Ward D by Freida McFadden

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Dates Read: 6/7/23 - 6/8/23

    Amy Brenner, a medical student, reluctantly finds herself on an overnight shift in Ward D, the hospital's locked psychiatric unit. She's always had a deep aversion to this assignment due to personal reasons she keeps hidden. But as the night unfolds, Amy's gut feeling intensifies—something truly dreadful is unfolding within the confines of the ward. People vanish without a trace, and the sense of danger looms over everyone present. Amy's worst nightmare has become a chilling reality as she grapples with the terrifying possibility of never making it out of Ward D alive.

    There were a few different things I liked about this. It's a Freida McFadden, which for me means, despite the predictability of these novels, they're quick and fun to read. This was a fast-paced novel that takes place in the unique and eclectic atmosphere of the psychiatric ward. The story features a diverse cast of characters, each adding their own dynamic to the narrative. The interactions and relationships between the characters create an intriguing and fast-paced storyline that keeps readers engaged and captivated. I enjoyed the dual timeline perspective as well, I felt like it gave the story as well as the characters a lot more depth than they may have had without it. McFadden skillfully weaves unexpected twists throughout the narrative, keeping readers on their toes and adding an element of thrill and suspense to the story. The dark and psychological thriller elements that McFadden is known for are present in Ward D, creating a captivating and unpredictable reading experience.

    Like with almost every novel, there were things I didn't like as well. This novel might have gotten another star from me if I hadn't ever worked in an inpatient psychiatric facility. It's hard for me to believe that someone with a medical background could create a psych ward this unrealistic. If the entire novel wasn't told from the ward, I might have been able to get past this. I also absolutely hated how McFadden portrayed mental illness here. Again, you have a medical background, and you write a character who is a medical student and believes it's okay to call the patients crazy? It's incredibly lacking in tact, and it's hard to believe because it's one of the biggest things they teach you. Mental illness being portrayed this way is a very prevalent issue, and has a lot to do with why people often don't attempt to get help. I have a background with not only my own mental illness, but others who deal with the same, and I could never imagine a medical student being allowed to act this way. However, this is a fictional novel, so I will let it go.

    I expected more from the ending, it was okay, but it just felt very basic. Regardless, I liked reading/listening to this, I usually do with McFadden. This is a typical book from this author, and will constantly have you second guessing yourself.