I was so excited to read this ARC.

While I did like the story, I did not love it. I feel like it is well written and has great potential but the wow factor fell short. The "twists" were predictable. I do feel like there were many things left undone but nothing I can't live without knowing.

Although this wasn’t my favorite title by Sarah Pekkanen, it was still very well written. I wouldn’t say it’s a page turner where you felt the need to stay up to keep reading, it’s more of a steady suspense until the end where the pace quickens. I really enjoyed the psychological aspect and left me wondering what the end game was for Georgia. As the story progressed, I had an hunch of how it would end, but there were still several twists I never anticipated! This will be a great read for those who love plots filled with lies, political scandals and family betrayal. I only wish things were wrapped up more at the end with Scott and sometimes throughout the book I found myself wondering how Mandy was able to bounce back to Charlotte so frequently as a business owner.

Tw: Sexual assault

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

*Book publication date: August 5, 2025*
*Reviewed on April 11, 2025*

The Locked Ward is about a wedding planner who is accused of murder who happens to have a twin sister that she knew nothing about until well into adulthood. Georgia, pretending to be mentally insane/unstable to buy some time, is located at “the locked ward” vs. a traditional jail cell. The dual POV is about the sisters story and how Georgia will come to rely on Mandy for help proving her innocence for the murder she claims to have not committed. The story is full of love, murder, stalkers and scandal. The plot twist is completely unexpected. Can Mandy prove Georgia’s innocence? Is Georgia actually innocent? Read to find out!

The Locked Ward follows Dr. Amanda Adler, a psychiatrist working in a high-security ward of a psychiatric hospital. As she treats a troubled patient who may be more dangerous than he seems, she begins to uncover unsettling truths that blur the lines between doctor and patient, reality and delusion. The novel combines psychological suspense with a glimpse into the complexities of mental health care.

This was my first book by Sarah Pekkanen, and I’ve been curious about her writing for a while. The premise really drew me in — it had a lot of potential, and there were definitely moments that I found compelling. The story kept my attention, and I genuinely wanted to know what would happen next.

That said, something about the book didn’t fully land for me. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what was missing, but I just didn’t connect with it in the way I’d hoped. Still, I can see why others might enjoy it, especially if they like atmospheric, slow-burning psychological stories. I’m definitely open to trying more from this author in the future.

Sarah Pekkanen is quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller writers. The Locked Ward sucks you into a whirlwind of family drama in this “who done it” murder mystery. This one got me out of a reading slump - the quick chapters were easy to find myself repeating “just one more” until hours flew by. True to Pekkanen’s way, there are numerous plot twists and sharp turns that keep you wondering what was going to happen next.

Highly recommend this one and can’t wait to get a copy myself for the shelves.

The Locked Ward opens with an attention-grabbing premise: Georgia wakes up on the locked ward of a psychiatric facility, accused of murdering her adoptive parents’ biological daughter. The story unfolds through alternating perspectives—Georgia, desperate to prove her innocence, and her recently discovered twin sister Mandy, who’s suddenly pulled into a dangerous search for the truth.

The pacing and premise kept me engaged, and the dual POV structure added tension and depth. However, certain plot elements felt underdeveloped, and the final twist seemed abrupt and disconnected from the main narrative arc. While the book held my interest, it didn’t quite deliver the emotional or narrative payoff I’ve come to expect from Pekkanen’s work.

A solid read overall, but not her strongest.

The Locked Ward kept you guessing on every page. Throughout the entire plot, you never knew what was going to happen next and as soon as you thought you had it all figured out, you would find out that you were completely wrong. This is an exciting, suspenseful read with short chapters which made it even easier to say to yourself, "just one more chapter"! I could see this being turned into a movie that I would love to watch.

What. Did. I. Just. Read. Holy moly! That book was chilling and so so good! I loved how intense it was right up to the end. Such a good story

The Locked Ward follows a young woman who wakes up in a psych ward with no idea how she got there and honestly, as someone who’s spent time in a ward myself, parts of this felt way too real. The confusion, the sense of isolation, the weird moments of connection with other patients… it brought back a lot.

The premise is super compelling, and I loved how the story slowly unraveled. You’re questioning everything right alongside the main character, what’s real, who to trust, and what actually happened. It’s got that psychological thriller vibe without being overly dramatic or unrealistic (okay, some things were a bit extra, but it’s fiction, so I’ll allow it).

Pekkanen did a great job capturing the mental health system and the emotional weight of being institutionalized. The characters felt layered, and the pacing kept me engaged the whole time.

If you’re into twisty, emotional thrillers with heart and grit, especially ones that explore mental health in an honest way, definitely give this one a shot. It meant something extra to me, but even without personal experience, I think it would hit hard.

