3.5/5 (rounding up)

I received an ARC of this novel by Marlee Bush releasing May 27, 2025.

The story revolves around Ren, a woman returning to her hometown a decade after the death of her sister. Securing a teaching job at their old high school, she attempts to make peace with the memories that have haunted her for years. Girls again begin to go missing in the area. As Ren is forced to confront her past, she goes to great lengths to stop history from repeating itself.

This was my first read by this author. While the writing did not blow me away, I found the story to be engaging and fast-paced. The theme of feminine rage was strong with this one throughout which I always appreciate (though I wish the author would've committed a bit more in the end).

I doubt I will ever revisit this one, but if you're looking for an easy popcorn thriller, this one fits the bill!

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Marlee Bush's “Whispers of Dead Girls” is a deeply atmospheric and emotionally charged psychological thriller that explores grief and the devastating impact of unresolved trauma. Set in a small town steeped in dark secrets and rumors, the story unravels as Ren Taylor returns to her high school, where her past and present collide in haunting and unexpected ways.

The book opens with Ren imagining her deceased sister, Margo, speaking to her—a stark reminder of Ren’s unreliable narration and her fragile grip on reality. Fourteen years after Margo’s death, the town remains consumed by rumors and the shadow of scandal. As a teacher now herself, Ren encounters Bryson Lewis, a charming physics instructor whose behavior raises alarms. Haunted by her own traumatic past and the loss of her sister, Ren becomes obsessed with protecting her students and uncovering the truth about Bryson, no matter the cost.

Bush crafts Ren as a flawed but relatable protagonist. Her relentless pursuit of justice and her deeply rooted guilt over her sister’s death drive the story forward, but her reckless actions and blurred boundaries with her students often challenge your sympathy as Ren aligns herself too much into a protector persona. Ren's skewed perspective, shaped by her traumatic experiences with predatory figures in her youth, is both a strength and a vulnerability, making her an unpredictable and compelling character.

The setting of the small town amplifies the tension, with its suffocating gossip and lingering memories of the past. Bush masterfully layers the story with themes of parental neglect and the psychological scars of loss. These elements create a chillingly realistic backdrop for Ren's spiraling obsession.

The central mystery surrounding Bryson Lewis and the echoes of the past is gripping, with steady revelations and a few well-placed twists. Bush's execution of the final twist is both satisfying and true to Ren’s character. The story’s pacing is fast, driven by Ren’s impulsive decisions and the urgency of uncovering the truth, though I wish Ren would have thought through some of her decisions more and better considered her role as a teacher more when interacting with her students.

Bush’s writing style is a standout feature with an eerie and oppressive atmosphere created and established throughout the book. The dynamic relationships and strong bonds between the characters, particularly the sisters, add emotional depth to the story. Ren and Margo’s connection is at the heart of the story, highlighting the fierce, protective love that lingers even after death.

Overall, “Whispers of Dead Girls” is a haunting and intricately layered thriller that explores the darker corners of guilt and revenge. Marlee Bush's masterful storytelling and the emotional complexity of her characters make this a standout addition to the genre. Fans of psychological thrillers will be drawn into this chilling tale of redemption and justice, eagerly turning pages until its shocking conclusion.

"This is the worst part when someone you love dies. How you have to share them with others. Even people who didn't know them. They look at me like they understand my grief, like they're active participants in it."
Ren Taylor is back at her old highschool as a science teacher. She is still trying to cope with her sisters death from 14 years ago. She meets a young male teacher named Bryson whom reminds her of an old teacher she had. She can't help but to think something suspicious is going on with him when she sees a student named Olivia crying coming out of his class. Memories flood into her mind from 14 years ago and with that she is determined to stop the same thing from happening again.
I really liked this book. The plot was easy to follow and some parts of plot you could easily guess. But the twist at the end was well worth it. I liked the characters. Ren at first seemed annoying especially with her questioning everything and everyone. The male characters are unlikeable but I mean we have these types in real life. I would recommend this book to others. Thank you NetGalley.

omg what a thriller!!! this is a good girls guide to murder but from the teachers POV and i could not put it down. Ren's sister was murdered as a teenager by possibly a teacher. 10 years later she returns as a biology teacher and notices something off about the male teacher across the hall. when the bodies of two teenager girls are found is he suspicious and can she help the students???

