Fast paced. Short chapters. Just like I like it! This book dove right in. No long drawn out introduction. I was immediately hooked!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book in advance of the publication date.

Although it was a bit of a slower burn, I felt the story wasn't one I've heard over and over again. Georgia, the adopted daughter of a prominent southern family, is accused of murdering her sister Annabelle. When she ends up in the locked ward of a psychiatric institution, she calls on her twin sister, Mandy, to help prove her innocence.. except there's one issue; Mandy has no idea she has a twin sister.

I'm conflicted by this book - while I did thoroughly enjoy it, I felt like there were things that I couldn't get past. The first being how Georgia's chapters were written. I'm not sure why the author chose to write them in second person and was curious if it would become clear by the end of the book, but I am still left wondering. I also felt like Mandy's storyline with Scott and Beth were really out of place and unnecessary, as was her going on dates with Colby. Also, who killed Tony - was it Patty? Honey? I don't remember getting clarification on that.

Aside from that, the plot was decent and had a few twists I didn't see coming. All in all, I would recommend this book to others.

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a twisty, fast-paced thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish!
Mandy has spent her adult life running the bar she inherited from her parents. Adopted at a young age, she’s always felt like something was missing—like a piece of herself was out there somewhere. Then one day, she gets a call from a psychiatric hospital: a patient named Georgia, accused of murdering her own sister, claims Mandy is her long-lost twin.
Georgia insists she’s in danger and needs Mandy’s help to survive but can she be trusted? As the story unravels through multiple POVs, the tension ramps up and the mystery deepens. Who’s telling the truth? Who’s playing who? And who really committed the crime?
I loved the layered storytelling. Sarah Pekkanen does a great job of building suspense while exploring themes of identity, trust, and sisterhood. A great read for any thriller fan who enjoys complex characters and high-stakes mind games.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC and audioARC in exchange for an honest review. The Locked Ward releases August 5, 2025 from St. Martin’s Press—definitely one to add to your late summer TBR!

This was a fun popcorn thriller that I would recommend if you're a fan of:

- twins separated at birth
- rich people behaving incredibly badly
- short chapters
- multiple POV's, one in 1st person, one in 2nd person
- lots of twists and turns

Everything in this space was blindingly white. The walls, the ceilings, the floors, the furniture… it was if color didn’t exist anymore. She felt trapped, caged for something she didn’t do. Or thought she didn’t do. Her mind was becoming warped and she was trying her best to stay sane.

The Locked Ward is a dual POV thriller following Georgia and Mandy. Georgia is in a psych ward after being accused of murdering her sister. Mandy is the owner of a bar and is wrapped up in Georgia’s case.

This book hooked me immediately and I needed to know what was going on. The short chapters made for a bingeable read. Plus, anything set in a psych ward intrigues me. But it quickly became a bit “meh” for me as things started to unfold. While it was definitely packed full of toxic family drama, I found myself becoming more uninvested as the story unfolded. Georgia’s POV was also told in 2nd person, which was an odd choice for me personally.
The epilogue was also a big letdown… the ending was unnecessary and didn’t fit with the character’s personality or the tone of the rest of the book.

Read if you like:

• Psychological Thrillers
• Sibling Rivalry
• Toxic Family Drama
• Rich People Drama
• Psych Ward Settings

This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025 after reading and enjoying Pekkanen's previous novel House of Glass. Unfortunately, The Locked Ward fell a little short for me.

What I liked:
-dual/alternating POVs
-short chapters
-secret twins
-aristocratic family drama
-quick read

What didn't work for me:
-I didn't feel connected to either protogonists
-the story felt a bit disjointed and failed to convey that sense of 'urgency' or 'danger' that I think was intended.
-the ending was satisfying, but overall the story didn't stand out from many other thrillers I've read before.

I missed the creepy, atmospheric writing that we got with House of Glass despite this story being set partially in a psychiatric facility.

I was really excited about this book as the story blurb really sounded interesting but... the actual story didnt really pull me in. It was a very slow burn and some of the storyline seemed out of no where.

Book- The Locked Ward
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Release Date: August 5th, 2025
2.5⭐️

I’ve been craving a mind-blowing twist, and I really hoped this would deliver—but sadly, I guessed the murderer the second the character showed up. It’s always a letdown when a book is marketed as a “shocking psychological thriller” and ends up being super predictable.

This was a new one for me… the book was told in two points of view: Georgia’s chapters were written in second person, and Mandy’s were in first. I’ve got to say, I didn’t enjoy that at all. I love dual POV when it builds out the story, but switching narrative styles like that was just weird and kind of distracting—especially in the audiobook. A few times I had to rewind because I was confused while multitasking. I think the second person was meant to make you feel like you were Georgia, to add suspense and urgency, but it totally missed the mark for me.

Also, the random storyline about Mandy’s roommate Beth? It just felt out of place. I get that it ties in eventually, but it didn’t mesh with the rest of the plot and could’ve been replaced with something more impactful or connected. There were so many other directions this story could’ve gone that would’ve packed a punch.

It wouldn’t be my first recommendation, but if you’re looking for a quick audiobook and enjoy thrillers, it might be worth checking out.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The story line was amazing. The twists were unexpected. I read this book in one sitting because I simply could not put it down.

Crazy is as crazy does.

And that's in reference to this storyline.

I'm a huge fan of Sarah Pekkanen, but The Locked Ward remained kinda keyless for me. There was so much potential in this one that, unfortunately, went to waste. Readers have become so much more sophisticated in their expectations because real life bangs the gong 24/7 with off-the-wall behavior by our fellow humans.

