I absolutely loved this. Literary fiction is my favorite genre and I've always tried to like horror, but it never really clicked for me. Old Soul and a few other books I've read recently (Monstrilio, Our Wives Under the Sea, Our Share of Night) have helped me figure out that literary horror is the horror for me. This was so beautifully written and incredibly unsettling; I had a hard time reading before bed. I really enjoyed all the different perspectives and stories throughout time of how "Eva" had impacted these different lives. Highly recommend you give this one a try!

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC

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 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! 3.5 stars rounded up.

Old Soul
Susan Barker

An absolutely enthralling and genre-defying tale that's part horror, part folk tale, part Western, part action/thriller, and 100% entertaining.

A true page turner, I wasn't bored or disinterested once.

One of my favorite novels is Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, and this novel definitely brought that to mind, mixed with a little Addie LaRue and a touch of Scarlet Johanson in Under The Skin.

An excellent story I can safely recommend to many, regardless of the genre they're most interested in.

4.5 / 5

This book was phenomenal. Multi POV, weird, a little creepy, and different than anything I’ve read. It was refreshing to feel like I was experiencing different places and cultures, without really keeping up with one “main character.”

I truly loved everything about this book and couldn’t put it down.

My only gripe is the lack of quotation marks because what gives?

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Susan Baker for providing this ARC for an unbiased review.

Old Soul by Susan Barker is a deeply reflective and evocative novel that weaves together themes of reincarnation, memory, and identity. The story follows a protagonist who recalls past lives spanning centuries, each chapter adding layers to the exploration of fate, love, and loss. Barker’s writing is lyrical and immersive, drawing the reader into both the historical and emotional landscapes of the characters’ journeys. The novel’s philosophical depth, paired with Barker's vivid storytelling, makes it both a compelling narrative and a meditation on the cyclical nature of existence. Old Soul is a captivating read that will resonate with readers interested in the mysteries of time and the human soul.

Wow! I think this was one of the most polished ARCs I have ever read.
This was my first read of Susan Barker's and I am so impressed with her ability to fully flesh out characters so quickly.
Each testimony introduced has one thing in common: a strange woman who it increasingly seems has the mark of the devil. All testimonies are gathered from people from all walks of life, in all different eras, in different parts of the world. In this way, the book almost reads like an anthology of short stories with one common thread; that is, until the reader starts to slowly see revealed the back story from this elusive woman and what her purpose is. It takes a truly great writer to make 'short stories' stand out and stand alone. Barker did such a great job of doing just this and THEN, tying it all together with this wild thread. She writes so smartly that the reader is simply along for the ride and believes whatever story she is telling. I think the only thing holding me back from rounding up to 5 stars was the ending; I do appreciate the implications of it but after such great writing, it almost felt like a let down.
I know this is set to pub in January but I am SO glad I read this near to Halloween -- it's just what I was in the mood for!

Old Soul by Susan Baker is a gripping and genre-defying narrative that seamlessly weaves elements of horror, western, and thriller into a profound exploration of loss, morality, and the haunting impact of a mysterious figure. The story begins in Osaka, where two strangers, Jake and Mariko, bond over their shared grief after missing a flight. Both have suffered the brutal loss of loved ones connected to a beguiling woman who seems to leave destruction in her wake.

Jake’s quest to uncover the truth about this enigmatic figure takes him across the globe, gathering chilling testimonies from those who have crossed paths with her. Baker’s writing is evocative and immersive, as she captures the haunting stories of shattered souls that build a rich tapestry of human devastation. The journey leads Jake to Theo, a dying sculptor in rural New Mexico, who possesses insights into the woman’s true nature that could change everything.

The novel skillfully balances tension and philosophical inquiry, delving into themes of predation and free will. It raises thought-provoking questions about the nature of grief and the ways in which we confront our own moral complexities in the face of tragedy.

