I had it wrong all along. I did not expect that ending at all. I enjoyed this book. This is the second book by this author that I’ve read.

This book had an interesting premise with ren talking to her dead sister and flashbacks to the past with her. I think this didn't flow as well as it could. Towards the middle of the book it was kinda murky about things and the ending wasn't very satisfying. I wish I liked it more then I did

Short fast chapters, an intriguing premise, and a lot of morally ambiguous decisions. Ren tragically lost her sister under sketchy circumstances. More than a decade later, she’s back in her home town, teaching at her old high school, and she’s on a mission to make sure what happened to her sister doesn’t happen to another teenage girl.

Ren is a very interesting character. She is flawed and weighed down with guilt, but she’s strong and willing to put herself on the line for the girls she’s worried about. The book also delivers a timely message about inappropriate, power imbalanced relationships. I didn’t see the twist coming, and I didn’t love it, but the rest of the story made up for it.

I was very excited to get this ARC. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy and a chance to read this early. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Poison Pen Press for the arc of this book. This book was absolutely captivating, and I couldn't put it down until I got the answers I needed. I was not expecting the twist, AT ALL, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I may need weeks to recover. It was a 5/5 for me.

Got to love an unreliable narrator you don't know what to believe. Whispers of Dead Girls is full of twists and OMG moments. Marlee Bush kept me guessing what was going on right until the end. Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for my arc.

Whispers of Dead Girls by new to me author Marlee Bush, published by PPPress is a full length, stand alone novel.
Well written and full of unexpected turns and twists , the book had me in suspense till the last chapter. A great read, 4,5 stars.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

TW: grooming/sexual relationships with minors


Talk about a morally grey main character. This is a heavy book, with themes of grooming and grief. It’s good, but it’s hard. Takes a hard look at who gets believed, and who doesn’t.

Reading this as a 31 year old that works with 18/19 year old college students was…something. It made me think about the 30something men that hit on me when I was 18, and how fucked it was. And how lucky that I escaped my teen years relatively unscathed by that sort of trauma.

I will say that I was disappointed with one of the characters story arc (can’t say more without spoilers), as I think it kind of blunts the point of the story a bit.

I received an eARC from netgalley (thanks!) in exchange for my honest review.

Whispers of Dead Girls is one of those books that lures you in with its haunting atmosphere and layered storytelling, but what truly got me was how confidently I thought I had it all figured out—until the twist at the end turned everything on its head.

From the beginning, the book had me hooked with its eerie, slow-burn mystery and complex characters. I found myself forming theories early on, feeling sure I could see where things were going. But when the final reveal hit, it completely shattered my assumptions. I literally sat there for a few minutes just processing what had happened, and then immediately flipped back through chapters to retrace my steps.

That’s one of the things I loved most about this book—it rewards close readers. Once I knew the truth, I started noticing the little breadcrumbs Marlee Bush had been leaving all along. Subtle clues were woven into conversations, descriptions, and even character reactions that seemed insignificant at the time. It made me rethink everything I had read, and honestly, appreciate the story on a whole new level.

This book doesn’t just deliver a twist—it makes you question your own memory of events. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that mess with your mind and leave you second-guessing even your most confident predictions, Whispers of Dead Girls absolutely delivers.

If you are in a reading slump this book will snap you right out of it. As Ren Taylor returns to her hometown to teach at her old high school, she knows she’ll have to face all the demons stemming from her sister’s mysterious death her senior year. She just doesn’t know yet how dark a path she’s about to embark on.
This is my first book by Marlee Bush but certainly not the last. A beautifully written mystery is such a treat. This story is fast paced, full of dark settings and gray characters, and pulls you into Ren’s mysterious and dangerous world right from the start. I absolutely devoured this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book will likely make you second guess everything you are reading. Ren is a complex character who is difficult to like. Based on the summary, I was expecting there to be lots of secrets and eerie undertones, which there was. I enjoyed the small-town setting, because, of course, everyone knows everything about everyone in town! However, the pace was off, particularly for the genre. Secondary characters weren't as developed as I expected. Some of them seemed pointless, in fact. The ending was also a bit unsatisfying. Some questions still remained.

Marlee Bush delivers a master class in thriller writing with this one! “Whispers of Dead Girls” is haunting, sinister and binge-worthy.

Ren Taylor lost her sister a decade ago and she feels partly responsible for her death, so when she returns to their old high school as a teacher, she’s determined to hold someone accountable. When other girls show up dead, she notices similarities to her sister’s death, and she decides to kick her investigation up a notch, her dead sister constantly in her head telling her to stop.

This book is gripping from the first page. The suspense kept me mesmerized late into the night. The twist was a definite surprise that I certainly didn’t see coming. If you like thrillers, or need an escape from everyday life, pick this up. You won’t regret it.

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

This was a good twisty thriller that kept my attention all throughout! I did predict a few things but it was still a good read!

I loved this book! The short chapters had me flying straight through this book. Ren Taylor is coming home to make peace with her sordid past. She finds herself stuck in the middle of yet another high school scandal. Teenage girls are going missing and showing up d34d and the thing they all have in common is a connection to the handsome teacher across the hall. Definitely add this one to your TBR!

I enjoyed this book, it was suspenseful and had many interesting layers. It took a while for me to get into it, and I predicted the end. But all over it was a good read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Whispers of Dead Girls by Marlee Bush due to be published May 27, 2025.

Ren Taylor is back and has accepted a job at her old high school. Ren can’t stop seeing her dead sister, Margo, wherever she goes. She’s dogged by the scandal that ruined her childhood and killed her sister. When Ren meets handsome teacher Bryson Lewis all her bad memories come back from men like Bryson. Will Ren get revenge or die trying?

This book had so many twists in it I could hardly keep up. Just when I thought I knew who the bad guys (or girls) were, something else sent me in another direction. I did not see the end coming (or parts of the middle, either). It was a great thriller!

#NetGalley #MarleeBush #PoisonedPenPress #WhispersOfDeadGirls

Ren returns to her old high school now as a teacher. She still feels guilty that her sister died and she imagines her sisters presence and talks to her. This added such an creepy element to the story and hooked me. Ren feels like history is repeating itself as the teacher across the hall is a little too friendly with the students. He reminds her of Mr Henry and her past. She was always in her sister Margo's shadow as she was the pretty, popular cheerleader who everyone loved.

Two students end up dead and both have ties to Mr Lewis. Ren is determined this time to make a difference and protect the students.

This leads her down a dark path of following Mr Lewis and reliving her past trauma.

You think you know where this is going when it takes a turn you never expected. This was a fast paced thriller you don't want to miss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen for a complimentary early release copy of Whispers of Dead Girls by Marlee Bush.

Whispers of Dead Girls has a decent story premise but unfortunately this one just doesn’t really stand out to me. I didn’t particularly like the characters. I found Ren to be a bit average, nothing really sticks out to me about her. I did like the haunting aspect with Margo though. That has to be my favorite element of the storyline but aside from that compared to When She Was Me this story feels like it’s lacking the suspense/mystery. There were thrilling moments but I didn’t find any of the reveals to be shocking.

The timeline during the start of the novel skipped around mid chapter sometime making it hard to keep track of what is happening in the story. This changes towards the middle where we get actual flashback chapters which I found to be more preferable. The ending of the book fell flat for me even though I hadn’t really suspected anything until the last couple of chapters. Overall rating 2.5 rounding up to a three because I found some of the quotes/messaging to be thought provoking.

Absolutely ate this book up!!!! Such a good thriller with jaw dropping twists and turns!!! Mind blowing plot!

I was a BIG fan of Marlee's debut novel, "When She Was Me," so I was thrilled to read her second novel, "Whispers of Dead Girls" - and it did not disappoint. I love how how Marlee writes emotionally complex characters that you simultaneously love and hate, often at the same time. I empathized with Ren while often thinking to myself, "I can't believe she just did that!" It's why I love those morally gray characters so much as I found myself questioning whether I would do what Ren did in certain situations.

Marlee is easily solidifying herself as a standout author and I can't wait to see what she does next!

I thought this book had a fantastic premise and an atmospheric setting that really drew me in. I loved the eerie tone and the way the story explored Ren’s return to her old high school, haunted by the memories of her sister’s tragic death. The small-town dynamics and the lingering scandal added a layer of tension that kept the atmosphere compelling. That said, I found the story itself rather boring. While the setup was intriguing, the plot didn’t deliver the level of suspense or excitement I was hoping for. I felt like the pacing was slow, and some parts dragged on without adding much to the overall narrative. The mystery surrounding Bryson Lewis and his connection to the student felt predictable, and I wanted more twists or surprises to keep me engaged.

Overall, I thought the book had a strong foundation with its premise and atmosphere, but it didn’t quite live up to its potential. It might appeal to readers who enjoy slow-burn mysteries with a moody setting, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me.