The Locked Ward

By: Sarah Pekkanen

Narrated by: January LaVoy

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?

Nothing is as it seems in Sarah Pekkanen’s The Locked Ward, a shocking psychological thriller about the complex bonds of sisterhood—and what happens when they are stretched to the breaking point.

Some doors in the Locked Ward should never be opened.

This program is read by January LaVoy, seven-time Audie Award-winner, Grammy nominee and AudioFile Golden Voice.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press

©2025 Sarah Pekkanen (P)2025 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Instantly immersive, involving, insightful and scary—this is psychological suspense at its very best."—Lee Child

"When beautiful and wealthy Georgia Cartwright is kept in a locked ward after being accused of her sister’s brutal murder, there’s only one person who can save her: the other sister she didn’t know she had. Spellbinding and masterful, Sarah Pekkanen’s THE LOCKED WARD is a deep dive into the dark secrets of a powerful family, where reputation and social standing have always mattered more than the truth. Nothing is as it seems in this evocative and twisty thriller, and I loved every breathless minute of it."—Jennifer Hillier, USA Today bestselling author of THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK and LITTLE SECRETS

"A dueling narrative fraught with tension that will leave you guessing until the very end. And when you think you know...you don't!"—Jeneva Rose, bestselling author of THE PERFECT MARRIAGE and YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE

Interesting but not a masterpiece.

Kept my interest. Not really about a psychiatric ward. But lost its way mid-novel. If it's on sale, I'd get it. But not for a full credit.

Not believable

I think her writing partner, Greer Hendricks, must be the voice of reason and the better editor. It was overly melodramatic . The books they have written together are much better.

Suspense - kept me guessing

"The Locked Ward" is a poignant and gripping exploration of mental health, filled with compassion and captivating storytelling. A must-read!

Good book!

I enjoyed this book and have loved all the books I’ve read by Sarah Pekkanen. I liked this book. Right away you get into it, Georgia is locked up in a psych ward for supposedly killing her sister. She contacts her twin sister to help her. They were adopted and her twin, Amanda, didn’t know she even had a twin. The story was twisty and good. It kept me interested and trying to guess who, what and why. I hated the mother, she was so mean to Georgia and created such hate. I was happy that Georgia and her adopted sister were able to get over the trauma their mother caused before she was killed. I was surprised by the twist and the end. The end did feel rushed like there’s a big build up of what is going to happen and how is Amanda going to save Georgia and then she just tells her who she is which she could have done originally then if that was all it took to stop it! I also sat after thinking who is the real mother of Georgia and Amanda then if they were both adopted?! Idk if I missed that or it was never said but I still don’t know. Good ending and good book! Another great one from Sarah Pekkanen!

You will KEEP listening!!

I’ll sum it up— I bought the book on Wednesday and finished it Thursday!! Just when you are certain you know the bad people…you don’t. Just when you think you know the motivation for action….you don’t!! Grrrrrreat listen!