Baker's ability to blend various genres results in a narrative that is both thrilling and introspective, making Old Soul a unique reading experience. Fans of literary fiction with dark undertones will find this story compelling and unforgettable, as it navigates the depths of human suffering and the relentless search for understanding in a chaotic world.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A series of deaths years apart are linked to a mysterious European woman.

🪞Book review: Old Soul by Susan Barker🪞

For fans of Stephen King’s The Outsider, but make it…

Haunting
Ethereal
Beguiling

•SYNOPSIS•
When a missed flight connects two grieving strangers, they discover they share more than a disrupted destination. As they swap stories of losing their loved ones under bizarre circumstances, they find disturbing parallels, like their loved ones’ strange encounters just before their deaths. Both had met a mysterious woman with black eyes who took their photo and maybe their lives…

Who is this mystery woman?
Is her camera the kiss of death or a mere coincidence?
And, most importantly, can they stop her before it happens again?

•THOUGHTS•
A tale of morality, greed, and sacrifice, Old Soul is supernatural, literary horror that’s fast-paced and fun (in a morbid way 😈). Barker brilliantly bobs between narrators and timelines, weaving a deliciously demonic web for readers to untangle.

I was hooked from the first page, savoring the rush of this free-fall into hell.

Thanks @netgalley and @putnambooks for the ARC. Old Soul hits shelves in January ✨

“In Osaka, two strangers, Jake and Mariko, miss a flight, and over dinner, discover they've both brutally lost loved ones whose paths crossed with the same beguiling woman no one has seen since.” With this gripping premise, the novel sets the stage for a dark and captivating mystery that spans decades and continents. What begins as a chance encounter between Jake and Mariko quickly spirals into a complex and chilling investigation as Jake becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth about the enigmatic woman who has left a trail of devastation in her wake.

The novel skillfully weaves together the personal tragedies of Jake and Mariko, creating a shared sense of loss that drives the narrative forward. Jake’s determination to find out who—or what—this woman is takes readers on a globetrotting journey as he pieces together haunting testimonies from others who have encountered her. Each story adds another layer to the mystery, deepening the tension and adding a pervasive sense of unease. The author does an excellent job of building suspense as Jake’s quest becomes more desperate and the answers seem more elusive.

Overall, this beautifully crafted, atmospheric novel blends suspense, mystery, and emotional depth. Readers who enjoy literary mysteries with complex characters and an unsettling, otherworldly edge will find this an unforgettable read.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This very mysterious story features two adults who meet after they miss a flight in Japan. Mairko and Jake are quite different but find after the missed flight and ensuing dinner that they have something strange in common - both lost a loved one after the person interacted with a mysterious woman. Jake is hot on the trail of this mysterious Marion and the chapter alternate as he reveals stories from others who also met Marion and then met with a disaster.

Quite gripping and twisted, well written and lite horror, this is a story for those who love well written books and maybe a side of scare!
#penguin #oldsoul #susanbarker

If David Mitchell and Stephen King had a book baby, this might be it.

This beautifully written novel does really defy genre. I’ll call it speculative literary horror. It is beautiful and horrifying. Not really scary but truly creepy.

In it we follow Jake, an Englishman on a mission to find out who or what caused the mysterious death of his dear friend Lena. Jake investigates an international trail of similar deaths, finally reaching a horrifying conclusion.

There is a lot to love in this novel: the incredibly vivid, lyrical writing, fantastic sense of place (and time), character development, and the horrific dis-ease that underlies it all. The mystery kept me turning pages. Jake’s investigation leads him to many clues from several people and this is where the pacing has problems. Perhaps all the backstories slowed down the momentum in the second half. I felt myself getting frustrated with the details (albeit gorgeously written details) when all I wanted was to get to the end and find out what was going to happen!

This is horror for smart people. I’m not sure if I’m smart enough. There are so many themes to this multilayered book, and I didn’t quite connect all the dots all the time. Part of me wants to give this 5 stars but the confused part of me 3, so I will agree on 4 stars for this unique metaphysical and truly horrifying novel.

