fleshed out. The concept was a good one but there needed to be more explanations. Neither character was 100% likeable nor trustworthy. It could appear that the way the story ended that there could be a sequel.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

The Locked Ward was an interesting thriller. The plot kept me interested, and the cast of characters kept me guessing.

This is my first Sarah Pekkanen read and I enjoyed it. I am looking forward to reading more novels by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sarah Pekkanen for the advance reader copy.

Started strong, lost its way—but I’d read this author again.
Thank you, St Martins Press & Macmillan Audio, for the gifted copy of The Locked Ward {partner}

Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 8.5.2025
Pages: 320
Star Rating: ☆☆☆

“The most dangerous animal on earth isn’t the great white shark or a hungry crocodile or a momma bear. It’s the human being.”

I really had high hopes for The Locked Ward—it had so much promise at the beginning. The atmosphere was unsettling, the setup was intriguing, and I was genuinely excited to see where it would go.

But by the halfway point, everything started to unravel. The characters lost momentum, their choices became frustrating or hard to believe, and the plot started to feel scattered. What began as a tightly paced mystery slowly shifted into something that felt less sure of itself, and honestly, I kept waiting for it to recapture that initial spark.

The one thing that kept me going? The short chapters. They gave the book a sense of pace and urgency that made it easy to keep reading, even when I wasn’t fully invested. And to the author’s credit, I thought I had the ending all figured out—but I was wrong. I always appreciate when a story surprises me, and this one didn’t take the obvious route, which I applaud.

Even though The Locked Ward didn’t fully land for me, I’d still pick up another book from this author. There’s clearly talent here, and I’d love to see how their next story unfolds with stronger execution.

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆
The audiobook for The Locked Ward is narrated by January Lavoy and per usual she did an excellent job brining the book to life. My only criticism is that I think the story would’ve been better if there had been more than just one voice actor — I did find myself getting confused on which POV I was listening to.

Read if you enjoy:
💨 Quick Reads
📖 Short Chapters
🗣️ Alternating POV

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the chance to review this eARC.

3.25 stars

Georgie Cartwright finds herself as a patient in a psychiatric ward after being accused of bludgeoning her sister Annabelle to death. Georgia reaches out to Mandy, who she recently discovered was her twin, although Mandy had no idea she ever had a sibling. Together, they work together to untie the mysteries of the night Annabelle was killed.

Told in dual POVs, this story is fast paced, has short chapters, and introduces a cast of complex characters. I enjoyed the chapters alternating between Georgia and Mandy and getting a glimpse in to their lives both past and present. I also liked the mystery aspect of The Locked Ward and trying to unravel the family dynamics and the intricate relationships between the elite families we're introduced to. I didn't guess who the villain was going to be in the end, but I will say the discovery was just a tad anticlimactic.

Overall, I did enjoy this book (albeit not my favorite by SP) and I think any mystery lovers would enjoy it. If you're looking for an easy read, check this one out!

Pub date: 8/5/25

I really enjoyed this one but I did find it a little akward/far fetched. However, it had me hooked from the beginning. It was fast paced with lots of twists and turns. A fun read for sure!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Release date is 8/5/25.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5

This was an interesting thriller that was fast- paced, kept you guessing, had complex characters, and an interesting ending I wasn't expecting. It is written completely in first person, which may throw some readers off, but I was able to quickly get used to it. It added to the story I felt.

It was not really thrilling to me, more of a mystery to find out what was going on within the family dynamics. Georgia being in the asylum could be seen as thrilling to some, but having worked in a psychiatric facility it sort of seemed like a day at work, but a little exaggerated for that "thrilling" feel.

I still think this is a good read and recommend it for an interesting time.

Sarah Pekkanen is one of my go-to authors and I really enjoyed her latest release, The Locked Ward. It's a psychological thriller set within a creepy high-security psychiatric unit. I couldn't put it down. The story is told through the alternating perspectives of twins separated at birth — Georgia, a glamorous, wealthy wedding planner accused of murdering her adopted sister, and Mandy, her long-lost twin who learns of Georgia’s existence through a cryptic call from a public defender. Both voices felt distinct and compelling and the shifting narrative kept me fully engaged. It had multiple twists and I didn't see the ending coming. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Told through the tense dual POVs of Georgia Cartwright, who’s been confined to a psychiatric ward after being accused of killing her adopted sister, and Amanda, who is thrust into Georgia’s world of secrets. Being called the “Crime of the Decade,” Georgia insists she didn’t kill her sister, but chronic family dysfunction, questions of adoption, privilege, and manipulation swirl around her as Amanda races to uncover the truth.

