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The Locked Ward: The new stand-alone psychological thriller from the author of the O'Malley & Swift series
She can’t remember arriving. And she’s not allowed to leave.
When Mara Keane wakes up inside Highreach Hospital, she has no idea how she got there. Staff insist she admitted herself, but the locked doors, heavy medication, and terrified whispers from other patients tell a different story. As Mara tries to piece together the hours she’s lost, one truth becomes impossible to someone wanted her here. And they’re not letting her go.
Investigative journalist Rowan Archer is uncovering alarming reports about Highreach Hospital’s experimental treatments. Patients emerging confused, altered, or missing memories altogether. Determined to expose the truth, Rowan follows a trail of survivors to find out what’s happening behind the hospital’s sealed doors.
Highreach Hospital promises recovery.
But some secrets aren’t meant to leave the ward.
A gripping psychological thriller for readers who love Freida McFadden, Alice Feeney and Mark Edwards.
When Mara Keane wakes up inside Highreach Hospital, she has no idea how she got there. Staff insist she admitted herself, but the locked doors, heavy medication, and terrified whispers from other patients tell a different story. As Mara tries to piece together the hours she’s lost, one truth becomes impossible to someone wanted her here. And they’re not letting her go.
Investigative journalist Rowan Archer is uncovering alarming reports about Highreach Hospital’s experimental treatments. Patients emerging confused, altered, or missing memories altogether. Determined to expose the truth, Rowan follows a trail of survivors to find out what’s happening behind the hospital’s sealed doors.
Highreach Hospital promises recovery.
But some secrets aren’t meant to leave the ward.
A gripping psychological thriller for readers who love Freida McFadden, Alice Feeney and Mark Edwards.
278 pages, Paperback
Published March 27, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 21, 2026
I love the omalley and swift series getting impatient waiting for the next book to land so thought id try a stand alone by same author... and was not disapointed really good story loved it and I didnt realise the twist until the blue and white tiles and was like no way!!
July 19, 2026
Quick, easy read, twisty thriller which kept me guessing!
April 8, 2026
4 ⭐️
I stumbled upon this one by chance and couldn’t resist diving in and I’m so glad I did. There’s something about a story that keeps you in a constant state of unease, questioning every character, every motive… and this one delivered. The kind of read that wraps around your mind and doesn’t let go until the very last page. Twisty, addictive, and so worth it. 📖✨
I stumbled upon this one by chance and couldn’t resist diving in and I’m so glad I did. There’s something about a story that keeps you in a constant state of unease, questioning every character, every motive… and this one delivered. The kind of read that wraps around your mind and doesn’t let go until the very last page. Twisty, addictive, and so worth it. 📖✨
October 3, 2026
The Locked Ward is a pacy read that builds suspense until the final moments.
Mara wakes up in Highreach Hospital with no memory of how she got there. Heavily medicated and with a growing sense that something isn’t right, she tries to piece together what happened and make sense of her relationships.
I really enjoyed the pace of this book. It’s fast-moving, engaging and full of tension. Mara is an interesting character and I liked the way her determination comes through, while details from her past are revealed gradually. The setting also adds an extra layer of uncertainty, making it difficult to know exactly what can be trusted.
There are some twists along the way, although I found the direction of the story relatively easy to predict. Even so, this was an enjoyable and entertaining read that should appeal to fans of Freida McFadden and similar psychological thrillers.
Review of a copy provided by NetGalley for review.
Mara wakes up in Highreach Hospital with no memory of how she got there. Heavily medicated and with a growing sense that something isn’t right, she tries to piece together what happened and make sense of her relationships.
I really enjoyed the pace of this book. It’s fast-moving, engaging and full of tension. Mara is an interesting character and I liked the way her determination comes through, while details from her past are revealed gradually. The setting also adds an extra layer of uncertainty, making it difficult to know exactly what can be trusted.
There are some twists along the way, although I found the direction of the story relatively easy to predict. Even so, this was an enjoyable and entertaining read that should appeal to fans of Freida McFadden and similar psychological thrillers.
Review of a copy provided by NetGalley for review.
September 27, 2026
Many thanks to the author, publisher & Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
What a great, quick read! This is my first by this author & what hit me very quickly was how much I could see this as a TV show. By the end I had cast it in my head. It was totally compelling.
Set in the UK (I was half way through before I realised). You have two main POVs. One is Mara, a psychiatric patient in an institution, the other is Rowan. An investigative journalist who has her own trauma, but a new lead for a story. I have to say, I guessed the twist early on, doubted myself & then realised I was right. If you are a fan of this genre, you too may work it out. It did keep me guessing. It was a very enjoyable read.
In all, a quick read that keeps you guessing with a good pace. 4*
What a great, quick read! This is my first by this author & what hit me very quickly was how much I could see this as a TV show. By the end I had cast it in my head. It was totally compelling.
Set in the UK (I was half way through before I realised). You have two main POVs. One is Mara, a psychiatric patient in an institution, the other is Rowan. An investigative journalist who has her own trauma, but a new lead for a story. I have to say, I guessed the twist early on, doubted myself & then realised I was right. If you are a fan of this genre, you too may work it out. It did keep me guessing. It was a very enjoyable read.
In all, a quick read that keeps you guessing with a good pace. 4*
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my goodness!! what a read , I think this might be my favourite book yet from KT Galloway. Literally read this in about 6 hours, I couldn't put it down.
I don't want to put any spoilers , but that was a magnificent twist.
I feel very privileged to have read an advanced copy of this book.
Anyone debating whether to read this book, go on! what are you waiting for!!
I don't want to put any spoilers , but that was a magnificent twist.
I feel very privileged to have read an advanced copy of this book.
Anyone debating whether to read this book, go on! what are you waiting for!!
April 24, 2026
I am a fan of the Swift and O Malley books so I wanted to read this stand alone book by Kate Galloway.
This is a great book , well written with twists and turns that you don't predict .
Definitely one that you find hard to put down .
I am eagerly awaiting the next Swift and O Malley and hopefully another stand alone book .
This is a great book , well written with twists and turns that you don't predict .
Definitely one that you find hard to put down .
I am eagerly awaiting the next Swift and O Malley and hopefully another stand alone book .
May 29, 2026
Read in one sitting
This is the first book by K. T. Galloway that I have read.
It won’t be the last.
As psychological thrillers go this was like watching a horror film from behind the sofa. But where you can hide the pictures you can’t hide the words that you read.
They seem almost gentle to begin with but they are absolutely terrifying.
This is the first book by K. T. Galloway that I have read.
It won’t be the last.
As psychological thrillers go this was like watching a horror film from behind the sofa. But where you can hide the pictures you can’t hide the words that you read.
They seem almost gentle to begin with but they are absolutely terrifying.
April 21, 2026
Brilliant psychological thriller
Brilliant crime thriller kept me on the edge of my seat until the end of the book. It's definitely a must-read
Brilliant crime thriller kept me on the edge of my seat until the end of the book. It's definitely a must-read
May 21, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ - really enjoyed! loved the twist around the 78% mark :)
June 10, 2026
A well written story with a predictable twist, not as fast paced as I like my books.
September 14, 2026
Quick read following a patient in Highreach, a mental health institution, and an investigative reporter who is researching Highreach to do a piece for the paper.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews