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Old Soul
The woman never goes by the same name.
She never stays in the same place too long.
She never ages. She never dies.
But those around her do.
When two grieving strangers meet by chance in Osaka airport they uncover a disturbing connection. Jake's best friend and Mariko's twin brother each died, 6,000 miles apart, in brutal and unfathomable circumstances.
Each encountered a mesmerising, dark-haired woman in the days before their deaths. A woman who came looking for Mariko - and then disappeared.
Jake, who has carried his loss and guilt for a decade, finds himself compelled to follow the trail set by Mariko's revelations. It's a trail that weaves across continents and centuries, leading back to the many who have died - in strange and terrifying and eerily similar ways - and those they left behind: bewildered, disbelieved, yet resolutely sure of what they saw.
And, at the centre of it all, there is the same beguiling woman. Her name may have changed, but her purpose has never wavered, and as Jake races to discover who, or what she is, she has already made her next choice.
But will knowing her secret be enough to stop her?
She never stays in the same place too long.
She never ages. She never dies.
But those around her do.
When two grieving strangers meet by chance in Osaka airport they uncover a disturbing connection. Jake's best friend and Mariko's twin brother each died, 6,000 miles apart, in brutal and unfathomable circumstances.
Each encountered a mesmerising, dark-haired woman in the days before their deaths. A woman who came looking for Mariko - and then disappeared.
Jake, who has carried his loss and guilt for a decade, finds himself compelled to follow the trail set by Mariko's revelations. It's a trail that weaves across continents and centuries, leading back to the many who have died - in strange and terrifying and eerily similar ways - and those they left behind: bewildered, disbelieved, yet resolutely sure of what they saw.
And, at the centre of it all, there is the same beguiling woman. Her name may have changed, but her purpose has never wavered, and as Jake races to discover who, or what she is, she has already made her next choice.
But will knowing her secret be enough to stop her?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 28, 2025
About the author
Susan Barker
5 books265 followersSusan Barker (born 1978) is a British novelist. She has an English father and a Chinese-Malaysian mother and grew up in East London. She is the author of the novel Sayonara Bar, which Time magazine called "a cocktail of astringent cultural observations, genres stirred and shaken, subplots served with a twist" and The Orientalist and the Ghost, both published by Doubleday (UK) and longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize.
Her third novel The Incarnations (Doubleday UK, July 2014) is about a taxi driver in contemporary Beijing and interwoven with tales from the Tang dynasty, the invasion of Genghis Khan, the Ming dynasty, the Opium War, and the Cultural Revolution. While writing The Incarnations she spent several years living in Beijing, researching modern and imperial China.
Her third novel The Incarnations (Doubleday UK, July 2014) is about a taxi driver in contemporary Beijing and interwoven with tales from the Tang dynasty, the invasion of Genghis Khan, the Ming dynasty, the Opium War, and the Cultural Revolution. While writing The Incarnations she spent several years living in Beijing, researching modern and imperial China.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 347 reviews
July 12, 2024
I have to admit that I was a little skeptical about this book prior to starting it. It's tagged on NetGalley as “horror” and “literary fiction,” and while I do enjoy a good literary fiction read from time to time, I don't normally want my horror to be highbrow. And I can definitely see why this novel is labeled the way it is – its very … I dunno … artistically written, I guess? Kind of fancy-ish? (My alma mater's English department would totally revoke my degree if they could see the unscholarly way I talk about literature these days.) Everyone in this book is very artsy and poetically tortured, and even the villain is very … what's the word I'm looking for? … civilized, maybe? Basically, it just feels a little “deeper” than your usual run-of-the-mill supernatural thriller. The text doesn't include a single quotation mark, if that tells you anything.
But, with that said, this book isn't an inaccessible slog. It's rather light on the horror – I'd consider it more unsettling than outright scary – but it is gripping. The chapters switch back and forth between the stories of “Marion's” past victims (facilitated by Jake, a man searching for answers regarding the death of his best friend) and her present-day attempt to lure in her newest sacrifice. The present-day storyline takes place in under 24 hours, but with the frequent flashbacks in time it becomes a much slower, more meandering tale. Who is this woman and why does she seem to drive those around her to their deaths?
I particularly enjoyed the storyline involving the Sculptor (Theo). Can you truly say you love someone if you're willing to sacrifice aspects of their future in order to secure your own?
The ending made me want to scream into the void. I think that's a good thing. Probably. When it comes to horror novels, anyway. And then the epilogue is hands-down the creepiest part of the entire book and is straight out of a dark, dark high fantasy novel. It feels so different from the rest of the story but I loved it.
My overall rating: 3.95 stars, rounded up. If you're a fan of literary horror (and can handle dialogue that lacks proper punctuation), definitely consider giving this one a read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is January 28. 2025.
But, with that said, this book isn't an inaccessible slog. It's rather light on the horror – I'd consider it more unsettling than outright scary – but it is gripping. The chapters switch back and forth between the stories of “Marion's” past victims (facilitated by Jake, a man searching for answers regarding the death of his best friend) and her present-day attempt to lure in her newest sacrifice. The present-day storyline takes place in under 24 hours, but with the frequent flashbacks in time it becomes a much slower, more meandering tale. Who is this woman and why does she seem to drive those around her to their deaths?
I particularly enjoyed the storyline involving the Sculptor (Theo). Can you truly say you love someone if you're willing to sacrifice aspects of their future in order to secure your own?
The ending made me want to scream into the void. I think that's a good thing. Probably. When it comes to horror novels, anyway. And then the epilogue is hands-down the creepiest part of the entire book and is straight out of a dark, dark high fantasy novel. It feels so different from the rest of the story but I loved it.
My overall rating: 3.95 stars, rounded up. If you're a fan of literary horror (and can handle dialogue that lacks proper punctuation), definitely consider giving this one a read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is January 28. 2025.
January 19, 2025
Old Soul is one of those books that starts strong and compelling but goes on way longer than it should have done.
The opening with Jake and Mariko was arresting; the kind of opening that makes you sit up straight and settle in for what is sure to be a gripping read. The pair meet by chance when they both miss a flight at Kansai International Airport. As they get to know one another, it first seems like they have nothing in common, but soon they reach a chilling realisation: they each knew someone who died in the same disturbing and mysterious way.
What connects both these deaths, thousands of miles apart, is the appearance of a strange woman in the weeks leading up to the end. This new understanding leads Jake around the world in pursuit of answers.
The chapters alternate between Jake gathering testimonies from various people who have also lost loved ones to this mysterious woman, and the woman honing in on her next victim.
I have often expressed disagreement with Kirkus reviewers, but I think in this case they got it completely right. The longer this story dragged on, the more the tension drained out of it. Jake's investigations feel like a series of short stories, ones that became repetitive after a while. The eerie, mysterious woman, once well-explained, became far less eerie and not at all mysterious.
It was like the author built up all this tension in the first 25% or so, then just allowed it to slowly fade away over the rest of the book. By around the 75% mark, my interest had waned.
The opening with Jake and Mariko was arresting; the kind of opening that makes you sit up straight and settle in for what is sure to be a gripping read. The pair meet by chance when they both miss a flight at Kansai International Airport. As they get to know one another, it first seems like they have nothing in common, but soon they reach a chilling realisation: they each knew someone who died in the same disturbing and mysterious way.
What connects both these deaths, thousands of miles apart, is the appearance of a strange woman in the weeks leading up to the end. This new understanding leads Jake around the world in pursuit of answers.
The chapters alternate between Jake gathering testimonies from various people who have also lost loved ones to this mysterious woman, and the woman honing in on her next victim.
I have often expressed disagreement with Kirkus reviewers, but I think in this case they got it completely right. The longer this story dragged on, the more the tension drained out of it. Jake's investigations feel like a series of short stories, ones that became repetitive after a while. The eerie, mysterious woman, once well-explained, became far less eerie and not at all mysterious.
It was like the author built up all this tension in the first 25% or so, then just allowed it to slowly fade away over the rest of the book. By around the 75% mark, my interest had waned.
February 1, 2025
Susan Baker's "Old Soul" is a gem you must add to your reading list! It's raw, unique, compelling, and unsettling, with dark Japanese horror themes that guarantee nightmares!
The book weaves together multiple character testimonies, each horrifying, intense, dark, and sad in its own way. Lena's story touched me deeply, while Ursula's strange and heart-wrenching tale left me devastated.
