I really enjoyed this book! Ten years after her sister’s murder, Ren Taylor returns to her hometown to work at her old high school, only to be haunted by the past she tried to escape. When she grows suspicious of a charming physics teacher’s relationship with a vulnerable student, Ren fears history is repeating itself. Determined to stop another tragedy, she must confront painful secrets and risk everything to protect the girl. This was a slow burn but so well written and done. Definitely add this to your list of books to read this summer!

📚🩸 Book Review: WHISPERS OF DEAD GIRLS by Marlee Bush 🩸⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) 📚
Ever feel like your hometown is whispering behind your back? In "Whispers of Dead Girls," it is, and the whispers are from the dead. 😬

This chilling yet emotionally charged thriller follows Ren Taylor, who returns to her small hometown as a teacher at her former high school. It’s been a decade since her sister’s tragic murder, and Ren is desperate for some closure. But instead of finding peace, she’s haunted by memories—and, you guessed it, the ghost of her sister 👻—and a scandal that's still hanging around like an unwanted guest.

Ren becomes suspicious of the charismatic physics teacher across the hall, who's a bit too cozy with one of his students. Determined to prevent another tragedy, Ren steps up to protect the girl. Ren’s a hot mess, but I couldn't help but cheer her on!

The real magic of this slow-burn mystery lies in the characters—their raw emotion. I was especially captivated by Ren's interactions with her sister Margo’s ghost, who’s trying to steer her in the right direction. The author absolutely nailed this dynamic, making it a thrilling ride from start to finish!

Thank you to the author and Poisoned Pen Press for this gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.

#WhispersofDeadGirls #MarleeBush #NetGalley #PoisonedPenPress
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Unfortunately, this fell a little flat for me. I was really excited going in, but it was sooooo slow. I feel like all of it was very expected and drug out. I expected this book to have me on the edge of my seat, but I found myself wanting it to be over... It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. If you like slow paced mystery, this might be for you, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me.

Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the chance to read this book..

This book was def interesting, kept my attention, felt like a lot of it dragged on and was maybe a little too predictable at times, but it was an entertaining read overall.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this book.

Once again, a book about a girl who has a family member die and she goes back to her town to try and be detective and solve the crime. This was so cliche. I'm so tired of MCs being the police and doing things that no regular person would do. I couldn't even find it in my heart to like Ren. She was so annoying.

Ren’s back story is compelling and the depth of information included really helps the reader to gain an understanding of her character and why she reacts the way she does. It’s a really twisty tale and I enjoyed the comparison of what happened in the past and how it shaped the present. It’s well written with really strong dialogue, making it see, quite real. Ren is fascinating and will perhaps divide readers, who may love her or hate her. Either way, they will definitely want to know what happens to her!

Whispers of Dead Girls, by @marleebushwriter, is a fast-paced mystery, with short chapters.

It's the author's second book and I'm very grateful I got to read this ARC.

Last year I read her first book, When She Was Me and absolutely loved it! I was also hooked right away while reading Whispers of Dead Girls. I didn't know where it was going. Now I'm not sure how I feel about the ending, but I sure didn't guess it! Some things were a bit predictable but enjoyable nonetheless.

I loved the writing and the way we see Ren's immediate thoughts. Yes, it's a bit messy, but so is she! She's also accompanied by her dead sister's ghost, Margo. I didn't expect this paranormal side of the story so it took me off guard at first but I quickly got used to it!

I'm very excited to see what else Bush has in store as she might just become one of my auto-buy authors!

📆 Whispers of Dead Girls releases today! So go ahead and check it out!

Thank you so much @marleebushwriter @poisonedpenpress and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review ❤️

**Thank you to @netgalley, @marleebush and @poisonedpenpress for a free ebook ARC copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Ren has just moved back to the outskirts of her hometown after a failed marriage. She has secrets and bad history with her roots, being home isn't easy. Why did she come home anyway?

I really enjoyed following Ren through her attempts at keeping the past from repeating, but also the missteps she made while trying to do so. I dis like yhe twist sy the end, but I would have liked a more clear cut ending. Kinda felt like it wasn't tied up with a nice little bow. The author might be doing a sequel? I don't forsee that, but it could be why its not a clear ending.

If you like a story where the MC goes back home and their past gets trudged up, then this is for you :) I enjoyed it and I hope you do too!

***I will warn any potential reader that there is a possible paranormal element. Im not sure if its paranormal or a mental condition brought on by trauma.

I loved Marlee's previous book, but this one just did not hit the spot. It was slow and just never grabbed me fully. The pacing of the book is very slow and I just found myself bored throughout. There was also a supernatural aspect and that usually never works out for me.

Whispers of Dead Girls by Marlee Bush is a slow burn, atmospheric thriller with a supernatural element.

Ren has just returned back to her hometown after 10 years to accept a teaching position at her old highschool. Ren is still haunted by her sister's death and being back at the school brings all those memories back. When Ren notices a male teacher across the hall becoming a little too close to one of his female students, Ren is reminded of the teacher who groomed her sister and eventually led to her death. Determined to make sure the past does not repeat itself, she will do anything she can to protect the girls of the school.

This is one of those books that while it takes a little while to get into, once you keep reading you get hooked and need to find out how things end! Ren is a protagonist that while she isn't always likeable, she is determined and the fact that she isn't the typical MC we usually see made me like her. There are definitely some tough things that are discussed including: abuse and SA so just be aware before reading! And then that ending?!? I felt like it wrapped things up for the most part with a great twist. The way it ended definitely kept me thinking about this book long after I finished which I think was the author's intention. Overall a slow burn and twisty thriller that I would definitely recommend!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Marlee Bush, and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC!! Publication date: May 27th 2025.

Wow—what a ride! Huge thanks to NetGalley, Marlee Bush, and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC. This was an emotional, gripping, and fast-paced read that had me hooked from the very first page.
Ren's story pulled me in completely—I felt deeply connected to her journey, and it stirred up so many emotions. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and just when I thought I had it figured out, the story would throw another curveball.
This is one of those books that you just can’t put down. A compelling mix of suspense and heart—absolutely a must-read!

A solid read. I struggled to get into it and found myself picking it up and putting it down as some parts dragged on. Overall, a solid 3-star mystery/thriller.

Thank you #netgalley and #poisonedpenpress for the eARC.

Whispers of Dead Girls by Marlee Bush starts with a chilling and atmospheric premise that immediately grabs attention. The idea of a girl hearing the voices of murdered women is both eerie and compelling, and Bush does a good job setting a moody tone that fits the story’s darker themes.

However, while the concept is strong, the pacing feels uneven. Some parts drag with excessive internal monologue or repetitive scenes, while key moments that should feel suspenseful or emotionally impactful are rushed. The characters—especially the protagonist—have depth, but their development sometimes takes a backseat to plot twists that feel more shocking than earned.

There’s definitely promise here, and fans of YA thrillers with a supernatural edge might find it worth the read. But for me, it didn’t fully live up to its potential. A solid middle-of-the-road read with moments of brilliance—but also some missed opportunities.

🖤🖤🖤🖤
4/5

ᴡʜᴇɴ ɢɪʀʟꜱ ᴅɪᴇ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ꜱᴘᴇᴀᴋ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜꜱ ᴀɴʏᴍᴏʀᴇ, ᴀʟʟ ᴡᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʟᴇꜰᴛ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴡʜɪꜱᴘᴇʀꜱ.

When I was offered the chance to arc read for Marlee Bush’s second thriller book, I clicked “read now” so dang fast! I truly enjoyed her debut & was super excited to dig into another one of her twisted stories. And this one didn’t disappoint at all! Also…look at that cover! Omg. 🤩

Ren is back in her hometown, working as a biology teacher at the high school that holds her dark past. When she finds history seems to be repeating itself, she falls head first to save the girl left to save the way she wasn’t able to save her sister years ago. There’s plenty of twists along the way, but I went into this one blind and I don’t want to give too much away!

Here’s what I found intriguing…

‼️ the way Marlee wrote this made me feel so wrapped up in the story because I feel most people can relate to having that one teacher in high school that seemed oddly close to the students looking back at it as an adult. This aspect of the story really had me so intrigued!

👻 Margo’s ever present shadow? Or ghost? Or was it all in Ren’s mind?! I LOVED how this was written!! (Anyone that reads this must DM me because I NEED to talk about this!!)

❔ Ren thinking about how if she did one thing differently, the past might be totally different was very relatable as someone with anxiety & problems with being mindful of the present.

