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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
mysterious
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
So lucky to have won an ARC of this audiobook. Insane how the author was able to leave so many chapters with cliffhangers because of the alternating points of views!
Like many others have said, I appreciated the short chapters - it made the story move at a decent pace. I wasn't super surprised by the big reveal but I'm also somewhat jaded when it comes to thrillers. Overall, I enjoyed the story.
Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and the author for a chance to read and review this early.
Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and the author for a chance to read and review this early.
mysterious
medium-paced
This was a pretty standard thriller, but it kept me somewhat engaged throughout. The short chapters helped maintain a fast pace, and January LaVoy’s narration was excellent as always. She made the story easy to sink into from the very beginning.
We’ve got secrets. Sibling rivalry. Secret siblings. And while all that sounds juicy, the plot ended up feeling typical.
Overall, an okay read. If you enjoy books in the same lane as Freida McFadden’s work, this will likely be right up your alley.
Overall, I liked it. Entertaining enough to finish but soon forget what the plot even was.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first chapter of this book had me hooked, and as the story progressed I kept trying to figure out which character was the most guilty, because everyone was guilty of SOMETHING by the end! Read if you like psychological thrillers and family dramas, because this is a good combination of both.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
The Locked Ward is a fast-paced psychological thriller with dual POV's. This book contains themes of social class, privilege, twin connections, mental health, and dysfunctional family. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the twists and turns that Sarah Pekkanen brought to the novel. She has become a go-to author for me.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by the fabulous January Lavoy. She truly brings the characters to life.
Synopsis:
Was it bitter, all-consuming jealousy? Pathological sibling rivalry? Pure insanity? Whatever the cause - and everyone has a theory- it was the Crime of the Decade when glamorous Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a newborn, killed the younger, biological daughter of her wealthy, Southern family.
Georgia is locked in a psychiatric institution where the most violent offenders are held while she awaits trial. The only words she whispers when her estranged twin sister Amanda visits are, "You've got to get me out of here. I didn't do it." Amanda doesn't trust Georgia, but she can't abandon her in a place so eerie and menacing it seems to exist in another dimension.
Is Georgia the victim of a powerful family so depraved that murder is the least of their crimes? Or is Amanda being led down a path of madness and into the web of a master manipulator?
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced digital copy of the book.
The publishing date is August 5, 2025
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by the fabulous January Lavoy. She truly brings the characters to life.
Synopsis:
Was it bitter, all-consuming jealousy? Pathological sibling rivalry? Pure insanity? Whatever the cause - and everyone has a theory- it was the Crime of the Decade when glamorous Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a newborn, killed the younger, biological daughter of her wealthy, Southern family.
Georgia is locked in a psychiatric institution where the most violent offenders are held while she awaits trial. The only words she whispers when her estranged twin sister Amanda visits are, "You've got to get me out of here. I didn't do it." Amanda doesn't trust Georgia, but she can't abandon her in a place so eerie and menacing it seems to exist in another dimension.
Is Georgia the victim of a powerful family so depraved that murder is the least of their crimes? Or is Amanda being led down a path of madness and into the web of a master manipulator?
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced digital copy of the book.
The publishing date is August 5, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
Thank you so much to St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The Locked Ward is a fantastic thriller that had me hooked from start to finish. The pacing is spot-on, with the dual POVs keeping the tension high and the story moving quickly. I loved the locked-room trope being set in such a unique and unsettling environment—a psychiatric ward—which added an extra layer of intensity and intrigue.
The twists and turns were executed brilliantly, keeping me guessing the whole way through. While I don’t typically gravitate toward stories centered around twins, I thought this one handled the trope exceptionally well, adding depth rather than predictability. I love Sarah Pekkanen’s books, and this is my favorite of hers to date. An expertly crafted thriller that I couldn’t put down!
Thank you so much to St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The Locked Ward is a fantastic thriller that had me hooked from start to finish. The pacing is spot-on, with the dual POVs keeping the tension high and the story moving quickly. I loved the locked-room trope being set in such a unique and unsettling environment—a psychiatric ward—which added an extra layer of intensity and intrigue.
The twists and turns were executed brilliantly, keeping me guessing the whole way through. While I don’t typically gravitate toward stories centered around twins, I thought this one handled the trope exceptionally well, adding depth rather than predictability. I love Sarah Pekkanen’s books, and this is my favorite of hers to date. An expertly crafted thriller that I couldn’t put down!
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Short chapters and a quick pace make this really easy to binge read. I started reading, blinked, and was suddenly halfway through.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one as much as House of Glass. While this story is told from both Georgia's and Mandy's PoVs, Georgia's is written in second person. I have a very hard time reading second person PoV fiction. It doesn't pull me in the same way first or third person does. So naturally, I cared more about Mandy's storyline than I did Georgia's.
Also, the plot twists were a lot easier to guess here. I knew the big secret from practically the beginning. I was reasonably confident in who killed Annabelle. Surprises from other characters didn't surprise me. The thrilling and mysterious elements were flatter here. And that epilogue was unnecessary! It didn't add anything to the story.
I can't really see myself recommending this book, not when I liked other ones by Sarah Pekkanen more.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one as much as House of Glass. While this story is told from both Georgia's and Mandy's PoVs, Georgia's is written in second person. I have a very hard time reading second person PoV fiction. It doesn't pull me in the same way first or third person does. So naturally, I cared more about Mandy's storyline than I did Georgia's.
Also, the plot twists were a lot easier to guess here. I knew the big secret from practically the beginning. I was reasonably confident in who killed Annabelle. Surprises from other characters didn't surprise me. The thrilling and mysterious elements were flatter here. And that epilogue was unnecessary! It didn't add anything to the story.
I can't really see myself recommending this book, not when I liked other ones by Sarah Pekkanen more.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
mysterious
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:
Complicated
this book follows Georgia (adopted at birth) who was recently accused of murdering her sister. she contacts her bio twin sister Amanda (adopted at birth) after finding out who she is and tries to get her to help her since Georgia says she did not murder her sister. this book it dual POV with chapters from Georgia while she is in the psychiatric institution and from Amanda as she is trying to wrap her head around what is happening. I was intrigued by the plot the entire time and was not expecting some of the twists at the end!
thank you Macmillian Audio and Netgalley for an advanced audiobook copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
thank you Macmillian Audio and Netgalley for an advanced audiobook copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to the publisher for the free Netgalley.
I hate to leave this review. Pekkanen is one of my favs. BUt this one just did not do it for me.
Why would Mandy do any of this? Anything at all? To be honest, so many parts of this plot seemed ridiculous. The jump between first person and second person was not my fav either. It was also like how many more small things can we drop in-- Opal, Scott, etc.
I wanted to love this one, but I sadly did not.
I hate to leave this review. Pekkanen is one of my favs. BUt this one just did not do it for me.
Why would Mandy do any of this? Anything at all? To be honest, so many parts of this plot seemed ridiculous. The jump between first person and second person was not my fav either. It was also like how many more small things can we drop in-- Opal, Scott, etc.
I wanted to love this one, but I sadly did not.