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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Stalking
Minor: Violence
This was a fun campy thriller that was fast paced with high entertainment value! I definitely guessed some of the reveals…but also still gasped and was completely locked in! I have to say I absolutely love a little twin trope in any kind of book so this one really was the perfect book for me!
Thank you to MACMILLIAN AUDIO for the gifted copy of this audiobook!
4.5⭐️
Thank you to MACMILLIAN AUDIO for the gifted copy of this audiobook!
4.5⭐️
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary early release copy of The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen.
The Locked Ward was a fun intriguing read with lots of interesting elements, theres the new strange relationship forming between twin sisters who were separated at birth plus all of the rich socialite drama and family dynamics. I liked both of our main characters, Amanda was a nice character to read from, she was the type of character that I could really route for because I felt that she played things out smartly. It’s been a while since I’ve read from a character that can hold their own and it was refreshing. Georgia’s perspective was written in a strange (at least to me) but unique way that I found myself enjoying. During her perspective the book really emphasizes placing yourself in Georgia’s shoes, it’s written like you are going through what she is. I found myself being able to connect more with her character because of this choice!
Overall there is quite a bit I liked about The Locked Ward, mainly the sister’s relationships, Georgia’s perspective, and the socialite backgrounds. Theres just something about fancy characters that I find intriguing to read about. This was a fun read but after sitting with things for a while I’m landing on a 3.5 rating. I wasn’t particularly impressed with some of the reveals.
The Locked Ward was a fun intriguing read with lots of interesting elements, theres the new strange relationship forming between twin sisters who were separated at birth plus all of the rich socialite drama and family dynamics. I liked both of our main characters, Amanda was a nice character to read from, she was the type of character that I could really route for because I felt that she played things out smartly. It’s been a while since I’ve read from a character that can hold their own and it was refreshing. Georgia’s perspective was written in a strange (at least to me) but unique way that I found myself enjoying. During her perspective the book really emphasizes placing yourself in Georgia’s shoes, it’s written like you are going through what she is. I found myself being able to connect more with her character because of this choice!
Overall there is quite a bit I liked about The Locked Ward, mainly the sister’s relationships, Georgia’s perspective, and the socialite backgrounds. Theres just something about fancy characters that I find intriguing to read about. This was a fun read but after sitting with things for a while I’m landing on a 3.5 rating. I wasn’t particularly impressed with some of the reveals.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
4.5 stars
I have been a fan of Sarah Pekkanen since “The Wife Between Us.” I find her books have the perfect balance of character development and pacing while the mystery unfolds. “The Locked Ward” does not disappoint.
[I listened to the ALC on NetGalley.]
I liked getting to know the main characters. I feel like their similarities and differences were explored throughout. I understood their motives well.
I think the psych ward experience was well done without stigmatizing. I liked the eeriness of being in Georgia’s head while she tries to stay sane while also giving the impression she is not sane. The “you” POV threw me off and confused me sometimes as an audio listener.
I don’t feel like the “twist” was a dramatic reveal. I felt like the breadcrumbs lead me to the ending in a satisfying way.
I love the narration! I don’t pick up books for a narrator, but I do feel relieved when I hear this narrator start the story. I know it’ll be a good listen.
{SPOILER ALERT !!}
The only place where I wanted a bit more development was on Cole’s place in the story. Maybe his purpose was as a red herring, but I wanted to delve more into his motives.
{MAJOR SPOILER}
I’m subtracting a half star because Patty was a little ~too~ convenient of a “fixer.” It seemed a step too far to put finger prints somewhere just to frame someone. I feel like it would’ve been perfect without that being mentioned.
challenging
dark
emotional
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:
Complicated
(ARC received via NetGalley—thank you!)
This book had me hooked. From the second-person POV in Georgia’s chapters to the layered plot about long-lost twins, psychiatric wards, and whispered threats, The Locked Ward delivered on the tension and originality I crave in a thriller.
Georgia’s story pulled me in from the jump—she’s faking a dissociative state in a psych ward to avoid prison for a murder she swears she didn’t commit. Bold? Absolutely. Smart? Questionable. But that second-person narration made her chapters feel like I was living them. Mandy’s POV took longer to grow on me, but once she started digging into her past and getting pulled into Georgia’s world, I was on board.
The pacing wasn’t lightning fast, but it never dragged either. Each chapter peeled back another layer, and I loved how the dual POVs often ended on cliffhangers. I didn’t see the ending coming, and while the twist wasn’t totally jaw-dropping, it was earned and satisfying.
Would I reread? Maybe not immediately, but I’d recommend it to any thriller fan in a heartbeat—and I’m definitely buying a finished copy.
This book had me hooked. From the second-person POV in Georgia’s chapters to the layered plot about long-lost twins, psychiatric wards, and whispered threats, The Locked Ward delivered on the tension and originality I crave in a thriller.
Georgia’s story pulled me in from the jump—she’s faking a dissociative state in a psych ward to avoid prison for a murder she swears she didn’t commit. Bold? Absolutely. Smart? Questionable. But that second-person narration made her chapters feel like I was living them. Mandy’s POV took longer to grow on me, but once she started digging into her past and getting pulled into Georgia’s world, I was on board.
The pacing wasn’t lightning fast, but it never dragged either. Each chapter peeled back another layer, and I loved how the dual POVs often ended on cliffhangers. I didn’t see the ending coming, and while the twist wasn’t totally jaw-dropping, it was earned and satisfying.
Would I reread? Maybe not immediately, but I’d recommend it to any thriller fan in a heartbeat—and I’m definitely buying a finished copy.
dark
mysterious
tense
A nice, quick thriller and murder mystery. Georgia has been arrested and locked in a mental facility charged with the murder of her sister Annabelle. The only way she can save herself is to fake insanity and try to solve the murder from inside the locked ward by reaching out to her long lost twin. In a game of cat and mouse, this is a story of trying to find the truth and to save herself.
I liked the book, but I had a good hunch where it was going for quite some time, hence the 3⭐️ instead of 4⭐️.
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This was a very fun and interesting thriller/mystery. The characters all felt very real and fleshed out and had interesting motivations. I thought this was an excellent use of the second person point of view - you really felt like you were in the ward with Georgia. Overall the story had enough twists and turns to be interesting and engaging without becoming unbelievable or making you feel cheated. The conclusions felt very earned but weren’t obvious.
I did think some of the twin telepathy was overdone and weird. And the narrator did not have a very good southern accent
I did think some of the twin telepathy was overdone and weird. And the narrator did not have a very good southern accent