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

Love the take on twins

I love every book by Sarah and this book is no different. I was listening every free moment I had.

Very Disappointing

I had such high hopes for this book, but was sorely disappointed. It was corny, and the narration sounded ridiculous at times.

Wow what a story!!

Loved the whole book-twist, turns-awesome!!! I look forward to reading more books by this author… Or I should say listening to more books by this author.

Fun ride

Liked the writing style, story and narration. It was entertaining and held my interest in trying to figure out who-done-it. At the end, there was a revelation by the non-rich sister that was unnecessary because it felt out of character.

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.