Sibling jealousy? Twists? Shocking details? Crime? Secrets? Dual perspectives? This book had it all. The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ mystery/thriller.

In this wild non-stop read, Georgia, a socialite, is accused of killing her sister. Now in the locked/supervised ward at the hospital she becons Amanda to visit and reveal that they are actually twins that were separated through adoption. Falsely accused, (maybe) and now being held and possibly drugged she asks her twin to help her solve the mystery of who really committed the murder. There are lots of trust issues and madness in this unputdownable book. Put this on preorder and get ready for a wild thrills and characters.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book because I have loved several books by Sarah Pekkanen. This one immediately grabbed my attention with the first chapter and was hard to put down. Georgia is in a locked psychiatric ward, accused of murdering her sister. She enlists the help of her estranged twin sister Amanda, separated by adoption at birth, to help clear her name. As she dives into a twisted world of powerful, twisted families, Amanda isn't sure what to believe.

I liked the alternating POV chapters, but I didn't like the "you" tense format instead of "I" or "She". I could see a few of the twists coming and I felt there were some unresolved loose ends. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Pekkanen and St. Martin's Press for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.75 stars

Look. There's a reason Pekkanen is a best seller. This author knows how to keep us on our toes and questioning what we'd do if we found ourselves in the creepy situations of any of her characters. Readers get all of those disturbing benefits in _The Locked Ward_.

Amanda and Georgia are twins, but they only recently learned about this (one much more recently than the other). They're 32, so this is a long-held secret. The circumstances under which they are meeting now? Not exactly ideal. After all, one of them is in the titular locked ward, and it's not because she's accused of being a model citizen.

Like most thrillers, one must suspend disbelief when it comes to some of the coincidences and conveniences that befall these characters, but who cares about all that? If you're here for a summer thriller or an any-season read that'll keep you engaged without too much thinking necessary, this is a great option. There are many characters with sus motives and behaviors, hidden and sometimes surprising connections, and some questions that may leave readers pondering even after they've come to the final lines.

I enjoy this writer consistently and I look forward to whatever Pekkanen has for us next!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen was a wild ride full of twists and turns that kept me hooked to the end.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: August 05, 2025

#TheLockedWard #NetGalley

I really liked this twisty thriller by Sarah Pekkanen! Twin sisters separated for over 30 years, unknown to each other - and then one of them is arrested for murdering a non-biological sister. Good twists and a fast read.

i enjoyed this fast paced thriller a lot! i think pekkanen is great at writing thrillers that will have you pulling your hair out in anticipation and keep reading it! i love short chapters so much, and thankfully this book had them which i think is a big plus for any book, but especially when it comes to thrillers. i'd say the only minus for me was the way that amanda and georgia immediately connected, because i just don't think that's realistic at all, but the plot itself is super interesting, and i loved exploring the family dynamics throughout the book!

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, Sarah Pekkanen, and the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.


I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Locked Ward. While I wouldn't necessarily categorize it as a pure thriller, it was full of mystery and kept me eagerly anticipating what would happen next. The dual-person perspective and the short chapters were particularly engaging.

Interestingly, I didn't realize until reading this that I had previously read Sarah Pekkanen's *House of Glass," which I also enjoyed. I'm delighted to have found another author to automatically add to my reading list.

The premise of twin sisters, Georgia, in a psychiatric ward for murder and Mandy, unaware of her sister's existence until contacted by Georgia's public defender, immediately drew me in. The story effectively unravels the mystery surrounding Mandy's newfound identity and the question of who wants Georgia dead. It also explores whether Mandy can uncover the truth of her sister's innocence before they both end up dead!

The book is fast-paced and mysterious, with several twists, some of which were somewhat predictable. However, even without a deeply shocking turning point, it remained an excellent and intriguing read that held my attention throughout.

Sarah is another author who I will blindly follow into any dark alley because I know I'll get an exquisite experience - this was no different. What a wild ride!

I really enjoyed this book. I literally just stayed up all night finishing it. Every chapter seemed to end knowing that something big was coming and I just couldn't find a place to stop - so I just kept going. I liked Georgia and wonder how hard it would have been for her to maintain her character in the ward. I really like this author and was so excited to read this book. I can't wait to see what she does next.

This one hooked me from the start. It’s a compelling psychological thriller that also explores the complexities of sisterhood. Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a newborn, is accused of killing the biological daughter of her wealthy, Southern family. She is locked in a psychiatric institution where the most violent offenders are held while she awaits trial.

I thought it was really powerful how Pekkanen illustrated the impact that power and wealth can have on the outcome of events. This was a good one that I definitely recommend checking out!!

The idea of this book was better than the reality. I was looking forward to reading this and it kind of fell flat. It was ok, but lacked enough character development, especially with the twin protagonists. Quick read but mostly just to finish i think.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC! Georgia is locked in a psychiatric ward acting semi catatonic awaiting trial for killing her sister, Annabelle. The other is to reach out to her twin sister Amanda, who she just learned existed.

Amanda also known as Mandy must unravel how she and her sister were separated at birth and whether Georgia is truly innocent of the crime she is accused of. Did she kill her other sister or was she framed?
Will Mandy figure out who killed Annabelle and save Georgia?

Overall I enjoyed the short chapters that switched POVs from Georgia to Mandy. I found this book hard to get through though. For some reason I wasn’t invested. I stuck it out til the very end and there were decent twists and turns it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Sarah Pekkanen is a great writer and knows how to tell a story. I really enjoyed the fast pacing and the action packed story. The chapter were short, and made it easier to get into. The setting was interesting and having multiple points of views. There wording and tone was tense and dark, and it kept it super interesting. I did think that some of the book got repetitive and was a little longer than it needed to be, but overall the twists at the end made the book super fun and entertaining.

Adopted at birth, Georgia Cartwright is being held in a psychiatric institution for the murder of her sister. Desperate for help to prove her innocence, she reaches out to her estranged twin sister, Mandy. Cautious of the person in front of her but desperate for a connection, Mandy agrees to help, unknowingly setting herself on a dangerous path of deceit.

As a person who loves weird facts and information, I loved that this explored the idea of the connection twins have with each other, whether they grew up as siblings or as strangers. While some of this story is a little out there, it is fiction after all, it made it more intriguing to me personally. It was a "just one more chapter" kind of read with its short chapters and dual perspectives. The scenes in the hospital were dread inducing, and the scenes outside the hospital were full of paranoia and suspicion. This was a quick read that still maintained complexity, not just with its two main characters but with the story itself, revealing layer after layer of the truth towards the end. Three and a half stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

I have enjoyed every book I’ve read by Sarah Pekkanen, so I was excited for The Locked Ward. It started out strong, as we heard from the perspectives of Georgia and Mandy, twin sisters who just found out about each other’s existence. Georgia, currently in a locked ward in the hospital has been accused of killing her other sister Annabelle. She needs Mandy’s help to clear her name and get her out.

The story moved along really well and built a ton of suspense for me. I kept waiting for a big, shocking reveal but nothing ever came. I was majorly disappointed by the end of this book, it really felt like a let down. I think the author could’ve taken the story in a few different directions but it seems like the easiest route won.

One day you’re an only child and the next you get a call from a lawyer and find you have a twin sister who is locked in a psych ward for murdering her sister.

The book is a quick read since you want to see what Amanda is going to do next. Is she going to help her sister she just found out about or walk away. You will have to read this book and find out :)

This may not be my favorite from this author but still a very good book and I’m thankful to have been given the opportunity to read an early release.

Imagine finding out you have a twin sister. Imagine that sister has been charged with murder. Imagine that sister is now being held at a psychiatric hospital and the only person that can help her is you. Mandy now has to decide does she help the sister she's never met or walk away? Obviously, she is intrigued so the investigation begins!

Sarah Pekkanen Is always a must read for me and The Locked Ward was another twisty thriller that did not disappoint. The Locked Ward has quick chapters that draw you in, characters you become invested in and a solid plot. 3.75 stars rounded up to 4.

Give me a Sarah Pekkanen book any day and I'm.in

This book is highlights difficult family dynamics and family trauma while keeping you guessing throughout each chapter. The main character must fight for her release from the locked ward and prove her innocence. However, she gets more information than she bargains for.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, as I have every book from this author. At first, I did not like the female main character of course, but she had good character development as the story went on. I began to feel more sorry for her and her situation. By the end of the book, I thought I had it figured out but there was yet another twist. The writing style makes it easy to sit down and read quickly and will end up on your favorites shelf when you finish.

Sometimes what you truly need, deep down, is a fun little thriller with asshole characters who you don't particularly care for and enough plot holes to make you stop caring. And this is what The Locked Ward was. Despite the aforementioned plot holes and annoying characters, I could not put this book down and I devoured it in 2 days. That says more than any of my nonsense.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the arc!

Nothing is what it seems! Easy to read, quick chapters that flip between two main characters, Georgia and Mandy. Great complexity, full of drama, which makes it like a soap opera. Good twists that are a little predictable, but ultimately, no one is innocent.