The Locked Ward is a fast-paced psychological thriller with dual POV's. This book contains themes of social class, privilege, twin connections, mental health, and dysfunctional family. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the twists and turns that Sarah Pekkanen brought to the novel. She has become a go-to author for me.

I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by the fabulous January Lavoy. She truly brings the characters to life.

Synopsis:
Was it bitter, all-consuming jealousy? Pathological sibling rivalry? Pure insanity? Whatever the cause - and everyone has a theory- it was the Crime of the Decade when glamorous Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a newborn, killed the younger, 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, "You've got to get me out of here. I didn't do it." Amanda doesn't trust Georgia, but she can't abandon her in a place so eerie and menacing it seems to exist in another dimension.

Is Georgia the victim of a powerful family so depraved that murder is the least of their crimes? Or is Amanda being led down a path of madness and into the web of a master manipulator?

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced digital copy of the book.

The publishing date is August 5, 2025

Another thriller from Sarah Pekkanen! This unique story is about Georgia Cartwright, an adopted daughter of the the wealthy Cartwright family. Georgia was always the lesser-loved daughter in the family, so it came as no surprise when she was accused of murdering Annabel, her not-adopted sister. Georgia is being held in a locked ward while she awaits her future. There she contacts her twin sister who she recently discovered. She asks Mandy to help her and assures her of her innocence. As Mandy becomes involved, having never known she had a twin, she learns more about her own family situation. She also has to decide whether Georgia is telling the truth. This is a fast-paced, highly engaging novel. I highly recommend!

The Locked Ward follows estrange twins POVs following the murder of one's younger sister. I loved the pacing and found some of the moments to be truly heart-pounding. I felt that you had to suspend your disbelief a little at times, but I loved the epilogue.

Narration performed by January LaVoy was fantastic as always.

I received an ARC and ALC from St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

this book follows Georgia (adopted at birth) who was recently accused of murdering her sister. she contacts her bio twin sister Amanda (adopted at birth) after finding out who she is and tries to get her to help her since Georgia says she did not murder her sister. this book it dual POV with chapters from Georgia while she is in the psychiatric institution and from Amanda as she is trying to wrap her head around what is happening. I was intrigued by the plot the entire time and was not expecting some of the twists at the end!

thank you Macmillian Audio and Netgalley for an advanced audiobook copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC.

It is a fast paced thriller which is mostly about two long lost twins obsessing over each other. At least that's what I thought in the beginning, but the plot did pick up significantly some time into the book. In some sense the plot was predictable but I really liked the way it was written in terms of PoV switches. I especially liked the second person PoV for Georgia, it made it feel extra creepy. Some of the things that happened in the locked ward were random and never resolved which disappointed me a bit. I was not expecting the epilogue though -- that ending was really smooth. Overall, it's a thriller that can be binged in a day if you're looking for one.

The audiobook narrator did a brilliant job with the voices and the emotions. The eerie atmosphere felt all the more real because of the narration. I'm rounding my rating up because of the narration.

3.5 stars 🌟
In true Sarah Pekkanen fashion, The Locked Ward delivers a layered, twist-filled thriller that keeps you second-guessing until the final pages. Told through a gripping dual POV—my personal favorite narrative style—the story unfolds in a way that draws you deep into each character’s secrets and suspicions.

Around the 60% mark, I thought I had the twist figured out—but as always, Pekkanen masterfully leads you down one path only to pull the rug out from under you. While this may not be my favorite of her books, it still checks all the boxes for a solid psychological thriller: tension, misdirection, and a satisfyingly tangled plot. A great pick for fans who love a good mind game.

Georgia is in the psychiatric ward after being accused of killing her sister. Georgia was adopted and her lawyers make contact with her estranged twin – Amanda. When Amanda goes to visit Georgia, she feels an instant connection and wants to prove Georgia’s innocence. But it’s hard to tell who Amanda should trust. Is Georgia telling the truth or manipulating Amanda?

Ah so good. Listened to this in one day. The narrator, January LaVoy, is one of my favorites! I just get sucked right in with her story telling.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Georgia wakes up in a psych ward, accused of killing her younger sister Annabelle. Unsure of the truth, she wisely chooses silence as she assesses her surroundings and plots a way out. Through Georgia’s perspective, we slowly uncover a history of emotional abuse and a deeply fractured relationship with Annabelle, all leading up to the tragedy that landed her in the hospital.

Meanwhile, Mandy is grappling with the recent death of her parents and trying to keep their bar afloat. She’s blindsided when a public defender calls to say that the defendant in a high-profile murder case—Georgia—will only speak to her. What could possibly connect them? Intrigued, Mandy visits Georgia and quickly realizes there’s far more to their shared past than she ever imagined. Her long-dormant protector instinct kicks in, pulling her deeper into Georgia’s orbit.

Told in alternating POVs, I found Georgia’s storyline far more compelling. Watching her navigate the psych ward and piece together the truth was exhilarating. Mandy’s chapters, while necessary, felt less grounded—her decision to get involved with a stranger felt like a bit of a stretch, and her own backstory didn’t carry the same emotional weight.

