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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
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:
No
The Locked Ward was a fun thriller read. There were moments of predictability and a little bit of cheesiness. But overall I really enjoyed it. I thought the characters, though unlikeable, were well developed. The sister element really made the story. I enjoyed reading both Georgia and Mandi's sections equally. I thought that the dual POVs served the story in that it was never boring from the very beginning straight through to the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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
"The most dangerous place to be in the world is between my father and something he wants."
The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a thriller that may at once seem simple, but is complex in the fact that we have a lot of history to unravel to understand each character and how they got to where they are.
Told from 2 POVs (Georgia and Mandy), two previously unknowing twins are brought together by a murder. The murder of Georgia's sister Annabelle. A murder that Georgia has be convicted of. She has plead insanity and is locked up in an insane asylum, but needs help if she wants to ever see the light of day. And with a bit of investigating, she has found that she had a twin when she was adopted and all she can hope for is that her sister, her twin, a virtual stranger will come to her aid and uncover what truly happened to Annabelle.
Mandy's parents have passed away and she has taken over the family bar. When Georgia requests to see her, she flips Mandy's world upside down. Mandy doesn't know what to believe so she does a little investigating herself and finds that Georgia was telling the truth that they are twins separated at birth. Feeling an obligation by blood, Mandy sets out to help Georgia and hopefully get her released. Because she couldn't have really killed her own sister, could she??
With alternating chapters between Mandy on the outside and inside the asylum from Georgia and shorter chapters, we get a sense of urgency with the pacing. You need to follow each breadcrumb to figure out the truth in order to save a life. I liked how Pekkanen also had the added element of twin connections between the 2 characters while still having Mandy question Georgia and motives. But it was the piecing together of the past and how everyone was connected that truly brought me in. There was some unnecessary characters/side stories thrown in to lead us off the trail, but at the end of the day, it was all about family and the relationships they made.
Lastly, I have to give major props to January LaVoy, the narrator of the audiobook. Oddly enough, I listened to 2 back to back LaVoy audiobooks and she is truly outstanding. 2 characters, 2. completely different accents with different emotions throughout. I already liked the book and the twists that Sarah Pekkanen brought, but LaVoy made the story even better with her portrayals of Mandy and Georgia. Unique and well done.
Overall, an entertaining read with characters that you want to believe, but also have an inkling that you shouldn't. Enjoyed the storytelling and the twist at the end. I missed the mark with my guess this time, and for that, it gets an extra half star. ;)
The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a thriller that may at once seem simple, but is complex in the fact that we have a lot of history to unravel to understand each character and how they got to where they are.
Told from 2 POVs (Georgia and Mandy), two previously unknowing twins are brought together by a murder. The murder of Georgia's sister Annabelle. A murder that Georgia has be convicted of. She has plead insanity and is locked up in an insane asylum, but needs help if she wants to ever see the light of day. And with a bit of investigating, she has found that she had a twin when she was adopted and all she can hope for is that her sister, her twin, a virtual stranger will come to her aid and uncover what truly happened to Annabelle.
Mandy's parents have passed away and she has taken over the family bar. When Georgia requests to see her, she flips Mandy's world upside down. Mandy doesn't know what to believe so she does a little investigating herself and finds that Georgia was telling the truth that they are twins separated at birth. Feeling an obligation by blood, Mandy sets out to help Georgia and hopefully get her released. Because she couldn't have really killed her own sister, could she??
With alternating chapters between Mandy on the outside and inside the asylum from Georgia and shorter chapters, we get a sense of urgency with the pacing. You need to follow each breadcrumb to figure out the truth in order to save a life. I liked how Pekkanen also had the added element of twin connections between the 2 characters while still having Mandy question Georgia and motives. But it was the piecing together of the past and how everyone was connected that truly brought me in. There was some unnecessary characters/side stories thrown in to lead us off the trail, but at the end of the day, it was all about family and the relationships they made.
Lastly, I have to give major props to January LaVoy, the narrator of the audiobook. Oddly enough, I listened to 2 back to back LaVoy audiobooks and she is truly outstanding. 2 characters, 2. completely different accents with different emotions throughout. I already liked the book and the twists that Sarah Pekkanen brought, but LaVoy made the story even better with her portrayals of Mandy and Georgia. Unique and well done.
Overall, an entertaining read with characters that you want to believe, but also have an inkling that you shouldn't. Enjoyed the storytelling and the twist at the end. I missed the mark with my guess this time, and for that, it gets an extra half star. ;)
The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a dark and gripping psychological thriller about estranged twin sisters caught in a nightmare of secrets, lies, and murder. When Georgia Cartwright is accused of killing the biological daughter of her wealthy adoptive family, she’s sent to a high security psychiatric hospital. Her only visitor? Amanda, her twin, who barely knows her. Georgia claims she’s innocent and begs Amanda to get her out, but Amanda doesn’t know what or who to believe.
This story had me hooked from the very beginning. I loved the short chapters and the fast pace, which made it incredibly hard to put down. The eerie setting of the psychiatric ward added an extra layer of tension, and the mystery kept me turning the pages. I was convinced I had it figured out but my prediction was totally wrong and that’s what made it so fun.
If you enjoy thrillers full of shocking twists and complicated family dynamics, I definitely recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!
This story had me hooked from the very beginning. I loved the short chapters and the fast pace, which made it incredibly hard to put down. The eerie setting of the psychiatric ward added an extra layer of tension, and the mystery kept me turning the pages. I was convinced I had it figured out but my prediction was totally wrong and that’s what made it so fun.
If you enjoy thrillers full of shocking twists and complicated family dynamics, I definitely recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!
fast-paced
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
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:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’ve loved all of Sarah Pekkanen’s books, and The Locked Ward was no exception. I couldn’t put it down—the short, punchy chapters made it all too easy to say “just one more” until I’d read far more than planned.
From the start, I knew a twist was coming and found myself constantly trying to unravel it. The blend of murder mystery and family drama created the perfect storm of suspense and emotion. It kept me guessing and fully engaged until the very end. A compelling and satisfying read.
From the start, I knew a twist was coming and found myself constantly trying to unravel it. The blend of murder mystery and family drama created the perfect storm of suspense and emotion. It kept me guessing and fully engaged until the very end. A compelling and satisfying read.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m a perma-fan of Pekkanen, and this book didn’t disappoint. I actually wondered if I should re-read it because there’s so much detail and such a slow burn on the plot that I have concerns I missed things.
Just like her others, this is a well-written, suspenseful read where I didn’t know who to believe for the duration. My loyalties went back and forth between the characters for hours. In the end? I still don’t know if I chose correctly!
January LaVoy is my favorite narrator, and once again, she shows why she’s the best with this one!
Just like her others, this is a well-written, suspenseful read where I didn’t know who to believe for the duration. My loyalties went back and forth between the characters for hours. In the end? I still don’t know if I chose correctly!
January LaVoy is my favorite narrator, and once again, she shows why she’s the best with this one!
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes