I absolutely loved House of Glass when I read it last year so this was an immediately added to my TBR when I saw she was releasing a new book. I haven't been reading much thriller recently but I always love a good psychological thriller that has you on the edge of your seat. A good thriller for me is when you can't put the book down and are unable to guess any plot twists. This book definitely grabbed my attention but it's not something that I will likely think back on months/years later. I would recommend it to those who love a quick read and like twisty books.

I enjoyed this thriller a lot it is a bit of a slower paced but it works well with the story. I liked the characters and the entire unsure of who was telling the truth and of course the twists were great. It does pick up as the story unfolds but it held my attention the entire time. I have read this author’s books and I love them all. A great thriller and can’t wait for her next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. Sarah does it again! Edge of my seat - it was fast paced and action packed. I loved the sister’s magnetic connection throughout this book. Thoroughly entertaining - devoured it in three days!

Mandy gets a call to go visit her sister in a locked ward after she is taken in for a horrible murder she may have committed. The only issue is Mandy doesn’t have a sister…

I honestly didn’t know much more than this when I started reading this and I’m so glad because it made all the twists and revelations even more thrilling!

The short chapters and dual POVs really made this book hard to put down! The chapters from Georgia’s perspective in the locked ward were creepy. There are multiple little twists before the big reveals at the end. I love when authors do that. I liked the ending and how things were tied up. I’ve read multiple books that Pekkanen has co-written and one that she has written alone. Her writing is very addictive and I can’t wait to delve into more of her books in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

This one hooked me quick and kept me engaged the entire time! Psychological thrillers do such a good job at keeping you on the edge of your seat while remaining realistic and believable and The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is no exception!

Loved the short chapters. Really enjoyed the twists. My biggest qualm is that I felt like I was left with some questions and unfinished plot lines that I’d have loved to see wrapped up.

Overall, a fun time!

Loved this book! Such a great read and absolutely kept me on my toes when it came to all the twists and thrills! Would definitely recommend.

Sarah Pekkanen does it again—The Locked Ward is a tense, twisty psychological thriller that had me hooked from the first page. The story drops you straight into a locked psychiatric ward where Georgia Cartwright is being held for allegedly killing her half-sister. Right away, you’re questioning everything—Georgia’s sanity, her version of events, and whether the truth is something anyone’s ready to face.

What really worked for me was the dual perspective. Georgia’s chapters feel unsettling and claustrophobic—you’re in her disoriented, fragile mind, and you’re never quite sure if you can trust her. On the flip side, Amanda brings this clear-eyed determination but is forced to confront family secrets that unravel fast.

The tension never lets up. Just when I thought I’d pieced it together, Pekkanen threw in another curveball. Plus, the dynamic between the sisters—equal parts love, rivalry, and suspicion—gave the book real emotional weight.

If you’re a fan of layered thrillers with unreliable narrators and gut-punch reveals, The Locked Ward is one to pre-order immediately. I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an arc in exchange for my review.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read a digital ARC of “The Locked Ward” by Sarah Pehannen, which has a publication date of August 5, 2025.

“The Locked Ward” tells the story of Georgia Cartright, who is incarcerated in a mental institution after being charged with the murder of her half-sister, Annabel. Before the murder, Georgia discovered she had a twin sister named Amanda, who knew nothing of her existence. Georgia was adopted and raised by a wealthy family, and Amanda grew up in a middle-class family. Georgia reaches out to Amanda for help in proving her innocence. Will Amanda be able to do so?

The mental ward where Georgia is housed is spooky, unsafe, and realistic. This fast-paced, action-packed novel, is filled with a plethora of unexpected twists, turns, and shockers galore. When I thought I figured out what would happen next, something else happened. As the plot unfolds, the reader learns about the backstory of Amanda, Georgia, and other nefarious characters. I found myself questioning if Georgia was setting Amanda up for the fall. Did Georgia kill Annabel, or did someone else? Why did the characters have so many secrets? Will the killer be revealed before Georgia is moved from the mental institution to prison? Many of the characters in this novel are horrid and unlikeable.
I must admit that the novel did not end the way my sleuthing mind thought it would, but the twist at the novel’s conclusion was totally out in left field. I have read several books by Ms. Pekkanen, but “The Locked Ward” is now my new favorite.

