The Locked Ward

Sarah Pekkanen is one of my all-time favorite thriller authors. Everything she writes is just. so. good. This was an instant pre-order from me! This one is a sister saga, in more ways than one. The book opens with Georgia Cartwright (a glamorous wedding planner from a wealthy Charlotte family) locked up in a psychiatric institution for violent criminals who await their fate. It’s the crime of the decade. Georgia (adopted as a newborn), has been accused of killing her sister Annabelle (the family’s biological daughter). As the adopted child, Georgia was always the outsider, made to feel less-than by her her own family. Meanwhile, Annabelle had been the golden child. Alone, with no family to turn to, Georgia reaches out to her estranged twin sister (adopted by another family). Amanda arrives, unsure if she can trust Georgia. What follows is a mad chase to figure out what really happened on the night of Annabelle’s murder. Has Georgia been manipulated and framed by her own family? Or is Amanda going to regret her decision to help? I tore through it and found the twist very satisfying. Highly recommend, this may be my favorite of all Pekkanen’s books so far!