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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In this new and addictive thriller by Sarah Pekkanen, two estranged sisters realize that the answers to a murder they're trying to solve while one is locked in a psychiatric ward are a lot closer than they think.
I've read several books by this author and have enjoyed most of them! This one, however, I feel a little torn about. On the one hand, I was obsessed with the story line and had a hard time putting the book down. On the other hand, the ending honestly muddled all my thoughts and feelings, especially regarding Patty's character and how it tied with the senator and epilogue with Mandy. It didn't seem like the senator was a shady character by any means in the end, so why were Patty's threats necessary? It added an eeriness to the second half of the book . . . until it didn't make sense to me. I'm all for ambiguous endings in thrillers, but this one was a little unsatisfying for some reason. This book was such a quick read, and the chapters were so short that it was easy to make progress. I just ended the book feeling a little more confused than satisfied!
Thanks so much to St. Martin's and NetGalley for the ARC of The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen.
I've read several books by this author and have enjoyed most of them! This one, however, I feel a little torn about. On the one hand, I was obsessed with the story line and had a hard time putting the book down. On the other hand, the ending honestly muddled all my thoughts and feelings, especially regarding Patty's character and how it tied with the senator and epilogue with Mandy. It didn't seem like the senator was a shady character by any means in the end, so why were Patty's threats necessary? It added an eeriness to the second half of the book . . . until it didn't make sense to me. I'm all for ambiguous endings in thrillers, but this one was a little unsatisfying for some reason. This book was such a quick read, and the chapters were so short that it was easy to make progress. I just ended the book feeling a little more confused than satisfied!
Thanks so much to St. Martin's and NetGalley for the ARC of The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Murder
Moderate: Infertility, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief
ALC Received: NetGalley - Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: August 5, 2025
We’ve got twin sisters, a murder charge, a creepy psychiatric hospital, and a Southern family with enough secrets to fill a vault. Georgia swears she didn’t do it. Amanda doesn’t believe her—but also can’t walk away. That tension alone had me locked in.
✨ What worked:
• The atmosphere was A+. That psych ward setting? Unsettling in the best way.
• Family drama was juicy, rich people behaving terribly is always a good time.
• I loved the “can I trust her?” angle. Every chapter added just enough doubt.
🤔 What missed for me:
• Some reveals felt a little convenient.
• I wish the twins’ relationship had even more emotional depth—it scratched the surface but didn’t dig as deep as it could’ve.
Still, it’s a tight psychological thriller with solid pacing and a few great “wait, WHAT?!” moments. Perfect if you want a twisty, quick read with unreliable characters and a dark vibe.
Publication Date: August 5, 2025
We’ve got twin sisters, a murder charge, a creepy psychiatric hospital, and a Southern family with enough secrets to fill a vault. Georgia swears she didn’t do it. Amanda doesn’t believe her—but also can’t walk away. That tension alone had me locked in.
✨ What worked:
• The atmosphere was A+. That psych ward setting? Unsettling in the best way.
• Family drama was juicy, rich people behaving terribly is always a good time.
• I loved the “can I trust her?” angle. Every chapter added just enough doubt.
🤔 What missed for me:
• Some reveals felt a little convenient.
• I wish the twins’ relationship had even more emotional depth—it scratched the surface but didn’t dig as deep as it could’ve.
Still, it’s a tight psychological thriller with solid pacing and a few great “wait, WHAT?!” moments. Perfect if you want a twisty, quick read with unreliable characters and a dark vibe.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Georgia Cartwright has been accused of murdering her sister and is currently locked away in a psychiatric institution awaiting trial. When her estranged twin, Amanda, visits, Georgia says only one thing: “I didn’t do it.” It’s up to Amanda to piece together the mystery and uncover the truth that could set her sister free.
Sarah Pekkanen once again delivers a twisty mystery that kept me guessing until the very end in this advanced listening copy. The story is told in dual POV and narrated by January LaVoy, who does a fabulous job bringing each character to life. However, the shift between first-person and second-person narration felt a bit jarring at times. I found it distanced me slightly from the tension I expected, particularly in Georgia’s sections. Still, the unique structure and gripping premise make this a compelling and memorable listen.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are mine.
What a twisty read and so unexpected. The book follows twin sisters (maybe or maybe not) Georgia Cartwright who is accused of killing the biological daughter of the wealthy family she was adopted into and Amanda the twin sister she asks to help prove her innocence. Family secrets get unravelled ,trust gets tested and true characters revealed. Great read for a lazy Saturday afternoon
What a twisty read and so unexpected. The book follows twin sisters (maybe or maybe not) Georgia Cartwright who is accused of killing the biological daughter of the wealthy family she was adopted into and Amanda the twin sister she asks to help prove her innocence. Family secrets get unravelled ,trust gets tested and true characters revealed. Great read for a lazy Saturday afternoon
The Locked Ward
by Sarah Pekkanen
4/5⭐️
I could not put The Locked Ward down. From the first chapter, Sarah Pekkanen drew me into a gripping psychological thriller. The short chapters kept a pace brisk and the suspense high.
