In Sarah Pekkanen's latest, suspense-filled novel, THE LOCKED WARD, we meet sisters Georgia and Amanda. They are twins who were separated at birth but now find themselves entangled in a web of deceit. The writing is ingenious as Pekkanen uses two different points of view to share the siblings’ stories. Amanda's is told in first person, each chapter labeled with her nickname "Mandy," while Georgia's is told in second person. The latter narrative is a bit unsettling at first, but by relating Georgia's story as if it is happening to us, we feel deeply involved and a part of the action.

While Mandy was raised as an only child with two loving parents, theirs was a middle-class lifestyle. Her folks owned a bar, and they lived in a small town over an hour from the nearest city, Charlotte, North Carolina. Georgia, on the other hand, grew up in the lap of luxury. Her mother and father were wealthy, and no expense was spared in their day-to-day lives. But instead of being the apple of her parents' eyes, as Amanda was, Georgia's childhood was eclipsed by her four-months-younger sister, Annabelle, who in every way was their parents’ favorite.

"THE LOCKED WARD is a quick read as Pekkanen cleverly ends each chapter on a cliffhanger. There are many red herrings and a few unexpected twists."

Annabelle was doted on by her mother. And although their father appeared to love them both, he did nothing to help Georgia, not even when she was sent away to boarding school at the age of 14. Georgia was the black sheep, the unnatural child. Annabelle was the "real" daughter in the family, and it was apparent in every action her mother took (or didn't take) toward Georgia.

Now Georgia Cartwright is in the locked psychiatric ward of a hospital, accused of murdering Annabelle. She claims she didn't do it. But we also know, from the start, that she is pretending to be in a dissociative state, which she had written about in a 20-page paper while in college. The locked ward is terrifying, and Georgia walks us through her life there, a situation that Pekkanen researched carefully. So all the horrors she shares are what she actually witnessed during her visits to a locked ward.

When a lawyer reaches out to Mandy and tells her she has a sister, Mandy is shocked. And she is stunned that her purported sibling is an alleged killer. But Mandy visits Georgia in the hospital and learns about her. Although Mandy knew she had been adopted, she had no idea she was a twin. She must decide whether or not to help Georgia, especially when Georgia warns her that doing so might put her life in danger.

Mandy has to infiltrate Georgia's life, and she needs to look the part. She uses Georgia's belongings and describes her changed appearance, "her Lilly Pulitzer flowered dress and kitten heels, my lips glossed pink, Tiffany jewelry gleaming on my earlobes and wrists, my hair sleek and shiny." Mandy is able to fit in easily, which she reflects on with a truth that is universal: "I present as a wealthy Southern girl... It has become blazingly apparent to me that people make snap judgments based on appearance, forming an image of who you are before you utter a word."

Just as in the locked ward, where there are no mirrors --- only shiny metal surfaces that reflect reality poorly --- Pekkanen's narrative doesn't shine a clear light on the facts. Instead, it's as if we are seeing Georgia (and Mandy's life, too) through a warped mirror, one that presents an image that is not clear or true, but slightly off. There are questions about Annabelle's relationship with Georgia, Mandy's relationship with prior friends, and Mandy's adoption. Why is Georgia pretending to be in a dissociative state, and is it something she planned?

As Mandy becomes more entrenched in Georgia's life, the mysteries grow. Also, as Mandy continues to investigate Georgia's claims of innocence, the danger grows around her. It's a lot of fun to read about Georgia's lifestyle as a wealthy, successful, Southern socialite and to vicariously feel the softness of the cashmere and designer threads that fill her expensive closet. It's also fascinating to read about the family that the Cartwrights are close to, that of up-and-coming Senator Dawson. How do they fit in with the tragedy of Annabelle's death?

THE LOCKED WARD is a quick read as Pekkanen cleverly ends each chapter on a cliffhanger. There are many red herrings and a few unexpected twists. Suspect those you wouldn't expect, because there are some real humdingers that will make you rethink all of your previous suspicions and assumptions. It's well done. Very well done.