Whispers of Dead Girls is a twisty psychological thriller with a very interesting premise, and I was hooked from the first page! This book follows Ren, whose beloved sister, Margo, died ten years earlier at the hands of a predatory teacher. Ren left town to escape the memories of Margo, but now she’s back and working at the high school she went to as a teen, and it looks as if history is repeating itself when young girls start to die, and Ren instantly suspects the handsome, charismatic teacher, Bryson Lewis, who seems a little too interested in his students.

I was immediately intrigued when I read the premise of this book, and it did not disappoint! I love the trope where troubled characters haunted by the past return to the town where they grew up, so I really loved that element. There was also a hint of a supernatural theme, as Ren can see and speak to her dead sister, and I found that aspect so interesting and so much fun! I also didn’t predict the plot twists in this book, which I usually do, so the reveals definitely took me by surprise!

Overall, this was a really intriguing, slow burn, multi layered thriller that kept me guessing until the very end! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was more of a YA thriller than what I normally read, but I thought it was still pretty good. Overall, I liked the writing and thought the author told a compelling story. The FMC is tragically flawed with a darkness that I felt could have been explored more. I was not really surprised by the ending. Would definitely recommend if you are a fan of the YA thriller genre. Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC!

This is a very well written thriller about the far reaching effects of sexual violence and the fear it can provoke. From the beginning of the novel, there is a feeling of unease permeating the story. The information is presented in dribs and drabs, in a suspenseful fashion, adding to the anxiety.

Thriller fans who do not mind a complicated denouement should really enjoy this one. I appreciate NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the chance to read and review this novel.

Whispers of Dead Girls was an easy, addictive read that kept me turning pages late into the night. I’m a sucker for a good whodunit, and this one definitely delivered with a dark, small-town mystery and a twist I did not see coming.

The story centers on Ren, a teacher who returns to her old high school a decade after the tragic death of her teenage sister. Her sister’s memory still lingers in the town, practically immortalized, and Ren’s return stirs up long-buried emotions and secrets. As strange things begin happening and rumors of the past resurface, Ren finds herself caught in a chilling mystery that forces her to confront what really happened all those years ago.

The subplot involving Casey confused me a bit at first. It didn’t quite flow with the rest of the story early on, but by the end, it all came together in a way that made sense and added more layers to the plot. It’s one of those stories where the pieces slowly click into place, and when they do, it’s so satisfying.

And the twist? It twisted. I genuinely didn’t see it coming, which is rare for me with this genre. The reveal was shocking in the best way and made the entire ride worth it.

Overall, Whispers of Dead Girls is the kind of story that pulls you in quickly, holds your attention with suspense and intrigue, and rewards you with a twisty, unexpected payoff. A solid four-star read that mystery lovers will definitely enjoy.

Big thanks to the publisher for the ARC. I’m so glad I got the chance to read this one early!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

This one had a super promising premise. A new twist on a ghost story. From the very beginning the dread is thick and that’s what I’m looking for in my books to keep my attention. Small towns are creepy enough but this one kicks it up a notch.


Part mystery, part thriller, I think readers will have a fun time trying to figure out what’s going on.

Whisper of Dead Girls by Marlee Bush | ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This one had a super intriguing premise—a mix of ghost story, small-town secrets, and a main character caught between reality and the supernatural. The writing was atmospheric and had a lot of potential, especially in the early chapters where the tension was building.

That said, the pacing was a bit uneven for me, and I found myself drifting at times. The twists didn’t hit quite as hard as I expected, and while I liked the concept, the execution didn’t fully pull me in.

Still, if you’re into eerie mysteries with a hint of the paranormal, this could be worth checking out. I’m definitely curious to see what Marlee Bush writes next!

From the first chapter I knew this book would be intense.

Ren is back to her hometown in Georgia to teach Biology at the same school her sister was murdered. Tension erupts after a similar story repeats itself.

The small town secrets, tension, guilt, and so many memories. Whispers of Dead Girls is atmospheric, and you should add to your wishlist.

Definitely recommend.

Thank you so much Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A thriller that seems like A good girls guide to murder but the story is written from the perspective of the teacher. This was a fun one.

Ren has returned after 10 years to teach at her old high school. The same high school where her sister and her were students and the same high school that still have a memorial of her sister that after one unfortunate night died.

Now as she is walking the halls she notices something awry with the teacher across the hall. The new teacher that just transferred after two students from his last school went missing and one ended up dead in a creek. Is history repeating itself? Can Ren unrvel the mystery before another student ends up dead?

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!

I really didn’t know how to rate this because there was a lot of important subject matter and done very well for the most part but also, I get anxiety reading about possible teacher relationships like this. As a teacher, I always am afraid of missing signs like Ren.

This book was well written and kept me enthralled. I read it in one evening. I liked the role of Margo in this book. I am surprised at the twists and turns this story took but as a teacher, I think Ren’s friendship with students like Olivia and Michaela would raise an immediate red flag to me. I also felt as though there was one unnecessary/unfinished side plot line that just muddied the waters.

Overall, I liked it.

I absolutely loved this one and was hooked from the first page!

The story follows Ren Taylor, who returns to her hometown to teach biology at the same high school she attended. Ten years ago, her older sister tragically lost her life, a loss that has haunted Ren ever since, especially with so many people still blaming her for what happened. Now, with a new string of disappearances, Ren starts to see eerie similarities to her sister’s case, and things begin to unravel fast.

Marlee Bush’s writing is phenomenal. I never would have guessed what was actually going on, and the twist was brilliantly executed.

I really liked Ren as a character. She is not necessarily likeable in the traditional sense - she is blunt, flawed, and keeps people at a distance - but that made her feel incredibly real. I thoroughly enjoyed her sarcasm and attitude.

The direction this story took was fantastic. The twists and turns were so well delivered, and the emotional depth in the writing truly stood out. I felt everything, from Ren’s guilt and grief to the rising tension with each new revelation. That ending completely blindsided me. It felt like it could lead into a sequel?! Honestly, I would be first in line to read it if it does!

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Marlee Bush for the eARC.

4.75 stars rounded up to 5.

This is a totally agree thriller… you won’t be telling everyone you know about it, but you won’t DNF it either. Marlee Bush is a solid writer, but the main issue for me was that the main character was, for the most part, super unlikable. Maybe some people like that in a book, but I like a main character I can root for and relate to.

Note: The ARC had a ton of grammar and punctuation issues (“parent’s” instead of “parents’”, switching tenses in the middle of sentences, etc)… hopefully this will be fixed before publication.

OMG!!! What a thrilling read!

If you are looking for something suspenseful, thrilling, full of mystery, and a page turner…THIS IS IT!!!!

It was all the vibes, it immediately captured my attention and drew me right into it.

I got to about 35% and had to stop reading. I couldn’t tolerate the voice of the dead sister, and at 30% of the way through, I was still waiting for something, anything, to happen. The premise was promising, but it didn’t deliver.

*Whispers of Dead Girls* is a haunting, emotionally charged thriller that digs into trauma, memory, and the cost of silence. Marlee Bush paints a vivid portrait of a woman grappling with a tragic past while trying to prevent history from repeating itself. Ren is a compelling protagonist—flawed, determined, and driven by a deep sense of justice that keeps you rooting for her, even as her actions grow increasingly desperate. The suspense builds steadily, with just the right amount of paranoia and emotional depth to keep you hooked. A few plot turns stretch believability, but the payoff is worth it. Dark, intense, and thought-provoking—this is a mystery that lingers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this free copy of "Whispers of Dead Girls."

What a thrilling rollercoaster of a story! You feel like you're living in Ren's mind as she sees signs that the past is repeating. Can she stop it this time?

Ren is a teacher who returns as faculty to the school she and her sister attended as teenagers. Her sister died 14 years ago but she still "speaks" to Ren every day. And why does Ren still feel guilty about her death?

When she sees Bryson, a young attractive teacher that all the young girls adore, in suspicious interactions with a student, she feels like she's reliving the past with her sister. And then she learns that other girls are missing.

Kudos to author Bush for driving the intensity and suspense of the story by emphasizing that we're taught that it's better to feel uncomfortable than to bring discomfort to other people with our truths.

And that we're trained to doubt ourselves before doubting others (paraphrasing quotes from the book).

Whispers of Dead Girls by Marlee Bush is the kind of thriller that leaves the reader wondering if the narrator is truly reliable, and as a result second guessing all of the available information at hand.

Ren has started a new teaching job in her hometown after leaving it behind many years prior following the death of her sister when they were both teenagers. Ren clearly, understandably has some lingering trauma over this as an adult, seen in the paranoia she displays from basically the very start of the book, not trusting anyone and seeing danger lurking around every corner that even slight reminds her of her sister’s death. The way she fixates on a male teacher at her new job and immediately suspects him of nefarious deeds establishes her obsessive nature so distinctly that I felt immediately thrown right into Ren’s head and like I could understand her as a character even if I didn’t fully know the reasoning behind her great mistrust in others and the overall trauma which has so clearly shaped her.

