I enjoyed this book. It was very McFadden with the twists and tense atmosphere. The story was well paced and fun. It's a fast paced thriller about a medical student who must survive the night shift in a mental health unit of a hospital. Patients and staff keep disappearing which forces the medical student to relive her haunted past. It was fun, in McFaddens' trademark style. My two minor complaints were that is was a bit predictable, and the portrayal of the mentally ill patients was a bit archaic. Otherwise, a good read.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Amy Brenner is a medical student, her biggest hope to become a doctor in anything but psychiatry. With a past like hers, she wants to stay completely away from people's minds. That is until she is forced to spend a night on Ward D, the locked psychiatric ward at the hospital she is a resident at. The last time she was in Ward D was decades ago, and she wishes more than anything that she didn't have to go back. And now that her ex-boyfriend shows up to work with her, and rumors of a dangerous patient roam the halls, will she survive this night?

This is such a typical Frieda McFadden book: psychological thriller, twist in the 3rd act, and revealing characters flaws in the last paragraph and sentences of the book - and I still ate it up in two sittings. Her books never cease to be fast paced and gripping in a way that makes you want to keep reading to know what happens next, though I did fully guess one of the massive plot twists in this book. They aren't the most well-written prose, but that's not why people read her books, including me. I liked our main character Amy enough, but I will admit that she could have been much more fleshed out or grown at least a little in the story. There were a lot of characters introduced in this book as well, like the psych patients and side characters, and keeping them straight while going through the story was a bit difficult. Overall, a good thriller novel with twists and turns.

I've heard so much from Freida McFadden, and Ward D is the first book I read from her. I had high expectations because of how widely her other books got and my co-workers recommended me them, but I personally found this book quite predictable sometimes. I didn't quite like the writing style, and just kept reading because my curiosity got the best of me and I wanted to know what would happen next, to see if maybe my thoughts and theories would be wrong and I'd get an incredible plot twist. If you're looking for a light thriller to make time pass by, Ward D it's an option.

I’m a big fan of Freida McFadden’s novels. Each one is addictively readable and every ending contains twists you never expected. Highly recommended to thriller readers.

Ward D felt like it took the long way to get to the
heart of the story. Figuring out “who done it” wasn’t hard either. Just not a suspenseful story.
It kept my interest but not to the point I wanted to keep reading it non-stop.

I LOVE Freida McFadden but just like with any author you’re not going to always love every book.

Can’t wait to see what’s next by this author.

A great creepy read! I quite enjoyed this new one from Freida McFadden! A psychological book based in a psych ward, it’s a setting to freak you out!

I have loved Freida McFadden books ever since I first stumbled upon her books. Ward D is no different. As a fan of McFadden’s, her books always have many twists and turns and just when I think I know what is going on, a twist appears and makes me rethink the entire story. The story focuses on Amy, who as a medical student has to do an overnight rotation on Ward D - the mental health ward. Amy, who is already nervous, begins to notice signs that something may be very wrong in this ward. As the night continues, people start to vanish and Amy knows that the only way she will survive the night is to trust in her instincts.

A med student, Amy, is required to do an overnight shift at a psychiatric ward. Shortly after arrival for her shift, Amy finds out that dangerous patient has been placed in a seclusion room for everyone’s safety (he threatened to kill everyone on the ward). Did I mention a childhood friend also resides on this floor?
Quick read but not one of her best in my opinion. It was predictable which really bummed me out….this author usually keeps me guessing all the way through.

Exactly what you want from a Freida McFadden - suspense, mystery, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Super fast read, plenty of twists and turns. Listen, is it fine literature? No. Is it fun? Yes.
This latest version corrects issues with previous publications. I had a ton of fun reading it.

I read this in 2023, it is not a new book. You can get it free on kindle unlimited. The book is typical Frieda, fast paced, easy read.

Another winner by Freida McFadden. She always shocks me! I read it in two days. There were lots of twists and turns. But the biggest twist was on the last two pages!

I love Freida McFadden's writing, and I especially love the fact that I could read this book in one sitting. Ward D is another fun popcorn-like read, where the plot moves fast, and the setting doesn't have to be realistic to work. I think that's what I enjoyed the most about this book. For me to enjoy a book, I don't need to believe whether the plot could or could not happen in real life, so once the reader gets past that, it's a fun read. This is another psychological thriller from the author that was a solid read. I enjoyed all the characters, alternating timelines of the past and present, plot twists, and all the suspenseful thrills. It's what you expect from Freida!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this ARC!

Trapped on an overnight shift in the mental ward, medical student Amy Brenner struggles with her own insecurities and paranoia about the assignment. Or is she valid in her misgivings? Another quick paced mystery from Freida McFadden.

Amy is dreading her night working as a medical student in the Ward D, which is the mental health unit. She has her reasons for that and they are very specific. She also wants to keep her reasons secret. Patients and staff start to disappear and she is sure that her worst nightmare is coming true. Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Quick read as always. Not my favorite of her books. Unlikeable characters and did not enjoy the descriptions of some of the mentallyill

Amy, a medical student, is assigned an overnight rotation to Ward D- the psych ward. She soon learned that things don’t feel right, but what is going on? At the night passes so do patients. Where are they disappearing to and who is really who. It seems everyone is not who they seem. Follow the twists and turns until the end which turns once more.

What can I say, I actually thought this book was more suited to a YA audience. We sell a lot of her books at the store where I work so I thought I would try one but to me it was average, engaging at first but then quite silly, like watching a really bad horror movie.
So many things didn’t make sense and the plot was unbelievable. A student spends the night in a locked in psych ward and of course things start to go wrong.
Not for me I’m afraid.

#WardD. #NetGalley

I don't read this author for depth but she's perfect for a reading slump or to recommend to students looking for a propulsive read (especially ones who don't like to read). This was quick and had some great twists which is exactly why I pick these books up! Yes there are some issues with the depiction of mental illness but if anyone is picking up Freida McFadden for realism or nuanced characters, they are in the wrong place.

Ward D
by Freida McFadden
Pub Date: March 4, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book was previously published in 2023 so with great surprise I saw it offered again in 2025.
Medical student Amy Brenner is spending the night on a locked psychiatric ward.

Amy has been dreading her evening working on Ward D, the hospital’s inpatient mental health unit. There are very specific reasons why she never wanted to do this required overnight rotation. Reasons nobody can ever find out.

And as the hours tick by, Amy grows increasingly convinced something terrible is happening within these tightly secured walls. When patients and staff start to vanish without a trace, it becomes clear that everyone on the unit is in grave danger.

Amy’s worst nightmare was spending the night on Ward D.

This has all the things you want in a psychological thriller. Locked up in the psych ward overnight for a twelve hour shift, Amy, a medical student, is already terrified. But then her childhood best friend is a patient in the ward. Crazy and crazier.... and always when you think you might get a happy ending, Ms McFadden throws in.....