This masterful paranormal horror follows an old soul hunting people to feed her eternal existence, but the background of this sinister being holds many mysteries. Through her victims' horrific stories, we piece together information about her: she appears to be in her mid-thirties, an enigmatic, charismatic woman with a German accent who never ages, moving from place to place. She takes Polaroid photos of her victims, who slowly become imposters of themselves, appearing possessed by an unexplained entity before losing their lives.
The story begins with a fateful intervention when Jake and Mariko miss their flight to London. Over dinner and drinks at an Osaka bar, they discover a chilling connection: both Mariko's estranged twin brother Hiroji and Jake's childhood friend Lena died under similar strange circumstances after encountering an eccentric woman who stripped away their sanity.
Jake's meeting with Mariko leads him to Germany, where he meets Hiroji's wife Sigrid, who sheds light on the strange circumstances of her husband's death. As Jake investigates similar cases, his search leads him to Theo, a dying sculptor in New Mexico, who might hold the key to these mysterious deaths and have an inexplicable connection to the woman.
Meanwhile, the woman, struggling with power issues, takes Rosa, a young influencer in her twenties who works as a hotel maid, to the badlands to film YouTube videos - but with a sinister hidden agenda.
Can Jake track down this woman who claims lives to maintain her immortality, or will he become her next victim? Who is she really? What are her capabilities? Is she evil, or something even more terrifying?
Overall, I was captivated by the unique storytelling and expertly crafted testimonies, each a perfect scary story for dark nights around a campfire. This strong 4.5-star read easily rounds up to 5! I recommend putting this book on your radar - but don't read it when you're home alone!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group/G.P. Putnam's Sons for sharing this brilliant book's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The book weaves together multiple character testimonies, each horrifying, intense, dark, and sad in its own way. Lena's story touched me deeply, while Ursula's strange and heart-wrenching tale left me devastated.
This masterful paranormal horror follows an old soul hunting people to feed her eternal existence, but the background of this sinister being holds many mysteries. Through her victims' horrific stories, we piece together information about her: she appears to be in her mid-thirties, an enigmatic, charismatic woman with a German accent who never ages, moving from place to place. She takes Polaroid photos of her victims, who slowly become imposters of themselves, appearing possessed by an unexplained entity before losing their lives.
The story begins with a fateful intervention when Jake and Mariko miss their flight to London. Over dinner and drinks at an Osaka bar, they discover a chilling connection: both Mariko's estranged twin brother Hiroji and Jake's childhood friend Lena died under similar strange circumstances after encountering an eccentric woman who stripped away their sanity.
Jake's meeting with Mariko leads him to Germany, where he meets Hiroji's wife Sigrid, who sheds light on the strange circumstances of her husband's death. As Jake investigates similar cases, his search leads him to Theo, a dying sculptor in New Mexico, who might hold the key to these mysterious deaths and have an inexplicable connection to the woman.
Meanwhile, the woman, struggling with power issues, takes Rosa, a young influencer in her twenties who works as a hotel maid, to the badlands to film YouTube videos - but with a sinister hidden agenda.
Can Jake track down this woman who claims lives to maintain her immortality, or will he become her next victim? Who is she really? What are her capabilities? Is she evil, or something even more terrifying?
Overall, I was captivated by the unique storytelling and expertly crafted testimonies, each a perfect scary story for dark nights around a campfire. This strong 4.5-star read easily rounds up to 5! I recommend putting this book on your radar - but don't read it when you're home alone!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group/G.P. Putnam's Sons for sharing this brilliant book's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
January 29, 2025
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
There is a woman who is always on the move, never ages, or goes by the same name.
If you see her, your body and your life will be in extricably changed.
After meeting fellow passenger Mariko at the Osaka airport, Jake learns that both of them have lost loved ones after encountering the same peculiar woman. She took their photographs and then they slowly lost their minds and lives. Only after an autopsy is performed did they learn that their internal organs had been reversed.
Who is this mysterious woman?
Jake sets out on a journey to find her. Through seven testimonials, individuals from all over the world detail their encounters with this same strange woman.
Can she be stopped?
Susan Barker is a new author to me, and I am impressed with her captivating writing. The chapters are very long, some more than hour, but each story kept me fully invested the entire way through. I really enjoyed how this plot came together, but really needed a few more answers at the end.
If you enjoy literary horror, you will devour this book!
3.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 1/28/25
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin publishing group for the ARC of Old Soul in exchange for an honest review.
There is a woman who is always on the move, never ages, or goes by the same name.
If you see her, your body and your life will be in extricably changed.
After meeting fellow passenger Mariko at the Osaka airport, Jake learns that both of them have lost loved ones after encountering the same peculiar woman. She took their photographs and then they slowly lost their minds and lives. Only after an autopsy is performed did they learn that their internal organs had been reversed.
Who is this mysterious woman?
Jake sets out on a journey to find her. Through seven testimonials, individuals from all over the world detail their encounters with this same strange woman.
Can she be stopped?
Susan Barker is a new author to me, and I am impressed with her captivating writing. The chapters are very long, some more than hour, but each story kept me fully invested the entire way through. I really enjoyed how this plot came together, but really needed a few more answers at the end.
If you enjoy literary horror, you will devour this book!
3.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 1/28/25
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin publishing group for the ARC of Old Soul in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2025
A malicious entity is out there, slithering across continents and through time. A shadowy woman is on her quest for immortality. She is collecting images, each one with the veiled figure of the otherworldly Tyrant taking hold.
Jake meets Mariko when they both miss a flight in Osaka. They are stunned to find they are each mourning loved ones who died under highly unusual circumstances; autopsies showing the reversals of internal organs. Their shared tragedy is linked to a woman– known as “E”– who vanished after the deaths.
Jake takes on the role of the investigator, tracking the woman’s activity and the long line of horrific deaths in her wake. Initially he is able to interview the loved ones of the victims; their accounts are presented here as testimonials. Later he discovers a disturbing pictorial record of these tragedies on the dark web, covering 150 years and hundreds of entries.
The narrative unfolds deliberately, showing how “E” relates to each victim… and what she robs them of. Interspersed between each account is the developing story of her current activity. She is out in the Bisti Badlands of New Mexico with a seventeen-year-old girl who believes they are establishing a YouTube channel. This parallel storyline prevents the novel from becoming just a collection of short stories.
The label "literary horror novel" is always questionable, but it fits "Old Soul." This is a creepy journey with a truly evil protagonist whose quest to keep living shows no empathy or remorse for the lives and suffering of others. She is a manipulative predator, exploiting the fears and insecurities of her victims, all the while deluding herself that this existence is worthwhile.
This will not be for everyone. Newly introduced characters necessarily exit quickly, before there is much room for development. The exception is The Sculptor, a wonderful character who leaves an unexpected impression on “E.” A little patience with the slow burn is rewarded, though, as the book pays off with a chilling wrap that will stay with you long after the lights have been turned off.
Thank you to the Penguin Publishing Group, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #OldSoul #NetGalley
Jake meets Mariko when they both miss a flight in Osaka. They are stunned to find they are each mourning loved ones who died under highly unusual circumstances; autopsies showing the reversals of internal organs. Their shared tragedy is linked to a woman– known as “E”– who vanished after the deaths.
Jake takes on the role of the investigator, tracking the woman’s activity and the long line of horrific deaths in her wake. Initially he is able to interview the loved ones of the victims; their accounts are presented here as testimonials. Later he discovers a disturbing pictorial record of these tragedies on the dark web, covering 150 years and hundreds of entries.
The narrative unfolds deliberately, showing how “E” relates to each victim… and what she robs them of. Interspersed between each account is the developing story of her current activity. She is out in the Bisti Badlands of New Mexico with a seventeen-year-old girl who believes they are establishing a YouTube channel. This parallel storyline prevents the novel from becoming just a collection of short stories.
The label "literary horror novel" is always questionable, but it fits "Old Soul." This is a creepy journey with a truly evil protagonist whose quest to keep living shows no empathy or remorse for the lives and suffering of others. She is a manipulative predator, exploiting the fears and insecurities of her victims, all the while deluding herself that this existence is worthwhile.
This will not be for everyone. Newly introduced characters necessarily exit quickly, before there is much room for development. The exception is The Sculptor, a wonderful character who leaves an unexpected impression on “E.” A little patience with the slow burn is rewarded, though, as the book pays off with a chilling wrap that will stay with you long after the lights have been turned off.
Thank you to the Penguin Publishing Group, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #OldSoul #NetGalley
October 8, 2024
Jake meets Mariko at the Osaka airport when they both happen to miss their flights. Mariko suggests they grab dinner and drinks together. After imbibing several cocktails Mariko informs Jake about the loss of her twin brother. Jake can't believe what he's hearing because he, too, lost his best friend under the same circumstances.
The story goes like this: They met a woman that photographs them only to lose their mind and life soon after. What's even odder is that during their autopsy it's discovered that their internal organs have all been reversed.
This sends Jake on a worldwide journey to track down this mystery woman and confront her. Along the way he meets others who have also encountered her and the path of destruction she always seems to leave in her wake.
"That she was unnatural. That she could manipulate her face to any affect. That her entire being was a perfidious mask of surging life, behind which lurked something not-living and predatory."
Wow, this book was absolutely phenomenal. The most intelligently written horror novel I have read in quite some time. Susan Barker has spun a tale that is both spine chilling and wildly original in concept. Enthralling in the best way possible. A book that will consume you ever so slowly until you turn the final page. A perfect example of the horror genre done right. ALL. THE. STARS.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group for my complimentary copy.
The story goes like this: They met a woman that photographs them only to lose their mind and life soon after. What's even odder is that during their autopsy it's discovered that their internal organs have all been reversed.
This sends Jake on a worldwide journey to track down this mystery woman and confront her. Along the way he meets others who have also encountered her and the path of destruction she always seems to leave in her wake.
"That she was unnatural. That she could manipulate her face to any affect. That her entire being was a perfidious mask of surging life, behind which lurked something not-living and predatory."
Wow, this book was absolutely phenomenal. The most intelligently written horror novel I have read in quite some time. Susan Barker has spun a tale that is both spine chilling and wildly original in concept. Enthralling in the best way possible. A book that will consume you ever so slowly until you turn the final page. A perfect example of the horror genre done right. ALL. THE. STARS.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group for my complimentary copy.
January 29, 2025
I feel as I’ve been in a dream. Barker’s writing is entrancing and lyrical. Beautiful and terrifying in its own class. I would classify this as a literary horror novel. Something I have not had an experience with. However, this flowed so naturally and all consuming.
There is a woman who stays on the move. Never goes by the same name and she never ages. How is this even possible?
Two people meet in an airport. One stranger spills some information that ties them both to this woman. After that, we are taken on a disturbing journey into the lives of these people and the evil force that resides within.
No matter what I write, it will not compare to the talent that is outlined in this tale. Prose so eerily evocative and compelling. I find my conclusion with Barker’s work a true literary masterpiece! Highly recommend if you’re looking for something different just in time for spooky season.
Thank you to G.P Putman’s Sons, Susan Barker and NetGalley for the opportunity.
Publication date Jan 28, 2025
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There is a woman who stays on the move. Never goes by the same name and she never ages. How is this even possible?
Two people meet in an airport. One stranger spills some information that ties them both to this woman. After that, we are taken on a disturbing journey into the lives of these people and the evil force that resides within.
No matter what I write, it will not compare to the talent that is outlined in this tale. Prose so eerily evocative and compelling. I find my conclusion with Barker’s work a true literary masterpiece! Highly recommend if you’re looking for something different just in time for spooky season.
Thank you to G.P Putman’s Sons, Susan Barker and NetGalley for the opportunity.
Publication date Jan 28, 2025
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 13, 2024
The best way to be immortal, the woman says, is not to die.
Vera, Eva, Marion, Katerina. The woman’s name changes, but the path of madness and death she leaves in her wake remains the same.
In the weeks prior to their gruesome deaths, Mariko's brother Hiroji and Jake's best friend Lena both met a mysterious dark-haired woman who seemed to enthrall them and then precipitate a slide into madness. A chance encounter after a missed flight leads Mariko to confide in Jake about the troubling details surrounding Hiroji's death. When Jake makes the connection to Lena's suicide a decade earlier, he is set on a path around the globe to interview survivors whose loved ones have been unfortunate enough to encounter the woman over the decades.
Old Soul is a compelling blend of mystery-thriller with overt horror elements. Each separate "testimony" that Jake receives from those whose family or friends have died reads like its own story, and although the formula the woman follows remains the same for each victim, the places, time periods and people involved are individual enough to keep it interesting. Each interview also reveals more clues as to the mysterious woman's strange predatory process and propels Jake's journey to discover who, or what, she is, and maybe, how to stop her, which is where the mystery becomes a suspense story in the final act of the book.
The horror at the heart of Old Soul was unexpected and interesting. I appreciated how it tied into historical beliefs and found the mythos behind the woman's prolonged existence fascinating. Barker's writing is excellent, and I was almost as enthralled by the central figure as her victims, so this was definitely a page turner. The ending was also unexpected, and the third act and epilogue had me immediately rereading some of the opening chapters to satisfyingly click all of the puzzle pieces into place.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group for a digital advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. Old Soul will be published on January 28, 2025.
Vera, Eva, Marion, Katerina. The woman’s name changes, but the path of madness and death she leaves in her wake remains the same.
In the weeks prior to their gruesome deaths, Mariko's brother Hiroji and Jake's best friend Lena both met a mysterious dark-haired woman who seemed to enthrall them and then precipitate a slide into madness. A chance encounter after a missed flight leads Mariko to confide in Jake about the troubling details surrounding Hiroji's death. When Jake makes the connection to Lena's suicide a decade earlier, he is set on a path around the globe to interview survivors whose loved ones have been unfortunate enough to encounter the woman over the decades.
Old Soul is a compelling blend of mystery-thriller with overt horror elements. Each separate "testimony" that Jake receives from those whose family or friends have died reads like its own story, and although the formula the woman follows remains the same for each victim, the places, time periods and people involved are individual enough to keep it interesting. Each interview also reveals more clues as to the mysterious woman's strange predatory process and propels Jake's journey to discover who, or what, she is, and maybe, how to stop her, which is where the mystery becomes a suspense story in the final act of the book.
The horror at the heart of Old Soul was unexpected and interesting. I appreciated how it tied into historical beliefs and found the mythos behind the woman's prolonged existence fascinating. Barker's writing is excellent, and I was almost as enthralled by the central figure as her victims, so this was definitely a page turner. The ending was also unexpected, and the third act and epilogue had me immediately rereading some of the opening chapters to satisfyingly click all of the puzzle pieces into place.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group for a digital advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. Old Soul will be published on January 28, 2025.
February 18, 2025
The Sisters are rambling again, and oh, do we have a story for you—one that entertains, thrills, and lingers long after the final page. There’s so much to unpack, so —and that’s exactly what we did.
Haunting. Unsettling. Unforgettable.
A quiet horror that lingers long after the final page.
Some books haunt you—not in the way of nightmares, but in the way of something brushing against the edges of your thoughts. Old Soul is that kind of book.
From the moment I saw the cover, I felt its pull. The eerie atmosphere, the unsettling premise—it all promised something different, something that would linger. And it did. This is a quiet horror, one that creeps in like a shadow you’re not sure you saw. The writing is vivid, each description thick with unease, the kind that settles into the spaces between words.
At the heart of it all is her. The woman who never ages, never stays, never leaves without taking something with her. If you see her, your life will change. Jake and Mariko’s search for the truth leads them across time and distance, through the stories of those left behind—bewildered, grieving, knowing what they saw but never believed.
I flew through the first 65% of this book, completely gripped by its unsettling atmosphere. Then, unfortunately, life intervened—an unexpected illness pulled me away for a few days, and by the time I returned, some of that creeping unease had lost its grip on me. I still really enjoyed the story, but I can’t help but wonder if, had I been able to keep going without pause, the lingering sense of dread would have sunk in even deeper.
It’s a blend of literary fiction and horror, subtle yet mesmerizing. The ending? It wasn’t exactly what I wanted to happen, but in the tone of the horror and unease in this book, it totally worked. It left a lingering sense of dread, something just beyond the reach of our senses, like a presence you know is there but can never quite see. And that’s what stays with me. Some books fade. Others remain, watching, waiting. This one still lingers.
Brenda’s Take: A Spellbinding Fusion of Horror and Literary Fiction
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Sister’s Final Rambling
So, does Old Soul pack a punch? Oh, without question. Does it shatter expectations? Like a mirror dropped in the dark. Will it leave you lying awake at night, wondering if you’ve unknowingly crossed paths with something—or someone—you were never meant to see?
Well… there’s only one way to find out. Read it. If you dare.
Haunting. Unsettling. Unforgettable.
