3.75 stars

This is my first solo Sarah Pekkanen book, I’ve read a number of her books with Greer Hendricks.

The Locked Ward is definitely a solid read and one I would recommend. I struggled at times with Georgia’s chapters being in second person point of view.

I do wish the ending was a little more shocking or gripping as it did leave me feeling a little incomplete. But of course not every book can have a mind blowing twist at the end.

Overall I did really enjoy this book and love that each chapter was quite short, it kept the story moving really well and never pulled you from one POV for too long. Felt much more fluid this way.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Having loved House of Glass, I had high hopes for this one but it was disappointing. The characters didn't seem particularly well developed and the story dragged a bit in places. The part that kept pulling me away from the story was the "special twin bond" between Amanda and Georgia. I just couldn't believe that after 30 years apart, they meet once and suddenly they have twin telepathy? One quick meeting and you can feel your twin in danger from across town? But not a single magic twin twinge in 30 years? I just didn't buy it and it really detracted from the story for me.

I'll still read Sarah Pekkanen because I usually like her books but this one wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this eARC.

“The Locked Ward” by Sarah Pekkanen is a quick and entertaining thriller that will not disappoint. The story revolves around twin girls separated at birth, raised in two separate families and are totally unknown to each other. The book opens with one twin waking up in the locked ward of a mental institution accused of brutally murdering her younger sister. She is successful, wealthy, from a high profile family and therefore the salacious story is all over the news. When the second twin gets a call from an attorney telling her she has a biological twin sister who is asking for her help, her whole world is changed in an instant.
Both women are desperate for answers, wading through lies and years of deception while trying to find the killer and establish a connection as sisters. This premise kept me reading way into the wee hours of the night.
There were so many clues that I was sure I had it all figured out but I can honestly say I never saw the final twist coming! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I’ve have the opportunity to read many of Sarah Pekkanen’s juicy thrillers in the past. The last one, House of Glass, giving me chills! Although, the short chapters had me quickly devouring the story, the plot itself seemed a bit juvenile for her typical writing caliber. There weren’t any points that were truly twisty or thrilling. I think I was really hoping for a bigger reveal rather than all the reiteration on twin telepathy and sisterhood.

What a tight, twisty thriller! I loved this book! Georgia is an upscale wedding planner who is accused of killing her sister. Georgia ends up in a locked psychiatric unit while awaiting her trial. She decides that it’s time to reach out to her twin sister. The issue? They were adopted and never grew up together. Needless to say, her twin Mandy is shocked. Many begins uncovering the layers of their adoption, Georgia’s family, the murder, and the dynamics of being a twin. Very well written book that had me staying up late to finish it. Highly recommend! Thank you to the publisher and net galley for an advanced copy of this book

ARC review • pub date 08.05.25

Georgia is now a “prisoner” in a locked ward as she is completely silent after being accused of murdering her younger sister. Meanwhile Mandy gets a phone call stating that Georgia, who she has never met before but has read an article about the murder, is her twin sister separated at birth.

Georgia has put all her cards on Mandy to help her get out at any cost.

The only thing I didn’t love about this story was Georgia’s pov was written in second person. It was a fast paced, easy read, and I genuinely enjoyed it. I had many possible scenarios and it kept me guessing and intrigued until the end.

Read if you love:
-psychology
-found family
-dual pov
-Lucinda Berry books

4⭐️

Thanks to St Martin’s Press/NetGalley for my gifted ARC

I went in to this book blind - I didn't know what the story was about at all. I knew I liked the author, however. The story had a unique premise and it was entertaining overall. I rated it down a star because I felt like there were some unnecessary parts and it made the story seem longer. Also, the last paragraph of the epilogue confused me a little, so I'm not sure if I comprehended it all correctly.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

I really enjoyed this book and read it over the course of a week or two. The pace of the story was perfect to keep my attention. By the time I got to the ending it was a little predictable, but still an enjoyable read.

I was so excited to start reading The Locked Ward, as House of Glass was a great read for me! The storyline of The Locked Ward intrigued me from the beginning.

Pekkanen delivered another compelling novel with The Locked Ward. I was instantly hooked, and had to know what was going on. She managed some twists that I did not see coming! *chefs kiss*

After House of Glass and The Locked Ward, Pekkanen is now an instant read from me.