Old Soul was a captivating read that delved into the complexities of memory, identity, and the search for belonging. Barker's writing is both lyrical and thought-provoking, painting vivid pictures with lines like, "Memory is a treacherous thing, a shifting landscape of half-truths and forgotten dreams."

I was immediately drawn into mc's extraordinary journey as she navigates the challenges and revelations that come with her unique gift. The exploration of reincarnation and the interconnectedness of past and present lives was both fascinating and emotionally resonant. The characters were well-developed, and I found myself invested in their individual stories and struggles.

However, the narrative occasionally felt a bit slow-paced, and some of the philosophical musings could be a bit dense at times. Overall, Old Soul is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that explores the depths of human experience and the enduring power of memory.

This was a perfect literary horror novel. I’m not surprised all of the publishers were fighting over it. Its episodic structure—a monster stalks a girl through the New Mexican desert; alternating with “testimony” chapters narrated by the monster’s victims’ loved ones—will also make for an easy TV adaptation. Held my interest all the way through and never felt silly.

This book was... unsettling.

I don't mean that in a bad way; horror books that unsettle me are my favourite kind, so this is definitely a good thing.

I enjoyed this story a lot. I enjoyed the writing, the characters, the plot. The testimonials could have felt like the same story over and over, but somehow the author put just enough differences in there that I was hooked every time. I could have kept reading them, to be honest.

The main antagonist in this book is a delightful creature. SHE is unsettling. I loved her plot with Sculptor a lot, too; it was nice to see that even she could be gotten to, on some level or another.

The ending, of course, broke my heart, but it was exactly what it needed to be.

Overall, I just... really, really enjoyed this unique, eerie book. I devoured the entire thing in one sitting because I couldn't bring myself to go to bed without knowing how it ended.

I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a sense of dread and for a really unsettling mystery.

In this beautifully written tale, a chance encounter between two strangers traveling abroad reveals a shared, devastating experience: the loss of a loved one in a seemingly medically impossible way. A mysterious woman connects their stories, prompting Jake to embark on a quest to uncover her identity and the truth behind his friend's death.

Through poignant testimonials from those left behind, a chilling pattern emerges: encounters with this woman who defies the natural order of life and death. The author's skill shines in crafting these testimonials, portraying the raw emotions and complexities of real human relationships with remarkable authenticity.

If you enjoy a thought-provoking mystery intertwined with a touch of the supernatural and a deep exploration of human connection, this book is likely to resonate with you.

One sitting read interesting
Characters and plot keep me gripped
Enjoyed this read as well as the cover just a soood book!

I will start by saying I would absolutely read another book by this author in the future. I was rapt right away when I began this book. But I quickly grew bored. The format of the storytelling: each incidence where our evil protagonist/antagonist takes another soul for the Tyrant. I didn't feel like I learned anything new with each telling. I was just a slightly different version of the same story: Find someone vulnerable, engage, entice, photograph, show photo to subject, let the Tyrant in to ruin the life within a few weeks, the main character (Eva, Marion, etc) carries on. There was no resolution in the end, which I might be okay with, but the entire book felt unfulfilling.

Brilliant and haunting--a mix of literary horror, thriller and Western I didn't know I needed in my life! I genuinely didn't want to put this book down which has been tough to achieve lately. Fantastic usage of multiple POVs by way of testimonials connecting each one to a single individual. Idk guys, this just did it for me...frightening, eerie, tragic, upsetting, yet beautiful and poetic all at once. The horror element is certainly not your typical horror, yet it is still ABSOLUTELY horror; I don't know how to explain it.

One of my favorite books I've read this year!

Old Soul is one of those books that just pulls you in right away. The story kicks off with Jake and Mariko, two strangers who meet by chance, both dealing with their own deep losses. What’s wild is how their pasts are connected by this mysterious woman who seems to be behind it all. The way the book unfolds, with twists that take you across different times and places, keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s haunting, but in the best way—like you can’t stop thinking about it even after you finish. If you’re into horror stories that mix emotion with a bit of a chilling mystery, you’ll really enjoy this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!