Not sure how to describe this one. Twins separated at birth only to be reunited when one of them is accused of killing her other sister and desperately needs her newly discovered twin’s help. Rich and powerful people who can make anyone disappear and make evidence appear out of nowhere. Secrets and scandals and dirty deals and innocent people being hurt.

This one was a little all over the place in some ways but an interesting glimpse into the fact that you never really know a person and you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Thanks for the review copy NetGalley. I enjoyed the twists and turns and after finishing the book I have more questions

•Anything written by Sarah Pekkanen is an automatic must read in my opinion.

•The Locked Ward begins by flip-flopping between Georgia and Mandy’s accounts. Georgia grew up attending fancy dinner parties, wearing expensive clothing, and hanging out with the senator and his family. Mandy grew up with middle class parents working at their family bar.

•Georgia is currently spending time in a hospital awaiting a trial date for the murder of her sister. While in the hospital, she calls on Mandy for assistance with proving her innocence. As the story unfolds, you find out how these two women are really linked.

•Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and Sarah Pekkanen for this ARC. It will become available on August 5, 2025.

The Locked Ward presents two intertwined narratives. The first follows Georgia Cartwright, a wealthy socialite who has been institutionalized after being accused of brutally murdering her younger sister. The crime captivated the nation, dominating headlines. Georgia, who comes from a powerful family, maintains her innocence despite the mounting evidence against her. Though she has her secrets—gradually revealed through the work of her private investigator—she insists that she did not kill her sister.

The second narrator, Amanda, is a young woman leading an ordinary life until she is approached by Georgia's investigator with a shocking revelation: Amanda is Georgia's fraternal twin. This unexpected twist sends Amanda into a tailspin, forcing her to confront a family history she never knew existed. As she processes this discovery, Amanda visits Georgia, who enlists her help in an effort to prove her innocence. Amanda begins carrying out tasks that could potentially reveal the truth about what really happened the night of the murder.

While the plot occasionally requires a suspension of disbelief, the complex characters and unexpected twists make for a gripping read. The Locked Ward is a thrilling, page-turning story that will appeal to fans of Freida McFadden and anyone who enjoys suspenseful psychological drama.

#stmartinspress #thelockedward #sarahpekkanen