The dual POV structure centers on two sisters, Georgia and Mandy. Georgia is accused of murder and placed in a psych ward. Mandy is determined to uncover the truth and help her sister. Both women are fascinating, layered characters, and honestly, I did not know whom I should trust. My one complaint is that Mandy’s chapters are written in the first person, while Georgia’s are in the second person. I did not understand the shift in writing style or purpose.
While I saw one of the twists coming early on, the full ending still managed to surprise me, and it was completely satisfying. If you’re looking for a thriller that’s fast-paced and full of secrets, The Locked Ward is absolutely worth your time.
Special thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the audiobook ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: August 5, 2025
by Sarah Pekkanen
4/5⭐️
I could not put The Locked Ward down. From the first chapter, Sarah Pekkanen drew me into a gripping psychological thriller. The short chapters kept a pace brisk and the suspense high.
The dual POV structure centers on two sisters, Georgia and Mandy. Georgia is accused of murder and placed in a psych ward. Mandy is determined to uncover the truth and help her sister. Both women are fascinating, layered characters, and honestly, I did not know whom I should trust. My one complaint is that Mandy’s chapters are written in the first person, while Georgia’s are in the second person. I did not understand the shift in writing style or purpose.
While I saw one of the twists coming early on, the full ending still managed to surprise me, and it was completely satisfying. If you’re looking for a thriller that’s fast-paced and full of secrets, The Locked Ward is absolutely worth your time.
Special thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the audiobook ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: August 5, 2025
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
Started it before bed—finished it with my jaw on the floor.
I received an advance reader’s edition of this book from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first Sarah Pekkanen novel—and definitely not my last. I already own House of Glass, and after this it’s officially on my tbr list.
The Locked Ward releases on August 5, 2025, and it’s an intense psychological thriller centered around Georgia, a young woman awaiting trial in an institution for the most violent offenders. When her estranged twin sister visits, Georgia breaks her silence with a chilling plea: “I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.”
I devoured this book in a single sitting—it kept me up all night. The ending left me absolutely stunned; I never saw it coming. If you’re a fan of thrillers that twist and turn until the final page, this one deserves a spot on your list.
I received an advance reader’s edition of this book from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first Sarah Pekkanen novel—and definitely not my last. I already own House of Glass, and after this it’s officially on my tbr list.
The Locked Ward releases on August 5, 2025, and it’s an intense psychological thriller centered around Georgia, a young woman awaiting trial in an institution for the most violent offenders. When her estranged twin sister visits, Georgia breaks her silence with a chilling plea: “I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.”
I devoured this book in a single sitting—it kept me up all night. The ending left me absolutely stunned; I never saw it coming. If you’re a fan of thrillers that twist and turn until the final page, this one deserves a spot on your list.
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
We meet Georgia Cartwright as she is waking up in an unfamiliar place, but slowly she remembers where she is - the psychiatric ward of a hospital where she was sent after being accused of killing her adopted sister.
Amanda Ravenel gets a cold call from Georgia's public defender with a request from Georgia to meet - because Amanda and Georgia are long-lost twins. Amanda is too intrigued to not have at least one meeting where Georgia hauntingly reveals that she didn't kill her sister, and needs Amanda's help to prove it.
Amanda is skeptical, but can't just leave Georgia in her time of need. As Amanda tries to piece together what happened the night of the murder, she learns more about her own family's past and hidden secrets about her adoption, making her question her past and if Georgia really is the victim she claims to be.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the advanced copy of the ebook of an author I continue to enjoy!
Amanda Ravenel gets a cold call from Georgia's public defender with a request from Georgia to meet - because Amanda and Georgia are long-lost twins. Amanda is too intrigued to not have at least one meeting where Georgia hauntingly reveals that she didn't kill her sister, and needs Amanda's help to prove it.
Amanda is skeptical, but can't just leave Georgia in her time of need. As Amanda tries to piece together what happened the night of the murder, she learns more about her own family's past and hidden secrets about her adoption, making her question her past and if Georgia really is the victim she claims to be.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the advanced copy of the ebook of an author I continue to enjoy!
This book just ok. I was bored and uninterested in the story line. The big plot twist fell flat for me. I liked how we got both Georgias and Mandy's POV but I don't know why Georgias POV was told in second person. It was weird to listen to. I enjoyed 2 other books from this author and sad this book wasn't it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC