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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
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
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
It was good to listen to.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I picked up this book because I had seen many great reviews of this author's previous titles. I'm always looking for new mystery/thriller authors to read as I really do enjoy the genre. Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book at 68%. I wanted to love it. I wanted to enjoy the story and see where the mystery went. But it was boring for me. I didn't care about what was happening at all and at over halfway through the book I should have felt some kind of pull to finish. I didn't.
The narrator, January Lavoy, was enjoyable enough, though nothing special for me. She could have done better with voicing the different characters, making them more distinct as they all just sounded the same to me. Since it was dual POV, I struggled to remember which character's chapter I was on.
The alternating sister POV was also interesting to me. I like when books have more than one POV. It gives some interesting background. And it was intriguing how the author chose to have one in first person and one in second person, as well. I'm guessing this was to try and keep the perspectives straight, which normally works for me. Plus the author chose to write fairly short chapters which I very much appreciate.
But this was where it stopped being a good read for me.
The pacing was super slow. Even though things were happening, I honestly didn't feel like anything was happening. There was nothing gripping enough to pull me through the book and make me want to know what the mystery was. I didn't care if it was solved or not.
I also found the writing lacking. It seemed rather juvenile to me given it is an adult book. There was so much telling through the book when all I wanted was the author to show me what was happening.
I had zero connection with the characters. Their link was totally unbelievable to me. They were twins, though not identical which I found made their story lacking, who didn't know about each other until a huge tragedy strikes and they are somewhat forced together (I won't expand as I don't want to spoil it). I didn't feel their twin connection at all. The author had the characters telling you it was there, but that's all it was. Being told they had the connection rather than watching the chemistry that would indicate they did. I needed much more emotion and depth to them but their development was underwhelming.
While the opening was a strong start, and set the mystery up quite well, the plot line and pacing killed it for me by about 25% into the book. I kept going because I though maybe it was just a lull. Maybe it would pick up and I'd find more depth to the characters and the mystery. Maybe I'd love the action and the thrill of the chase. Alas, none of that happened for me.
Overall, I was disappointed not only with the writing but with the plot and lack of suspense this book provided. I found myself unable to stay engaged; my attention often wandering so I would have to rewind or flip back in the book to remind myself what was happening. I kept waiting for the shoe to drop, for some emotional spark to happen, or even for it to make sense but it just didn't. The premise was intriguing and the blurb seemed like the book would be entertaining but it just did not deliver. I'm not sure if I'll pick up another book by this author but it's possible I might give one of her older titles a try to see if maybe this was just a one off.
I picked up this book because I had seen many great reviews of this author's previous titles. I'm always looking for new mystery/thriller authors to read as I really do enjoy the genre. Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book at 68%. I wanted to love it. I wanted to enjoy the story and see where the mystery went. But it was boring for me. I didn't care about what was happening at all and at over halfway through the book I should have felt some kind of pull to finish. I didn't.
The narrator, January Lavoy, was enjoyable enough, though nothing special for me. She could have done better with voicing the different characters, making them more distinct as they all just sounded the same to me. Since it was dual POV, I struggled to remember which character's chapter I was on.
The alternating sister POV was also interesting to me. I like when books have more than one POV. It gives some interesting background. And it was intriguing how the author chose to have one in first person and one in second person, as well. I'm guessing this was to try and keep the perspectives straight, which normally works for me. Plus the author chose to write fairly short chapters which I very much appreciate.
But this was where it stopped being a good read for me.
The pacing was super slow. Even though things were happening, I honestly didn't feel like anything was happening. There was nothing gripping enough to pull me through the book and make me want to know what the mystery was. I didn't care if it was solved or not.
I also found the writing lacking. It seemed rather juvenile to me given it is an adult book. There was so much telling through the book when all I wanted was the author to show me what was happening.
I had zero connection with the characters. Their link was totally unbelievable to me. They were twins, though not identical which I found made their story lacking, who didn't know about each other until a huge tragedy strikes and they are somewhat forced together (I won't expand as I don't want to spoil it). I didn't feel their twin connection at all. The author had the characters telling you it was there, but that's all it was. Being told they had the connection rather than watching the chemistry that would indicate they did. I needed much more emotion and depth to them but their development was underwhelming.
While the opening was a strong start, and set the mystery up quite well, the plot line and pacing killed it for me by about 25% into the book. I kept going because I though maybe it was just a lull. Maybe it would pick up and I'd find more depth to the characters and the mystery. Maybe I'd love the action and the thrill of the chase. Alas, none of that happened for me.
Overall, I was disappointed not only with the writing but with the plot and lack of suspense this book provided. I found myself unable to stay engaged; my attention often wandering so I would have to rewind or flip back in the book to remind myself what was happening. I kept waiting for the shoe to drop, for some emotional spark to happen, or even for it to make sense but it just didn't. The premise was intriguing and the blurb seemed like the book would be entertaining but it just did not deliver. I'm not sure if I'll pick up another book by this author but it's possible I might give one of her older titles a try to see if maybe this was just a one off.
Locked Ward was so good!! I’m still shook over that twist! This book had me second-guessing everything and everyone. Just when I thought I had it figured out… BAM. Nope. Mind blown.
As a psychiatric nurse of over 14 years, I appreciated the setting in a forensic unit—it felt realistic and unsettlingly familiar.
As a psychiatric nurse of over 14 years, I appreciated the setting in a forensic unit—it felt realistic and unsettlingly familiar.
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
dark
mysterious
tense
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:
No
Wow! I loved this psychological thriller with a side of murder mystery! I couldn’t tell who was telling the truth or who was lying. Just when I thought I had my pulse on what was going on, I was thrown a twist!
This was a very fast paced and engaging read. If you’re a fan of thrillers this does not disappoint!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
This was a very fast paced and engaging read. If you’re a fan of thrillers this does not disappoint!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
adventurous
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
Stephen and Honey Cartwell are a well known and very wealthy couple who have two daughters, one by adoption. Friends with the senator and respected in the community, people have heard about the adopted daughter, Georgia and how unkind she is to her younger sister, Annabelle. So when Annabelle, is murdered at her birthday party, the family blames Georgia for the murder and cuts ties with her. Georgia finds herself in a locked ward in a psychiatric facility to await a fitness hearing. In a nearby town, Mandy is running the bar her parents left to her when they died. She receives a call to come and see Georgia in the hospital. Georgia will tell Mandy some shocking news and ask for her help.
This is my 3rd book by @sarahpekkanen. I loved the dual POV and mysterious sisterly relationships. Short chapters and many suspicious characters amped up the tension. There were enough breadcrumbs to feel like a semi-accomplished armchair detective but still many surprises and quite an ending!
If you love a ‘who can you trust?’ storyline, sister relationships, wealthy people behaving badly, and some good twists, then pick this one up!
Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinions. The Locked Ward publishes August 5, 2025.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Murder
Minor: Rape
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated