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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
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
dark
tense
fast-paced
I have enjoyed several of Sarah Pekkanen's other books. So when I saw she had a new book coming out I was excited to read it. This is definitely a twisty book that had me reading late into the night. I really wanted to find out what the heck was going on. The audiobook narrator really brought the story to life and I was sucked in right from the start!
This story has so many layers. All of the characters are so intertwined with each other, that it makes for an interesting read. I liked how the story was told from Georgia’s POV in the psych ward and Mandy’s POV trying to free her new found sister. I loved the character development. It was so hard to know which characters were good and which were bad. I was so impressed with how the author was able to weave it all together! The psych ward setting was so unsettling. I found myself so worried for Georgia while she was there!
If you are looking for an engaging, twisty domestic thriller, then this is the book for you! I definitely recommend listening to the audiobook! The narrator really does a wonderful job voicing the characters.
This was entertaining enough but I found myself getting confused at times. I was reading this during some personal struggles in my life and I feel that this affected my retention. If you’re familiar with my reviews and reading habits, you know that I normally read books pretty fast but this one took me a while.
I think this is worth checking out but I didn’t enjoy it as fully as I think I could’ve. I believe this was partly due to my own life circumstances. Once this book publishes, I would like to do a reread and give a more in-depth analysis.
I can say that I generally find Sarah’s books to be entertaining. This one wasn’t my favorite of hers but I think I would still recommend it.
Please forgive the lacking review. I hope to amend it in the future when I’m in a better mindset.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I think this is worth checking out but I didn’t enjoy it as fully as I think I could’ve. I believe this was partly due to my own life circumstances. Once this book publishes, I would like to do a reread and give a more in-depth analysis.
I can say that I generally find Sarah’s books to be entertaining. This one wasn’t my favorite of hers but I think I would still recommend it.
Please forgive the lacking review. I hope to amend it in the future when I’m in a better mindset.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
Something I think The Locked Ward did really well was the relationship between sisters. No matter which pair you look at, there is a complicated and nuanced relationship.
I love the short chapters because they really keep the action moving. This is so vital with Georgia’s piece of the story because she’s stuck in one setting.
Overall this was a really fun and enjoyable read. I’ve liked or loved all of Pekkanen’s books I’ve read so far. So if you’ve read and enjoyed her other books, I’m sure you’ll like this one too.
I love the short chapters because they really keep the action moving. This is so vital with Georgia’s piece of the story because she’s stuck in one setting.
Overall this was a really fun and enjoyable read. I’ve liked or loved all of Pekkanen’s books I’ve read so far. So if you’ve read and enjoyed her other books, I’m sure you’ll like this one too.
mysterious
tense
3.5*
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC! This was an enjoyable read but I didn't *love* it. Unfortunately a few things left me with further questions, or pulled me out of the story (e.g., someone who attempts to die by suicide would not be kept on the same ward as individuals found not criminally responsible), which lowered my rating.
I enjoyed having both Mandy and Georgia's point of view, though the switching from first to second person between chapters made it difficult to feel fully immersed.
Overall, this was a fun, quick read with an interesting premise, and still enjoyable if you like thriller/mystery books about wealth, privilege, twin connections, and family dynamics.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC! This was an enjoyable read but I didn't *love* it. Unfortunately a few things left me with further questions, or pulled me out of the story (e.g., someone who attempts to die by suicide would not be kept on the same ward as individuals found not criminally responsible), which lowered my rating.
I enjoyed having both Mandy and Georgia's point of view, though the switching from first to second person between chapters made it difficult to feel fully immersed.
Overall, this was a fun, quick read with an interesting premise, and still enjoyable if you like thriller/mystery books about wealth, privilege, twin connections, and family dynamics.
Georgia is accused of murdering her sister and she’s pretending to be insane so she avoids jail and is in the psych ward. What others don’t know is she recently found out she has a twin, Mandy. Georgia was adopted and her sister Annabelle was born shortly after (a surprise) so Georgia was never treated equally by her adoptive mom. Georgia contacts Mandy, exposes their twins and asks her to help.
I thought this was a great thriller and kept me on my toes! It was a unique concept and I liked the dual POV, including Georgia talking in third person. You were never sure which direction it was going, if Georgia was guilty and I definitely didn’t predict the twists!
I thought this was a great thriller and kept me on my toes! It was a unique concept and I liked the dual POV, including Georgia talking in third person. You were never sure which direction it was going, if Georgia was guilty and I definitely didn’t predict the twists!
