The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen ~ My Thoughts #TheLockedWard

Congratulation Sarah

on the release of

The Locked Ward!

 

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen

Women's Psychological Fiction, 320 pages

Published August 5, 2025 by St. Martin's Press

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.

My thoughts about The Locked Ward ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"You awaken slowly, struggling to surface, like you're swimming up through mud."

I'm a big fan of Sarah Pekkanen's books and am always excited for another one of her thrillers. This one did not disappoint. 

Sisterhood is not an easy thing to navigate, but what about having a sister that you can't trust and may have done evil things? This story had me doubting everything I read and felt. What is truth and what is not?

The Locked Ward is a suspenseful, twisty thriller that will keep you guessing and scratching your head until the very end. Highly recommend it!

I received an eARC of The Locked Ward and this is my honest opinion.

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About the author

I'm a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 15 solo and coauthored books, including HOUSE OF GLASS, which is a Goodreads Choice award nominee and Amazon best book of the year.

My upcoming thriller, THE LOCKED WARD, is being hailed by Lee Child as "psychological suspense at its very best."

I'm also the coauthor of four bestselling thrillers: THE GOLDEN COUPLE, THE WIFE BETWEEN US, AN ANONYMOUS GIRL, and YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

I've also written eight novels that are contemporary fiction, not thrillers: THE EVER AFTER, THE PERFECT NEIGHBORS, THINGS YOU WON'T SAY, CATCHING AIR, THE BEST OF US, THE OPPOSITE OF ME, SKIPPING A BEAT, and THESE GIRLS. My linked free short estories, published by Simon&Schuster exclusively for ereaders, are titled "All is Bright," and "Love, Accidentally."

When I'm not writing or spending time with my three kids, I'm a passionate advocate for rescue animals. I serve as Ambassador of RRSA India, a shelter and sanctuary for abused and injured street dogs and other animals in Anand, India. And I'm the founder of the nonprofit charity IndiaStreetPaws.com.

I also serve on the board of the International Thriller Writers. Readers and writers - come join us at Thrillerfest in NYC every spring! ~ Goodreads

Connect with Sarah

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

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New Release! House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen ~ My Thoughts #HouseOfGlass @sarahpekkanen @StMartinsPress

Congratulation Sarah

on the recent release of

House of Glass!

 

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

Mystery Thriller, 352 pages

Published August 6, 2024 by St. Martin's Press

On the outside they were the golden family with the perfect life. On the inside they built the perfect lie.

A young nanny who plunged to her death, or was she pushed? A nine-year-old girl who collects sharp objects and refuses to speak. A lawyer whose job it is to uncover who in the family is a victim and who is a murderer. But how can you find out the truth when everyone here is lying?

Rose Barclay is a nine-year-old girl who witnessed the possible murder of her nanny - in the midst of her parent's bitter divorce - and immediately stopped speaking. Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney, appointed to serve as counsel for children in custody cases. She never accepts clients under thirteen due to her own traumatic childhood, but Stella's mentor, a revered judge, believes Stella is the only one who can help.

From the moment Stella passes through the iron security gate and steps into the gilded, historic DC home of the Barclays, she realizes the case is even more twisted, and the Barclay family far more troubled, than she feared. And there's something eerie about the house itself: It's a plastic house, with not a single bit of glass to be found.

As Stella comes closer to uncovering the secrets the Barclays are desperate to hide, danger wraps around her like a shroud, and her past and present are set on a collision course in ways she never expected. Everyone is a suspect in the nanny's murder. The mother, the father, the grandmother, the nanny's boyfriend. Even Rose. Is the person Stella's supposed to protect the one she may need protection from?

My thoughts about House of Glass ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"Tuesdays at 4:30 pm. That's her routine."

Once again, Sarah Pekkanen has entertained me with one of her suspenseful, intriguing stories. I love entering the worlds that she creates because I know I will be taken on a ride with twists and turns and bits I won't be expecting. 

Poor Rose. She witnessed the horrific death of her nanny. Or is she the one who pushed her? Everyone suspects her, and honestly they are somewhat afraid of her. But she's an innocent 9 year old, right? Stella is there to help Rose but there are things that scare her as well. Something is not right in that house. 

House of Glass is a story that captured my attention from the first page and I loved every minute of it. It kept me guessing until the end and had me holding my breath at times. Intense! Pekkanen does not disappoint with this story and as always, I'm  excited to see what she writes next.

I received a copy of House of Glass from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

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About the author

I'm a #1 New York Times bestselling author of the upcoming HOUSE OF GLASS, which will be published August 6, 2024. The audiobook is narrated by Tony-awared winning singer/actress Laura Benanti.

My most recent novel, GONE TONIGHT, was hailed by Harlen Coben as "Jaw-dropping... A wild ride." The audiobook is narrated by actress Kate Mara.

I'm also the coauthor of four bestselling thrillers: THE GOLDEN COUPLE, THE WIFE BETWEEN US, AN ANONYMOUS GIRL, and YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

I've written eight novels that are contemporary fiction, not thrillers: THE EVER AFTER, THE PERFECT NEIGHBORS, THINGS YOU WON'T SAY, CATCHING AIR, THE BEST OF US, THE OPPOSITE OF ME, SKIPPING A BEAT, and THESE GIRLS. My linked free short estories, published by Simon&Schuster exclusively for ereaders, are titled "All is Bright," and "Love, Accidentally."

When I'm not writing or spending time with my three kids, I'm a passionate advocate for rescue animals. I serve as Ambassador of RRSA India, a shelter and sanctuary for abused and injured street dogs and other animals in Anand, India. And I'm the founder of the nonprofit charity IndiaStreetPaws.com.

I also serve on the board of the International Thriller Writers. Readers and writers - come join us at Thrillerfest in NYC every spring! ~ Goodreads

Connect with Sarah

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

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Be sure to check the sidebar for my current giveaways!

This OR That Giveaway № 127 ~ Christmas in Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey OR An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen #ChristmasInPeachtreeBluff #AnAnonymousGirl

 

I have sooooo many books!

The This or That Giveaway! feature that I post every Saturday is a way for me to cull my collection and to share some of the many books I have. I get to clear off some of my shelves to make room for more books and give someone else the chance to enjoy these treasures.

Good luck and be sure to stop back next week!

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Christmas in Peachtree Bluff

(Peachtree Bluff #4)

by Kristy Woodson Harvey

ARC ~ Published October 2021

The newest installment of the New York Times bestselling Peachtree Bluff series follows three generations of Murphy women as they come together to face a hurricane that threatens their hometown—and the holiday season—in this “book equivalent of a warm and fuzzy pair of socks” (E! Online).

When the Murphy women are in trouble, they always know they can turn to their mother, Ansley. So when eldest daughter Caroline and her husband announce they are divorcing—and fifteen-year-old daughter Vivi acts out in response—Caroline, at her wits end, can’t think of anything to do besides leave her with Ansley in Peachtree Bluff for the holidays. After all, how much trouble can one teenager get into on a tiny island?

Quite a lot, as it turns out.

As the “storm of the century” heads toward Peachtree Bluff, Ansley and her husband, Jack, with Vivi in tow, are grateful they’re planning to leave for the trip of a lifetime. But Vivi’s recklessness forces the trio to shelter in place during the worst hurricane Peachtree has ever seen. With no power, no provisions, and the water rising, the circumstances become dire very quickly…and the Murphy sisters soon realize it’s up to them to conduct a rescue mission. With the bridges closed and no way to access Peachtree Bluff by land or air, they set sail on Caroline’s boat, The Starlite Sisters , determined to rebuild their beloved town—and their family.

In “pitch perfect tones” (Publishers Weekly) and written with her signature Southern charm, New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey explores the magic of Christmas, the power of forgiveness, and the importance of family in a tale that reminds us that, no matter the circumstances, home is always where we belong—especially during the holidays.

I love this series. 

Read my thoughts about Christmas in Peachtree Bluff here.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

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An Anonymous Girl

by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

ARC ~ Published January 2019

Seeking women ages 18 - 32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.

When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking … and what she’s hiding. 

As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.

Read my thoughts about An Anonymous Girl here.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

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Happy Thanksgiving!

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Release Day! Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen ~ My Thoughts #GoneTonight @sarahpekkanen @StMartinsPress

Congratulation Sarah

on the release today of

Gone Tonight!

 

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen

Mystery Thriller, 336 pages

Published August 1, 2023 by St. Martin's Press

Catherine Sterling thinks she knows her mother. Ruth Sterling is quiet, hardworking, and lives for her daughter. All her life, it's been just the two of them against the world. But now, Catherine is ready to spread her wings, move from home, and begin a new career. And Ruth Sterling will do anything to prevent that from happening.

Ruth Sterling thinks she knows her daughter. Catherine would never rebel, would never question anything about her mother's past or background. But when Ruth's desperate quest to keep her daughter by her side begins to reveal cracks in Ruth's carefully-constructed world, both mother and daughter begin a dance of deception.

No one can know Ruth's history. There is a reason why Ruth kept them moving every few years, and why she was ready--in a moment's notice--to be gone in the night.

But danger is closing in. Is it coming from the outside, from Ruth's past? Is Ruth reaching a breaking point? Or is the danger coming from the darkness that may live in Catherine, herself?

My thoughts about Gone Tonight ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"My mother walks from her bedroom through our tiny living room, her eyes sweeping over our old blue couch and coffee table, before she briefly disappears into the galley kitchen."

I'm a huge fan of Sarah Pekkanen's books, especially the stories that she created with Greer Hendricks. Those are among the best thrillers I've read. Gone Tonight it right up there with them.

The story is told in the alternating voices of Catherine and her mother, Ruth. So the reader gets both sides of the story, a story that doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. Why did they always move so much, why has it only been the two of them for as long as Catherine can remember, why is her mother doing the things she is doing right now that don't make any sense? 

As Ruth pours out her past in a journal for Catherine to read someday, the reader starts to understand Ruth and what her life was like. And it explains so much. But is it all as it seems? Or is it just Ruth's version of the truth? At times, I wasn't sure what to believe. 

I loved Gone Tonight, with all the drama, intensity, and twists. If you are a lover of thrillers, you are going to love this one. It will keep you one the edge of your seat and guessing until the very end. 

I received a copy of Gone Tonight from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

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About the author

I'm the New York Times bestselling author of the upcoming thriller GONE TONIGHT, which Colleen Hoover hails as, "Riveting, original and powerful" and Harlen Coben raves is "Jaw-dropping... A wild ride." The audiobook of GONE TONIGHT is narrated by actress Kate Mara.

I'm also the coauthor of four bestselling thrillers: THE GOLDEN COUPLE, THE WIFE BETWEEN US, AN ANONYMOUS GIRL, and YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

I've written eight novels that are contemporary fiction, not thrillers: THE EVER AFTER, THE PERFECT NEIGHBORS, THINGS YOU WON'T SAY, CATCHING AIR, THE BEST OF US, THE OPPOSITE OF ME, SKIPPING A BEAT, and THESE GIRLS. My linked free short estories, published by Simon&Schuster exclusively for ereaders, are titled "All is Bright," and "Love, Accidentally."

When I'm not writing or spending time with my three kids, I'm a passionate advocate for rescue animals. I serve as Ambassador of RRSA India, a shelter and sanctuary for abused and injured street dogs and other animals in Anand, India. And I work with rescue horses weekly, doing everything from mucking stalls to cleaning hooves. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Sarah

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

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Be sure to check the sidebar for my current giveaways!

This OR That #Giveaway № 98 ~ You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen OR The Forbidden Door by Dean Koontz #YouAreNotAlone #TheForbiddenDoor

 

I have sooooo many books!

The This or That Giveaway! feature that I post every Saturday is a way for me to cull my collection and to share some of the many books I have. I get to clear off some of my shelves to make room for more books and give someone else the chance to enjoy these treasures.

Good luck and be sure to stop back next week!

*****************

You Are Not Alone

by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

ARC ~ Published March 2020

The electrifying #1 New York Times bestselling authors of The Wife Between Us and An Anonymous Girl return with a brand new novel of psychological suspense, You Are Not Alone.

Shay Miller wants to find love, but it eludes her. She wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end. She wants to belong, but her life is increasingly lonely.

Until Shay meets the Moore sisters. Cassandra and Jane live a life of glamorous perfection, and always get what they desire. When they invite Shay into their circle, everything seems to get better.

Shay would die for them to like her.

She may have to.

Read my thoughts here

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The Forbidden Door

(Jane Hawk #4)

by Dean Koontz

ARC ~ Published September 2018

When this relentless rogue FBI agent comes knocking, her adversaries will have to answer—with their lives—in this thrilling Jane Hawk novel by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Corner.

“We’re rewriting the play, and the play is this country, the world, the future. We break Jane’s heart, we’ll also break her will.”

She was one of the FBI’s top agents until she became the nation’s most-wanted fugitive. Now Jane Hawk may be all that stands between a free nation and its enslavement by a powerful secret society’s terrifying mind-control technology. She couldn’t save her husband, or the others whose lives have been destroyed, but equipped with superior tactical and survival skills—and the fury born of a broken heart and a hunger for justice—Jane has struck major blows against the insidious cabal.

But Jane’s enemies are about to hit back hard. If their best operatives can’t outrun her, they mean to bring her running to them, using her five-year-old son as bait. Jane knows there’s no underestimating their capabilities, but she must battle her way back across the country to the remote shelter where her boy is safely hidden . . . for now. As she moves resolutely forward, new threats begin to emerge: a growing number of brain-altered victims driven hopelessly, violently insane. With the madness spreading like a virus, the war between Jane and her enemies will become a fight for all their lives—against the lethal terror unleashed from behind the forbidden door.

Read my thoughts about book #2,

The Whispering Room here

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Release Day! The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen ~ My Thoughts #TheGoldenCouple

Happy Release Day!

Congrats Greer & Sarah

on the release today of

The Golden Couple!

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

Psychological Thriller, 320 pages

Published March 8, 2022 by St. Martin's Press

The Golden Couple is the next electrifying novel from Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, the #1 New York Times bestselling author duo behind You Are Not Alone, An Anonymous Girl, and The Wife Between Us.

If Avery Chambers can’t fix you in 10 sessions, she won’t take you on as a client. Her successes are phenomenal--she helps people overcome everything from domineering parents to assault--and almost absorb the emptiness she sometimes feels since her husband’s death.

Marissa and Mathew Bishop seem like the golden couple--until Marissa cheats. She wants to repair things, both because she loves her husband and for the sake of their 8-year-old son. After a friend forwards an article about Avery, Marissa takes a chance on this maverick therapist, who lost her license due to controversial methods.

When the Bishops glide through Avery’s door and Marissa reveals her infidelity, all three are set on a collision course. Because the biggest secrets in the room are still hidden, and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger.

My thoughts about The Golden Couple ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"I never know what to expect when I open my door to new clients."

This amazing author duo has done it again! To paraphrase their opening line, I never know when to expect when I open the covers of one of their books. Except I know it's going to be an amazingly exciting ride. This one did not disappoint. 

So many secrets, so many twists and turns. I totally devoured this book and couldn't wait to get to the end so that all of my questions and suspicions could be answered. These two authors can weave such an interesting, enticing storyline that will keep you guessing. 

I loved The Golden Couple and have this duo's books high on my to-read list every time. Grab it! If you like psychological thrillers as much as I do, I know you'll love it.

I received a copy of The Golden Couple from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

About the authors

Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are the number one New York Times bestselling authors of The Wife Between Us, An Anonymous Girl, You Are Not Alone and The Golden Couple.

Prior to becoming a novelist, Greer obtained her master's degree in journalism at Columbia University and spent two decades as an editor at Simon & Schuster. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Allure, Publishers Weekly and other publications.

Sarah is also the author of eight internationally and USA Today bestselling solo novels. A former investigative journalist and award-winning feature writer, her work has appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today, and many other publications.

Connect with Greer

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Connect with Sarah

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Release Day! You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen ~ My Thoughts #YouAreNotAlone #NetGalley

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Greer & Sarah

on the release today of

You Are Not Alone!

You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
Print and e-book, 352 pages
Published March 3rd 2020 by St. Martin's Press

You probably know someone like Shay Miller.
She wants to find love, but it eludes her.
She wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end.
She wants to belong, but her life is so isolated.

You probably don’t know anyone like the Moore sisters.
They have an unbreakable circle of friends.
They live the most glamorous life.
They always get what they desire.

Shay thinks she wants their life.
But what they really want is hers.

My thoughts about You Are Not Alone ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first line.)

First line—"Numbers never lie. Statistics, charts, percentages—they don't contain hidden agendas or shades of gray. They're pure and true. It isn't until people stat meddling with them, spinning and shaping them, that they become dishonest.—Data Book, page 1"

This duo has done it again! You Are Not Alone is a puzzling, twisty story that I was never sure where it was going. I had faith in the authors that eventually the pieces would all fall into place and the plot would be explained. The intrigue and suspense in getting there made for an exciting journey. 

I have loved everything that Greer and Samantha have created. Together they are able to create very interesting, somewhat diabolical characters who take the reader down a suspenseful trail. And I loved every word of it! This is a book that you are not going to be able to put down. Check it out!! 

I received an ARC of You Are Not Alone from the publisher and via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion of the book.

About the authors

Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are the co-authors of the blockbuster New York Times bestseller, The Wife Between, as well as the forthcoming, An Anonymous Girl. An Anonymous Girl has been optioned for a television series by eOne, with Sarah and Greer executive producing. The Wife Between has been optioned for film by Amblin Entertainment, with Sarah and Greer screenwriting the adaptation.

Connect with Greer

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Connect with Sarah

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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