The Locked Ward

By Sarah Pekkanen

New from Sarah Pekkanen, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of House of Glass and co-author of The Wife Between Us.

A shocking psychological thriller about the complex bonds of sisterhood―and what happens when they are stretched to the breaking point, The Locked Ward "will leave you guessing until the very end" (Jeneva Rose, bestselling author of The Perfect Marriage).

Some doors should never be opened.

Was it bitter, all-consuming jealousy? Pathological sibling rivalry? Pure insanity?

Whatever the cause―and everyone has a theory―it's the Crime of the Decade when glamorous Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a newborn, is accused of killing the 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, "I didn't do it. You've got to get me out of here."

Amanda doesn't trust Georgia, but she can't abandon her in a place so eerie and menacing that it seems to exist in another dimension. Is Georgia the victim of a powerful family that's so depraved murder is the least of their crimes? Or is Amanda being led down a path of madness into the web of a master manipulator?

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1250349516
• ISBN13: 9781250349514
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.5" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Twisty twins and secrets and murder!

This has all the good tricks to get me hooked into it from the very start. While it did take a minute to get used to Georgia's narration of second person, I sped through this to find out why Georgia ended up in the locked ward of a psychiatric hospital, accused of killing her sister Annabeth and afraid she is going to be next and only her surprise twin sister Amanda (Mandy) can help clear her name. I definitely liked Mandy best of the twins, and the way she goes about, with very little knowledge of the truth of her and Georgia and why they were separated, but quickly learning so she too can stay alive and not be another victim in what might be a very big coverup of the rich and powerful. Though the parts with how Georgia tries to survive with her sanity intact and the dark sides of locked wards (especially when someone with connections is trying to find out what you know and decide if you need to be silenced permanently). Lots of twists, savvy plans, well dressed sleuthing, nasty powerful people, politicians and discovering the truth about family make for a thrilling novel that kept me hooked and reading! I had great fun reading this and look forward to more books by this author for twisty thrillers and solving mysteries of deaths in the nick of time! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this riveting story!

Twins, Lies, and Murder

4/5⭐️ The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is an interesting twist on a psych ward thriller. The setting itself is right for being a creepy mystery and it amps up the suspense with twins, a conspiracy, a ticking clock, high-level politics, and of course murder. The whole combination was entertaining and extremely intriguing. However, I found the switching back and forth between first and second person perspectives off putting at times, particularly in the beginning of the book. There were also few last minute players that were confusing (and random.) At one point, 80% of the way in, I was asking why is one sister involved at all? All the situation did was complicate her life. Is she some sort of gossip addict? I also questioned a big change of heart (unless I missed something) with a major character. I find people rarely reverse years of opinion and action overnight without a major catalyst. Overall, the book drew me in with a great plot and intriguing writing. The conclusion was satisfying and most of my questions were answered by the end. I recommend giving it a read. Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC! No compensation—just my honest thoughts.