3.5 rounded up!

"Our teacher wasn't the only one who killed my sister. It wasn't just his fault. He couldn't have done it without my help."

WHISPERS OF DEAD GIRLS by Marlee Bush follows Ren who's back in her hometown after ten years and has just accepted a teaching position at her old high school - the school that led to her sister's death. When she meets the charismatic physics teacher across the hall and notices his closeness with one of his students, Ren is reminded even more of her and her sister's time at this school and refuses to just stand by and let things happen.

This book definitely deals with dark subject matter that kept me on the edge of my seat! I was hooked into the story right from the start and really enjoyed the academia and small town setting.

I did think our main character Ren (who makes wild decisions and should maybe not be a teacher??) reached conclusions way too quickly when it came to the pacing of the story - we're given a lot up front that we then have to linger with for a majority of the book before the story truly starts evolving.

3.5 stars instead of 3 mainly because it was really hard for me to put this one down despite my misgivings!

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Whispers of Dead Girls is a compelling, layered thriller with a paranormal edge that caught me off guard in the best way. It follows Ren, a woman who returns to her hometown and takes a job at her old high school—the same one her sister once attended before being groomed and killed by a teacher. Now, years later, Ren believes history is repeating itself, and she’ll stop at nothing to prevent another tragedy.

This read felt almost YA in tone, partly due to the high school setting and Ren’s impulsive, emotionally driven approach—but that didn’t take away from how addictive it was. The book expertly weaves together past and present: Ren’s grief over her sister, a current missing girl, a new suspicious teacher, and an entire web of buried secrets. There’s a ghostly undertone that’s subtle but effective, adding eerie tension to every chapter.

Ren isn’t always likable, but that’s exactly what made her so real. She’s flawed, raw, and emotionally haunted—and that depth made the slow-burn pacing worthwhile. While some scenes felt repetitive or slightly disorienting due to quick timeline shifts, I appreciated how everything connected by the end. The final chapters were messy and unresolved in a way that felt intentional—and left me thinking long after I finished. Not perfect, but deeply absorbing and full of atmosphere.

Ren moves back to her hometown to work as a teacher at her old high school. She notices that the male teacher across the hall from her seems to be getting too close to one of his students. Their relationship reminds her to much of the death of her sister from when she was in high school fifteen years ago. She still feels guilty about what happened to her sister and this time she's determined not to let history repeat itself.
This mystery was fast paced and kept me intrigued the entire time!! I was defitniely surprised by the twist at the end, it makes you think about who you can really trust. The timeline shifts in this book confused me at times but it fits with the emotions and thought process of the main character, Ren. The last part of the book had a lot of tension with emotions that were left unresolved but I think it fits well with the setting of the story as well. Definitely check the trigger warnings before reading since there are a few heavy topics covered in this book.
Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press, Marlee Bush, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

✧˖°.⊹ 📖 ⊹.°˖✧

whispers of dead girls by marlee bush

rating: ★★★☆☆

this book was a really interesting and gripping read in my opinion. i really enjoyed the fmc being an unreliable narrator because it added to the mystery of the story. the discussions between margo and ren weren’t really productive and i felt like margo was just there since ren ignored her the whole time, it felt like she added very little to the story.
i was really disappointed that it took over halfway into the book to get the full story of margo’s death but i guess that’s what gripped me to continue to read. the ending was very unexpected (in my opinion) and left a lot of unanswered questions.

overall solid read!

thank you netgalley and poisoned pen press for this e-arc 🩷🌟

Wow. I was really impressed with this one. Whispers of Dead Girls had me turning the pages and Marlee Bush you have caught my attention!

You meet REN, who is returning to teach at her high school 10 years after she graduated. Sadly 10 years ago, her sister Margo, was tragically killed under unusual circumstances. Small town, nobody has ever forgotten about Margo’s death. Especially Ren. Their family has never been the same. Neither has Ren.