With short chapters and a twisty plot, The Locked Ward is a fast-paced thriller that doles out enough secrets and drama to keep you turning the pages. Both protagonists are just unreliable enough to make you question everything—right up until the final reveal.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and of course the author Sarah Pekkanen for the advanced copy of the book. The Locked Ward is out on August 5th. All opinions are my own.

Sarah Pekkanen has done it again with The Locked Ward! I’m always drawn to her books because she delivers gripping, page-turning thrillers without crossing the line into nightmare territory. This story kept me fully engaged from beginning to end, with just the right amount of suspense, emotion, and psychological intrigue. Pekkanen masterfully builds tension without relying on excessive violence or fear tactics, which I truly appreciate. If you’re looking for a fast-paced read that keeps you guessing but won’t leave you sleeping with the lights on, this one is a perfect choice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

I always enjoy a book by Sarah Pekkanen. This is a twisty twin murder mystery. Also, there several wealthy adults behaving badly. Georgia has been accused of killing her sister. She also has found her twin from whom she was separated at birth. Amanda isn't sure what's going on but she agrees to help Georgia declare her innocence. Not my favorite by Ms. Pakkanen but a solid thriller that will be a favorite of many readers. 3.5 stars

I've been a fan of Sarah Pekkanen for a long time. First with her co-author Greer Hendricks, and then her solo works.

The Locked Ward had all the suspense and twists and turns that I expected. I loved everything having to do with the twins. Mostly, I wanted to stay with Georgia's POV because her stay in the locked ward was sort of fascinating. Mandy was interesting, too, but I felt less engaged with her. Mostly. I want to mention the use of the 3rd person POV used for Georgia. Interesting choice and not something I see very often. I dug it.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for another fun read by Sarah Pekkanen!

Sarah Pekkanen never disappoints and this book was one of her best. A domestic thriller filled with twists and turns. I couldn't put it down! I listened to the audio version as I read the e-book. The narrator was amazing and I am looking forward to more of her work.
#netgalley #TheLockedWard #SarahPekkanen

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Troublemaking socialite, Georgia, is locked in a psychiatric hospital after being found standing over her sister's lifeless body. She knows that some very important people want to see her behind bars and convicted of murdering Annabelle. She will not survive jail so she is faking her on temporary insanity to stay on the ward, but this might be a worse place than jail. There is only one person who can rescue her and that person doesn't know she exists.

Mandy took over her family bar after the death of both her parents and has been living a lonely life with no real connections. One day that all changes when a lawyer comes to her with an odd request, come to the hospital and meet with the woman on the news accused of killing her sister, by the way she's your long lost twin sister. Mandy immediately recognizes the connection they share and begins to unravel the truth of Georgia's world.

I am a huge fan of Sarah Pekkanen and her brilliant twisty stories so I was very excited to get my hands on the newest release. The mystery is told from the POV of both sisters. I struggled to really connect with either character and was hoping for more of a twist at the end. The pace was a little slow and a lot of the premise and setups didn't hold water as the story went forward. Its an okay novel just not one of my favorites from this very talented author.

I had the audio version read by January LaVoy who is amazing as ever. She is very enjoyable to listen to and with enough character distinction to know who is speaking. Highly recommend her work!

BINGEWORTHY 🙌 ARRESTING 🙌 JAW-DROPPING 😵
January LaVoy's narration is haunting and captivating. I could listen to her read the phone book.

They are all asking why she did it. Georgia Cartwright has always been jealous of her sister Annabelle. That must be why. After all, she was adopted as a baby and raised as a debutante daughter of the wealthy Cartwright family in Charlotte, NC. She's never been the favorite. She had to know she'd be arrested after standing over the body of Annabelle with the bloody murder weapon in her hand. But Georgia is deathly afraid of going to prison, so she simulates a mental illness to go to the psych ward of a hospital. The world seems to be against her, so she turns to the only one who can help her, her estranged twin sister, Amanda. Up until Georgia's lawyer contacted her, Amanda never knew she had a twin sister. In some ways, though, she's always known. Georgia and Amanda share twin intuition, though they barely know one another. Is that bond strong enough to overcome the impossible?

Growing up in NC and having lived in Charlotte for a short time, the southern family dynasty trope hit pretty close to home. I understand the ripple effect of a wealthy family dynasty - not because I was raised that way, but because I have been in its wake. Sarah Pekkanen NAILED it. It's getting more difficult for writers to create original thrillers that captivate and hold their readers' attention. And the more wise the reader, the harder the task is for the thriller writer. So many thrillers are completely predictable and sometimes feel too borrowed from other authors. NOT THIS ONE. Told from the POVs of both twin sisters, the type and timing of information revealed throughout the novel were completely gripping and provocative. I have now been engrossed in two of Pekkanen's books and am finding myself wanting to be the president of her fan club. She's underrated, y'all. I hope this book soars off the shelves in August.

Thank you, NetGalley, Sarah Pekkanen, and St. Martin's Press for this incredible eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5!!! Super fun read. Who will you trust? The dual timeline with January Lavoy at the helm was excellent! (P.S. she has a southern drawl which kinda broke my brain.)

There are lots of twisty and suspenseful things in this book so you be racing to the end to see if what you think you know is true.

A solid concept with some gripping moments, but it didn’t fully land for me.

The unreliable narrator angle had potential, and I liked the locked-ward setting, but the twists felt more expected than explosive. Georgia was compelling, but the dual POV slowed the pace.

Still, it kept me curious enough to finish.

January LaVoy always dose an amazing job with her readings!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillian Audio for the ARC

This is a book that will leave your mind reeling, well after you have read the last word. Twisty, creepy, action packed, mysterious….you name it…it is there!

Georgia was adopted as a newborn by a very well to do and affluent family. Years later, accused of murdering her sister (the biological daughter of her adoptive parents), Georgia is locked up in a mental institution awaiting the verdict from the court.

Her lawyer reaches out to Mandy who comes to learn that she not only has a sister, but a twin sister. When Mandy comes to visit her, Georgia begs for her help telling Mandy she is innocent and if she doesn’t get out of the locked ward, she will be killed.

Mandy is wary at first, but as she starts to dig deeper and follows the clues, the secrets and lies begin to spill out. Will Mandy be able to uncover the truth and prove Georgia’s innocence, or will both of their lives end up in danger?

The only struggle I had with this book was the portion written in second person. Maybe it is because most of what I read is in first or third person, but something about the style stressed me out. But you want to know something that is going to sound kind of strange? As I think about it after the fact, I feel like the anxiety it gave me perpetuated the sense of tension and nervousness in me so as I read certain parts in the story, it instilled a little more fear and anxiety than I may have had if I were not already on edge. So, I am going to chalk this literary choice up to the author being a master of psychological thrillers who knows how to control the emotions of her readers!!

There is not a lot I can say without risking giving things away, so I will simply say this……The Locked Ward is a psychological thriller that will get into your head and make those wheels start turning, leaving you questioning everything and everyone.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book. Narrator January LaVoy does a tremendous job, along with the rest of the production team to bring this book to life. It was an absolutely thrilling listen that I could not put down! I will leave you with these three words to live by after reading this book, “Don’t trust anyone!!”

I enjoyed The Locked Ward more than some of the more recent suspense novels that I have read. It is a fast moving novel that keeps you guessing.

Mandy and Georgia are twins who were separated at birth and each was adopted by a different family and never knew of the other. Mandy went to a middle class family, where she remained an only child; Georgia was adopted by wealthy, high society parents who had a biological child only months after she was adopted and treated Georgia poorly. In a strange turn of events, Georgia is accused of murdering her adoptive sister on her 32nd birthday and is remanded to a locked psych ward. As the novel unfolds, we learn the back stories.

The novel will offer you a light and enjoyable read that will remind you of the power of sisterhood .

Georgia Cartwright is in a psychiatric ward after being accused of killing her sister, Anabelle.. The claim is that because she is adopted, she was pathologically jealous of her sister, the biological daughter of their parents, and she killed her in a fit of rage. She becomes mute after being arrested and is sent to the psychiatric ward. She requests only one visitor, Amanda Ravenell. Amanda is shocked by this, as she doesn't know Georgia and has no idea why she would want to meet her. Despite this, she goes to visit her, and finds out they are long lost twins. Amanda knew she was adopted, but did not know she was a twin. She is reeling from this info and trying to digest everything when Georgia tells her that she didn't do it, get me out of here, and this is bigger than you know.

Amanda begins her private detecting to figure out what exactly happened and how on earth she has a twin sister. Her adoptive parents are deceased and she has no one to ask so she begins to dig into their past while trying to ingratiate herself into the Cartwright's orbit so she can prove Georgia's innocence.

This book was just okay for me.. I did not like the pacing and was often confused about what was going on and who characters were. Amanda's chapters were in first person and Georgia's chapters were in second person and I hated that. The ultimate reveal and ending was meh.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. As always, January LaVoy is a fantastic narrator.

★★★☆ 3.5/5 stars
Release date : August 5th

•𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 :
~dual POV'S
~short, suspenseful chapters
~claustrophobic, eerie, immersive reads
~twin connections
~old money family drama
~political scandals
~bingeable books
~second person POV

•𝘔𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 :
The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen delivers exactly what I've come to expect from her: a fast-paced, well-written thriller with just the right amount of creep factor & slowly exposed secrets.

I found myself flying through the short, suspenseful chapters. The story unfolds through two perspectives twins separated at birth: Mandy, told in first person, and Georgia, whose sections are written in second person-a bold & unique choice that really dropped me into the unsettling atmosphere of the psych ward. It was immersive & claustrophobic in all the right ways.

Although I did find parts a bit predictable (granted, I read a lot of thrillers), the suspense & pacing made up for it. Plus the ending was satisfying & well-executed. For readers newer to the genre, this could easily be a 5-star read. For me, it was a solid, entertaining 3.5 stars— reminding me why Pekkanen remains a go-to author.

Thanks to @netgalley + @stmartinspress for the arc & to @macmillan.audio for the gifted audiobook!