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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sarah Pekkanen for the ARC of The Locked Ward!
This book was thrilling from start to finish an absolute page-turner that kept me completely hooked. The pacing was perfectly executed, balancing moments of slow-burning drama with bursts of heart-pounding suspense that made it impossible to put down. The twin dynamic was fascinating two sisters who share DNA but little else, forced into circumstances that unravel buried secrets and strained family ties in a truly gripping way.
I loved how Pekkanen layered the mystery so cleverly that I couldn’t figure it out until the final reveal. Every twist blindsided me, and the atmosphere of the locked ward itself added such an unsettling tension that made the story even more captivating. It’s psychological, dramatic, and suspenseful in the best ways exactly what I want in a thriller.
This is another stellar read from Sarah Pekkanen, and I’m so thankful for the chance to read it early. If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers full of shocking turns and complex family drama, The Locked Ward is a must-read!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sarah Pekkanen for the ARC of The Locked Ward!
This book was thrilling from start to finish an absolute page-turner that kept me completely hooked. The pacing was perfectly executed, balancing moments of slow-burning drama with bursts of heart-pounding suspense that made it impossible to put down. The twin dynamic was fascinating two sisters who share DNA but little else, forced into circumstances that unravel buried secrets and strained family ties in a truly gripping way.
I loved how Pekkanen layered the mystery so cleverly that I couldn’t figure it out until the final reveal. Every twist blindsided me, and the atmosphere of the locked ward itself added such an unsettling tension that made the story even more captivating. It’s psychological, dramatic, and suspenseful in the best ways exactly what I want in a thriller.
This is another stellar read from Sarah Pekkanen, and I’m so thankful for the chance to read it early. If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers full of shocking turns and complex family drama, The Locked Ward is a must-read!
Parts of this book were spot on for me! Twists and turns abound! Except that most of them were so predictable and so many events were so coincidental. By the end of the book, it felt like I had read through a narrated version of the outline for a book. Was it a bad read? No, it was a good book. But I think I was expecting more. Maybe I am setting too high a bar?
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
tense
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
The Locked Ward was such a fast-paced, binge-worthy read. The short chapters and constant suspense had me flying through it. It’s told from two POVs, and I loved that Georgia’s POV is in second person – it made her experience in the locked ward feel way more intense and personal. I feel like second person POV isn’t seen often, but it really worked well here and added to the whole vibe of the story. While the twists didn’t completely blow me away, they were solid and built on lots of tension that unfolded in a satisfying way.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Locked Ward gripped me with the promise of a psychological thriller featuring estranged twin sisters, potentially unreliable narration, and the tense backdrop of a psychiatric ward.
What I appreciated most about this book was the concept. The tension between the Georgia and Mandy, the emotional weight of their histories, and the intensity of a family secrets and suspicion of murder had strong potential.
In general, the writing leaned heavily on telling rather than showing and often felt clunky. The second-person narration used in Georgia’s chapters seemed underdeveloped. I initially thought it may be intended to enhance the psychological elements, but that never played out. As it didn’t seem to ever be used for any functional purpose, it ultimately came off as more distracting, especially when it occasionally shifted back to first-person within a chapter. I really wish this had been better developed, as this change in POV could have really been used to play up the psychological tension.
The biggest disappointment is that the plot didn’t hold together. Key elements of the family secrets felt inconsistent, and several of the suspenseful threads set up in the locked ward never paid off. We never really got to the “psychological thriller” part of the story. Unfortunately, The Locked Ward did not deliver on its premise. I’ve enjoyed other works by this author and have to say this one is not her best work.
That said, it’s a fast-paced read and might appeal to those who enjoy light thrillers and aren’t overly concerned with the deeper logic of how a mystery might play out. If you’re looking for a quick, twisty ride and can overlook some rough edges, this might still be worth a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Opening the door into someone's past can be dangerous
Southern families are known to have a skeleton or two, and the wealthy Cartwright clan is no exception. They have two daughters: Georgia, the elder one who was adopted, and Annabelle, younger and the biological daughter of the parents. When Annabelle is killed it is Georgia who is accused of the heinous crime, what the media delights in calling the "Crime of the Decade", and Georgia is confined to a (creepy) psychiatric hospital for violent offenders while she awaits her trial. In fact, her own attorneys argue that she is not fit to stand trial and she worries she may never leave the hospital. Georgia's one hope is Amanda, the twin sister she has never met (they were separated at birth), and to whom Georgia's attorneys reach out asking her to visit her sister. The bonds of sisterhood are strong and out of curiosity Mandy agrees to visit Georgia, who swears she didn't kill Annabelle and that Mandy has to get her out of the hospital before someone kills her. Is this a case of a wealthy but dysfunctional family sacrificing an adopted child to hide their own sins, or was Georgia either jealous of a sibling she considered a rival or maybe even truly insane and now manipulating Amanda? The more Amanda probes, the more lies she uncovers...nothing, and no one, is what they seem.
The Locked Ward is a psychological thriller featuring a demonstrably unreliable character in Georgia, the chilling setting where she is trapped, and a look at the bonds of sisterhood. As she has in the past author Sarah Pekkanen has created an intricate and twisted plot and this time has woven in the dynamic of long-separated twins. The chapters are short and the pace brisk with plenty of twists along the way, all keeping the reader guessing right up to the ending. I wish a little more had been explained about the initial separation of the twin girls, but it is a solid and entertaining read with an intriguing premise, one likely to appeal to readers of Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware and Megan Miranda. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me access to a copy of the novel in exchange for my honest review.
Southern families are known to have a skeleton or two, and the wealthy Cartwright clan is no exception. They have two daughters: Georgia, the elder one who was adopted, and Annabelle, younger and the biological daughter of the parents. When Annabelle is killed it is Georgia who is accused of the heinous crime, what the media delights in calling the "Crime of the Decade", and Georgia is confined to a (creepy) psychiatric hospital for violent offenders while she awaits her trial. In fact, her own attorneys argue that she is not fit to stand trial and she worries she may never leave the hospital. Georgia's one hope is Amanda, the twin sister she has never met (they were separated at birth), and to whom Georgia's attorneys reach out asking her to visit her sister. The bonds of sisterhood are strong and out of curiosity Mandy agrees to visit Georgia, who swears she didn't kill Annabelle and that Mandy has to get her out of the hospital before someone kills her. Is this a case of a wealthy but dysfunctional family sacrificing an adopted child to hide their own sins, or was Georgia either jealous of a sibling she considered a rival or maybe even truly insane and now manipulating Amanda? The more Amanda probes, the more lies she uncovers...nothing, and no one, is what they seem.
The Locked Ward is a psychological thriller featuring a demonstrably unreliable character in Georgia, the chilling setting where she is trapped, and a look at the bonds of sisterhood. As she has in the past author Sarah Pekkanen has created an intricate and twisted plot and this time has woven in the dynamic of long-separated twins. The chapters are short and the pace brisk with plenty of twists along the way, all keeping the reader guessing right up to the ending. I wish a little more had been explained about the initial separation of the twin girls, but it is a solid and entertaining read with an intriguing premise, one likely to appeal to readers of Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware and Megan Miranda. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me access to a copy of the novel in exchange for my honest review.