Rating:4.25

Review:

How much fun was my reading of The Locked Ward? This book takes off with word one with the fury of a starter pistol being shot at a horse race. It sucked me in with one large breath. I very much enjoyed the pacing of this thriller. I love the development of both perspectives of Mandy and Georgia as the same story unfolds. Twin stories particularly interest me. It stayed interesting throughout the story. It's not over the top but teetering at the apex of too much and I loved it. I would have liked more development of Many's relationship with Scott but that may have been a choice the author made on purpose.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eBook. This is the first time I have read from Sarah Pekkenen and it certainly won't be the last.

Blurb:

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?

Nothing is as it seems in Sarah Pekkanen’s The Locked Ward, a shocking psychological thriller about the complex bonds of sisterhood—and what happens when they are stretched to the breaking point.

Some doors in the Locked Ward should never be opened.

Okay, The Locked Ward totally pulled me in. I mean, how could it not? Georgia Cartwright finds out she has a twin she never knew existed… right as she’s accused of murdering their biological sister and gets locked up in a psych ward. I was instantly hooked.

The story flips between Georgia, who's trapped in this super intense, high-security mental hospital, and Amanda, her long-lost twin who suddenly gets dragged into a mess of family secrets. Georgia claims she’s innocent — but is she? Or is she playing everyone? That question kept me flying through the chapters.

I loved how the book played with perception — you’re constantly questioning what’s real and who to believe. The psych ward setting is creepy in the best way, and Pekkanen nails that unsettling atmosphere. Georgia’s POV was especially eerie (some of it written in second person, which gave it such a disorienting vibe), while Amanda’s chapters gave you a chance to breathe — and also dig into the mystery.

The only reason this isn’t a full 5 stars for me is that a few twists were kind of predictable. I saw them coming, which took a bit of the suspense out. But honestly? It didn’t even ruin the experience. The journey — the emotional intensity, the sister dynamic, the unraveling secrets — made it such a solid, satisfying read.

If you're into twisty thrillers with psychological depth and messy family drama, this one should definitely be on your list.

4.5 stars rounded up! This book sucked me in! The suspense and cliff hangers the chapters would end on made me not want to put this down. I honestly devoured it. And wooof that twist at the end! Thank you NetGalley for this great read!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for the free copies of this book.

I have been a huge fan of Sarah Pekkanen’s thrillers since her days co-authoring with Greer Hendricks, so I knew I had to pick this one up. Plus that cover 🤌🏻

Southern socialite and wedding planner, Georgia, is being held in a locked ward, suspected of killing her adoptive sister. She calls on Amanda, her recently discovered long-lost twin, to come to her aid. But appearances are not what they seem, and questions about who can be trusted will have you racing to the end to figure out what’s going on.

I was hooked and fully captivated by this book from the first chapter right through to the end! I was a little disappointed by the ending, but still taken aback by the final reveal and thought this was an addictive read. The Locked Ward is a complicated family drama, filled with deadly secrets and twists around every corner.

🎧: This book is written in dual POV, alternating between Georgia and Amanda, and the narrator did such a good job distinguishing between the two I thought it was dual narration! Fantastic narration and excellent pacing definitely had me hooked.

Another amazing psychological thriller from Sarah Pekkanen! I will literally read anything she writes, and I have loved them all! The Locked Ward had such a perfect creepy atmosphere with twisty layers of family dynamics and narrators that you’re not quite sure you can trust. I didn’t want to put it down, and I loved how she wove everything together in the end!

wow!!! this was amazing!!! i would love to listen to the audiobook version after reading this! 5/5 stars

Sarah’s book got me right from the beginning! It kept me on my toes and i couldn’t wait to see how the story would end. The research about twins and families was very interesting. The ending was a true surprise!

I enjoyed the short chapters and quick pace the story had. There were a few character names to keep track of, but I was pleased with the descriptions each character provided. I was truly shocked at all of the plot twists that happened, and was be try satisfied with having all of my questions answered. Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Pekkanen, and St. Martin’s press for this digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and thank you to the author !
For the opportunity to read this book early prior to publication release date!
Another book by Sarah Pekkanen that has hit it out the park. The book kept me interested and when I thought I had it figured out boom another twist to the story! I was deeply engrossed in Mandy and Georgias story twins who were separated at birth and raised in two very different families both by social standing and wealth.
Great book! Thx again for the opportunity to read early in exchange for a honest review!

I was disappointed with this book. I have read other works from Pekkanen and enjoyed them, but this one just didn't do it for me. Many chapters in, and I felt bored as things were not exciting or intriguing enough to keep my attention.

This book had me feeling straight-up anxious in the best way. The pacing was fast, the second-person POV was wild, and I couldn’t stop reading. It’s intense, claustrophobic, and the book totally messed with my head. The ending lost a tiny bit of steam, but honestly? I didn’t care. I was all in.