Pekkanen creates some intrigue in the first few chapters as we are introduced to Amanda "Mandy". Mandy runs a bar that was previously owned by her deceased adoptive parents. Out of the blue, she's contacted by a lawyer who informs her of the existence of a twin sister. Nothing could be more shocking to Mandy.......but shock is now in its infantile stages. There's plenty more to come.

Said sister is the wealthy Georgia Cartwright of Charlotte, North Carolina. Mandy has a DNA test run. Yup, she's the real deal. But the real deal just so happens to be locked in a psychiatric ward for observation. Said sister is accused of murdering her own younger sister, Annabelle. Georgia was hovering over her dead body. 'Nuff said.

Now here's where the story peaks. The setting within this psychiatric ward was far more intriguing than the bulk of the rest of the storyline. Pekkanen should have set up camp here and expanded her options. Then sterotypical characters slide in and out with obvious outcomes. The character of Mandy starts to deflate as well. And a so-called twist trips over its own feet at the end.

The Locked Ward is still a readable read. Just prepare for a bit of a lowkey presentation. I still will be hailing an Uber with a copy of Sarah Pekkanen's next offering in the back seat. Really and truly.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St.Martin's Press and to the talented Sarah Pekkanen for the opportunity.

Loved the twists in this book! It was a great read. The mystery surrounding Georgia's innocence and the secrets of the Cartwright family are executed with a strong trajectory, featuring short, fast-paced, action-packed chapters. I thoroughly enjoyed the character development and the magnetic— at times, eerie-bond between the sisters.

I really liked this one! It was one I didn’t want to put down — I kept telling myself I’d read one more chapter and then flew through half the book. Some parts were a little predictable, but there were still enough twists to keep things interesting. The ending was a little far-fetched, but honestly, I didn’t mind — it was still a fun ride and I liked how it all wrapped up!!

3.5 stars

I read that “nothing is as it seems” in this book and that feels extremely accurate. It was a pretty fast paced thriller that kept me guessing CONSTANTLY, which I really love about psychological thrillers. I always feel a bit disappointed if I don’t have that feeling lol

I always say I LOVE when thrillers are dual POV (sometimes I like when it’s more too!) and this one executed it pretty well! I found Georgia, one of our main characters, relatively unlikable which made it even more interesting.

I wish I got a LITTLE bit more from this and it would’ve easily have been bumped up to 4 stars! I think if you like Ruth Ware then you’d like this one!

Thank you St. Martins Press for my copy of this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
If there’s one thing I can always count on from Pekkanen, it’s that she has a way of writing that makes you want to devour her books.

The plot kicks off with a shocking crime: Georgia is accused of murdering her sister. Why? The rumor is that she was jealous, especially since she was adopted.

Soon, Georgia finds herself committed, and her only hope is to reconnect with her long-lost sister, Amanda, in the hopes that she can unravel the truth.

What I also love about this story are the layers of intrigue: a private investigator, unhinged patients, a grieving family, a Senator… so many elements woven together that keep you hooked. Ultimately, I did guess what was to happen, but still a fun read.

🎧 I’m always excited when January LaVoy is involved in an audiobook. She brings such an engaging voice to the story—easy to listen to, perfectly paced, and she brings each character to life. She’s a top-notch narrator.

Note: Review to be shared on Instagram 06/30

Thank you NetGalley, macaudio25 and Sarah Pekkanen. Sarah Pekkanen has quite an ability to take turns that I actually don’t see coming which makes her books more enjoyable than most thriller/mystery books for me. This book had me listening intently and even re-reading parts of the ebook while listening to the audio to see if I could solve things. I thought the narration was really well done and I felt like I was in it with the sisters. Definitely enjoyed this book in both formats.

I liked the plot. I think the idea was great. I did really enjoy the narrator and thought she did an amazing job differentiating between the characters. I felt like this one might have lost the plot twist. I wasn't shocked at all. That being said, it was a good time.

I have read all of Sarah Pekkanen's books and The Locked Ward is without a doubt her best yet. It sucks you in from the start and keeps you guessing to the last page. I read a lot and can usually see the twists and turns before they are revealed, but this plot twist really surprised me. The characters are great ... interesting, flawed, complex ... the Locked Ward is one of those books that stays with you for a while. Definitely recommend!

This one did have interesting developments as it went on. The start with having a long lost twin sister did not give me hope for the book as a whole though. It was quick and the story kept moving through the two sisters’ povs. But there was a lot of predictability so it didn’t have me hooked like I wish I was.

The Locked Ward has too many stretches of reality in it to be believable. The ‘twin connection and intuition’ is far fetched; fraternal twins are simply siblings. The story kept me interested, although there were too many twists that forced me to suspend my believability factor, such as the twist that took place in the epilogue. The book has a weak plot and is a lackluster psychological thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Locked Ward.

Sarah Pekkanen really knows how to write a thriller that keeps you hooked from beginning to end. If you’re looking for an intricate mystery, this may not be for you. I like a thriller every once in awhile that is not too much of a complicated weaving of story lines. This book is a nice break from reality and I enjoyed the plot. Some of the twists were predictable and some were not.

Sarah is an auto read author for me, because I know I will get a good thriller that is not too scary and not hard to follow along to. I would suggest this book if you’re looking for something to read on the beach this summer as it will keep you engrossed from beginning to end.