The Locked Ward: A Novel

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?

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Published Aug 5, 2025

320 pages

Average rating: 6.54

54 RATINGS

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The Page Turners - Suspense Book Club

We meet every 4th Wednesday at 6:30pm at Koelbel library in Centennial, CO.

Community Reviews

ValerieRuiz
Apr 06, 2026
10/10 stars
Georgia, a glamorous wedding planner from a wealthy family, is being held after allegedly murdering her younger sister, Annabelle. Georgia’s estranged twin, Amanda (Mandy), who had no idea she had a sister, is drawn into a web of family secrets and lies when Georgia insists she’s innocent and begs for her help. The alternating perspectives of Georgia in the ward and Mandy unravel a chilling story of identity, privilege, and betrayal, keeping you guessing about the truth until the end. Started 2026 off with a bangerrrrr! The Locked Ward immediately drew me in and I quickly realized how much I love Pekkanen’s writing style. It was thrilly, twisty, immersive…and tbh learning you have a twin after nearly 30 years is wild. Learning that your twin might have killed someone is absolutely unhinged. This is another one of those books I had seen often but never picked it up and I’m so glad I finally did. It bore some resemblance and similarities to The Clinic by Cate Quinn bc of the sister plot line and mental health facility/psych ward setting, so if you enjoyed that one, you will enjoy The Locked Ward!
Andrea-The Shelf Life Books
Aug 12, 2025
8/10 stars
While Georgia sits in a Psychiatric Hospital waiting to be evaluated, she is in overwhelming shock and a semi-catatonic state since she had been arrested for the bludgeoning murder of her younger sister Annabelle. Her only hope is for her sister to help find the truth. Georgia’s twin sister Mandy, who she recently learned of her existence. A woman that Georgia has not met yet. Mandy does not have any knowledge of her twin sister’s existence. She was adopted and grew up in a middle class home, and her parents had since passed away. Mandy on the other hand, grew up in a wealthy home and wanted for nothing. When Mandy decides to visit Georgia, the story seems so far fetched that Mandy takes it upon herself to do a bit of investigating and slowly uncovers some long time buried secrets. I did enjoy the short chapters that kept me hooked. I have read other books by this author, and this one was not my favorite, but I did like it. I will be reading this author’s next book, as I love her writing style.
PawsAndPagesLaurin
Jul 24, 2025
8/10 stars
4/5⭐️ A good twist on a psych ward thriller. Comes out 8/5/25.

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