Ren returns to her hometown after a decade away and she's immediately thrust back into the memories that forced her to leave all those years ago. When Ren was a freshman, her older sister Margo, a senior, was killed amid rumors that swirled around a young male teacher. The actual details are withheld from the reader for a large portion of the story so you're not quite sure who is to blame. There are plenty of references to either Ren or Margo being taken advantage of by the teacher but it's kept vague to build suspense. It also mirrors what's happening in the present, when Ren sees another young teen that appears to be similarly groomed like Ren/Margo/both were. She digs in, determined to find out if the girl is in trouble, even though fellow teachers, the principal, and even the girl herself, try to convince her that she's fine.

So the suspense of the story lies in what really happened with Margo and what may or may not be happening now. There are plenty of cliches - her sister appearing from beyond and holding conversations with Ren (which I'm not a fan of and takes up too much of the dialogue), suspicious situations with too easy explanations, etc. Everyone thinks Ren is just reliving the trauma of losing her sister. Although, you'd think they'd have learned that just because someone appears nice and normal doesn't mean they couldn't be a predator. Unfortunately, Ren's character is so aggressive and suspicious of everything that you begin to think she really is just imagining a lot of what she believes.

It's a bit heavy-handed overall with the 'all men are evil' theme. There's maybe one male character that comes off in a good light. A bit too extreme, in my opinion. You can tell the same type of story but with a more realistic balance. Especially because the ending, which I did see coming, blows open the theory of who the most dangerous people actually are.

I actually lived this book! Mc has been living with guilt because she couldn't save her sister. 10 years later she returns to town and takes a job at the school. Needless to say, she begins digging and investing trying to bring justice. I couldn't put this book down! This was my first book I've read from this author and it's safe to say, I'll be looking out for more! Definitely would reccomend! In a heartbeat!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read and review Whispers of Dead Girls by Marlee Bush! I really enjoyed the story and characters. I did have a small portion of the plot figured out but did not see that end twist coming!

Solid book. Good plot, interesting characters/dialogue. Would consider recommending it. Decent editing and worldbuilding. Possibly some things that took me out of the narrative a few times, but overall an enjoyable read. I Will likely read the next installment if in a series, or look at the author’s other/future work.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of Whispers of Dead Girls by Marlee Bush

I would give this book a solid 3.5/5 stars. I struggled to get into the storyline initially. Ren the main character struggled with memories of her deceased sister when returning to her high school as a Biology teacher. The storyline was difficult to keep up with initially and took a little time to become invested in. The main character was irritating to me, and it took me extra time to finish the book because I struggled to like her.

The plot twist at the end of the book was decent, I did not expect the path that the author chose. There were some things that were left unresolved in the book and I found that a little frustrating. Overall a good read and I would recommend it to those that enjoy thrillers.

Ren Taylor never planned to return to her old high school, but here she is, teaching biology in the same halls where her sister Margo’s memory still lingers. Margo, who was brutally murdered years ago, is remembered with a tribute in the school, but for Ren, her sister’s presence is far more personal—she still sees her. Margo’s ghost appears to Ren, offering cryptic advice and a haunting connection to a past that Ren can’t seem to escape.

In the classroom next door is Bryson Lewis, a charismatic teacher with an easy rapport with the students. At first glance, he seems harmless, but something about him unsettles Ren. When Olivia, a troubled student, begins behaving strangely and Ren catches her sneaking out of Bryson’s room, she becomes convinced that history is repeating itself—that the horrific thing that happened when she was in high school is happening again.

Ren grows increasingly obsessed with uncovering the truth. She’s determined to protect her students, even as Margo’s ghost warns her to tread carefully. But Ren’s relentless pursuit of answers begins to alienate her colleagues and students. What if she’s wrong? What if she’s the problem? And if she’s right, how can she make anyone believe her before it’s too late?

Marlee Bush’s Whispers of Dead Girls is a gritty, atmospheric thriller that tightens its grip with every chapter. The claustrophobic setting of the high school mirrors Ren’s growing desperation, and the dark undercurrents of the story create a sense of unease that never lets up. Ren is a deeply flawed protagonist—difficult to root for at times—but the explosive ending changes everything.

Bush masterfully blends the supernatural with psychological suspense, plotting a narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very last page. The novel starts with a slow burn, but by the end, it’s a full-throttle race to the finish.

