Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pin Press for an Arc in exchange for an honest review.

The concept had strong potential. Unfortunately, the pacing was slow, I struggled to connect with the characters. While the premise was intriguing, the execution didn’t hold my interest enough to continue. DNF’d at 26%

I have mixed feelings. Although this was really twisty and thrilling and actually really juicy (in terms of the reveals); it was so so slow paced! I really had to avoid skimming through the pages just to find out what was happening. If you can make it through the first 2/3rds of the book you’ll be rewarded, but it was a struggle to get there.

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-ARC

This was a very interesting read. I’m always a sucker for a good thriller that involves a secret relationship between teachers and students because I know it’s not going to end well.

This book was so full of all of the juicy secrets and twists and turns. When I reached the end my jaw dropped. This was my first read from this author and certainly won’t be the last!

This book was a bit YA to me, but I did enjoy it, I would consider it more of a mystery. I only read a little bit of the synopsis and thought I would enjoy. A good mystery to read by the pool. Thank you poisoned pen press for an early copy of this book
3 star

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This is Marlee Bush’s sophomore novel, and I think it is a very strong follow up to her debut, When She Was Me. Centering around a Ren Taylor as she returns to her hometown to teach at her old high school, she meets a fellow teacher, Bryson Lewis, who is a handsome and charismatic man. All of the other teachers love him. All of the students love him. But Ren, through her own life experiences, sees through him and knows that he’s the type of man who can’t be trusted. When Ren meets a young female student who appears to be receiving special attention from Bryson Lewis, she is worried history is repeating and is determined to handle the situation.

Whispers of Dead Girls had me fully invested. It had the mystery to keep me hooked and wanting to know what happened in the past and what was happening in the present. Ren Taylor also has secrets of her own that I added to the thrill of this story. I did wish that there was a bit more to Ren’s extracurriculars, but I still really enjoyed it. When it came to the big reveal at the end, I was so sure I had it all figured out, but then nope. I was so off. And I always appreciate when I can’t guess the twist! This one was a quick, easy, and enjoyable read! I’m currently watching Yellowjackets, and it kinda gave me those vibes in terms of the then/now storytelling and seeing and talking with a dead girl from the past 🫢 so if you’ve seen Yellowjackets, you might know the vibes I’m talking about. It also gave me This Girl’s A Killer vibes with the morally grey FMC. So if any of those vibes are of interest to you, definitely give this a read!

Marlee Bush is killing it, and I’m excited for what else she has in store!

Firstly I just want to say thank you Marlee for letting me read this as an arc! And boy what can I say about this book!!

This book had me hooked from the very first page. As someone who loves a good mystery, I was thoroughly impressed by how Marlee wove an intricate tale full of twists, turns, and surprises that kept me guessing every step of the way!
Just when I thought I had things figured out and that I knew who the "bad guy" was, a shocking plot twist completely caught me off guard and oh my gosh it was one I never saw coming. It’s rare for a book to truly stun me, but this one managed it effortlessly.

The atmosphere of the story is hauntingly beautiful, with a spooky, eerie vibe that lingers throughout every chapter. Marlee’s ability to craft a setting that feels alive and immersive is unparalleled and she just pulling me right into the world of secrets, shadows, and whispers. There’s a certain chill to the story that made it perfect to curl up with on a quiet evening and read the entire thing haha because that is exactly what I did!

One aspect I found particularly compelling was the emotional depth of this book! I don't want to give away too much.
Also, while I loved every moment of the journey, there’s an outcome in the story that left me with conflicted feelings but not in a bad way at all.
Instead, it made me think deeply about the characters, their choices, and the implications of the story long after I’d finished. This isn’t just a mystery you read, it’s a story you experience, one that stays with you and challenges you to reflect on some very serious topics. That really stood out for me.

Marlee’s writing is nothing short of phenomenal. Her attention to detail, her ability to keep the reader in suspense, and her knack for creating characters you care about are all on full display in this book for sure! It’s clear that she’s a storyteller who knows exactly how to keep her audience enthralled from start to finish. And coming from someone who tends to have a short attention span that is a feet in itself haha

I cannot wait for this book to be released so that others can experience the suspense, and chills that I did. And let me tell you, no matter what Marlee writes, I will be reading it no questions asked.
She’s a talent that consistently delivers, and Whispers of Dead Girls is yet another testament to her brilliance. This is a must-read for mystery lovers and anyone who appreciates a story that will keep you thinking long after the final page. Highly, highly recommend!

Secrets left and right. I really liked the very end. I wasn’t expecting that. I recommend reading this on audio as well.

the kind of Southern Gothic thriller that seeps under your skin—humid, eerie, and charged with secrets that refuse to stay buried. Marlee Bush delivers a haunting debut filled with folklore, family scars, and the voices of the past that echo louder than the present.

The novel thrives in its atmosphere. You can almost feel the weight of the heat, the hush of the woods, the uneasy sense that the land itself remembers what’s been done upon it. Bush balances mystery with lyricism, creating a story that feels both intimate and mythic at once.

The characters are messy, raw, and deeply human—bound to their history whether they want to be or not.

Whispers of Dead girls by Marlee Bush follows Ren, who has accepted a job at her old high school. Once she gets there she sees that her murdered teenage sister is still immortalized in both the town and school she works at.

Ren then meets the Physics teacher at her school. Everyone likes Bryson and falls all over him, except Ren. The more she watches him the more suspicious she finds him. She watches him get suspiciously close to a student and is worried the history with her sister is going to repeat itself.

I loved this book, the twists and turns. Thank you Marlee for working with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Ren Taylor steps back into her high school a decade after her sister’s tragic murder, determined to leave the past behind. But when she crosses paths with Bryson Lewis, the charismatic physics teacher, her instincts scream that something is off, especially as she observes his unsettling connection with a student who eerily resembles her late sister. Ren is ready to do whatever it takes to shield another girl from a similar fate.

Whispers of Dead Girls delivers thrills. From the very beginning, this gripping story pulls you in with a mix of unexpected twists and relentless suspense. However, at times, it veers into the realm of the unrealistic so be ready to suspend belief.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable wild ride that bringing together supernatural elements and surprises, ensuring you’ll be guessing until the very last page!

3.5/5 ⭐️

Whispers of Dead Girls is a thriller that leans more toward a murder mystery with subtle suspense elements and a slight young adult feel.

Ren is the main character and an unreliable narrator. Not knowing whether or not to really trust her made her character intriguing.

There were a few twists that landed well and kept me engaged, though other reveals were predictable.

Overall, it was an entertaining read, but it didn't wow me.


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*Complimentary ARC for review provided by Poisoned Pen Press. All opinions expressed here are honest and entirely my own.

Thank you so much to @poisonedpenpress & @marleebushwriter for the advanced copy!

The eerie atmosphere and layered storytelling pulled me in. I loved how the past and present mysteries intertwined—it added so much depth and kept me guessing. The suspense was steady.

I did find myself questioning the FMC a bit—her moral grayness made her interesting, but I wished she had a little more grit to really push back in the story. However, at the same time it added a lot to the overall story.

It was a thrilling read that wrapped up nicely in the end.

Rating: 3 stars
It kept me entretained. I liked the school setting and the mystery about the incidents.. however some of the twists were predictable while others were a little bit far fetched.

Thank you to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review

“I’ll always be doomed to reside in both places at once. My past. My present. Forever intertwined.”

This eerie and moody thriller will keep you wondering until the very last page. A sister torn apart by the grief of losing her sister returns to the school that holds too many memories. I loved the element of the sister's Ghost who hauntingly follows her through her days. It was almost like she was a spectator just like us, watching the events unfold.
It's one of those thrillers that makes you feel like you are constantly second-guessing what's ACTUALLY going on and who is ACTUALLY guilty. So many surprises and crazy turns. A good thriller to keep you on your toes.
What to expect:
Grief and trauma
A teacher/student relationship
Who is lying?
Finding the truth no matter the cost
A ghost who lurks in the background

Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press for my EARC.

Audiobook/ Narration: 4/5
Book/Overall Story: 3.5/5

In the past, whenever I finished a book, I would immediately draft my thoughts, reflections and review. Recently, I’ve attempted a new approach. I still continue to jot down more notes while reading, but now I’ve started giving myself a few days before I start to craft my full review. This has been helpful for me to see if that read is one that sticks with me or if it’s more forgettable. While I think this book is a solid thriller— definitely one that a lot of people can enjoy— I personally did not find it that memorable.

The book is using a tried and true concept. We have a main character who returns to their hometown and has to confront their past by handling issues of the present. At the beginning this book, I was really hooked to see how everything will play out, but as the book went on, it became so painfully obvious where things were headed. Due to that, the reveal and twist didn’t leave me as shocked as I wanted to be, and I found myself losing interest in the story as I was reading it.

With this book you don't know who to believe though if you pay attention really closely you'll be able to figure out who is hiding secrets. A really good read that deals with some tough topics please check trigger warnings before reading.

This book was amazing. It kept me locked in throughout wanting to know what was going to happen next. Spoiler alert, I never knew what was coming next.

Bush has crafted a mystery that anyone who is drawn to true crime or procedural crime shows will be sucked into right away. The characters are well crafted, the plot is interesting and paced well. Very enjoyable.

This book was incredible! There is no way that I would’ve ever seen the ending coming, not in 1 million years. It was everything! This author is a master of the twist and turns that keep readers like me engaged. I’m a sucker for a book that I can’t see the ending coming. This was that book! Amazing work and this is going on my to be read again list.

I did not get a chance to finish this book, but I will be purchasing a copy so I can do so. What i did read I liked very much, especially the way she cares about the kids so much so that she's ready to do anything for them and to find out the truth.