Mandy isn't sure what to think when a lawyer calls her one day and tells her she has a twin, the one that everyone is talking about, the one who was just arrested for killing her sister. Her sister Georgia wants to meet her... but does Mandy want to meet her?

The Locked Ward is a perfectly crafted thriller that is destined to hold you hostage the whole way through. As soon as I started this one I had a feeling I better settle in because it was going to be a long night of reading. There was no way I was putting this one down without devouring every word first...it SO good.

Watching Mandy navigate this tricky situation and bond with her sister was unsettling at times and somewhat heartfelt at other times. Mandy wants to trust what she is being told, but things don't add up and she isn't sure who to trust. It's a twist-filled journey that is certain to keep you guessing till the end. Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

The Locked Ward starts strong and stays compelling through the final twist. We follow Georgia, accused of killing her sister and now confined to a psychiatric ward—pretending to suffer from a dissociative disorder to avoid an even worse fate. Her chapters are written in second person, which makes the experience feel deeply personal and unsettling in the best way. Her long-lost twin, Mandy, has just discovered Georgia exists and is pulled into the web of secrets, danger, and deception.

The strongest aspects of this book are its originality and the immersive writing style. Georgia’s second-person POV added an intimacy and psychological weight that I haven’t seen often in thrillers. Mandy’s chapters were less gripping initially but grew stronger as the story progressed and she stepped into a more active role.

The pacing is steady—more of a slow burn than a race—but consistent and well-balanced. Every chapter moves the plot forward, with twists that feel intentional and well set-up.

This is a standout thriller that offers more than just a mystery. It’s about trust, identity, and how far people will go to protect themselves. Highly recommended for fans of psychological suspense with a unique narrative voice.

Imagine discovering in your thirties that you have a sister. And not just a sister, but a twin. That’s the premise of The Locked Ward. Mandy has just discovered that Georgia Cartwright, glamorous daughter of the super rich Cartwrights, is her twin. Georgia, who’s just been charged with killing her younger sister and is currently locked up in the hospital’s mental ward. In fact, the only reason that Mandy now knows this is that Georgia has reached out to her.
Told in alternating short, quick chapters between Mandy and Georgia, the story moves at a brisk pace. But one of the initial premises, that Georgia was sent to the ward because she’s suffering from a dissociative state, doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. She doesn’t talk on the ward but the staff never seems to realize she’s talking to her lawyer and capable of asking for visitors. We’re also meant to believe that these two strangers develop an instantaneous “twin bond” once they briefly meet. And for some reason, Mandy’s chapters are written in first person and Georgia’s in second person, which irritated me as there wasn’t a reason for it.
I’ll give Pekkanen credit for creating a super eerie setting on the ward. The tension in those segments is palpable. But it wasn’t enough to hold my interest. I’m starting to think I’m losing my interest in psychological thrillers. It’s the rare one that doesn’t require a major suspension of belief. And too often, like here, the character development is lacking. The mother is such a cliche she’s laughable.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

This was a hybrid read for me as I alternated between the digital and audio version.

I was drawn into the story from the very beginning. A twin that wasn't known about, murder and family secrets- this one definitely packs a punch! When Georgia asks Amanda to help clear her name, Amanda isn't sure who to trust and what to do.
I listened to the audio version for about the first half and it was so entertaining I wanted to do nothing else but listen. The narrator is excellent and kept me so engrossed in the story.
I can always rely on Sarah Pekkanen to deliver.

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

I am a big fan of Sarah Pekkanen's work, but this title missed the mark a bit for me. I didn't find the twists as surprising or compelling as usual. The main characters felt flat and underdeveloped, and the villain seemed like a caricature. I would have loved to learn more about their history, because their actions seemed extreme without understanding more about their motivations. Overall, this felt more like a short story than a fully-fledged novel.

Thank you netgalley and St. martin’s press for an ARC copy of this book!

I have never read any of this authors books before, but I own several. I have read You Are Not Alone with dual authors-Sarah being one of them, and I LOVED IT, so when I saw this available, I knew I would like it!

If I hadnt of been so busy, I bet I could have read this is 2 days! I could not stop and when I had to, I couldnt wait to get back to reading!

As always, I love the dual perspective. And short, reasonable length chapters! I loved watching the story unfold, and of course, was suprised at the twist!

I would definitely recommend this book!

Sarah Pekkanen has once again proven herself as the master of psychological suspense with The Locked Ward, a gripping and intricately plotted thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. From the first page, Pekkanen draws readers into the unsettling world of a psychiatric hospital, where nothing—and no one—is quite as it seems.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC for an honest review.

Published date: Aug. 5, 2025

I’m regrettably putting this book down at the 35% mark. It had a promising start and a lot of potential, but I couldn’t seem to get into it any further. I felt like I was missing crucial information and nothing exciting was happening. I was eager to uncover the plot, but it felt like it started off too strong and then lost its momentum. I had high hopes for this book!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the WRC in exchange for an honest review!

The Locked Ward dives deep into the unsettling bond between two sisters who barely know each other—but suddenly need to trust one another to survive. Sarah Pekkanen delivers tension, family dysfunction, and eerie psychiatric ward vibes in spades. I loved watching Amanda navigate the chilling unknown, questioning whether blood really is thicker than truth. A slow-burn psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Thank you Sarah Pekkanen, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

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The Locked Ward is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that excels in short‑chapter suspense and clever plotting. Its unique dual‑POV approach enhances mystery but may alienate some readers, and pacing dips in the middle could slow momentum. If you're drawn to psychological family drama, twin secrets, and a claustrophobic institutional setting, this is a compelling binge‑read—as long as you’re okay with occasional structural quirks.

This thriller grabs you from the first page and never lets go, delivering pulse-pounding suspense and razor-sharp twists. The characters are complex and believable, adding real emotional weight to the high-stakes plot. Its pacing is relentless, yet every moment feels earned and impactful. An absolute must-read for fans of intelligent, heart-racing fiction.

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.