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It took me a bit to read The Locked Ward. I just never got invested in it. I really thought I would enjoy the book, but I just didn't. I felt no connection with Georgia or Mandy. First book I have read by Sarah Pekkanen, and it may be my last. Of course, this is just my opinion. You may like it or even love it.

I

I'm starting this today. I won it through a Goodreads Giveaway!

'The Locked Ward' offers many thrills as it twists and turns. Mandy discovers she has a twin sister, Georgia, who needs her help beating a murder rap. Most of their interactions take place in the locked wing of a psychiatric hospital. The hospital itself is atmospheric. Most of the twists occur through family secrets. 4 stars.

2.5⭐
• 𝐩𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 • 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 • 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐧 • 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 • 𝐩𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 • 𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐎𝐕𝐬 •
This was such a disappointment. I'm usually a fan of this author, but this one failed to engage me. I tried—as evidenced by my finishing the story at all.
🎙️January LaVoy's narration was good. Could it have been better with another narrator? Probably not.

This was an interesting storyline of two women discovering they‘re twins - one is institutionalized and the other researching her twin‘s guilt or innocence. As intrigued as I was in the plot and where the story was going, I wish I‘d been a bit more interested in the sister themselves.

I enjoyed this book. It drove me crazy in parts but I still enjoyed it. I figured out the twists so no big deal there. I also knew what Mandy had hidden.

Not a favorite but still. I'm glad I read it.

Full review:
https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-locked-ward-by-sarah-pekkanen.html

Happy Publication Day! I‘m a sucker for all twin stories, & this one hooked me in from the start! Told in alternating perspectives, Georgia is in the titular locked ward within a Charlotte hospital, on a mandatory evaluation hold instead of jail for the murder of her sister. Mandy receives a call from Georgia‘s lawyer with the startling news that Georgia is her twin… and maybe her only hope for freedom. In part predictable but fast paced!

💙📚BOOK REVIEW IS UP📚💙

⭐️⭐️THE LOCKED WARD BY SARAH PEKKANEN ⭐️⭐️

⭐️QUICK THOUGHTS⭐️

⭐️I had no idea where this book was going!

⭐️Full of intensity and secrets

https://reecaspieces.com/2025/08/05/the-locked-ward-by-sarah-pekkanen-bookreview...

Unsavory characters with secrets and one big that is causing all that‘s going on.

Main character Georgia speaks in second person which is a bit confusing at first, but you become accustomed to it and focus more on if she really killed her sister Annabelle and what she is up to as well as what the other characters are up to.

It‘s a good one that will keep you glued to the pages. 4/5

https://tinyurl.com/26bb79mp

@sarahpekkanen
@StMartinsPress

Here are some of the highlights for me:

• Twins - separated at birth but worked together to solve a murder.
• A psychiatric hospital - everyone is suspect and weird stuff always happens here.
• Rich vs middle class dynamics
• Every character has a questionable past and potential motive.
• The constant need to solve the puzzle while reading! #detectivemode
• Nailed the ending - which is not an easy thing to accomplish when writing a thriller.

8/5

So many unsavory characters with secrets and one big secret a few are keeping and a secret that is causing all that‘s going on.

The main character Georgia is speaking in second person which is a bit confusing at first, but you become accustomed to it and focus more on if she really killed her sister Annabelle and what she is up to as well as what the other characters are up to. 4/5

@sarahpekkanen
@stmartinspress

7 more hours and then off for 3 days finally! ❤️🤍💙

This novels made up of short chapters that alternate perspectives between Amanda and Georgia. I liked that I could see things from the perspectives of both characters, allowing me to better understand them and their motives. The chapters also added to the suspense; many chapters ended in cliffhangers and questions. There were some parts of the ending that surprised me, but nothing surprised me quite like the final revelation at the very end, WOW!

Kinderella update! (The kitten knocked it into his water bowl the other morning).. she works! I was worried about her charging, but she charged, restarted a couple of times, and so far, so good! 😊

I loved the short chapters that alternate point of view between two people. It made it easy to want to keep reading and the pace quick. I loved all the twists which kept me guessing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When the grocery store is offering 15% off because of the recent storms here, and the lines are psychotic.. you get kindle time in ! 🤷🏻‍♀️