3.5 out of 5 stars

The Locked Ward is a gripping, mind-bending thriller that keeps you questioning reality until the very last page. Sarah Pekkanen does a fantastic job weaving together dark family secrets, psychological manipulation, and the unsettling atmosphere of a psychiatric institution, creating a story filled with tension and dread. The dynamic between estranged twins Georgia and Amanda is brilliantly crafted, making you second-guess their motives at every turn. With shocking twists, an eerie setting, and a relentless sense of suspense, I absolutely devoured this chilling and unpredictable read!

I recently read “House of Glass”, the author’s most recent publication before this one and really enjoyed it. I was hoping “The Locked Ward” would be another hit. Unfortunately, it was far from it. I don’t remember having ever read a book with this many plot holes and unbelievable relationships. It was ridiculous and annoying and I also didn’t like the back and forth between first and second point of views.

Thank you, NetGalley for the Advanced Reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I reveived an early copy of this book from Netgalley.com and really enjoyed it! I loved her last book and I typically read any book she writes, so this was an easy us for me. I love the short chapters that make ot easy to breeze through one to the next and the alternate point of view storytelling.

Would you help the sister you just found out about, a woman accused of murdering her other sister. That's the basis of this story. I liked how the book gave backstory on how the sisters end up separated into two completely different lifestyles and clearly one sister was not as lucky as one would think.

The book starts out with Georgia being taken to a psychiatric ward after she is found standing over her younger sister, who has just been murdered. Next we meet Mandy, as she is contacted by Georgia's lawyer; he asks her to visit her sister but Mandy has never met Georgia and she is an only child. The story is full of characters that you both love and hate and is based around one big dysfunctional family. It is a quick read full of short chapters, that is full of suspense and has the twists we have come to expect from this author.

While I don't find Charlotte, NC's "elite" to be very interesting people, I understand the appeal of the city for the setting. I feel like this wasn't as sophisticated as Pekkanen's previous titles, but it was still enjoyable. The alternating chapters worked for me, and I liked the ending.

A big shoutout to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

What a whirlwind of a book! I loved the whole premise of this book and the short chapters made it such an easy read!

This one has a lot of great things going for it - dual POV, toxic families, rich people problems, weird twin connections and lots of suspense! One of those books that leaves you guessing until the end.

Another twisty psychological thriller from Sarah! Out this summer!

When Georgia Cartwright is accused of murdering her beloved younger sister, the secrets of a wealthy Southern family seem to be her only hope of exiting the locked ward. And when Mandy finds out that she was separated at birth and her new found sister is also an accused murderer, she finds herself wondering if a visit to the locked ward is worth it or if she should stay away. A twisty, suspenseful book of family secrets and lies!

This was a fascinating twisty tale of mystery and intrigue. I did not guess the twist, which is my favorite when I can’t predict! Pekkanen does it again- writing such a wonderful thriller!! Loved!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Great book about two women who did not know they were sisters until their connection was necessary to save one of their lives. Georgia has been arrested and put in a locked ward for the death of her sister. She reaches out to a supposed stranger Amanda to help her. Amanda must forget all she knew about her family and work to revisit her past to help Georgia be free. Great twists and read. Would recommend.

Sarah Pekkanen does it again! The Locked Ward is a page-turner that left me turning pages trying to figure out the final twist. Imagine being accused of murdering your sister and the only person who can save you is your twin that you never knew you had, Add to that, you are locked up in a psychiatric ward and trying to navigate all of the unknowns on your own. I enjoyed all the creative plot twists that the novel had and did not expect the final reveal of who was actually behind the murder. This was an excellent thriller that I highly recommend.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc. The Locked Ward was my first ready from Sarah Pekkanen in a long while and to be honest I am not sure why because this was such a twisty psychological thriller that I read it in a day.

Chapter one hooked its little claws in me and I just couldn’t stop! Highly recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen was gripping from the very first chapter. The complex dual main characters added depth, making the story even more compelling. I was completely engaged from start to finish, unable to put it down. The only drawback was the ending—it wasn’t entirely clear and required some reading between the lines. Still, the suspense, twists, and psychological tension made this an unforgettable read!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.