The Locked Ward, a Psychological Thriller Review
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Misunderstanding or Murder?
In The Locked Ward, Georgia — adopted as a newborn by the Cartwrights, a wealthy and powerful Southern family — is held in a psychiatric institution awaiting trial after being accused of killing her sister, Annabelle.
Georgia insists she’s innocent, yet with her family turned against her and the media devouring the scandal, her claims are hopeless. But she has a secret weapon: a biological twin sister hidden from the limelight.
The Secret Sister
Estranged from birth, Mandy had believed she was an only child until she receives a call from a lawyer urging her to visit his infamous client. In the locked ward, Georgia Cartwright utters only four words to her sister: “I didn’t do it.”
Mandy is propelled into sorting through the Cartwright family’s messy dynamics and risks her safety as she rearranges the story of her life to accommodate a twin and her own family’s lies.
A Dual-Perspective Thriller
The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen, published in the summer of 2025, is an engaging thriller told with dual point of views, switching between the distinct voices of Georgia and Mandy. I listened to the audiobook edition of The Locked Ward, narrated by January LaVoy, and was hooked from the very first word.
The tension between the long-lost twins was fascinating to read. Mandy’s skepticism of Georgia’s innocence and her reemerging complicated grief over her adopted parents was vibrant on the pages — or earbuds, if you pick up the audiobook. It brilliantly contrasted Georgia’s confined, icy plot within the walls of the psychiatric institution.
A Suspenseful Read
I hadn’t picked up a thriller in a bit, but reading The Locked Ward reminded me why I loved the genre so much. There was suspense, twists, and family drama all draped in Southern charm. Pekkanen writes a compelling tale perfect for those looking for a fast-paced read.
An excellent choice for thriller connoisseurs and casual readers alike, The Locked Ward is available at your favorite bookstore and maybe even at your local library.
Need more great reads? Check these out!
- We Are All the Same in the Dark, a Fiction Review – Psychological Thriller Review
- Nine Perfect Strangers: A Review – Thriller TV Review
- Words Unspoken – Creative Nonfiction Essay
- Murderer’s Creek – Dark and Dramatic Short Story
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Zina Mona
Zina Mona is a writer and student from Texas. Her work has been published or is forthcoming in the Trinity Review and 34 Orchard. She studies literature and economics, but in her free time, she loves watching Audrey Hepburn movies.
Visit her website to read more!
