(3.75/5 stars)
Whispers of Dead Girls is a slow-burning, emotionally fraught psychological thriller that leans hard into trauma, obsession, and the way the past can haunt a place—and a person—long after it’s buried.

Ren is a compelling narrator: haunted, paranoid, and constantly walking the line between justified suspicion and total unraveling. Her grief and guilt over her sister’s death give the story a raw undercurrent that I found affecting, even when the plot dipped into familiar territory. The setting—returning to your hometown only to confront every ghost you tried to leave behind—was incredibly effective.

Bryson Lewis is exactly the kind of slippery character that keeps you guessing. Charming but off, a little too perfect. It’s easy to understand Ren’s distrust, but her increasing fixation walks the fine line between vigilance and personal collapse, and that tension is the heart of the book.

My biggest gripe? It got a little repetitive. The suspense works well early on, but it started to feel like Ren was stuck in a loop of suspicion without the story quite evolving quickly enough. Still, the ending paid off, and I appreciated the emotional resolution as much as the thriller one.

A moody, unsettling story that asks what happens when your past never lets you go—and what you’ll risk to stop someone else from meeting the same fate. Not perfect, but it lingered.

This was an easy, but well-written suspense novel with major “me too” undertones. The story is told in dual timelines but the timelines aren’t explicitly stated, so it can be a bit confusing and didn’t feel like it flowed well enough to pull that off. This is a great book for folks who like dark suspense novels with unreliable narrators with lots of unresolved trauma and questionable morals. I really disliked the FMC even though I realize she was unstable; maybe the point was to not be sure about her. Overall, this book was just okay and I flew through it.. I cant exactly put my finger on it but it felt like something was missing.
I know it’s implied by the synopsis but can we also add TWs for books like this, please????
TW: grooming, statutory rape, murder

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press & Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Marlee Bush’s sophomore novel, "Whispers of Dead Girls," is a dark, psychological thriller that focuses on grief, memory, and the lasting impact of trauma.

The story follows Ren Taylor as she returns to her hometown to work as a biology teacher at her former high school. Ren is still haunted by her sister’s unsolved death ten years earlier. When Bryson Lewis, a well-liked teacher, comes under suspicion for questionable behavior, Ren begins to unravel emotionally—and possibly mentally.

The book’s biggest strength is its atmosphere. Bush creates a tense, eerie small-town setting that will keep readers on edge. Ren’s growing paranoia, along with the possible supernatural presence of her sister, makes the story emotionally intense and psychologically layered. The beginning of the novel is quick to captivate readers, but the pacing begins to drag a bit in the middle, with too much introspection slowing the plot. While there are some surprises, parts of the story are fairly predictable, and the supporting characters, especially Bryson, feel underdeveloped. This novel also sets up a few plot points that could be interesting and impactful, but doesn’t follow through. Most notably, there is a police investigation subplot that ultimately leads nowhere and could have been omitted entirely without affecting the overall narrative.

In "Whispers of Dead Girls," Bush offers a compelling premise, but doesn’t fully capitalize on its potential. It is still a solid read with a strong sense of place and mood, and fans of psychological suspense may certainly find enjoyment in its haunting themes.

👀 F R E A K Y F R I D A Y review 👀 featuring “Whispers of Dead Girls” by Marlee Bush!

MY RATING: 🖤🖤🖤.5/5

Ren Taylor has returned to her small home town as the newest faculty member at her old highschool. 10 years ago her sister was killed and Ren believes that a teacher from the school could have been responsible. Ren is back at this haunting place to not only confront the past, but also come to terms with her overwhelming feelings of trauma, grief and guilt.

Ren soon suspects that a fellow teacher is having inappropriate relations with one of his students. Memories of her sister’s unsolved scandal come rushing back to her and Ren is determined to protect others before history begins to repeat itself!

This book had A LOT going on and covered many themes: sibling loss, the power imbalance between students and their teachers, the fear of speaking out and coming forward when your a teenager and the destroying effects of gossip and rumours within a school setting. This haunting roller coaster ride of secrets, trauma and emotions will hit you hard with every twist and turn. Pay close attention to the bread crumbs the author sprinkles for readers and the dynamics of a small town riddled with secrets 🤫!

Thank you kindly to @marleebushwriter @poisonedpenpress @netgalley for my #gifted advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on May 27, 2025!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion!

This is my second time receiving a Marlee Bush ARC and it did not disappoint! The main character, Ren, was a little bit of a sociopath and definitely an unreliable narrator, but I really admired her continuous love for her sister and dedication to her memory. This book was filled with twists and turns, and an ending I definitely didn't see coming. I think I enjoyed Marlee Bush's debut novel a bit more, but this story still had me on the edge of my seat during the whole read. If you enjoyed her first book, especially the way she shows familial bonds, I would encourage you to give this one a read as well!

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).