Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publication Date: August 5, 2025

Length: 320 pages

Being adopted, there is always the curiosity about your biological family. When a member of the biological family suddenly appears, it can be a shock. Who are these people that have a genetic tie to you? Amanda Ravenel, Mandy, runs the bar she inherited from her parents. She receives a phone call from an attorney claiming to represent her sister. Newspapers have been covering a murder at the Cartwright mansion. Mandy is stunned to hear that she is a twin and that her twin sister is the main suspect in the murder. Mandy’s twin sister, Georgia Cartwright, is being held for “the crime of the century”. Georgia claims that she is innocent of murdering her other sister. Mandy feels compassion and wants to help Georgia, but how can you prove someone is innocent when you don’t know them? Mandy’s decision to help her sister will change both their lives. How did Georgia find out about Mandy? Why doesn’t Georgia trust the police to investigate this crime? Georgia is in a locked psychiatric ward, suffering from a dissociative state. Is this true? Mandy knows that Georgia’s adoptive family is wealthy and uses that wealth in many good and bad ways. To fully understand what has happened, Mandy will have to unearth the past to solve this mystery.

The Locked Ward is about murder, manipulation, and family ties. Sarah Pekkanen takes intrigue, wraps it in murder, and gives readers a ride. Having a sibling you didn’t know about is shocking. Mandy has to absorb this fact and meet this person. Being asked to investigate a murder on top of all the shock is mind-boggling. Twists and turns will keep you guessing as the investigation takes a sinister turn. Mandy and Georgia’s developing sisterly bond is well written and one of the reasons readers will stay engaged throughout the book. As twins, will Mandy and Georgia discover similarities in their lives? This thriller keeps you guessing page after page. The ending is excellent and provides the closure that this story needs. Mystery and thriller fans will love this quick-paced book!

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sarah Pekkanen for the advanced copy of the book. I enjoyed every page of this book.

My Rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻/5