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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen was my first read by this author; however, it will not be my last! The Locked Ward is a fast-paced psychological thriller from a dual POV: Georgia and Mandy. I loved how the author demonstrates how twins who were separated at birth can have similar personality traits.
slow-paced
đ Bookish Thoughts
This one had an interesting premise, but it fell flat for me.
The pacing was painfully slow, and the structure didnât help. One POV was written in first person, the other in second. On top of that, the dual POVs were paired with dual timelines, and it all just felt unnecessarily messy.
This one had an interesting premise, but it fell flat for me.
The pacing was painfully slow, and the structure didnât help. One POV was written in first person, the other in second. On top of that, the dual POVs were paired with dual timelines, and it all just felt unnecessarily messy.
The ending was also predictable, which made the whole build-up feel a bit pointless. I think I was just expecting something eerie or unsettling. But I was just bored. The audiobook narration was great though. I liked the narrator.
đ Final Score: 2.75
đ§ Audio Score: 4
đď¸ Narration Style: Solo
đ
Pub Date: August 5, 2025
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have been a fan of Sarah Pekkanen since reading her collabs with Greer Hendricks. So I was extremely happen to have won my first book giveaway for this novel!
Per usual,Pekkanen does not disappoint. A good plot and concept. Reveals and twists that donât feel too forced or like convolution. Steady, well crafted suspense. Short, propulsive chapters with alternating perspectives that create a more complete story.
Sheâs consistent. You know what youâre getting into. You leave thrilled and entertained. The Locked Ward is no exception.
Thank you to St. Martinâs Press and Macmillan Audio for the review copy of Locked Ward. I was excited to dive into this one, having really enjoyed this authorâs previous books. While there were elements I appreciatedâlike the exploration of sibling rivalry, the experience of institutionalization, and the complicated ties between twinsâthis one just didnât fully work for me.
One of the main things that pulled me out of the story was the alternating POV, especially the chapters written in second person. I found those sections disorienting and honestly frustrating, particularly in audio format. It made it harder for me to stay engaged with the characters and the plot. I also felt the story didnât quite deliver the suspense and psychological tension I expected from the premise.
That said, January LaVoyâs narration was fantasticâas always, she brought depth and nuance to the story and characters.
I also want to mention that my reaction is shaped in part by personal perspective. As someone connected to adoption, I tend to approach certain plotlines with caution. The framing around adoption and the separation of twins didnât sit well with me and felt a bit outdated, which impacted how I received the story overall. This one wasn't a hit for me, but Iâll definitely keep reading this authorâs future work.
dark
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sarah Pekkanen is an auto buy author for me. I will read anything she writes. But I have to say this one is my favorite. Georgiaâwho was adopted by a wealthy Southern familyâ is accused of murdering their biological daughter. She then asks her estranged twin, Amanda, for help.
I really enjoyed the alternative POVs between Georgia and Amanda. Georgia being in the second person and Amanda in third. It gave the story more of a creepy feel.
Gripping, suspenseful, fast paced thriller. And of course twists and turns. Short chapters so I always wanted to keep on reading. Original plot. Executed perfectly!
5 stars!! âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
Thank you NetGalley, Sarah Pekkanen and St Martinâs Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
This has all the good tricks to get me hooked into it from the very start. While it did take a minute to get used to Georgia's narration of second person, I sped through this to find out why Georgia ended up in the locked ward of a psychiatric hospital, accused of killing her sister Annabeth and afraid she is going to be next and only her surprise twin sister Amanda (Mandy) can help clear her name. I definitely liked Mandy best of the twins, and the way she goes about, with very little knowledge of the truth of her and Georgia and why they were separated, but quickly learning so she too can stay alive and not be another victim in what might be a very big coverup of the rich and powerful. Though the parts with how Georgia tries to survive with her sanity intact and the dark sides of locked wards (especially when someone with connections is trying to find out what you know and decide if you need to be silenced permanently). Lots of twists, savvy plans, well dressed sleuthing, nasty powerful people, politicians and discovering the truth about family make for a thrilling novel that kept me hooked and reading!
I had great fun reading this and look forward to more books by this author for twisty thrillers and solving mysteries of deaths in the nick of time! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this riveting story!
I had great fun reading this and look forward to more books by this author for twisty thrillers and solving mysteries of deaths in the nick of time! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this riveting story!
tense
medium-paced
I enjoyed the latest thriller by Sarah Pekkanen. The narration of this thriller is unique. It alternates between twin sisters, Georgia Cartwright and Amanda Ravenel. Georgia is being held on the locked psychiatric floor of a hospital being accused of killing her younger sister. Her chapters are narrated in the second person, which takes a little getting used to. Mandy's chapters are told in the first person. Even though she doesn't think Georgia is telling her the whole truth about her situation, Mandy still wants to help her new-found twin, plus she's keeping a few secrets of her own.
We get to know both twins as Mandy ends up putting herself in danger as she tries to help Georgia and get answers about her own life. I was terrified for Georgia, at the mercy of both patients and staff who are dangerous while locked in the secure ward. I felt bad for what Mandy was going through as well, but didn't always connect with her character. I followed along with the sisters, trying to decide who really killed Annabelle. I guessed a few of the plot twists, but was wrong in my theory about the killer. I enjoyed the information about the bonds of twins as well. I thought a couple things could have been explained in more detail at the end, but overall this was a suspenseful, entertaining thriller.
I received an advance copy of this ebook for review consideration from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
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:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. This book was told from two perspectives. It was easy to follow and keep track of the story lines. Family saga, wealth, sibling rivalry and secrets make up this story. Iâve read several books by this author and enjoy them.