Sarah Pekkanen has carved out quite the niche for herself, reliably releasing a new standalone popcorn thriller each August. I first discovered her writing through the twisty novels she co-authored with Greer Hendricks and have since enjoyed her solo efforts like Gone Tonight and House of Glass. So when her publisher offered me an early copy of her latest, The Locked Ward, I didn’t hesitate to dive in. Could it deliver the same high-stakes suspense I've come to expect from her?
Imagine going thirty years without knowing you had a twin. That’s the shocking reality Amanda (Mandy) faces when she discovers her biological sister was secretly adopted by another family shortly after birth. Even more shocking? Her twin is Georgia Cartwright, the adopted daughter of a wealthy southern family, now infamous for committing the so-called “Crime of the Decade." She's accused of murdering her adoptive sister, the Cartwrights’ only biological child. Georgia now sits catatonic in a locked psychiatric ward, awaiting trial.
Despite her doubts, Mandy visits the ward. She doesn't expect to get much from Georgia, but to her surprise, her sister manages to whisper a chilling plea, “I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.” Mandy doesn’t trust her, but she also can’t abandon someone who shares her face to a place that feels more cursed than clinical. As she digs deeper, Mandy is left with more questions than answers. Is Georgia truly innocent, or is she drawing upon her sister's goodwill to lead her down a path of betrayal?
Every thriller requires a bit of suspension of disbelief. It comes with the territory, and the best authors make you forget the logic gaps and just enjoy the ride. Sarah Pekkanen is usually one of those authors for me. Unfortunately, that isn't the case with The Locked Ward. The setup is undeniably compelling. There's a long-lost twin, a murder accusation, and a psychiatric ward shrouded in mystery. I was hooked from the start. But as the story unfolded, it veered too far into implausibility. Georgia is supposedly locked away in a catatonic state, yet she somehow manages to communicate clearly with both her lawyers and Mandy. Even if she’s faking it (spoiler: she is), it’s hard to believe the entire facility would fall for the act. That disconnect pulled me out of the story more than once.
There are still moments of gripping tension, particularly in the scenes set within the ward, but the story spends far too little time there. Instead, it leans heavily on family drama and twisty reveals that don’t quite stick the landing. For the first time, I found myself underwhelmed by a Sarah Pekkanen novel. That said, her strong track record still has me looking forward to her next release. Just enter The Locked Ward with your expectations in check and a healthy willingness to suspend your disbelief.
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2025, 62)
Sorry this one wasn't as good as her others. My co-worker recommended her book The Wife Between Us last year...sadly, I still haven't read it. Which of her books is your favorite?
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed House of Glass and The Golden Couple.
DeleteThat would be terrible to find out years later that you're a twin.
ReplyDeleteRight? I can't imagine going so long without knowing.
DeleteI've only read one of her books, and should really pick up more. Great review Ethan!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI've enjoyed one of her solo mysteries, but saw an early review that made me pass on this one. I think I made the right decision. I do want to know if the sister did it, though, lol!
ReplyDeleteYeah, this was my least favorite from her. But I've enjoyed enough of the others that I'll still pick up the next one.
DeleteIt really is a hard line to balance with a thriller, because at the end of the day, a thriller has to make sense, right? That's what makes it thrilling. Even if it isn't something that's happening in *my* life, I like to imagine it could happen... Kinda bummed that this one didn't pan out, because the premise sounded interesting.
ReplyDeleteExactly! The setup of this one was great, but it just veered too far outside of being believable.
DeleteSorry this one missed the mark. Hopefully her next book is better.
ReplyDeleteNot every effort can be a hit. I'll be ready for whatever she comes up with next.
DeleteI do have a hard time believing everyone would fall for that act
ReplyDeleteRight?
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