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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
WHAT did I just read?! 😱 From the first page, The Locked Ward had me in its grip, and it did not let go. Sarah Pekkanen delivers a chilling, twist-filled psychological thriller set in the most unsettling place imaginable: a locked psychiatric ward.
Told through multiple POVs (my fave!) and short, punchy chapters, this was the definition of a binge read. I tore through it, totally immersed in the world of twisted twin bonds, long-buried family secrets, and characters you’re not sure you can trust even for a second.
This story has everything I love in a thriller:
✔️ Unreliable narrators
✔️ Wealthy people with skeletons in their closets
✔️ Creepy, claustrophobic setting
✔️ Emotional tension and layered characters
✔️ So. Many. Twists.
The sibling dynamic is intense and unsettling in the best way, and the psych ward setting adds an eerie, atmospheric edge that keeps you on high alert. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the ending hit me like a freight train. And the epilogue?! 🤯 One word: SHOOK.
This isn’t my first read by Sarah Pekkanen, and once again, she absolutely delivered. Her thrillers always mess with your mind in the best way, and The Locked Ward is no exception. If you love psychological twists that keep you second-guessing everything, add this to your TBR ASAP!
Thank you so much to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the e-ARC of The Locked Ward by @sarahpekkanen !
Told through multiple POVs (my fave!) and short, punchy chapters, this was the definition of a binge read. I tore through it, totally immersed in the world of twisted twin bonds, long-buried family secrets, and characters you’re not sure you can trust even for a second.
This story has everything I love in a thriller:
✔️ Unreliable narrators
✔️ Wealthy people with skeletons in their closets
✔️ Creepy, claustrophobic setting
✔️ Emotional tension and layered characters
✔️ So. Many. Twists.
The sibling dynamic is intense and unsettling in the best way, and the psych ward setting adds an eerie, atmospheric edge that keeps you on high alert. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the ending hit me like a freight train. And the epilogue?! 🤯 One word: SHOOK.
This isn’t my first read by Sarah Pekkanen, and once again, she absolutely delivered. Her thrillers always mess with your mind in the best way, and The Locked Ward is no exception. If you love psychological twists that keep you second-guessing everything, add this to your TBR ASAP!
Thank you so much to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the e-ARC of The Locked Ward by @sarahpekkanen !
5 ⭐ 0 🌶️ 5 🎧
It's been a minute since I read a thriller and what a way to jump back into the genre. This story was exciting, twisty and twisted; exactly what I was hoping for when starting this one. I really loved that we get the twins POVs in first and second person. This was my first second person POV story and I really enjoyed that aspect of this book.
I was constantly guessing what was going on and whodunnit and was still shocked about multiple things from the reveal. I stayed up late finishing this one cause I had to know what happened and I'm so happy I did. I absolutely loved it.
The audio was great. January Levoy was wonderful in bringing these characters to life. Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for this advanced listen, I loved it!
It's been a minute since I read a thriller and what a way to jump back into the genre. This story was exciting, twisty and twisted; exactly what I was hoping for when starting this one. I really loved that we get the twins POVs in first and second person. This was my first second person POV story and I really enjoyed that aspect of this book.
I was constantly guessing what was going on and whodunnit and was still shocked about multiple things from the reveal. I stayed up late finishing this one cause I had to know what happened and I'm so happy I did. I absolutely loved it.
The audio was great. January Levoy was wonderful in bringing these characters to life. Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for this advanced listen, I loved it!
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
This would make a highly entertaining movie or limited series on Netflix.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ve loved Sarah Pekkanen for a long time- both as a solo author and a collaborator with Greer Hendricks. I’m always excited to read one of her books. The Locked Ward was no exception. This book started off so strong and had so much potential. The premise was intriguing, as were the two main characters. But in the end, I was a little disappointed with it. There were a few things in the story that I felt were never fully explained or resolved. The ending also seemed to come out of nowhere- I think it was meant to be the big shock or twist but it fell a little flat for me. Maybe my expectations were too high?
Overall it was still entertaining and a good read.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Overall it was still entertaining and a good read.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book. I had to sit for a moment and process it prior to writing this review. I was a huge fan of House of Glass by Pekkanen so I was expecting great things. She did not disappoint. The premise- two twins, initially unaware of each other, are separated at birth and raised in very different ways. Amanda was raised by loving parents who owned a local bar. Georgia grew up with privilege with a family who was continually disapproving.
Georgia is locked up in a hospital after all evidence points to her killing her sister, Annabelle. She, through her attorney, seeks out Amanda and asks her to visit.
This novel is full of twist and turns and “who should I trust” moments.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.75 Stars
I really enjoyed this book!
I did not want to put this book down, and every time I had a free second, I wanted to pick this book back up! It was a very quick read, with new things happening pretty frequently.
I enjoyed the dual POV from the two biological sisters. I think that it added a layer of confusion as well as being able to see both sides can help to figure out the mystery.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
I really enjoyed this book!
I did not want to put this book down, and every time I had a free second, I wanted to pick this book back up! It was a very quick read, with new things happening pretty frequently.
I enjoyed the dual POV from the two biological sisters. I think that it added a layer of confusion as well as being able to see both sides can help to figure out the mystery.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
The plot of this novel was bananas. A secret twin sister? Stop. I can't in this world of Ancestry.com, I don't believe it for one second.