I was able to read this book early thanks to NetGalley and a dear book loving friend who mentioned the book to me. Absolutely could not put down my Kindle until the last page!
No spoilers… you’ll have to read for yourselves. The chapters were quick, switching back and forth between the two sisters’ POV, and always seemed to leave off at the right time to keep me engaged. It delivered a couple twists I didn’t see coming, which I always love!

The Locked Ward pulled me in right from the start. A fabulous read with many twists and turns in the plot. Loved the story.

This book was not for me. I did not like the two different pov. Dnf
Still giving five stars because it has a great premise. I just didn’t like the way it switched back and forth between the twins.

Incredible dual-POV story about Georgia, a psychiatric inmate accused of murdering her sister Annabelle. With the death penalty looming, she hopes her twin Mandy (unaware of her existence) can prove her innocence. If Mandy doesn’t help, she could be in danger next. Can she find the evidence to help her sister before conviction?

An amazing book. I was hooked from the start, especially with the dual-POVs. Reading in the second person made me feel like the main character. The short chapters, fast pace, unpredictable twists, and perfect ending kept me on the edge of my seat. I was ready to defend Georgia regardless of if she was guilty or not, all thanks to the captivating writing. Mark your calendars for this psychological thriller that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.

thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! All thoughts are my own

This was a quick and entertaining read, and fans of the author will not be disappointed! Though I often shy away from twin storylines (I don't know why I don't like them), this one was more about sisterhood and family, interwoven with a mystery. I didn't think the mystery element was the most inventive and guessed the culprit pretty easily, but it still really held my attention and I liked the dual POVs, which added an element of mystery in themselves, because both, on some level, were unreliable narrators. Overall, a well written and plotted story with nicely developed characters and more depth than I anticipated!

I can always count on Pekkanen for a popcorn thriller. The short chapters (think 2 minutes each) and the dual POV were a solid choice to make this a fast paced unputdownable book. I thought going into it, I would be scared reading about a character stuck in a mental “ward” but I wasn’t in the slightest. Pekkanen didn’t spend time detailing the other patients in the ward (which I was nervous about) and I appreciated that. I will say that I predicted a few of the story lines pretty early in the book. If you are someone that wants to be guessing the entire time, than this may not be for you.

Georgia Carmichael, a rich wedding planner, is the main suspect in her sisters gruesome murder. She has been placed in “The Locked Ward” until the state deems her fit to stand trial. Once placed in the ward, she will not talk, until one day she asks her lawyer to find her sister Mandy. Mandy, a bartender, can’t believe that she has a long lost TWIN sister, let alone one that is a suspect for murder. Georgia admits that Mandy is her last hope and she needs her help to find the real murderer of her sister. Mandy then goes on a quest to find the real killer while finding out secrets about herself and her family along the way. Her quest, for her long lost sister, then puts her into immediate danger. Will she sacrafice herself for her sister or will she die trying?

If you like unreliable narrators, locked room mysteries, isolation, and female characters in peril than definitely pick this one up. You can finish it in 3 days TOPS.

Thank you to St. Martins press for the ARC.

This was such a good read. It was full of emotion and great writing! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review

I really liked the story idea; long lost twins and the setting the pysch ward. I liked the dual pov and how we cant ever trust either are reliable. I liked the cliffhanger in the epilogue. However at times we got to much description in the mundane that didnt add to the storyline.
3.5 stars

I loved this unique mystery and will definitely be thinking about it for a while. The characters were fun to follow along with and I enjoyed the setting greatly.

The story is told in alternating chapters by Maddy and Georgia. The short chapters kept me turning the pages of this tale filled with family drama and secrets. It opens with Georgia being committed to a locked ward in a psychiatric facility after being accused of murdering her sister, Annabelle. Georgia enlists Maddy's help to prove her innocence and thereby opens the door to the first of the secrets. My sympathies were solidly in Georgia's camp until a twist or two occurred. I was kept guessing until the end which is always the sign of a good thriller. Sarah Pekkanen is becoming a favorite author and I was happy to receive an advance reading copy of this book.