The way the story is written leaves so many mysteries for the reader, even about Ren, the character whose point of view it is being told in. This is masterfully done as things are hinted at without fully giving them away which just serves to amp up the readers intrigue and desperate to find out what is really going on. What are these mistakes Ren is making that seem insidious but could be entirely normal for all the reader knows? What did she do she feels makes her sisters death her fault? What really happened to her sister? I found myself with endless questions even just a few chapters into the story and I so wanted to keep reading to find out because it was so well written to keep me seeking answers and somehow not getting frustrated by the taunting hint of the questions.

Once I got into this book, I had a hard time stopping as the story just builds and builds to the point that it leaves you as the reader needing to know what was really going on and desperate for those answers. Once again, the author has pulled me into her writing and left me wanting more of her books, and I was just as impressed by the book as her first. I definitely recommend and can’t wait for more from Marlee Bush.

Marlee Bush, you are guilty of keeping me awake until 4am because I could not put this book down!

Whispers of Dead Girls is a phenomenal story. Ren isn’t particularly likeable. But she is a real person, not perfect and she has a bucket load of trauma that she is still processing. I developed theories early on in the story as to which way everything was going to go. And just when you think you have it all figured out, Marlee throws in some epic twists and turns.

I read this book alongside a book buddy on instagram and we both agreed that in the beginning the story did slip in and out of time and was a little hard to follow. But regardless of this we persevered & were rewarded with a brilliant story which has the potential for a second book.

A huge thank you to Poisoned Pen & Netgalley for the ARC e-read.

From the opening chapters, there’s a thick fog of unease coating everything. That small-town vibe, where everyone knows your name—and your past—makes for the perfect breeding ground for suspicion, rumor, and paranoia. It’s the kind of atmosphere that sinks into your skin and refuses to let go. The writing creates this eerie tension that never quite lets up and, while I’m not always one for slow burns, this one worked for me. The pacing took its time, but the writing style made it easy to settle into—especially with the looming question of whether Bryson is truly who he seems or something far more dangerous.

Ren isn’t always likable, but that’s exactly what made her feel real. She’s messy, flawed, and deeply scarred, driven by a relentless need to protect others in a way she couldn't protect her sister. Her grief and guilt bleed into everything she does. Even when I didn’t agree with her choices, I understood her—because how do you move forward when your past keeps dragging you backward?

That said, the middle portion did slow a bit for me. Ren’s internal spirals, while powerful, sometimes felt repetitive, and trimming them slightly could’ve helped tighten the pace without losing the emotional weight. There were also moments when past and present blurred so quickly that it became a little disorienting. If you looked away for even a second, it was easy to lose track of which timeline you were in. Still, I appreciated what those flashbacks added—they were heavy with meaning and gave us a deeper understanding of who Ren was then versus who she is now.

The supporting cast was hit or miss. There were a lot of characters to keep up with—some added richness, while others didn’t really leave a lasting impression. One that absolutely did, though, was Margo. Her ghostly presence brought this almost supernatural undertone that I really liked. It gave the story an extra layer, a feeling that the past wasn’t just haunting Ren emotionally, but maybe even literally.

As for the ending… I’m still sitting with it. It was definitely unexpected and left me with a lot of afterthoughts. I’m not sure I loved it, but maybe it was the right kind of ending for this story—messy, unresolved, and emotionally charged. The reveal of who was behind the students’ deaths didn’t hit as hard for me mostly because I wasn’t all that connected to that character to begin with. It left me with mixed feelings—some intrigue, some disappointment, and a lingering sense that maybe that’s exactly how this story was meant to end: not with full closure, but with a weight that stays with you.

As for the other part of the ending, while it was somewhat predictable, I found myself ultimately satisfied with how it played out and how well it was executed.

(Includes subjects of abuse and inappropriate teacher/student relationships.)

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘦𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.💐

I was intrigued by this book. There are lots of twists and turns throughout which kept me engrossed and made me want more.
The main character is well written. We get to see a lot of her backstory which shows us how she has come to be the person she is today.
I just didn’t find the final twist believable - to me it seems a tad far fetched.
But overall the book is enjoyable and the rest of the story is gripping.

Whispers of Dead Girls is hugely addictive and kind of haunting, great writing and an absorbing storyline.

Ren returns to her old school to teach, it is a place full of the ghosts of her past, including that of her dead sister, and things are not entirely right here as Ren will discover.

This is a character study in the aftermath of trauma and doesn't always follow the path of least resistance. The characters, including Ren, are not straightforward but they are compelling.

Overall a really great read.