A quiet horror that lingers long after the final page.
Some books haunt you—not in the way of nightmares, but in the way of something brushing against the edges of your thoughts. Old Soul is that kind of book.
From the moment I saw the cover, I felt its pull. The eerie atmosphere, the unsettling premise—it all promised something different, something that would linger. And it did. This is a quiet horror, one that creeps in like a shadow you’re not sure you saw. The writing is vivid, each description thick with unease, the kind that settles into the spaces between words.
At the heart of it all is her. The woman who never ages, never stays, never leaves without taking something with her. If you see her, your life will change. Jake and Mariko’s search for the truth leads them across time and distance, through the stories of those left behind—bewildered, grieving, knowing what they saw but never believed.
I flew through the first 65% of this book, completely gripped by its unsettling atmosphere. Then, unfortunately, life intervened—an unexpected illness pulled me away for a few days, and by the time I returned, some of that creeping unease had lost its grip on me. I still really enjoyed the story, but I can’t help but wonder if, had I been able to keep going without pause, the lingering sense of dread would have sunk in even deeper.
It’s a blend of literary fiction and horror, subtle yet mesmerizing. The ending? It wasn’t exactly what I wanted to happen, but in the tone of the horror and unease in this book, it totally worked. It left a lingering sense of dread, something just beyond the reach of our senses, like a presence you know is there but can never quite see. And that’s what stays with me. Some books fade. Others remain, watching, waiting. This one still lingers.
Brenda’s Take: A Spellbinding Fusion of Horror and Literary Fiction
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Sister’s Final Rambling
So, does Old Soul pack a punch? Oh, without question. Does it shatter expectations? Like a mirror dropped in the dark. Will it leave you lying awake at night, wondering if you’ve unknowingly crossed paths with something—or someone—you were never meant to see?
Well… there’s only one way to find out. Read it. If you dare.
February 6, 2025
I was instantly mesmerised by the opening chapter of Old Soul, in which a teacher finds he has something very unusual in common with a woman he meets on a trip to Osaka. From this first scene onwards, this book is utterly compelling. It switches between a continuing narrative – titled ‘Badlands’ – and a series of testimonies that almost act as self-contained short stories. The latter are connected by the presence of Jake, the teacher from the first chapter, who goes all over the world in search of them. Together, these entwined narratives slowly paint a picture of the character at the book’s heart: a woman who takes on many guises, an immortal, the ‘old soul’ of the title, a dangerous and unknowable creature. In spite of all that, this isn’t a story with a clear-cut villain. As I read, I frequently found my sympathies shifting.
There are definite similarities to Barker’s earlier novel The Incarnations, which also follows a centuries-old character with many different faces, but this is clearly the superior product – slicker and impeccably paced, so unbearably tense I was constantly tempted to skip ahead because I just needed to find out where it was going next. (I tended to enjoy the testimonies most, but ‘Badlands’ is electric with suspense, like a taut wire pulled through the middle of the book.) It reminded me of The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez, The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, or even a supernatural version of Liz Nugent’s Skin Deep. I already want to read it again.
I received an advance review copy of Old Soul from the publisher through NetGalley.
There are definite similarities to Barker’s earlier novel The Incarnations, which also follows a centuries-old character with many different faces, but this is clearly the superior product – slicker and impeccably paced, so unbearably tense I was constantly tempted to skip ahead because I just needed to find out where it was going next. (I tended to enjoy the testimonies most, but ‘Badlands’ is electric with suspense, like a taut wire pulled through the middle of the book.) It reminded me of The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez, The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, or even a supernatural version of Liz Nugent’s Skin Deep. I already want to read it again.
I received an advance review copy of Old Soul from the publisher through NetGalley.
January 29, 2025
UPDATE: One of my favorite reads of 2024 is now available!!
This book was a solid 5 stars, heading for my all-time favorites shelf, until I got to the ending.
This is the kind of rich, layered literary fiction that I feel like I can't do justice in a review. I was completely enamored with it. Maybe saying less in this case is the way to go. While reading this book, I felt like I had travelled to so many different places and times. Susan Barker’s ability to describe and build various environments seemed effortless. And the language was lovely and endlessly readable. I tried not to speed through this, but it was tough. I didn’t want to put it down.
The character of the mysterious woman was complex and intriguing. She was very much a cruel monster, but Barker gradually gives us pieces of information meant to help us understand her better. The restraint with which these details are revealed is masterful. Just when I was starting to maybe feel something resembling sympathy for her, I would be harshly reminded of how vicious she could be. You will meet many different characters on this journey that her actions have affected, and typically a constant influx of new people in a novel can be overwhelming for me. But Barker managed it in a way that kept the story fresh and exciting, and no one overstayed their welcome or left too soon.
The horror in this novel, while scattered, was effective. I’ve never read a story quite like it before. There was creative and haunting imagery that will stay with me, and I loved the way that Barker worked art and immortality into the story. Many parts of it were also deeply tragic and upsetting. (Definitely not a novel to tackle if you are already in a dark place!)
No spoilers, but that final chapter felt like when you're watching the alternate endings on a special edition director's cut DVD, and there's one that makes you say: "Wow, that was really brave and made me feel all sorts of strong emotions, but honestly I'm glad they chose a different one for the theatrical release." I knocked an entire star off my rating for an otherwise very amazing, beautiful and disturbing book. (I understand why the author did it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.)
None of the dialogue has quotation marks, but I didn’t have any trouble following the conversations or identifying who was speaking, or what was dialogue vs. what was interior monologue. It was all very smooth. I know that the lack of quotations is a big pet peeve for some, so I wanted to be sure to mention it. (Keep in mind though, that this is an early review copy so it's possible that those sections could change before publication.)
Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Substance abuse, Depression, Mention of Incest, Animal harm/death, Suicide/Suicidal Ideation, Domestic abuse, Mention of Nazis, Mention of SA, Homophobia, Terminal Illness
This book was a solid 5 stars, heading for my all-time favorites shelf, until I got to the ending.
This is the kind of rich, layered literary fiction that I feel like I can't do justice in a review. I was completely enamored with it. Maybe saying less in this case is the way to go. While reading this book, I felt like I had travelled to so many different places and times. Susan Barker’s ability to describe and build various environments seemed effortless. And the language was lovely and endlessly readable. I tried not to speed through this, but it was tough. I didn’t want to put it down.
The character of the mysterious woman was complex and intriguing. She was very much a cruel monster, but Barker gradually gives us pieces of information meant to help us understand her better. The restraint with which these details are revealed is masterful. Just when I was starting to maybe feel something resembling sympathy for her, I would be harshly reminded of how vicious she could be. You will meet many different characters on this journey that her actions have affected, and typically a constant influx of new people in a novel can be overwhelming for me. But Barker managed it in a way that kept the story fresh and exciting, and no one overstayed their welcome or left too soon.
The horror in this novel, while scattered, was effective. I’ve never read a story quite like it before. There was creative and haunting imagery that will stay with me, and I loved the way that Barker worked art and immortality into the story. Many parts of it were also deeply tragic and upsetting. (Definitely not a novel to tackle if you are already in a dark place!)
No spoilers, but that final chapter felt like when you're watching the alternate endings on a special edition director's cut DVD, and there's one that makes you say: "Wow, that was really brave and made me feel all sorts of strong emotions, but honestly I'm glad they chose a different one for the theatrical release." I knocked an entire star off my rating for an otherwise very amazing, beautiful and disturbing book. (I understand why the author did it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.)
None of the dialogue has quotation marks, but I didn’t have any trouble following the conversations or identifying who was speaking, or what was dialogue vs. what was interior monologue. It was all very smooth. I know that the lack of quotations is a big pet peeve for some, so I wanted to be sure to mention it. (Keep in mind though, that this is an early review copy so it's possible that those sections could change before publication.)
Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Substance abuse, Depression, Mention of Incest, Animal harm/death, Suicide/Suicidal Ideation, Domestic abuse, Mention of Nazis, Mention of SA, Homophobia, Terminal Illness
January 21, 2025
This was a creepy, atmospheric novel that spanned from the US to Europe to Asia. Jake and Mariko have just missed their flight in Japan. They decide to go have drinks and discover they both have lost people close to them in very weird circumstances. With the information Jake receives from Mariko he begins to dig further into their deaths. The book is broken into testimonies of other people who have lost loved ones in the same tragic way. He discovers there is a woman at the center of it all who all of the victims have come in contact with and have had their photograph taken. Who is this woman and how is it possible that she appears to never age?
The writing is excellent. With each country and testimony received, the author incorporates a good bit of the local dialect. I like this as it made it seem more authentic as Jake is traveling around the world however, it did hinder how quickly I could read the book. It slowed me down a bit, but I think in a good way as I was able to appreciate the cultures along with the main story.
While some testimonies seem to drag a little bit, I liked how it all connected. I think my favorite portions were those of the sculptor and her relationship with the woman. Overall, this was a highly enjoyable read and is one that I can’t stop thinking about.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
The writing is excellent. With each country and testimony received, the author incorporates a good bit of the local dialect. I like this as it made it seem more authentic as Jake is traveling around the world however, it did hinder how quickly I could read the book. It slowed me down a bit, but I think in a good way as I was able to appreciate the cultures along with the main story.
While some testimonies seem to drag a little bit, I liked how it all connected. I think my favorite portions were those of the sculptor and her relationship with the woman. Overall, this was a highly enjoyable read and is one that I can’t stop thinking about.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
July 12, 2024
This was an excepted and wild ride that took me places I never would have guessed. Old Soul takes the trope of a beautiful woman who passes through time, think Addie LaRue and The Age of Adaline (why is it always that name)? Instead of taking the turn we have come to except from a character of this caliber, Susan Barker gives us a more complex and sinister character and delves into a myriad of horror aspects.
I absolutely love the way that this is written from the prose to stylistic techniques and even point of view. We have a present point of view that is a thread throughout the book while each rotating chapter gives us a testimony from someone who was affected by our ghoulish antagonist Eve. It is written like a crime procedural in this way without ever being boring or making me wish we were in present day again. I truly cannot tell you which aspect of the book I loved more as the testimonies were so unbelievably riveting while adding context to the agonizing present day storyline that had me at the edge of my seat/bed.
It was a weird, in a good way, choice to give us an antagonist with no true main character. There were a slew of characters introduced that could be considered a “main” but our Eve was the antagonist to humanity in general and I loved that perspective.
The ending isn’t a miss for me but WOAH, it was harsh. It reads like a gothic thriller or a ghost story so it could be slower for some but give yourself over to the plot and enjoy what is in front of you otherwise you’ll be missing out on a true gem. I will definitely be checking out previous and later releases from this authour, I’m hooked.
I absolutely love the way that this is written from the prose to stylistic techniques and even point of view. We have a present point of view that is a thread throughout the book while each rotating chapter gives us a testimony from someone who was affected by our ghoulish antagonist Eve. It is written like a crime procedural in this way without ever being boring or making me wish we were in present day again. I truly cannot tell you which aspect of the book I loved more as the testimonies were so unbelievably riveting while adding context to the agonizing present day storyline that had me at the edge of my seat/bed.
It was a weird, in a good way, choice to give us an antagonist with no true main character. There were a slew of characters introduced that could be considered a “main” but our Eve was the antagonist to humanity in general and I loved that perspective.
The ending isn’t a miss for me but WOAH, it was harsh. It reads like a gothic thriller or a ghost story so it could be slower for some but give yourself over to the plot and enjoy what is in front of you otherwise you’ll be missing out on a true gem. I will definitely be checking out previous and later releases from this authour, I’m hooked.
November 19, 2024
This book is simultaneously the story of a nameless woman who is somehow involved in a series of mysterious deaths spanning decades, and Jake, who starts to put the jigsaw pieces together when he happens across a relative of one of the victims. Unfortunately, though, it really wasn’t for me.
Trigger warning: no quotation marks (doesn’t impact my assessment, but see my opinion about this weird habit at the bottom of this review).
The storytelling has the feeling of gothic horror, and verges on literary fiction - the writing style is lyrical in places, which is an interesting counterpoint to the creepiness of the story.
The narrative alternates between Jake’s investigations of past incidents (‘testimonies’ from people who knew various victims), and the slowly unfolding current day events that are inevitably leading up to the woman’s next intended victim. As a storytelling device, this is very effective, as you can see how the two threads come together as Jake learns more about the woman.
For me, though, I found it a bit of a slog to get through: each testimony is essentially a short story of its own, with new characters and locations, so I had to do a complete mental “story reset” for each of these, which I find tiring, and was giving me a reason to put the book down between chapters rather than read on. This would be forgivable if each of the testimonies offered meaningful new insight into the characters and events, but I found them quite repetitive - they largely served as several very similar examples that establish the way the woman traps her victims.
If you’re a fan of the creepy gothic horror feel, then perhaps this would be satisfying enough. But I’m not especially (and the book wasn’t marketed to me as such), so I was looking for something else to grab and keep my attention - like some deeper insight into the motivation and background of the woman, or some interesting depth to the fantasy elements that formed the foundation of her situation. And this is where I was disappointed. Those elements, and the relatively arbitrary set of rules that govern how the woman sets her victims on their deadly trajectory, are largely left vague and unexplained.
However, despite the repetitive testimonies, and this lack of explanation of the foundations of the story, I was still interested in how the story unfolded. The ending is satisfying enough, if lacking in subtlety. And the epilogue gave me a small taste of the lore that I was missing in the rest of the story.
But overall this book wasn’t really for me, so my rating is probably low compared to fans of the genre.
And the lack of quotation marks. Why? Quotation marks like all other punctuation are there for a reason they help communicate the authors intention to the reader they remove friction from the reading experience the act of reading really shouldnt involve this much effort on behalf of the reader unless theres some specific purpose like deliberately creating a sense of distance or vagueness instead I just found it difficult and confusing sometimes it wasnt clear whether a sentence was direct speech or first person narrative so authors please stop doing this.
Thank you #NetGalley and Penguin Fig Tree for the free review copy of #OldSoul in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Trigger warning: no quotation marks (doesn’t impact my assessment, but see my opinion about this weird habit at the bottom of this review).
The storytelling has the feeling of gothic horror, and verges on literary fiction - the writing style is lyrical in places, which is an interesting counterpoint to the creepiness of the story.
The narrative alternates between Jake’s investigations of past incidents (‘testimonies’ from people who knew various victims), and the slowly unfolding current day events that are inevitably leading up to the woman’s next intended victim. As a storytelling device, this is very effective, as you can see how the two threads come together as Jake learns more about the woman.
For me, though, I found it a bit of a slog to get through: each testimony is essentially a short story of its own, with new characters and locations, so I had to do a complete mental “story reset” for each of these, which I find tiring, and was giving me a reason to put the book down between chapters rather than read on. This would be forgivable if each of the testimonies offered meaningful new insight into the characters and events, but I found them quite repetitive - they largely served as several very similar examples that establish the way the woman traps her victims.
If you’re a fan of the creepy gothic horror feel, then perhaps this would be satisfying enough. But I’m not especially (and the book wasn’t marketed to me as such), so I was looking for something else to grab and keep my attention - like some deeper insight into the motivation and background of the woman, or some interesting depth to the fantasy elements that formed the foundation of her situation. And this is where I was disappointed. Those elements, and the relatively arbitrary set of rules that govern how the woman sets her victims on their deadly trajectory, are largely left vague and unexplained.
However, despite the repetitive testimonies, and this lack of explanation of the foundations of the story, I was still interested in how the story unfolded. The ending is satisfying enough, if lacking in subtlety. And the epilogue gave me a small taste of the lore that I was missing in the rest of the story.
But overall this book wasn’t really for me, so my rating is probably low compared to fans of the genre.
And the lack of quotation marks. Why? Quotation marks like all other punctuation are there for a reason they help communicate the authors intention to the reader they remove friction from the reading experience the act of reading really shouldnt involve this much effort on behalf of the reader unless theres some specific purpose like deliberately creating a sense of distance or vagueness instead I just found it difficult and confusing sometimes it wasnt clear whether a sentence was direct speech or first person narrative so authors please stop doing this.
Thank you #NetGalley and Penguin Fig Tree for the free review copy of #OldSoul in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Read
July 8, 2024After a chance meeting at an airport between Jake and Marika, they realise their loved ones died in similar and disturbing circumstances, both linked by a mysterious woman. Jake sets out to find other people who have suffered the same way, and as well as a present-day story, we read the testimonies which Jake gathers, gradually leading to the mysterious woman and an even greater force. There are many creepy ideas and moments in this novel which had my skin tingling, and the writing is great. Definitely a book to put on your list if you enjoy literary horror. Thanks to the UK publisher for the proof.