I really enjoyed the story! The structure kept me hooked. The alternating viewpoints added depth, and the short chapters created fast-paced momentum that made the book feel unputdownable. Plus, the audiobook narration is superb. I was particularly intrigued by the subplot involving Georgia’s roommate and it adds another creepy layer to the already charged atmosphere. The mystery of Georgia’s innocence and the hidden traumas of the Cartwright clan are solidly executed, though a few twists felt a little predictable, and I wish the last chapter or two had been trimmed down.

Still, the character development especially the eerie, magnetic bond forming between the Amanda and Georgia was compelling enough to bump my rating from 3.5 to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. The suspense is strong, and the pacing is fast which always lends itself to making a gripping thriller. If you’re a fan of well-crafted psychological thrillers, this is one to bookmark.

The Locked Ward comes out August 5, 2025. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copies in exchange for my review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
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When Georgia, a member of a wealthy family is accused of killing her sister, she is placed in a locked ward for an evaluation to stand trial. Scared and alone Georgia pretends she's sick to prolong her date with the judge, she asked her lawyer to contact her twin sister she just found out about. Amanda doesn't know why this woman wants to see her but she goes anyway and her life is turned upside down.
This book was great, the suspense and twists kept me glued to the pages and I finished in one day because I couldn't put it down. I was so invested in this story I tuned out and was absorbed into the pages of their lives, even feeling all their emotions. Thanks to netgalley and St Martins Press for the chance to read this amazing story, I now have a new go to author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)
The Locked Ward is a psychological thriller that takes readers inside a high-security psychiatric facility, where a therapist begins to suspect that a patient may be telling the truth about a chilling conspiracy. As the layers unravel, the story dives into themes of power, manipulation, and blurred lines between sanity and reality.

What I liked most about this book was the fast pace—it definitely kept me turning the pages. After a string of romantasy reads, this served as a great palate cleanser: gripping, tense, and easy to devour in just a few sittings.

That said, some of the subplots—particularly a reference to a character vying for the presidency—felt out of place. When I read, I’m usually looking for an escape, and this angle pulled me out of the story a bit. The plot overall was pretty unrealistic, which isn’t a dealbreaker if you’re just along for the ride. But if you’re someone who gets hung up on plot holes, you might find it frustrating.

In all, The Locked Ward is a well-written, fast-paced read that’s entertaining if you can suspend disbelief.

Ever since my first read by Sarah Pekkanen I have been consistently picking up her new releases, regardless of if they are written as an author duo or purely solo. Relatedly, I have also enjoyed every single book of hers I have read with some catching me more than others, but overall an author I can rely on when I'm looking for my next fun and twisty read. I read this one as a combination of audio and ebook copy and while the audiobook was done well, I think I would have made my way through this quicker as I was physically unable to put my kindle down when I jumped back in.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for my early copy! Highly recommend preordering this one for its release August 5th.

This pulled me in pretty much from the beginning and got better the more I read. It was an intriguing concept, twins, an asylum, psychological thriller, and a twisty who done it.
Georgia is in a locked asylum for murdering her sister. Her only hope is her newly found twin sister Mandy to help prove her innocence. But will her twin believe her as she starts digging into Georgia’s family? This is full of action packed chapters that will keep you wanting to read the next. I do wish the ending was a bit better though.

I recommend this book. It had twists I didn’t see coming. My first by this author and it won’t be my last.

This was a really good book. I was hooked almost instantly. This is a thriller that involves sisters, murder, and secrets. One sister is in a locked ward in a hospital being held for murder. She is perfectly sane (or is she?) but is faking insanity for certain reasons. She knows she has a twin sister but since they were separated when they were born, the other sister has no clue. Until now. She wants to see her sister and get her to help her out.
I won't tell you more about it because I don't want to ruin it for you. It's really good with twists you just won't see coming. When you think you know what's going to happen, you may find that you absolutely do not.
This book is well written and highly recommended!

🔐 M A N I C M O N D A Y review 🔐 featuring “The Locked Ward” by Sarah Pekkanen!

Georgia Cartwright is the adopted daughter of a wealthy Southern family and has always been considered the black sheep of the family. Her sister Annabelle is seen as the golden child and has her parents wrapped around her finger.

On the night of Annabelle’s 30th birthday, she is found dead after having a conversation with Georgia. Georgia gets locked up in a secure psychiatric institution while she awaits trial for her sister’s murder. Her family is fully against her and there is only one person who can help her out of this mess. However, Mandy doesn’t know she exists yet … or that she has an estranged twin sister.

💭 This book is deliciously dark and twisted and the shock factor is off the charts. The Cartwright family holds onto such dark secrets and has such cruel intentions towards one another! Riddled with jealously, manipulation, sibling rivalry and a savage game of cat and mouse, this book will knock you off your feet!

Thank you kindly to @sarahpekkanen @stmartinspress @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on August 5, 2025!