⛓️ this quote really hit hard… “Sometimes people get twenty years for possession of drugs while sexual predators get probation.” I feel like Marlee Bush really wrote this in a way that puts a spotlight on the issues at hand in this book without taking away from the story or the issues.

🖤 overall, I really enjoyed this book! It is out now. Definitely add this one to your thriller TBR list!

You know what they say about small towns: Everyone knows your name and business and has a secret. Someone is always the cat, and the other is the mouse, but what if you can trap the cat? When Ren returns home and feels the past is repeating itself, she takes it upon herself to try to stop it. 

This is a good debut, with some pacing issues and an unreliable narrator, but a short, quick read, and overall a good thriller.  

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I could not read this quick enough, trying to find out what really happened to Margo. You only get brief insight throughout the entirety up until the end so I had several different assumptions. This is tense, stressful, infuriating and so captivating all at once; it was really good! I read this in one sitting. The ending had me a bit pissed off but that was definitely the intention and it worked well with the story. I know it’s only her second book but so far it’s my favorite.

There’s a whole lot of emotions unpacked in this one and plenty of triggers so if that’s something you need to know, check them first. Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for my eARC.

A slow burn exposé of long-buried secrets and uncomfortable truths, Whispers of Dead Girls made me wriggle in discomfort as I raced through the pages. Don’t get me wrong, this one was twisty to be sure, but the underlying serious themes were the special sauce in this riveting debut novel. Well, that and the deftly crafted protagonist who easily had me in the palm of her hand. Seemingly guided by her high-handed principles, this complex yet messy main character with a side of moral grayness was the driving force throughout this twisted, twisted tale. After all, she made this one feel heartbreakingly real in all of its intense, gut-wrenching glory.

As for the plot, it was much more slow going than I was expecting. With an enigmatic past that was kept firmly obscured for the bulk of the novel, it was sometimes hard to remain immersed in the novel despite my incessant curiosity. My biggest pet peeve, however, was the slow pace of this mystery. It wasn’t until the last third or so where I found myself utterly hooked. Just the same, I loved the eerie feel and the untrustworthiness of nearly all those involved. Throw a supernatural ghost that “haunts” the female main character, and there was plenty to keep me turning the pages.

All said and done, I found this one a definite mixed bag. A strong showing in terms of atmosphere and characterization, there were still some flaws that made it just miss becoming an utter home run. I do wish that it hadn’t felt quite so disjointed in the middle, but the gripping, unguessable conclusion kind of made up for it by the end. With a shocking twist that had my jaw on the floor and a flipped-script character that I didn’t see coming, I enjoyed this one overall. So if you love a good slow-roll mystery that explores thought-provoking themes, give this one a try. While not necessarily perfection, it was still a solid read for me. Rating of 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Marlee Bush, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for my complimentary digital and physical copies. All opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this atmospheric thriller by Marlee Bush. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Ren Taylor is a new teacher at her old high school. Ren is still haunted by the death of her teenage sister and the resulting scandal. Ren meets physics teacher Bryson Lewis and is enchanted along with the rest of the staff, until she starts getting suspicious of him and a close relationship he has with a student. Is history about to repeat itself?

This is a dark, twisty thriller that will have you questioning everyone. Even Ren's murdered sister is a character, as Ren sees her everywhere and can't let the past lie. The premise is frightening and familiar, with young women vulnerable and men potentially dangerous. There's a strong need for justice and revenge over anything else. It's a bit of a slow burn as the characters develop, but hold on because the twists are coming!

3.5 ⭐️ This was a solid, middle-of-the-road mystery thriller in my opinion. It read more YA to me, and I felt it dragged a little at times, but I did find it enjoyable overall. The plot was intriguing and there were a couple of unexpected twists thrown in to pull everything together. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ren returns to her hometown to teach Biology at a school that is a constant reminder of the murder of her sister, Margo, and a scandal from her past that shaped her future. Ren sees ghosts and has an intense distrust of men. When she thinks a student is in trouble, how far will Ren go?

Marlee Bush writes a slow-burn thriller that will keep you on edge. With a touch of supernatural elements, Ren is a powder keg of manic intensity. Is she projecting her scars onto innocent people, or is she saving future victims? The book has an interesting premise, but readers should not expect a fast-paced narrative.

An advanced reader copy provided by Poisoned Pen Press via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.