This book truly gripped me from the very beginning until the very end. One thing I truly enjoy from a thriller is an unreliable narrator and this one definitely had that. This book opens with the murder of Annabelle Cartwright, a wealthy women in midst of celebrating her birthday with an extravagant party hosted by her parents and with her untimely murder. The accused her adopted older sister, Georgia, covered in her blood. This book is told in Georgia POV as she is sent to a mental hospital while they determine if she is fit to stand trial for the murder of her sister. The other POV is told in the perspective of her twin sister which adds a great and fascinating twist to the already tangled story. I really enjoyed that this book was told with alternating chapters which enticed me to not want to put this down. It is a fast paced thriller with short chapters and it has such great twists at the end. I love a good rich people drama storyline sprinkled with deceit and lies and betrayal. At times while reading this book I thought i knew exactly what was happening and at other times I was so lost. At the end I did predict one of the twist but overall had such a great time uncovering what truly happened and who really killed Annabelle. If you enjoy a great thriller with a fast paced and intriguing plot line I think you will enjoy this one. This is my first book by this author and it will definitely not be my last. I highly recommend this thriller it will not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

🧠🔒 The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen 🧠🔒
(Coming August 5th, 2025!)

First things first — a huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC! 🥹📚

Okay, confession time: I'm someone who usually gets bored with thrillers/mysteries (don't hate me 😅), but "The Locked Ward" completely pulled me in! Was I lowkey waiting for a huge “WTF JUST HAPPENED?!” twist? Absolutely. Did it come in the way I expected? Nope. Was I still thoroughly entertained? HECK YES.

✨ Twins?
✨ Possible affair drama (👀 it’s messy, y’all)?
✨ Wealthy Southern family secrets??
✨ Creepy psychiatric ward vibes???
CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, and CHECK.

The tension between Georgia and Amanda had me on edge the whole time — I was seriously side-eyeing everyone like 🧐. (And let’s be real: if a shady side character even breathes weird, my paranoid self is already screaming “SUS!!!” from chapter three 😂.)

There were definitely moments where I got so irrationally mad at certain characters, I wanted to yeet my Kindle across the room. And when a certain bomb dropped? Let’s just say... I *kind of* saw it coming, but it still made my jaw clench because the audacity??? 😤

Was this a super twisty-turny thriller with jaw-dropping shocks every five minutes? No.
Was it addictive, atmospheric, messy in the best way, and begging to be turned into a Lifetime movie or a Netflix mini-series? 1000% YES.

If you love sibling drama, morally questionable rich people, and psychological mind games — or if you're just a thriller/mystery bestie looking for something that feels fresh but not over-the-top — "The Locked Ward" needs to be on your TBR. 🖤

Mark your calendars: August 5th! 🗓️

As a longtime fan of Sarah Pekkanen — both her solo novels and her collaborations with Greer Hendricks — I was thrilled to receive an ARC of The Locked Ward. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Pekkanen’s storytelling shines once again with a fast-paced, suspenseful novel that hooked me from the very first chapter. I love suspense novels, and The Locked Ward delivered with short, compelling chapters and multiple threads that kept the tension high. Each chapter ended on a small cliffhanger, making it extremely hard to put down.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, it wasn't my absolute favorite of Pekkanen's works. The ending felt a little abrupt, and the twist regarding Mandy being the "bad twin" came across as somewhat forced and not as fully developed as I had hoped. A bit more depth to that reveal could have made the story even stronger.

Overall, I really liked The Locked Ward and would highly recommend it to readers who love psychological suspense and are fans of Sarah Pekkanen’s previous books. Her ability to create gripping, readable thrillers remains impressive. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Was it...
Bitter, all-consuming jealousy?
Pathological sibling rivalry?
Pure insanity?
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.”

I dove into this one without reading the summary, but based on the title, I knew either someone was crazy or someone thought they were. The story is told from alternating POV's, Mandy and Georgia. One of my favorite parts was the way she wrote the perspectives of the sisters. Of course there is always a header so you know which sisters perspective it’s in but Mandy is always written with “I” while Georgia is always written with “you.” It definitely helps to highlight the difference between them while also demonstrating the disassociative state Georgia is in. While the plot isn't her strongest, her writing has true technique. This will really help on audio as well. This wasn't my favorite, but I did enjoy it and finished it in less than a day. I don't have any real critiques other than the story line is not that unique and it wasn't a jaw dropper, but it is engaging and easy to read!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved Gone Tonight and House of Glass so I was over the moon to receive this ARC as well! Sarah Pekkanen is definitely an author I keep an eye on for new releases!
Expected publication
August 5, 2025 by St. Martin's Press

Two sisters separated at birth. Is one a killer? Follow Georgia and Mandy as the reconnect and save each other.

This thriller had me hooked from the very first page. Set inside the chilling walls of a psychiatric hospital, the story expertly weaves suspense, emotion, and razor-sharp twists that kept me guessing until the final reveal.
The setting is claustrophobic and vividly detailed, creating an atmosphere of creeping dread that perfectly mirrors the unraveling minds within.
Highly recommended for fans of psychological suspense and character-driven thrillers.
This was my first book by Sarah Pekkanen and will not be my last.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy.

What’s stronger than love? Hatred.

Georgia Cartwright, one of Charlotte’s most notable socialites has been accused of murdering her younger sister. But Georgia’s not talking, not to anyone but the twin sister no one knew she had.

This book was full of wild twists and turns that kept me guessing up until the very end what might have happened. Normally I’m pretty good about figuring out the big twists, but I really didn’t guess this one until it was happening, which is an added bonus.

The story felt like something that could have definitely happened in a world where the pressure is on to be perfect. All the characters felt multi dimensional and well fleshed out.

I love Sarah Pekkanen’s writing, she always writes the best thrillers and I was so happy to have been given the privilege to read this one early! If you’re looking for a great new thriller, look no further.

A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this book early through netgalley.

I didn’t see that coming! I’ve read a few books by Sarah Pekkanen and this may be my new favorite. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, this is a must read.

Review Copy

Offer me a book about mental asylums? Oh, yeah, I'm in!

THE LOCKED WARD was an easy read told from two point of views. Each chapter alternated from one person and back. It was very easy to tell when the character/pov changed as the writing style changed from first person to third.

The story centered on family secrets and murder. I was surprised and pleased with the accuracy of the details of the fifth floor. I was a little disappointed with the 'twist' at the end. It seemed a little silly and unnecessary.

Overall though I enjoyed the book and thank St. Martin for making it available for advance review.

3.75 stars
Love the alternate POV and short chapters! It makes for a fast and intense read. It kept me guessing and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Another great one by Pekkanen!

In The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen, glamorous Georgia Cartwright is accused of committing the “Crime of the Decade” when she’s charged with killing the biological daughter of her wealthy Southern family. Locked away in a psychiatric institution for the most violent offenders, Georgia’s only plea to her estranged twin, Amanda, is that she didn’t do it. Torn between distrust and guilt, Amanda sets out to uncover the truth—whether Georgia is the victim of a twisted family conspiracy or a master manipulator herself. As Amanda digs deeper, it becomes clear that nothing in the Locked Ward—or in their family—is what it seems.

This book was a pretty easy read, and I finished it in just two sittings! I liked it. I enjoyed the short chapters and the alternating POVs between Georgia and Mandy, which kept the story moving fast. I found the story intriguing but I’m left with a few lingering questions! The ending was pretty confusing but that may be the point? Overall, a quick and easy thriller!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! The Locked Ward is will be published on August 5, 2025.

An entertaining read but it got to be outlandish towards the end. I feel like the author tried too hard to put twists in it

Thank you NetGalley for a digital copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
This book is told in 2 different POV. 1st person is told from Mandy's POV and Georgia's POV is told in 2nd. Mandy receives a call telling her twin sister is in the "Locked Ward" of the hospital and has been charged with the murder of her other sister. The only problem is, Mandy doesn't have a twin sister. Georgia claims her innocence and swears that Mandy is the only one that can help her. Before she was taken she left clues to point Mandy to help her prove that she didn't kill her sister, Annabelle.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story . It was a very fast paced, held my interest and kept me wondering if Georgia really was innocent.

Sarah Pekkanen has been a must read author for me for years now and I absolutely love when NetGalley offers an ARC and I get to read her latest early!

The Locked Ward is a psychological thriller that had me guessing until the very end. The way the story unfolded, with alternate perspectives and moments from the past filling in one puzzle piece while introducing others was skillful.

This one comes out in early August and will be the perfect book to devour pool side or sitting on the beach!

Sarah Pekkanen’s The Locked Ward is a sharp, gripping psychological thriller that pulls you deep into the chaos of a locked psychiatric unit. The story is fast-paced and layered with tension, offering just enough twists to keep you guessing without feeling overdone. Pekkanen balances suspense with a raw, human look at mental health, trauma, and survival. It’s dark, smart, and hard to put down — a must-read for fans of intense, character-driven page turners

Fans of Frieda McFadden will enjoy this new thriller. I loved the use of dual pov and the setting of a well to do family. The twists were unexpected but believable which is a nice change from many thrillers I read. Overall, a quick palate cleanser book.

When Georgia Cartwright is put into the psych ward accused of the murder of her adopted sister, Annabelle Cartwright, she reaches out to her newly discovered long-lost twin. Mandy is shocked to learn of Georgia’s existence but works to unravel the mystery of events that led to Annabelle’s death.

I’ve enjoyed other books by Pekkanen and this was no exception. Very well written and very engaging. I liked the dual POVs and felt very invested in each girl. A book you could easily read in 2-3 sittings. My main criticism is the twists, though fun, weren’t anything crazy. Overall such an enjoyable thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins for the ARC!

The Locked Ward is a tense psychological thriller about Georgia Cartwright, who, after being accused of murdering her biological sister, is locked in a psychiatric facility. Told through shifting perspectives, Sarah Pekkanen masterfully unravels secrets, family betrayals, and blurred realities. Dark, twisty, and impossible to put down.

I throughly enjoyed this book and would love to read more from this author. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC

Georgia's step-sister was murdered on the night of her birthday party and Georgia has been accused because everyone knows that Georgia, the adopted black sheep of their wealthy family has always had it out for the favored "miracle" daughter, Annabelle. She awaits to find out what will happen to her locked away in a psychiatric ward and the only person who she can trust and to help prove her innocence is her twin sister, Mandy, who doesn't even know that Georgia exists.

As Mandy struggles to deal with the shock of discovering she has a twin and help save her sister by uncovering the truth, she also has to put the pieces of her past together and make peace with the lies she's lived with her entire life.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC of The Locked Ward. From the beginning, Pekkanen draws you into the complicated relationship of twin sisters finding each other and all of the emotions that go along with that. Filled with surprises and twists just when you think you've figured it out, The Locked Ward was hard to put down.