Whispers of Dead Girls by Marlee Bush is the kind of thriller that leaves the reader wondering if the narrator is truly reliable, and as a result second guessing all of the available information at hand.

Ren has started a new teaching job in her hometown after leaving it behind many years prior following the death of her sister when they were both teenagers. Ren clearly, understandably has some lingering trauma over this as an adult, seen in the paranoia she displays from basically the very start of the book, not trusting anyone and seeing danger lurking around every corner that even slight reminds her of her sister’s death. The way she fixates on a male teacher at her new job and immediately suspects him of nefarious deeds establishes her obsessive nature so distinctly that I felt immediately thrown right into Ren’s head and like I could understand her as a character even if I didn’t fully know the reasoning behind her great mistrust in others and the overall trauma which has so clearly shaped her.

The way the story is written leaves so many mysteries for the reader, even about Ren, the character whose point of view it is being told in. This is masterfully done as things are hinted at without fully giving them away which just serves to amp up the readers intrigue and desperate to find out what is really going on. What are these mistakes Ren is making that seem insidious but could be entirely normal for all the reader knows? What did she do she feels makes her sisters death her fault? What really happened to her sister? I found myself with endless questions even just a few chapters into the story and I so wanted to keep reading to find out because it was so well written to keep me seeking answers and somehow not getting frustrated by the taunting hint of the questions.

Once I got into this book, I had a hard time stopping as the story just builds and builds to the point that it leaves you as the reader needing to know what was really going on and desperate for those answers. Once again, the author has pulled me into her writing and left me wanting more of her books, and I was just as impressed by the book as her first. I definitely recommend and can’t wait for more from Marlee Bush.

Marlee Bush, you are guilty of keeping me awake until 4am because I could not put this book down!

Whispers of Dead Girls is a phenomenal story. Ren isn’t particularly likeable. But she is a real person, not perfect and she has a bucket load of trauma that she is still processing. I developed theories early on in the story as to which way everything was going to go. And just when you think you have it all figured out, Marlee throws in some epic twists and turns.

I read this book alongside a book buddy on instagram and we both agreed that in the beginning the story did slip in and out of time and was a little hard to follow. But regardless of this we persevered & were rewarded with a brilliant story which has the potential for a second book.

A huge thank you to Poisoned Pen & Netgalley for the ARC e-read.

From the opening chapters, there’s a thick fog of unease coating everything. That small-town vibe, where everyone knows your name—and your past—makes for the perfect breeding ground for suspicion, rumor, and paranoia. It’s the kind of atmosphere that sinks into your skin and refuses to let go. The writing creates this eerie tension that never quite lets up and, while I’m not always one for slow burns, this one worked for me. The pacing took its time, but the writing style made it easy to settle into—especially with the looming question of whether Bryson is truly who he seems or something far more dangerous.

Ren isn’t always likable, but that’s exactly what made her feel real. She’s messy, flawed, and deeply scarred, driven by a relentless need to protect others in a way she couldn't protect her sister. Her grief and guilt bleed into everything she does. Even when I didn’t agree with her choices, I understood her—because how do you move forward when your past keeps dragging you backward?

That said, the middle portion did slow a bit for me. Ren’s internal spirals, while powerful, sometimes felt repetitive, and trimming them slightly could’ve helped tighten the pace without losing the emotional weight. There were also moments when past and present blurred so quickly that it became a little disorienting. If you looked away for even a second, it was easy to lose track of which timeline you were in. Still, I appreciated what those flashbacks added—they were heavy with meaning and gave us a deeper understanding of who Ren was then versus who she is now.

The supporting cast was hit or miss. There were a lot of characters to keep up with—some added richness, while others didn’t really leave a lasting impression. One that absolutely did, though, was Margo. Her ghostly presence brought this almost supernatural undertone that I really liked. It gave the story an extra layer, a feeling that the past wasn’t just haunting Ren emotionally, but maybe even literally.

As for the ending… I’m still sitting with it. It was definitely unexpected and left me with a lot of afterthoughts. I’m not sure I loved it, but maybe it was the right kind of ending for this story—messy, unresolved, and emotionally charged. The reveal of who was behind the students’ deaths didn’t hit as hard for me mostly because I wasn’t all that connected to that character to begin with. It left me with mixed feelings—some intrigue, some disappointment, and a lingering sense that maybe that’s exactly how this story was meant to end: not with full closure, but with a weight that stays with you.

As for the other part of the ending, while it was somewhat predictable, I found myself ultimately satisfied with how it played out and how well it was executed.

(Includes subjects of abuse and inappropriate teacher/student relationships.)

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘦𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.💐

I was intrigued by this book. There are lots of twists and turns throughout which kept me engrossed and made me want more.
The main character is well written. We get to see a lot of her backstory which shows us how she has come to be the person she is today.
I just didn’t find the final twist believable - to me it seems a tad far fetched.
But overall the book is enjoyable and the rest of the story is gripping.

Whispers of Dead Girls is hugely addictive and kind of haunting, great writing and an absorbing storyline.

Ren returns to her old school to teach, it is a place full of the ghosts of her past, including that of her dead sister, and things are not entirely right here as Ren will discover.

This is a character study in the aftermath of trauma and doesn't always follow the path of least resistance. The characters, including Ren, are not straightforward but they are compelling.

Overall a really great read.

3.75
A bit confusing at first as it slips in and out of time in a matter of sentences quite often. The main character is not sane so not a reliable voice, I went back and forth between liking her, being annoyed by her, her trying her best, her being crazy, likable... Then not again, often. It is not predictable but mostly because you are confused a large portion of the book. The characters, settings, emotions, etc are descriptive and the story is entertaining if not only for the reason of wanting to piece together what the heck is going on. I did want to keep reading, so points for that. I was not satisfied at by the end though. At about the 75% mark I was feeling really engaged and interested then it went messy again. I can't say I wouldn't recommend it though cause I'd be happy to discuss it with other readers in a book club setting.

Whispers of Dead Girls follows Ren, who returns to teach at the very high school she once attended—also the school her sister was enrolled in when she died. As Ren adjusts to her new role, she begins to suspect that her colleague, Bryson, is interacting with students inappropriately—something Ren knows all too well from her own past, doesn’t she?

The plot was intriguing with several compelling layers, though there were a few more characters than I personally would’ve preferred, which made it a bit harder to follow at times. I definitely didn’t see the ending playing out the way it did. That said, some parts near the end were confusing, especially in terms of who was speaking—it could’ve used a bit more clarity there.

This was a slow-burn read, but it kept me interested throughout.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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

Ren finds herself back in her small hometown teaching in her old high school. To the outside world Ren is quiet and distant, but internally she is battling so much. Her mind is in overdrive at all times, including daily hauntings of her sister’s ghost following her. I loved how I could feel the slow motion of Ren’s perspective at times. Wonderful imagery of the world around her slowing down to almost nothing as she drifted into past memories and the snap back to reality. This is what I’m looking for in an atmospheric psychological thriller!

Most of the book only gives brief clues and references to what originally happened 14 years earlier. As soon as Ren shows up the present closely resembles the past. It felt over-the-top coincidental, but I was happy with how it all came together at the end.I can’t wait to read more Marlee Bush books in the future!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date May 27 2025

I love a good thriller and I especially love a good thriller that has some epic “good for her” moments and this one was full of them. The story sucked me in and I found myself up late reading, not wanting to sleep until I knew the full story.

Ten years after graduating, Ren finds herself back in her old high school, only this time, she’s a teacher. She is haunted by the tragedy that killed her sister and ruined her life. With the ghost of her sister always around, and the charismatic teacher next door reminding her of the person who ruined everything for her, she can’t help but notice history repeating.

I devoured this book. Highly recommend for a thriller on the darker side.

4⭐️ (3.5 rounded up) This was a haunting read with strong writing that immediately drew me in and kept me curious until the end.

Ren Taylor returns to her old high school a decade after her sister's murder, hoping to make peace with the past—but instead, she is thrust back into it. Haunted by memories and her sister’s ghost, Ren becomes suspicious of a charming teacher whose closeness with a student feels all too familiar. She’s convinced something is wrong—and this time, she’s not staying silent.

I really enjoyed the author’s writing style — it’s vivid, immersive, and easy to fall into. Some chapters ran a bit long but were broken into sections, which helped. I loved the haunting element of Ren and her sister, but at times the story felt a little disjointed, and the twist could have been developed a bit more.

Trigger warning: the book includes inappropriate relationships between teachers and students.

Overall, a strong, memorable story with just a few bumps along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I loved that this book kept that mysterious vibe all the time as it added more tension and suspense to the plot. The book has surprising plot twists and ends with a cliffhanger. It does an excellent job at exploring morally grey areas and is deeply unsettling. Sometimes there’s a fine line between a hero and a villain….sometimes it’s simply a matter of perspective.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

I loved this book! Twists and turns on every page. Read in one sitting, could not put down. So well written and paced perfectly.

The story follows Ren Taylor, who returns to her old high school a decade after her teenage sister's murder. Ren is tormented by her sister's death and the scandal that shattered her childhood.

As Ren seeks to make peace with her past, she grows suspicious of Bryson Lewis, a charismatic physics teacher with a close bond to a student who reminds Ren of her sister. Determined to prevent history from repeating itself, Ren must confront her darkest secrets to protect the girl.

The novel promises to be an engrossing read, blending suspense with emotional depth.

I enjoyed Marlee Bush's first book and was so excited to get asked to read her second!

This was great, creepy, suspenseful.. all the right things!

This was so so good and also made me so uncomfortable bc the topic was just unfortunately something we all see happening in the real world:( It takes you out of the box and makes you think and feel and I truly enjoyed how the story was told, plus the ending was wild!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars – Intriguing premise, but didn’t quite deliver

I was eager to read Whispers of Dead Girls by Marlee Bush, having really enjoyed her debut When She Was Me last year (a solid 4-star read for me). I went into this one with high hopes—ready for another well-paced thriller with layered characters and some emotional depth. Sadly, this one didn’t land the same way.

Ten years after the murder of her teenage sister, Ren returns to her hometown as a teacher at her old high school. Haunted by memories, ghosts (both literal and figurative), and unresolved trauma, she finds herself spiraling again—especially when she begins to suspect the charming physics teacher, Bryson Lewis, of grooming a vulnerable student. Her protective instincts kick in, but her methods and assumptions often feel more unhinged than heroic.

The setup is great—dark, moody, and brimming with potential—but the execution felt sluggish. Despite short chapters and fast-moving scenes, the pacing dragged. I kept waiting for something big to actually happen. Ren’s paranoia was palpable, and while it’s clear that her trauma runs deep, her immaturity and erratic behavior made her hard to root for. The supporting cast? Forgettable. The plot? Predictable, with a twist that felt both harmful and overly sensationalized.

The haunting aspect with Ren’s sister Margo was eerie and well done, but the constant timeline shifts in the first half made it tricky to follow until proper flashbacks were introduced later. There were too many plot threads left dangling by the end, and I can’t help but feel this could’ve been a much stronger story with a tighter focus and more character development—especially for the teenage characters, who at times felt cartoonish.

Ultimately, I won’t be recommending this one. I appreciated the author’s ambition, but I found the central message troubling and the storytelling just not quite gripping enough to pull it off.

Thanks to Marlee Bush, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Ren Taylors' sister Margo Glass was murdered as a teenager possibly by a teacher.
Now ten years later Ren is nearly thirty returns to her hometown a small Georgia town as a biology teacher at her former high school.
She hasn’t gotten over her sister’s death. She hopes to have closure and find the killer. After girls start disappearing from the school, she suspects fellow teacher Bryson. She starts to see the ghost of her sister , and have flash backs throughout the story.

I like the premise of the book, and the title caught my attention. I did like the main character, but i didn't connect with the other characters. I didn't like the ending , it was unsatisfying. It wasn't for me but it wasn't a bad book.

Title: Whispers of Dead Girls
Author: Marlee Bush
Publisher: Poison Pen Press
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: May 27, 2025
My Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 366


Ren Taylors' sister Margo Glass was murdered as a teenager possibly by a teacher.
Now ten years later Ren is nearly thirty returns to her hometown a small Georgia town as a biology teacher at her former high school.
She hasn’t gotten over her sister’s death. She hopes to have closure - and find whodunit.

With the disappearance of several girls’ Ren sees similarities to her sister’s case and is fearful of things are being repeated. Something seems ‘off’ regarding Bryson Lewis the male teacher whose classroom is across the hall - Is he involved?
There are a lot of flashbacks and Margo continues to have a part of this story.

The ending was a bit of a surprise but I was still left wondering a few things.

I read "When She Was Me" author, Markee Bush's debut novel and loved it so was pleased when I saw she has out a new story. However I believe my expectations were a bit too high as this wasn’t the great read I was expecting.

Want to thank NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 27, 2025.

Omg… I LOVED THIS!!!!!! Thank you for the opportunity on reading an ARC copy of whispers of dead girls! Page turner and “unputdownable”!! I couldn’t stop after every chapter, I lost sleep (in a good way!) 5/5 RECOMMENDED!

Whispers of Dead Girls | ARC review




I knew this one would be good after previously reading Marlee Bush’s When She Was Me. (Review is on my page!) This one really built the tension and kept me guessing! Not only was it a thriller, but it gave some supernatural spooky aspects when Ren is talking to her dead sister. I think throughout the whole book you can really pick up on the anxiety and upset that Ren is feeling, I was completely pulled in to the story. The two major plot twists were fabulous, and there were some great parallels showcased.
Overall, a four star read from me! 🤩🤩🤩🤩

This one releases May 27, 2025 ✨


Thank you @netgalley @poisonedpenpress for the chance to read and review ahead of time!