Read
October 24, 2024DNF @ 48%
Not Horror
Too many different characters and locations
No quotation marks, no speech marks, no punctuation
Not Horror
Too many different characters and locations
No quotation marks, no speech marks, no punctuation
August 25, 2024
This was basically custom-made for me which makes this all the more difficult to review. This might just be a gush.
Impeccable choice of shifting perspectives, the revelations were perfectly paced, my sympathies were played with and changed throughout. The prose worked very well for me. I found this creepy (especially in the beginning) and exhilarating to read. I am so glad to have picked this up and I hope many more people will do so as well.
Impeccable choice of shifting perspectives, the revelations were perfectly paced, my sympathies were played with and changed throughout. The prose worked very well for me. I found this creepy (especially in the beginning) and exhilarating to read. I am so glad to have picked this up and I hope many more people will do so as well.
December 24, 2024
ARC for review. To be published January 28, 2025.
4 stars.
In Osaka, Japan, two strangers, Jake and Marino both miss a flight. They decide to have dinner together have find they have both lost loved ones after those people met with a woman who was never seen again. Jake is trying to follow the path of the woman and he tracks her throughout the world, managing to find others who have friends or relatives who have encountered her.
At the same time Theo, a sculptor who is dying in New Mexico may be the only one who can tell Jake who the woman really is.
This was interesting. A very different kind of vampire story. Plus I was reading two ARCs at one time and in both the villain popped out someone’s eye. Coincidence? This had quite a satisfying end. I enjoyed it.
4 stars.
In Osaka, Japan, two strangers, Jake and Marino both miss a flight. They decide to have dinner together have find they have both lost loved ones after those people met with a woman who was never seen again. Jake is trying to follow the path of the woman and he tracks her throughout the world, managing to find others who have friends or relatives who have encountered her.
At the same time Theo, a sculptor who is dying in New Mexico may be the only one who can tell Jake who the woman really is.
This was interesting. A very different kind of vampire story. Plus I was reading two ARCs at one time and in both the villain popped out someone’s eye. Coincidence? This had quite a satisfying end. I enjoyed it.
February 7, 2025
This story is told in dual or multiple timelines with various points of view. The current storyline chapters are interspersed with testimonial chapters recounting various characters and their interactions with a mysterious woman often followed by the loss of a loved one. Jake and Mariko meet in the Osaka airport when they both miss their flight. These early chapters immediately pulled me into the story as Jake and Mariko compared their experiences of the mysterious woman and their loved ones. I felt an immediate connection with these two, but this was one of many encounters that Jake has throughout the story as he compiles more information about the mysterious woman.
It read like a series of connected short stories in the testimonial chapters interspersed with the current timeline which was a bit confusing, and I struggled to connect with the overall narrative of the novel. My interest waxed and waned. I didn’t feel like it was plot driven but more about the characters, and yet the characters didn’t feel like they had enough depth for this to be character driven. At times it felt a little bit bogged down in the details, especially in the descriptions of artwork dimensions.
I also struggled with the choice of no quotation marks in the dialogue, and as much as I try not to let that cloud my opinion, at times the narrative switched to an interview format where it was clear who the speaker was then back to a more traditional format which led me to rereading entire sections because I lost track of who the speaker was or even if they were speaking or just thinking. This format obviously works for other readers, and maybe I should have switched to audio where a voice narrator could interpret for me.
It reminded me a bit of the 1992 horror movie Dust Devil and I expected that it would end in a similar way, so I was extremely disappointed in this ending, which fell flat for me. While I enjoyed the concept of the story, it ultimately just didn’t work for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for a copy provided for an honest review.
It read like a series of connected short stories in the testimonial chapters interspersed with the current timeline which was a bit confusing, and I struggled to connect with the overall narrative of the novel. My interest waxed and waned. I didn’t feel like it was plot driven but more about the characters, and yet the characters didn’t feel like they had enough depth for this to be character driven. At times it felt a little bit bogged down in the details, especially in the descriptions of artwork dimensions.
I also struggled with the choice of no quotation marks in the dialogue, and as much as I try not to let that cloud my opinion, at times the narrative switched to an interview format where it was clear who the speaker was then back to a more traditional format which led me to rereading entire sections because I lost track of who the speaker was or even if they were speaking or just thinking. This format obviously works for other readers, and maybe I should have switched to audio where a voice narrator could interpret for me.
It reminded me a bit of the 1992 horror movie Dust Devil and I expected that it would end in a similar way, so I was extremely disappointed in this ending, which fell flat for me. While I enjoyed the concept of the story, it ultimately just didn’t work for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for a copy provided for an honest review.
February 18, 2025
I picked up this book as it was listed as a recommendation for me in the weekly email. I get from Penguin random house. I wouldn’t call it a horror book exactly, but it is pretty creepy. Almost like a ghost story from Girl Scout camp. The characters are nuanced and the dialogue is fresh. I can’t say that I enjoyed it, exactly, but it was an interesting concept. After coming in contact with a woman who is hundreds of years old, across the entire planet, people have their organs and everything on their bodies flipped from one side to the other.
February 18, 2025
The Sisters are rambling again, and oh, do we have a story for you—one that entertains, thrills, and lingers long after the final page. There’s so much to unpack, so —and that’s exactly what we did.
A Spellbinding Fusion of Horror and Literary Fiction
Well, hot diggity dang—this story doesn’t just push the boundaries of horror; it shatters them, scattering eerie delights like shards of a cursed mirror. But what truly sets it apart isn’t just the horror—it’s the blend of literary fiction that elevates it beyond the ordinary.
Susan Barker is a Word Witch
The structure is potion-perfect—a slow, build-up stirring in eerie details like rare herbs in a cauldron, letting them simmer until the brew boils over. It’s unique, unpredictable, twisty, gripping, and intelligent. The kind of tale that ensnares you in its spell, that lingers long after the final page is devoured.
The Woman drifts from place to place, each time with a different name
When Jack meets a stranger, their conversation unearths a chilling coincidence—they've both lost someone they loved after encountering the same mysterious woman.
Through a series of testimony chapters, Jake embarks on a quest for answers, uncovering the stories of others who have lost someone under eerily similar circumstances. With each encounter, the woman takes on a new name, leaving me grasping at scattered clues and questioning her true motives.
The Woman defies time and death
One of the most enchanting aspects is how Susan Barker weaves the mystery of this ageless soul. It’s an unsettling tale in which strange and sinister fates befall those who cross her path—but that’s not where the horror lies. No, the horror seeps in when we begin to understand how.
Someone dares to truly see the old soul, peeling back the layers of her existence. And with that, everything shifts. The spell tightens its grip, we begin to understand her—invoking both fear and empathy. Few things are more unsettling than a story that makes you empathize with something you should have fled from.
So, does that spell endure? Does it carry you through to the very last page? Oh, you’d better believe it.
That’s the thing—this story doesn’t just give you horror in a neat little package with a bow on top. No, no—it takes a different route, one I didn’t quite expect. While I was hoping it might unfold another way, it did brew horror like a literary potion, mixing eerie details, and unsettling fate.
The Sister's final Rambling
So, does Old Soul pack a punch? Oh, without a doubt.
Does it just bend the rules of horror? No—it shatters them.
Will it leave you lying awake at night, wondering if you, too, have brushed past some danger —or someone—without ever realizing it?
Well… there’s only one way to know for sure. Read it. If you dare.
For Norma's rambling Haunting. Unsettling. Unforgettable.
A quiet horror that lingers long after the final page.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A Spellbinding Fusion of Horror and Literary Fiction
Well, hot diggity dang—this story doesn’t just push the boundaries of horror; it shatters them, scattering eerie delights like shards of a cursed mirror. But what truly sets it apart isn’t just the horror—it’s the blend of literary fiction that elevates it beyond the ordinary.
Susan Barker is a Word Witch
The structure is potion-perfect—a slow, build-up stirring in eerie details like rare herbs in a cauldron, letting them simmer until the brew boils over. It’s unique, unpredictable, twisty, gripping, and intelligent. The kind of tale that ensnares you in its spell, that lingers long after the final page is devoured.
The Woman drifts from place to place, each time with a different name
When Jack meets a stranger, their conversation unearths a chilling coincidence—they've both lost someone they loved after encountering the same mysterious woman.
Through a series of testimony chapters, Jake embarks on a quest for answers, uncovering the stories of others who have lost someone under eerily similar circumstances. With each encounter, the woman takes on a new name, leaving me grasping at scattered clues and questioning her true motives.