For fans of unsettling, character-driven thrillers with a touch of the paranormal, Whispers of Dead Girls is a must-read.

#PoisonedPenPress #MarleeBush #WhispersOfDeadGirls

I really enjoyed this book! Marlee Bush set the scene so well from the very start and I was able to imagine the settings so clearly. I really liked Ren's back story and getting to see into her life and why she was who she was because of what happened to her sister, Margo; I also really enjoyed that we got to see the dynamic between Ren and Margo throughout the book, a very nice touch. I didn't see the twist coming at all and thought it was very well done.

Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of Whispers of Dead Girls by Marlee Bush.
Description: She’s right. It can never happen again. She won’t let it.

Ten years have passed, and Ren Taylor is back at square one, having accepted a job at her old high school. She’d hoped to make peace with the past but now she’s thrust back into it: her murdered teenage sister is still immortalized in town, and Ren can’t stop seeing her wherever she goes. She’s dogged by the scandal that ruined her childhood and killed her sister.

Then Ren meets physics teacher Bryson Lewis. Handsome and charismatic, all the other teachers and students seem to fall at his feet. But Ren knows men like him – she knows they can’t be trusted.

The more Ren watches him, the more suspicious she becomes. And when she notices his close relationship with a girl in one of his classes – a girl just like her sister – she worries history is about to repeat itself. This time, she won’t sit back and watch another girl be taken before her time.

This time, Ren will do what she must to save her, even if it means revealing her own darkest secrets.

Twist and turns! Just when you think you know, you don't!

Thank you, Netgalley!
I wanted to like this book, but for some reason it just didn’t land for me.
Ren is chasing the ghost of her old sister by returning to her hometown after ten years to teach at her high school. Living with the guilt of not being able to save her sister, when suspicious things start happening to the high school girls, Ren puts herself in charge of investigating. Meanwhile, she’s also dealing with her own personal issues.
There were parts of this book I enjoyed, however I feel like there were some loose ends that still needed tied up and were neglected.

I could not put this book down. The plot twists are amazing and it keeps you on your toes from the very beginning. I was not expecting the ending which completely tied the entire story together and it was so well done!

Great read - highly recommend.

I loved the first book by Marlee Bush so I knew I had to read her second. This was just as good! The writing was so detailed and you could not see the twists coming. The main character was complex and flawed which made it hard sometimes to know if everything was true.... This was a great psychological thriller and I can not wait for the author`s third book.

Excellent. Written very well and you won’t see many of the twists coming. This was my first book by this author and won’t be my last. It was such a ride!

Another solid read from Marlee bush!

I jumped at the opportunity to request this one after loving her debut book. There’s something about Marlee’s writing style and flow that fits my preferences really well.

Although the main character was definitely twisted there was such a complexity to her that I couldn’t help but love her despite her flaws.

There is so much to unpack here, the impact parental neglect can have on children, the trauma and loss of losing a child / sibling, the ethics and power imbalance of student teacher relationships, the fear of not being believed, heard or judged when speaking out, and the vicious impact rumours can have on lives especially circulating within the school system where everybody has access to phones nowadays. There is just so many layers to this book and each and every character will surprise you in some way.

The ending (despite me guessing the twist at 40%) was executed really well. Our FMC surprised me yet again with her choices, I loved how the author chose to go in a different to typical direction here and on further reflection I think it suited her character after everything I learned about her over the span of the book.

I love how the authors books both focus on the strong bonds that tie sisters together, they say the greatest love can be found in parents towards their children but I believe the fierce love of a sister can rival that to some extent.

If you haven’t read anything by this author yet, absolutely don’t miss out and give one of her books a try!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Marlee Bush for the EARC!

Publish date: May 27th 2025

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

3.5 stars. This book felt very cut and paste with the plot, and it was pretty leading with the story.

*** I received an e-ARC of this book from Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review***

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was really excited to read WHISPERS OF DEAD GIRLS. Throughout the book I wasn’t sure what characters could be trusted, which in my opinion adds to the story line. I did not anticipate the twist at all. My only complaint was that you don’t find out what happened to Margo until you are 70% of the way through the book. Margo’s death impacted Ren in a such a way that her entire life was affected. I just found it odd that she was mentioned from page 1 and her death was referenced several times throughout the story but it took so long to find out what happened to her.

✨ Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley