I couldn’t quite figure out why this novel didn’t work for me because I generally like this author. In fact, I think her last book was her best. But this one fell flat.

The book focuses on two themes: twin telepathy and the psych ward setting, but neither felt fully developed. I also had some ethical concerns about how this story came to be. The author mentioned in an Instagram post that she got the idea after a friend snuck her into a psych ward, where she observed the patients. As someone who has been a psychiatric inpatient in a “locked ward,” the thought of a bestselling author watching people at their lowest and using that as material for a novel just didn’t sit right with me.

Beyond that, the plot itself felt uneven. The climax leaned heavily into melodrama, to the point where it almost felt like a telenovela. And there was an entire subplot involving a woman that had no real impact on the main story… I’m still not sure why it was included.

I really wanted to like this book, but between the underdeveloped themes and the ethical concerns, it just didn’t work for me.

There is something special about all of Sarah Pekkanen’s books. They pull you in and make you want to abandon all of your adult responsibilities. In The Locked Ward we find Georgia and Mandy. Twins that were separated at birth. Georgia is accused of murdering her sister Annabelle and the only person that can help her is her twin who doesn’t know she exists. I loved the dual POV, the psychiatric ward setting, Mandy’s sleuthing, and all of the twists and secrets we find out along the way. Also, I think Mandy is my new favorite bad ass female MC! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This book had me staying up late to finish and I couldn't get enough! I have never read anything by Sarah Pekkanen before, but I definitely will read more in the future! I loved the twist we got and that I didn't anticipate all of the plot twists! If you love reading thrillers, this is definitely one to add to the TBR!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for letting me read and review an ARC of this book!

This is an author I very much enjoy, and this one was no exception. Domestic thrillers are some of my favorites. I loved the complexity of the relationship between the two main characters and the family drama fueled in the background by old money and political scandal. This one was very well written and kept me on my toes. The ending reveal was chef's kiss.

Georgia, who is locked in an asylum after being arrested for murdering her sister Annabelle. She pleads insanity and awaits her trial, holding onto the last hope that Mandy will believe in her innocence and help her get out before she's killed by hidden enemies controlled by powerful figures.
Mandy (Amanda), who runs her family's bar after inheriting the place following her parents' deaths. She left her PR job behind, only to find herself at the center of a shocking revelation: the murderer making headlines—the one accused of vengefully killing her stepsister-is actually her twin sister, a sibling she never even knew existed.
One day, Georgia's lawyer calls Mandy, urging her to visit the hospital and meet her sister. Though skeptical, Mandy is too intrigued to resist confronting the presumed cold-blooded killer. When they finally meet, the unexplainable physical bond between them is undeniable. Then, Georgia hands over strands of her own hair, encouraging Mandy to conduct a DNA test. But deep in her gut, Mandy already knows the truth
-Georgia is her real sister, and someone deliberately separated them at birth.
However, the biggest revelation is yet to come: Georgia insists she's innocent. She warns Mandy that if she doesn't help get her out, someone will kill her. But is Georgia telling the truth? Or is Mandy just a pawn in her twin's dangerous endgame?
Determined to uncover the truth-not just to help Georgia, but also to piece together her own fragmented identity-Mandy is drawn into the elite's scandalous secret circles. She learns more about the Cartwrights, the powerful family that adopted Georgia. Was Georgia the black sheep of the family, envious enough to kill her own sister? Or was she a victim of neglect and mistreatment, driven to desperation?
As Mandy digs deeper, she realizes there are people who would rather see Georgia dead-and in doing so, she unknowingly puts herself in more danger than she ever imagined. But even at the cost of her own life, she is determined to push forward and bring justice.

4.5⭐️
I've read a couple of other books by Sarah Pekkanen, and this one was my favorite!
This was very face paced and super bingeable!

Georgia wakes up and realizes she is in a mental institute, and she needs to figure a way out before she is killed.

Mandy, an only child who has never even heard of Georgia, receives a phone call from Georgia's lawyer requesting her to visit. It is then that Mandy learns that Georgia is her twin sister and she is the only one who can help her get out alive.

The plot keeps getting thicker, and the twists are fantastic!

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of this fun and fast-paced thriller! This was another winner by Sarah Pekkanen.
The book alternates chapters between two estranged twin sisters, Georgia and Amanda. The sisters were separated when adopted as babies. Georgia has been put into a mental institution after being accused of murder. When Amanda is notified that she has a secret twin sister, she goes to meet her at the medical ward and Georgia quietly tells her that she is being framed and that Amanda is her only chance at freedom.
The book has quick short chapters, alternating between Georgia struggling in the ward and Amanda on the outside fighting for their lives. The plot is creative and entertaining. Both sisters are complex. There are several different possibilities of who could be the murderer.
I enjoyed the pace of the book. It was original and kept you on the edge of your seat. The author did a good job of keeping it intense but not going too dark. I wish there might have been one or two extra chapters to wrap up all of the characters/plots, but otherwise, it was fun and a great thriller!

Sarah Pekkanen has succeeded in leaving my head spinning yet again (in a good way). Glittering and wealthy Georgia Cartwright has been accused of killing her sister Annabelle, the beloved biological daughter of Georgia's adoptive family. Meanwhile, Amanda learns that she is Georgia's twin sister - Amanda wasn't even aware that she was a twin. Georgia begs Amanda to clear her name, while warning Amanda that powerful forces are in play who will do anything to stop that from happening. This novel truly kept me guessing - and turning the pages!

I really enjoyed this one. It was fast paced with a twist I didn't see coming. Can't get enough of Sarah Pekkanen's writing. Highly recommend this gem of a book. Thanks netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

TWISTY 😱 My fav read of hers yet!
The twists are constant, the characters phenomenal, and the chapters short!
Chefs kiss 💋

How would you react to a lawyer calling you out of the blue saying your sister needs you. Well in this case, quite surprised since you don’t have a sister! But Amanda was adopted, and she does have a twin sister, Georgia, who was adopted by another family, an extremely wealthy couple.
Intriguing right, especially since Georgia is in an asylum accused of killing her sister, Annabelle. Well, that adds another layer to a surprising revelation and a very intriguing first meeting.
Immediately, Amanda feels a connection to Georgia, but does she believe her when she says that she didn’t kill Annabelle? Maybe, maybe not. But as the story progresses, Amanda learns a lot about the Cartwright family, and it is not all sunshine, roses, and endless cash.
I really thought there would be one more twist. Alas, that was only in my mind not the authors. This publishers in August and I could definitely see it being a good beach read.

I love this author! This was yet another suspenseful, thrilling story! I was pretty sure how it would turn out and was actually a bit disappointed that it was that obvious. But NO! The rug was pulled out from under me! Loved it! Georgia and Mandy are twins separated at birth. They each had very different upbringings. As adults. Georgia is accused of killing her other sister and put in a locked ward. She enlists the help of recently discovered sister, Mandy. Can Mandy trust Georgia? Lots of twists and turns and family secrets. I was not a huge fan of the way Georgia's story was told, second person, I believe, but definitely not a deal-breaker! Nicely done!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Sarah Pekkanen and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Facebook and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of August 5, 2025.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Sisters - never knowing each other- Georgia is adopted as an infant but all her life she is treated different than her sister. They think she is the mean one. She wonders why she is not loved. And when her sister is murdered she is accused of killing her! But did she? She is locked in the psych ward till trial, she locates her twin sister and begs her to help get her out of there. As her sister digs for the truth things get dangerous . Someone doesn’t want the truth out.

This was such a good read!! I absolutely love Sarah Pekkanen’s writing style, especially Georgia’s chapters. The story was very captivating and it ended perfectly, although now I would LOVE a continuation… sequel??

The Locked Ward was nonstop from start to finish. I loved the political angle, showing how far people will go to protect their power—even at the expense of those they love. The character names were a fun touch, perfectly fitting their personalities. What held this back for me were the unresolved subplots; too many loose ends dropped my rating to three stars. Still, a solid thriller overall. I think it deserves a better cover.

A psychiatric ward, murder, unexpected twists, and complex family dynamics—this book has everything you could want in a psychological thriller. I did wish there was more of Amanda's life and her family, but it doesn't take away from the overall impact. I will definitely recommend this book and will be reading more from this author.

The Locked Ward is a captivating, twist-filled psychological thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. The suspense builds as Amanda is drawn into her sister Georgia’s tangled world of family secrets, manipulation, and the mystery of a crime she may or may not have committed. The dark, eerie setting of the psychiatric institution adds to the tension, creating a sense of unease throughout. The complicated sisterly bond at the heart of this story makes it an unforgettable read! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I hate that I love when a good book makes me stay up late to finish it. The Locked Ward was one of these books and I have no regrets about reading it until all hours so I could see how all the pieces connected. This is a book about family but not the kind that gives your the warm and fuzzies. Everyone in the family has motives to hide their secrets. Once Mandy learns she is part of the family, it’s a race for her to uncover the secrets that are going to save her life.

The Locked Ward is a locked-room thriller with plenty of twists to keep readers intrigued. Sarah Pekkanen crafts a suspenseful story that slowly unravels secrets and keeps you questioning the truth.

Mandy has just discovered she has a twin sister, Georgia, who is locked in a psychiatric ward, accused of murdering her younger sister, Annabelle. When Mandy visits Georgia, she’s drawn into a complicated web of doubt and desperation as Georgia pleads for help proving her innocence. But as Mandy digs deeper, she begins to question everything—including her own sister.