Book Review: The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen – A Twisted Tale of Family and Deception

The Locked Ward follows a woman’s race to uncover the truth behind her twin sister’s confinement and a murder she may—or may not—have committed.

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ARC of this audiobook. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Summary:

In The Locked Ward, adopted socialite Georgia Cartwright is accused of murdering the biological daughter of her powerful Southern family, landing her in a high-security psychiatric hospital while the media explodes with theories—jealousy, rivalry, madness. When her estranged twin sister Amanda visits, Georgia pleads for help, insisting she’s innocent. Though Amanda doesn’t trust her, she can’t leave her in the eerie institution where reality feels warped and danger lurks behind every door. As Amanda digs deeper, she must unravel whether Georgia is a victim of a twisted family cover-up—or a manipulative killer leading her into darkness. Nothing is as it seems in this chilling psychological thriller about sisterhood pushed to its limits.

My Thoughts:

There’s something about thrillers involving twins that always draws me in—and The Locked Ward did not disappoint. Sarah Pekkanen’s latest psychological thriller is a chilling, twist-filled page-turner that kept me engaged from start to finish, and the eerie setting of a locked psychiatric institution only deepened the suspense.

The novel centres on Georgia Cartwright, the glamorous, adopted daughter of a wealthy Southern family. Outwardly, her life seemed perfect—but beneath the surface simmered jealousy, resentment, and a sense of never quite belonging. Now, accused of murdering her younger sister Annabelle, Georgia is confined to a high-security psychiatric hospital, awaiting trial. When she whispers to a visitor, “You’ve got to get me out of here. I didn’t do it,” the story takes a sharp and intriguing turn.

That visitor is Amanda—Georgia’s estranged twin, who had no idea she even had a sister. Amanda doesn’t know whether to believe Georgia, but she also can’t ignore the plea, especially in a place that seems more haunted than healing.

Told in short, alternating chapters, the story follows Amanda as she unravels the mystery behind Annabelle’s death and Georgia’s complicated past. Despite their separation at birth, Pekkanen captures the growing emotional bond between the two women beautifully. There’s a strong focus on their diverging upbringings, what led to their separation, and how these early experiences shaped them. I appreciated how thoroughly their backstories were explored—it made the final twist all the more impactful.

And what a twist it is. Just when I thought I had things figured out, Pekkanen pulled the rug out from under me. The plot developments are clever and compelling, and there are some genuinely chilling moments—especially within the walls of the psychiatric institution—that gave me goosebumps.

The Narration:

I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by January LaVoy, and her performance was outstanding. She brought both Georgia and Amanda to life with nuance and tension, making an already suspenseful story even more immersive. I’d highly recommend the audiobook if you’re looking for a gripping listen.

Final Thoughts:

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with dark family secrets, layered characters, and shocking twists, The Locked Ward is absolutely worth picking up.

A Similar Book I’ve Reviewed:

The Girl in the Mirror by Rose Carlyle