The Woman defies time and death
One of the most enchanting aspects is how Susan Barker weaves the mystery of this ageless soul. It’s an unsettling tale in which strange and sinister fates befall those who cross her path—but that’s not where the horror lies. No, the horror seeps in when we begin to understand how.
Someone dares to truly see the old soul, peeling back the layers of her existence. And with that, everything shifts. The spell tightens its grip, we begin to understand her—invoking both fear and empathy. Few things are more unsettling than a story that makes you empathize with something you should have fled from.
So, does that spell endure? Does it carry you through to the very last page? Oh, you’d better believe it.
That’s the thing—this story doesn’t just give you horror in a neat little package with a bow on top. No, no—it takes a different route, one I didn’t quite expect. While I was hoping it might unfold another way, it did brew horror like a literary potion, mixing eerie details, and unsettling fate.
The Sister's final Rambling
So, does Old Soul pack a punch? Oh, without a doubt.
Does it just bend the rules of horror? No—it shatters them.
Will it leave you lying awake at night, wondering if you, too, have brushed past some danger —or someone—without ever realizing it?
Well… there’s only one way to know for sure. Read it. If you dare.
For Norma's rambling Haunting. Unsettling. Unforgettable.
A quiet horror that lingers long after the final page.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
February 13, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Creepy book that gets better as it goes on. Great ending.
Creepy book that gets better as it goes on. Great ending.
January 30, 2025
4.25 stars - thank you Putnam books/Penguin Random House for an early copy (now published) of this book exchange for my honest feedback.
This book felt like a fever dream. The different testimonials come from people of all walks of life across a large period of time. Each story felt like being transported to a whole new world and it really kept me engaged throughout.
The writing felt very smart and I will admit that there were a few times I got a little lost. The characters each have a unique voice and their stories are poignant and fascinating. The story takes you on an emotional journey with chillingly gruesome moments throughout.
I’ve never read anything like this book and I want more.
Video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT22GANvF/
This book felt like a fever dream. The different testimonials come from people of all walks of life across a large period of time. Each story felt like being transported to a whole new world and it really kept me engaged throughout.
The writing felt very smart and I will admit that there were a few times I got a little lost. The characters each have a unique voice and their stories are poignant and fascinating. The story takes you on an emotional journey with chillingly gruesome moments throughout.
I’ve never read anything like this book and I want more.
Video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT22GANvF/
January 15, 2025
What an outrage to be cast out of consciousness and interred to rot in darkness or cremated to seven pounds of inorganic dust. An injustice she will make any sacrifice to avoid.
A chance meeting and a disturbing connection between two strangers at an airport in Osaka, Japan, lead a man down a strange, dark path where a mysterious, ageless woman waits – a path with frightening revelations at its end…and there are implications for all of humanity.
This is going to sound strange, but Old Soul is exactly the kind of horror novel I sometimes crave: one that embraces nihilism, offering up utter devastation and desolation without a speck of light or hope to be seen; one that demonstrates the visceral nature and range of horror and how deeply and widely it can affect the reader’s emotions. Old Soul is not traditionally scary, but it is one of those gut-punch sorts books – the kind you finish and then have to sit with for a while, or that makes you want to curl up in a ball as you work through your thoughts about it. Susan Barker’s writing is atmospheric and literary, combining impeccably detailed writing and textured character work with elements of body horror and existential horror. The woman at the center of the story is such a compelling and frightening character – clearly a villain but one that, throughout the course of the book, you come to understand and almost sympathize with.
Barker raises some thought-provoking questions about the meaning of life (quality vs. quantity) and art as a form of immortality, as she explores themes surrounding addiction, sacrifice, mental health issues, friendship, parenthood, and symbiotic/parasitic relationships of all kinds. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite like this one before, and the concept was so brilliantly executed that Barker had me hanging on every word, even through parts in the middle that became somewhat repetitive. This was my first book by Susan Barker, and I can’t wait to dig into her backlist. Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the early reading opportunity.
January 15, 2025
A slow supernatural horror about an entity that possesses people after they look at a photo of themselves taken by a mysterious and alluring woman.
We hit multiple points in the past where this entity posssesses different people, and someone in current day connecting all of these people together. I think the body horror in this story really worked for me, but it got a little repetitive and slow with how many possessions we wittnessed.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.
We hit multiple points in the past where this entity posssesses different people, and someone in current day connecting all of these people together. I think the body horror in this story really worked for me, but it got a little repetitive and slow with how many possessions we wittnessed.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 20, 2024
I’m not sure what I was expecting from this story, but I don’t think it was this. I was way more invested than I anticipated being, given the story structure and the mostly absence of a singular protagonist. The novel is dark and contemplative, a painful memory infused with equal parts love and fear, and it is remarkably effective.
The first thing to mention is the writing style and narrative structure. As the jacket copy mentions, you have a strange woman doing whatever she needs to stay alive, and you have Jake who is crisscrossing the world interviewing the loved ones of the bodies that seem to be in her wake. For most of the story we alternate between shorter chapters that are following the woman in the present day and longer chapters that are “testimonies,” interviews/memories of people whose lives have ben touched by her. While the woman does become our central character we don’t spend a lot of time with her, and while Jake is ostensibly the character doing the investigations he is largely absent from these testimonies, he is just witness to them. So, we meet a wide array of engaging, painfully realized characters, but they come and get. They have their vignette, their moment to shine, and we move on. As someone who is deeply invested in character this did keep me at arm’s length. The characters were all incredibly well-realized, none felt boring or simple, none were just occupying space, but the story didn’t revolve around any of them. There are some characters we spend more time with, especially the final testimony which is more than double the length of the other ones, and we do get to live within their lives a little more completely, but in the end the various characters aren’t the story. The woman is at the center of the story, and while we learn a lot about her she is also an enigma, we learn about her from others’ experiences of her. And yet, even though my devotion to character did keep this story at arm’s length, the writing and pacing, and the exploration of what it means to find happiness amidst our mortality, pulled me in close.
With each testimony, each vignette, we had a new world to explore, a different time, a different place. The individuality of the various panoply of characters worked to define the worlds they lived in, whether it be Japan, western Europe, or New Mexico. The writing is skillful and precise, fusing character and time and place in a way that feels comfortable, lets the reader sink into each new chapter, each new testimony, with ease. These are punctuated by the ongoing storyline, the one where we don’t know the outcome, where there is danger and mystery and every time we are pulled back to the present we are reminded of the very real dangers this woman carries with her, and it does a great job of keeping you invested. Additionally, there are no grammatical indications of dialogue, no quotation marks demarcating speech from exposition, and while it never gets in the way of clearly understanding any given scene it does evoke a slippery, almost dream-like experience.
The story manages to combine the expected with surprises in a way that kept me turning pages. If character growth and development is the most important aspect of a book for you then this might be a little light for you, since it does jump from vignette to vignette, even though everything coalesces into an unexpected conclusion. Yet the writing and story are really engaging, and the variety of characters we meet all feel valuable. What would you do to survive, and what would you do to avenge the memory of a loved one wronged? Is love more powerful than survival instincts? This dark story has all these questions and more seething under the surface, boils waiting to be lanced.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Penguin Publishing Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The first thing to mention is the writing style and narrative structure. As the jacket copy mentions, you have a strange woman doing whatever she needs to stay alive, and you have Jake who is crisscrossing the world interviewing the loved ones of the bodies that seem to be in her wake. For most of the story we alternate between shorter chapters that are following the woman in the present day and longer chapters that are “testimonies,” interviews/memories of people whose lives have ben touched by her. While the woman does become our central character we don’t spend a lot of time with her, and while Jake is ostensibly the character doing the investigations he is largely absent from these testimonies, he is just witness to them. So, we meet a wide array of engaging, painfully realized characters, but they come and get. They have their vignette, their moment to shine, and we move on. As someone who is deeply invested in character this did keep me at arm’s length. The characters were all incredibly well-realized, none felt boring or simple, none were just occupying space, but the story didn’t revolve around any of them. There are some characters we spend more time with, especially the final testimony which is more than double the length of the other ones, and we do get to live within their lives a little more completely, but in the end the various characters aren’t the story. The woman is at the center of the story, and while we learn a lot about her she is also an enigma, we learn about her from others’ experiences of her. And yet, even though my devotion to character did keep this story at arm’s length, the writing and pacing, and the exploration of what it means to find happiness amidst our mortality, pulled me in close.
