I was very excited to receive an ARC of this novel as I loved Sarah Pekkanen's previous works. It has an interesting story of twins who were separated at birth and recently discover each other as one is on trial for murder. I love multiple/alternating POV's and it works well in this novel. This read like a mystery TV show and I was trying to solve the mystery along with Mandy. As the title is called "The Locked Ward" I was hoping for more of the novel to be about Georgia in the ward, but didn't seem to be very central to the story. We've got family drama and secrets, so if you like stories with that, then you will love this book. The 2nd person worked well with Georgia's POV and it's refreshing as you don't get this often in books. It was a good story, but not crazy shocking. Still would recommend this and why I am giving this 3 stars.

*Thanks to Netgalley for my ARC and all opinions expressed are my own.*

I didn't love that Georgia's storyline was narrated in third person but overall it was still an enjoyable, twisty read! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC of this book.

The Locked Ward is a story of two sisters: Georgia, who has recently entered a mental health clinic after being accused of murder, and Amanda. Amanda has no idea Georgia exists until she gets a message that her sister wants to speak to her. Their meeting sparks a series of events which unravels a tale of betrayal and deception spanning decades. Georgia insists that she is innocent but that her family members want her dead; Amanda has to wade through lies to get to the truth. Each chapter reveals a small piece of what happened until the entire story comes to a satisfying climax. Sarah Pekkanen excels at writing complicated characters who struggle but ultimately find a way to solve the mystery. I look forward to her next book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Sarah Pekkanen has done it again. She is a master at keeping readers interested in what comes next and in finding out the truth. I found myself on the edge of the seat waiting to see what would happen to the main character and how everyone was woven together. Another fantastic book from a great author!

What would you do if you learned you had a twin and you were the only way to prove he innocence? Mandy and Georgia are well thought characters and I enjoyed following their story.

Sarah Pekkanen delivers a gripping, mind-twisting psychological thriller in The Locked Ward, where family secrets, deception, and sisterly bonds take center stage. Dark, suspenseful, and dripping with tension, this novel pulls you into a sinister world where nothing is as it seems.

Georgia Cartwright is locked inside a high-security psychiatric institution, accused of brutally murdering her adoptive sister, Annabelle. Everyone believes she’s guilty—except Georgia, who swears she’s been framed. Her only hope? Amanda, the twin sister she never knew existed.

Amanda has spent her life believing she was an only child. But when a mysterious call from Georgia’s lawyer shatters everything she thought she knew about her past, she is drawn into a deadly web of lies. Is Georgia truly innocent, or is she the manipulative killer the media claims she is? As Amanda digs deeper into the secrets of the powerful Cartwright family, she realizes she’s in far more danger than she ever imagined.

This book is unputdownable. Short, fast-paced chapters keep the tension high, and the eerie setting of the psychiatric ward adds a chilling layer to the mystery. Pekkanen does an incredible job exploring the blurred lines between truth and delusion, making you question every character’s motives. The bond between Amanda and Georgia is intense—both magnetic and unsettling—and watching Amanda unravel the layers of deception is as thrilling as it is terrifying.

While some twists were slightly predictable, the psychological depth and eerie atmosphere made up for it. The final revelation may not have been earth-shattering, but it left a lasting impact, proving that the most dangerous monsters aren’t always locked away.

If you love psychological thrillers that keep you second-guessing until the last page, The Locked Ward is a must-read. It’s a chilling exploration of trust, power, and the devastating consequences of buried family secrets.

Easiest 5 star rating. This book was so good and I wish I didn't have a day job so that I could have read it in 1 sitting. I loved the plot, and dual POV chapters.

From the moment I picked up "The Locked Ward," I was utterly captivated and unable to put it down. Sarah Pekkanen masterfully weaves together a gripping psychological thriller with deep-rooted family drama, making for a reading experience that is as addictive as it is thought-provoking.

The story revolves around Georgia Cartwright, a glamorous young woman who finds herself accused of a shocking crime—the murder of her wealthy family's biological daughter. What follows is a chilling exploration of jealousy, rivalry, and the complexities of sisterhood that kept me on the edge of my seat. The atmosphere of the psychiatric institution where Georgia is held is hauntingly vivid, creating a tension that practically leaps off the pages. It’s a stark backdrop for the unfolding drama, making each revelation even more impactful.

Pekkanen’s characters are richly drawn and incredibly relatable. Georgia's plight is both heart-wrenching and compelling, as we delve into the mind of a woman caught between her troubled past and the dark shadows of her family’s legacy. Amanda, her estranged twin sister, embodies the struggle of loyalty versus doubt. Her visits to Georgia are fraught with tension; you can feel her internal conflict as she grapples with the horrifying possibility that her sister might be a killer.

The plot twists are breathtaking and expertly crafted—just when I thought I had the story figured out, Pekkanen would introduce an unexpected turn that left me questioning everything. The intricate layers of manipulation and secrets within the family weave a complex tapestry that explores themes of identity, betrayal, and the lengths one will go to for love and redemption.

What truly sets "The Locked Ward" apart is its exploration of the psychological aspects of familial bonds. Pekkanen dives deep into the psyche of her characters, asking the reader to reflect on what drives people to madness and the impact of a family's dark secrets on individual identities.

In conclusion, "The Locked Ward" is a standout thriller that combines a rich psychological depth with an intoxicating storyline. It had me hooked from the first page to the last, with twists that I never saw coming. For anyone who loves a good psychological thriller intertwined with family drama, this book is an absolute must-read. Sarah Pekkanen has outdone herself, creating a riveting tale that will linger in your mind long after the final chapter. Highly recommended!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of The Locked Ward.

This was my first book by Sarah Pekkanen and I really enjoyed it. I read it in 2 days and went on to read her other book The Glass House.

I really like Sarah Pekkanen and her writing. This one was a slow burn for me but very well written ! Some unexpected twists and turns along the way! For anyone who hasn’t read her books I highly recommend you start!

The Locked Ward is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully explores the dark intricacies of family bonds and the blurred lines between truth and manipulation. The novel pulls readers into the fractured relationship between estranged twin sisters Amanda and Georgia, weaving a haunting narrative set against the backdrop of a foreboding psychiatric institution. As Amanda grapples with her mistrust of Georgia and the sinister secrets of their adoptive family, the tension builds to an almost unbearable level. The writing immerses you in an atmosphere so eerie and surreal, it feels like stepping into another dimension. The author expertly crafts a story filled with twists, leaving you questioning everyone’s motives and uncovering layer after layer of deception. The themes of sibling rivalry, jealousy, and the search for truth make this book not only a psychological puzzle but an emotional one as well. If you enjoy suspenseful thrillers with richly drawn characters and an ominous, unrelenting atmosphere, The Locked Ward is a must-read. It’s a book that stays with you, and you’ll find yourself thinking about the Cartwright sisters long after you’ve closed the final page.

Highly recommended for fans of psychological suspense!

This was such a quick and easy book to read! It kept me interested the whole time and I finished it in two nights before bed. I liked this author’s other book, House of Glass, and I enjoyed this one too. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Georgia is in a locked ward on a psychiatric hold after being accused of murdering her sister. The only person that can help? Her biological twin sister Amanda "Mandy" who doesn't know she exists.
Amanda doesn't know if she can trust Georgia who grew up very differently than her. Georgia grew up adopted by a very wealthy family. All the news stories say Georgia was manipulative and hated her younger sister. We learn who can be trusted and what was really going on in Georgia's family. Amanda feels the connection of her sister and want to uncover the truth and get justice for her sister if she really is innocent.

I love when you have to figure out how is lying and what is really happening in a book like this and some of the twists I did not see coming. It was a fast read and I didn't want to put it down until I knew what really happened. The biggest problem for me was the book is told in two points of view Amanda in first person and Georgia in second person POV. I personally no not enjoy reading books in second person point f view. I also really did not understand why the author made that choice. It made the book harder to get into. I probably would have rated higher is the drama in ward led to something or had more impact. I understand it was to show how scared she was in there and how the nurse opal was but it felt like it was a lot for so little outcome. The ending with Amanda was a bit of a let down to. I know she built it up through out the story but it still felt like it could have been tied in more or something. They way the book was it just felt like extra detail.

That being said I did enjoy the book and gave it a 3.5

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the providing me with a Free ARC to review

It’s an interesting story of twins separated at birth, reunited when one is facing prison or in a psychiatric ward for something she didn’t do.

This is a good murder mystery thriller where you don’t know where it’s going to go. This was a fast read for me with short chapters and the different POVs.
I couldn’t put this book down it was a very fast pace read.

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.

I can tell this author is going to be one that I pick up without hesitation.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Being a twin, I'm always interested in reading novels that include twin characters, and twins separated at birth? Doesn't get better than that! As a fan of Sarah Pekkanen’s previous works I was excited to read this fast-paced psychological thriller and it did not disappoint!

I was very excited to receive a copy of this ARC in my email. I had enjoyed last years "House of Glass" and was anticipating this new book from Sarah Pekkanen. I enjoyed the short chapters as well as the dual POV between Georgia and Mandy. Unfortunately the suspense just was not there and I was left with questions and disappointment over the ending. Overall, this was a quick read but I just didn't find anything special about this story and it didn't leave a lasting impression on me. Thank you the publisher and netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was thrilled with a chance to read and review Sarah Pekkanen’s latest thriller, “The Locked Ward.”

Mandy has lost both her parents and has taken over working in her parents’ bar. Life may not be the most exciting thing, but her world is rocked when she is contacted by a public defender: her twin sister is being accused of murdering her adopted sister and in a psychiatric ward until a judge can determine whether she is competent to stand trial. However, Mandy has no idea she had a twin—or that she was adopted.

Georgia grew up in the shadow of her sister who her parents always favored. However, did jealousy lead to Georgia ending Annabelle’s life? Mandy is tasked with finding out, putting her own life at risk as she does.

The book’s premise is interesting; the story is narrated through Mandy’s perspective in first person and Georgia’s in second. The novel’s resolution wasn’t predictable and the novel’s short chapters and strong narration kept the reader guessing. What makes “The Locked Ward” stand out in a crowded market of domestic thrillers is just how well the characters are developed. Mandy especially is a strong character who challenges her upbringing and the relationships she had with her parents as well as what she’d believed to be true. Because Georgia’s story is told in second person, you don’t connect with her as much but the author does that intentionally to hold back information until later in the story.

This book does not come out until August, but you need to put it on your “must read” list now.

Four and a half out of five stars.

I really enjoy Pekkanen’s work and find her thrillers to be fast paced, well written, and filled with enough tension and shady characters to keep the reader guessing. “The Locked Ward” didn’t disappoint in these areas but overall I wanted a bit more to take me from liking this book to loving it. The conclusion felt overly simplified yet full of holes and the “reveal” post conclusion was so overly foreshadowed that it wasn’t even remotely a surprise for this reader. To be honest, most of the twists weren’t a surprise for me but I think that has more to say about my familiarity with this genre than the author’s ability to write compelling surprises. Although this wasn’t the shocker of a thriller for me, I think it is an engaging read and one that many readers will enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Georgia has been locked up in a psychiatric hospital for violent offenders. This is far from the glamorous life that she is used to living. She is being accused of murdering her sister the only biological daughter of her wealthy high society adoptive parents. Why would Georgia murder her own sister? When her biological estranged twin sister agrees to visit her sister Georgia in the locked ward, she has many questions about the alleged murder and how they were separated at birth but the only thing Georgia tells Amanda is that she didn't do it. She did not kill her sister. How can Amanda just walk away from the twin sister she just found out about. I liked this mystery and how Amanda did everything she could to find out what really happened and if her sister truly is the murderer....Enjoy!!!

Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This novel
was amazing! Talk about a suspenseful read. I couldn’t put this book down and I honestly had no idea where this plot was going. I was surprised by the ending, but even more surprised by the final page. Plus, I love when a suspense novel also develops characters so well. I cried more than once in this book and this very rarely happens for me. Definitely check this book out when it’s released in August 2025.