Ren meets fellow teacher Bryson Lewis. After witnessing a student leave his classroom crying and upset, Ren suspects something inappropriate is going on. She goes down a deep dark rabbit hole of what is happening with this student and a couple others. What she finds out is more than she bargained for.

This book, kept me guessing. Suspenseful, at times eerie, with the added paranormal aspects to it. I’m not really one for paranormal storylines, but this one made sense and added depth to the relationship between Ren and Margo.
There are many dimensions to the main character, and not all are what they seem. Ren is complex. You will soon find out why.

I flew through this book, and think it’s going to be one that lots of people are going to be talking about. It’s definitely worth your time. Highly recommend if you are looking for a fast paced mystery thriller with some great twists. Looking forward to the next work by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the early readers copy. This book publishes May 27th,2025.

4.25🌟

Ren Taylor is back at her old high school, this time as a teacher. She's haunted by the past - of her sister Margo's murder and the scandal related to her death. The aftermath tore her family apart. Soon, Ren becomes suspicious of the overly charming physics teacher, Bryson, and his possibly not-so-innocent relationship with one of his students. Ren feels the past is repeating itself and is willing to do anything to protect the young girl involved.

I liked this one. I enjoyed the presence of Margo in this; she returns frequently as a ghost who speaks to Ren and offers her advice. I could see how people might find this a bit predictable, but the writing and atmosphere are executed well. Ren is morally gray throughout the book and sometimes hard to like. It's a quick read, and I would pick up another book by Marlee Bush again.

Recommended for fans of twisty mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.

attention all my thriller lovers-this one was dark, twisty, and full of secrets that will leave you shocked and haunted.

right off the bat, we're welcomed into the small town of Benton which has an eerie, uneasy, and suspicious atmosphere to it. you're not quite sure what to make of Bryson-is he hiding something darker beneath the bubbly and handsome exterior or not? and our main character Ren is another mystery too. she's not your typical fmc but what's what i liked the most about her. she's deeply flawed and carrying such deep grief, scars, and pain which drive her to fiercely defend girls like her sister.

the story definitely took its time developing and growing,
building with an ominous slow burn until the end. but i totally loved it here! everything led up to that shocking, unexpected, and disturbing ending. im still in shock over how it ended honestly-it left me with a lot of questions and feeling uneasy. however, for this kind of story, i think it was perfect.

i haven’t read a story quite like this one-what a ride!

thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Marlee Bush, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book! all opinions and thoughts are my own.

What a thriller! The quick chapters kept me going while the slow-burn gets hotter. I couldn’t find myself really rooting for Ren, however as the story goes on, I believe I can arrive at some sort of acceptance for her. I really enjoyed this book and thank you to Poisoned Pen for the ARC! Another person’s post reminded me to get back on NetGalley to submit my own thoughts.

A small town mystery where girls are missing and no one seems to know what happened to them. When a teacher gets involved she uncovers some nasty secrets that she can relate to from past mistakes.

This thriller, tinged with a supernatural edge, surprised me—in the best way. While that genre mix isn’t usually my preference, I found myself deeply engaged in the story.

The plot centers on Ren, who reluctantly returns to her hometown after years away to take a teaching position at her old high school. From the beginning, it’s clear she’s deeply uneasy being back, but personal circumstances leave her with no other choice. As the story unfolds, we learn Ren is burdened by guilt over the tragic fate of her sister, Margo. Flashbacks gradually reveal haunting secrets, including a disturbing past involving an inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a student. Now, as a teacher herself, Ren fears history may be repeating itself—and she becomes determined to prevent it.

With its blend of psychological suspense, emotional depth, and eerie undertones, this story held my attention and left me thinking long after the final page.

Prepare for the Dead to Talk Back!

Marlee Bush knows how to craft twists and turns to delight readers! Whispers of Dead Girls is a thrill ride with hidden motives, revenge, and apparitions to haunt readers. Following our heroine Ren, this story focuses on a sister's chance to redeem herself in the face of her family's tragedy. It tackles some very dark themes surrounding abuse and sexual assault, so let that be a trigger warning just in case. However, this book succeeds in a lot of great ways.

I was hooked from very early on in this story. They set the stage pretty immediately in terms of what to expect from both the plot and the climax. However, the twists that are revealed at the end of each chapter added so many layers that I had to keep reading. Ren is a complicated character who does a lot throughout the story. I found myself wondering how she did all the things that she does because, in addition to her day job, she has some nightly activities and explorations that take a lot of time.

The final reveals toward the end of this book take this book to the next level. Not only was it shocking, but the last chapter was also so tongue-in-cheek that I was delighted reading it. It just was such a fun ending that wrapped up all the loose ends while also giving readers a final little taste of a twist. All in all, this was such a fun thriller - Check it out!

3.75 Stars - My heart broke for so many of the characters in the book. They were, for the most part, simultaneously victims and perpetrators. And the questioned asked within the book - nature vs. nurture - is the perfect one. Were they born this way or did they become this way after being victimized? It’s not a question that can be answered, but I think for the most part, people are a product of their circumstances. I think Ren certainly is.

This book is extremely well written, and what I thought I had figured out ended up not being the outcome. I appreciated that I was kept guessing throughout and the twists were both surprising and tugged at the emotions. The end had me torn - and I won’t give anything away - but I was definitely left with feeling the moral dilemma of whether or not I was good with where and how all the characters ended up.

Thank you to Netgalley, Marlee Bush and Poisoned Pen for the ARC!

I'm only giving 3 stars because I can't give 3.5. I did have a hard time getting sucked into the book. Once it grabbed me it was a great ride. I love the small town vibes and that story of the main character returning home after a tragedy. There is definitely a lingering unease from the very beginning which of course makes for a good thriller. I would consider this a slow burn myself and honestly the ending was unexpected. It actually left me feeling like I didn't get quite the resolution I had hoped for. Overall, I'd recommend this book to my friends who love thrillers/suspense.

Whispers of Dead Girls is a dark and mysterious story that follows a young woman who is carrying guilt from her sister’s death when they were in high school. Due to events that are slowly explained to the reader, she is distrustful of men; specifically older men in positions of power. It is a sad and suspenseful book that I truly enjoyed!

✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼.5 / 5

WHISPERS OF DEAD GIRLS by Marlee Bush

thank you to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for early access to the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

quick thoughts:
⭐️ 4.5/5
👩🏻‍🏫 female teacher is suspicious of a male teacher when he transfers to her school after a student is found dead
🎢 mystery/thriller
✍🏼 short chapters, single POV
‼️ check trigger warnings
👍🏼 would recommend to thriller lovers!

happy pub day! i had no idea what to expect from this one because i hadn’t read anything by this author before, but it did not disappoint!

🎶 “i’ll go with you”

this was a fantastic thriller! i enjoyed the writing style and the way in which this story was told, as it kept my interest throughout. though it was difficult to read at times due to the subject matter, i felt the author did a fantastic job of keeping the story moving. i also appreciated the emphasis on sisterhood and the growing pains of growing up with a sister

unfortunately, i feel a lot of women—and i’m sure some men—will relate to this story in one way or another. as i mentioned, i would be sure to check trigger warnings before proceeding. otherwise, i highly recommend checking this one out!

I would give this one a 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars!

High school science teacher Ren Taylor moves back to her hometown with the intentions to make peace with her past but instead becomes obsessed with revenge and digging up secrets that should just stay buried.

I enjoyed this captivating thriller. The story caught my attention early on and kept me wanting to find out all the secrets of the characters.

What I liked:
The story and characters were both well written.
The mix of reality and ghosts/hallucinations.
The redemption arc of Ren
How Ren always trusted and put the safety of her students first

What I liked a little less:
I think the story would have been more concise if there weren’t many storylines within the original plot. We start with the main storyline of Ren coming back to her hometown and getting involved in the mystery of the current missing girls. Then we branch off into the past when Ren was in high school, the Margo and Ren convos, Rens extracurricular activities and back to what was really going on with the current storyline. It eventually did all come together in the end, but it was sometimes a little much when trying to get there.

Overall, this was a good thriller that kept me interested and kept me guessing. The ending wasn’t what I expected and that’s my favorite when reading thrillers. The story brought light to a real life issue that young girls and women face. It makes the reader question if the trauma can truly be healed and if the revenge is really such a bad thing if justice is finally served? I will definitely read more from this author!

I'm conflicted with this one between 3 and 4 stars. It's been a while since I've read a book where I was in shock by how the main character was acting.. I kept gasping out loud asking "why is she acting younger than she actually is", then finding myself justifying because of the family situation. THEN something would happen & you're left thinking "okay that's weird"

a bit of paranormal aspect, which was nice because I can't say it overwhelmed the book and wasn't mentioned in a way that brought horror. The biggest reason why I'm conflicted is because the author was portraying a specific message throughout the entire book, only to have the ending contradict with the entire story... it felt wrongly executed unless it was supposed to be perceived that way

quick read, mystery, and dysfunctional family, as the main character returns back to her hometown where her sister died. You'll find during the book of how this comes about which led to the dysfunctional family

Twisty mystery/thriller about a woman who returns to her small town to teach at her old high school. Years earlier, the woman’s sister was killed and she was blamed for it. In the present time, the woman struggles with guilt over her sister’s death, while also becoming suspicious of a fellow teacher’s seemingly inappropriate relationship with his students. This is the second book that I’ve read by this author, and I think her books are very compelling and interesting. I love her writing and this was another intriguing mystery by her. However, I wasn’t a fan of the main character; she was not the most likable person. Her actions were very strange. I did like the mystery and the ending was wild. Even though the main character was not my favorite, I still had a lot of fun reading this one.

Recommended for: mystery/thriller lovers

This started strong but the pacing was a bit off - parts were ramped up and other parts really slowed. I enjoyed Ren going back to her hometown and the high school setting. At some point things went a bit too wild and it became a bit of a mess. I thought Ren’s demons were going to play a part - I mean, she was basically talking to her dead sister on every couple pages - but it didn’t really become a factor in the ending.

✨ A Dark, Gripping Thriller with Heart and Vengeance ✨

Whispers of Dead Girls was a short, fast-paced read that immediately hooked me. I was completely immersed and found myself sitting on the edge of my seat. It’s an emotional and captivating thriller that, at times, made me question my own sanity.

The story begins with Ren Taylor, who returns to her past under a different name. She takes a job teaching at her former school, the same school her sister, Margo Glass, once attended before her tragic death. Soon, Ren discovers that one student has died and another has gone missing. Driven by grief and instinct, she becomes determined to uncover the truth and seek justice.

This book was a mix of emotion, intensity, and morally grey characters. I found myself resonating with both Ren and Olivia at different moments. It reminded me that we all have shadows inside us, parts we keep hidden, but so much of who we become depends on our environment and how we’re treated. It’s a powerful reminder of how important it is to raise children with empathy, equality, and love.

Marlee Bush is such an incredible writer, I just couldn't put this down. I don’t typically reach for revenge stories, but this one felt different, in all the best ways. If you enjoy thrillers and emotional mysteries, this might just be your next favorite read.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for letting me read this gripping and poignant story of Ren, Margo, and Olivia.

✨WHAT I LIKED:
📌 Ren and Margo’s bond as sisters
📌 Ren doing whatever she can to protect the students
📌 Ren stepping into a vigilante role
📌 Billy protecting his sister
📌 Ren and Olivia finding each other

✨TROPES:
📌 Teacher X Student
📌 Revenge Mission
📌 Morally Grey Heroine
📌 Trauma and Grief
📌 High School Secrets
📌 No Spice