With each testimony, each vignette, we had a new world to explore, a different time, a different place. The individuality of the various panoply of characters worked to define the worlds they lived in, whether it be Japan, western Europe, or New Mexico. The writing is skillful and precise, fusing character and time and place in a way that feels comfortable, lets the reader sink into each new chapter, each new testimony, with ease. These are punctuated by the ongoing storyline, the one where we don’t know the outcome, where there is danger and mystery and every time we are pulled back to the present we are reminded of the very real dangers this woman carries with her, and it does a great job of keeping you invested. Additionally, there are no grammatical indications of dialogue, no quotation marks demarcating speech from exposition, and while it never gets in the way of clearly understanding any given scene it does evoke a slippery, almost dream-like experience.
The story manages to combine the expected with surprises in a way that kept me turning pages. If character growth and development is the most important aspect of a book for you then this might be a little light for you, since it does jump from vignette to vignette, even though everything coalesces into an unexpected conclusion. Yet the writing and story are really engaging, and the variety of characters we meet all feel valuable. What would you do to survive, and what would you do to avenge the memory of a loved one wronged? Is love more powerful than survival instincts? This dark story has all these questions and more seething under the surface, boils waiting to be lanced.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Penguin Publishing Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 10, 2025
4.0/5
This novel is hauntingly sinister in all the right ways. Reminiscent of Elizabeth Kostova’s “The Historian” but in a more widely accessible and concise format.
While I really enjoyed the read I’m left with so many unanswered questions! I’m usually okay with that but I’d love to see a prequel or sequel that explains and expands upon the origins and/or history of the Old Soul.
This novel is hauntingly sinister in all the right ways. Reminiscent of Elizabeth Kostova’s “The Historian” but in a more widely accessible and concise format.
While I really enjoyed the read I’m left with so many unanswered questions! I’m usually okay with that but I’d love to see a prequel or sequel that explains and expands upon the origins and/or history of the Old Soul.
February 18, 2025
I know myself pretty well as a reader, so I generally have a ballpark sense of how I'm going to feel about a book before I read it. I definitely expected to like this one! But as I read, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I actually really loved it.
This book is marketed as literary horror, which in theory is a genre I really like (I love literary fiction and I love horror!). I do think it's a hard genre to strike a balance in, though - many of the books I read that claim the literary horror label are either mostly literary or mostly horror, falling decidedly on one side of the fence more than another.
I didn't feel that way about this one. Old Soul is a story that's deeply human in nature - it's about our desires, our flaws, and our ambitions, and the way those things can be manipulated to harm us. I'm rarely scared by things, so I'm a tough barometer for a horror book to get past in terms of actual spooks, but I did also feel like there was plenty of tension, body horror, creepy imagery, and supernatural themes in this book to appropriately satisfy my appetite for horror.
The format of this book is a little bit like a collection of short stories. After the death of a childhood friend, our main character comes to believe that a woman she had contact with in the weeks prior to her passing played a role in her death. This suspicion mounts as he follows this woman's trail, taking him on a cross-country journey as he tracks other people who have had similar encounters with her. Each chapter features a different family and a different character who mysteriously passed after being photographed by this woman. I've seen some complaints that these chapters can feel repetitive, and what I would say to that is that if you care more about the horror aspect of the novel and the "how" of this woman's work, I can see how that would be the case. If you like a character-driven book and you care about the characters within this story - the woman herself, and the people she encounters - you'll be hooked the whole way through just like I was. Each chapter tells a very story, about very different families and friends, and though each one is introducing new characters, I cared about most of them by the end of their individual narratives.
(The last of these narratives, the one featuring the Sculptor the woman has talked about here and there throughout the novel, was especially touching, featuring a love story - and its tragic end - that I wasn't expecting but was no less moved by.)
This book isn't perfect. It falls apart a little bit at the end, with some answers hidden a little too conveniently and accessed a little too easily by the main character at the right moment, and the pacing of the final climax felt a little rushed and contrived to me, pushing the book into territory that started to feel a little silly. It's not totally a perfect five star read for me because of the last thirty pages or so, but it came very, very close.
4.5 stars.
This book is marketed as literary horror, which in theory is a genre I really like (I love literary fiction and I love horror!). I do think it's a hard genre to strike a balance in, though - many of the books I read that claim the literary horror label are either mostly literary or mostly horror, falling decidedly on one side of the fence more than another.
I didn't feel that way about this one. Old Soul is a story that's deeply human in nature - it's about our desires, our flaws, and our ambitions, and the way those things can be manipulated to harm us. I'm rarely scared by things, so I'm a tough barometer for a horror book to get past in terms of actual spooks, but I did also feel like there was plenty of tension, body horror, creepy imagery, and supernatural themes in this book to appropriately satisfy my appetite for horror.
The format of this book is a little bit like a collection of short stories. After the death of a childhood friend, our main character comes to believe that a woman she had contact with in the weeks prior to her passing played a role in her death. This suspicion mounts as he follows this woman's trail, taking him on a cross-country journey as he tracks other people who have had similar encounters with her. Each chapter features a different family and a different character who mysteriously passed after being photographed by this woman. I've seen some complaints that these chapters can feel repetitive, and what I would say to that is that if you care more about the horror aspect of the novel and the "how" of this woman's work, I can see how that would be the case. If you like a character-driven book and you care about the characters within this story - the woman herself, and the people she encounters - you'll be hooked the whole way through just like I was. Each chapter tells a very story, about very different families and friends, and though each one is introducing new characters, I cared about most of them by the end of their individual narratives.
(The last of these narratives, the one featuring the Sculptor the woman has talked about here and there throughout the novel, was especially touching, featuring a love story - and its tragic end - that I wasn't expecting but was no less moved by.)
This book isn't perfect. It falls apart a little bit at the end, with some answers hidden a little too conveniently and accessed a little too easily by the main character at the right moment, and the pacing of the final climax felt a little rushed and contrived to me, pushing the book into territory that started to feel a little silly. It's not totally a perfect five star read for me because of the last thirty pages or so, but it came very, very close.
4.5 stars.
December 28, 2024
The best way to be immortal, the woman says, is not to die.
A solid 5-star read for me, until the ending. I wanted to throw the book against the wall and curse the Fates and the Tyrant and whoever else might be in control of the vast, black cosmos that we merely live our pathetic lives in.
"Old Soul" is the dark, cosmic horror I did not think I was missing in my life. It's told in a series of investigations, after a chance encounter in an airport in Osaka, Japan, leads a Brit on a desperate search for a mysterious woman who never seems to age, and leaves a trail of dead behind her. The stories are beautifully told, but there is a sense of dread that permeates the characters even prior to the arrival of the mysterious woman. The lives of the characters are already flawed, or broken or dark, and like a skilled predator the woman is drawn to easy prey. Or, perhaps, the Tyrant knows how to select the next offering.
This book was compelling and kept me reading non-stop over the course of two days. I so wished for a different ending, even though I know that anything different would have not been the same. And, I am amazed at the author's talents in this book. A great find! My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced reading copy.
A solid 5-star read for me, until the ending. I wanted to throw the book against the wall and curse the Fates and the Tyrant and whoever else might be in control of the vast, black cosmos that we merely live our pathetic lives in.
"Old Soul" is the dark, cosmic horror I did not think I was missing in my life. It's told in a series of investigations, after a chance encounter in an airport in Osaka, Japan, leads a Brit on a desperate search for a mysterious woman who never seems to age, and leaves a trail of dead behind her. The stories are beautifully told, but there is a sense of dread that permeates the characters even prior to the arrival of the mysterious woman. The lives of the characters are already flawed, or broken or dark, and like a skilled predator the woman is drawn to easy prey. Or, perhaps, the Tyrant knows how to select the next offering.
This book was compelling and kept me reading non-stop over the course of two days. I so wished for a different ending, even though I know that anything different would have not been the same. And, I am amazed at the author's talents in this book. A great find! My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced reading copy.
October 2, 2024
More subtle in its horror, but somehow still very unsettling. I didn’t wanna read this before bed. The concept is very unique and lived up to its potential in my eyes. I really enjoyed the way the story orbited around the villain, with her dipping in and out of the chapters and slowly revealing more.
The middle chapters lacked in my eyes and slowed me down, with the beginning and wrap-up being much stronger.
And that ending! Damn! 3.75 stars rounded up.
The middle chapters lacked in my eyes and slowed me down, with the beginning and wrap-up being much stronger.
And that ending! Damn! 3.75 stars rounded up.
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