This was a very interesting book. It hooked me right from the start and when I wasn't reading it, I wanted to be. The story alternates between The Woman's current story and testimonies about others that have crossed her path, all coming together in the end quarter of the book.

It starts with two people missing their plane and figuring out that they both lost loved ones in a similar way. One of those people is Jake and he ends up doing all this digging into this mysterious woman. He meets with the ones left behind in her wake, that's the testimony chapters. You don't know too much about him but he's more just the carrier of the story. The Woman chapters are focused on her newest victim. She's lived for a very long time and you learn how she's doing that fairly quickly. The story has supernatural elements but more demonic or old God than ghosts or jump scares.

The last quarter to third of the book is focused on one person and how she came to meet The Woman. I liked that there was so much back story with alternating perspectives that led into what almost feels like the main story. But then it ended. There was a big scene, sure, but it felt very abrupt. There wasn't much closure, like the story just kept going but not in a sequel coming kinda way. Until the ending, this would've easily been a five star book, but now it just feels unfinished. I would still recommend it, if you love a good story and are okay with a blah ending. There are still so many good points in the book and I'd read more stories of the people The Woman has encountered. So I'll give this 3.5 stars but rounded down because I need an ending.

While this book is characterized as horror, I felt it was a bit light on the horror. I wasn't mad at it though. This book is a bit reminiscent of Addie LaRue and the Age of Adeline. Phenomenal! The writing style is unique from anything else I have read, and I enjoyed it. Definitely a unique story and the ending was...wow! I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to dip into horror.

I have been sitting on this review for quite a while. I absolutely took my time reading this book. There was so much going on, but I loved every minute of it. I cannot even compare it to any other book that I have read, in relation its style and how Susan Barker writes.
It’s not horror but it was scary in parts. It's creepy. The story is told in many timelines, in the past and present and all the tales involve interactions with the same entity, preying on them. The entity never seems to die just takes from others to subsist.
There were such interesting characters that on their own seem like they’d never fall for such trickery but what do you know, they all do.
I’m definitely reading again.

Listed as horror, this book is more suspenseful than horror, and add in the psychological aspects and this is a literary fiction masterpiece that brings new elements to literature. The author blends together literary genres and elements that give Old Soul a truly unique premise and writing style. As the story unfolds between two different time frames, each section pulls the reader deeper into the unraveling of a character who is terrifying to read.

Readers will not be disappointed in this one, and the best part of this book is the ending, which is one I promise that you will never forget!

What a unique take on horror. It was definitely heavy on the literary fiction, with lots of unsettling and creepy moments thrown in. The writing style was really, really different from anything else I've read, and I feel like it helped contribute to the atmosphere a lot. It was interesting that this book didn't have a main character. I enjoyed the plot and characters a lot. This is definitely a horror novel with deeper themes, such as love and humanity, to explore. Now I'm going to stare at my hands every morning to make sure they haven't switched…

Thank you to Penguin Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

It took me a while to get through this one. I didn’t love it or hate it. While not slow paced, it wasn’t fast paced either. While not scary per se, it had moments that were disturbing. And I didn’t love all of the characters either, I found some to be obscure and unrelateable. Overall, I’m glad I sought it out and finished it, but it won’t end up in my “best of the year” list.

*Old Soul* is a genre-bending tour de force that combines the chilling suspense of literary horror with the atmospheric intensity of a Western thriller. Drawing comparisons to *The Historian* and *Under the Skin*, this novel by [Author’s Name] offers a hauntingly original exploration of predation, morality, and the quest for redemption.

The story begins with Jake and Mariko, two strangers in Osaka who, after missing a flight, find themselves entangled in a shared nightmare. Both have lost loved ones in connection with a mysterious and elusive woman whose influence has left a trail of devastation. As Jake digs deeper into the enigma of this woman, his search takes him across the globe, gathering harrowing testimonies from those whose lives she has shattered. His journey leads him to Theo, a dying sculptor in rural New Mexico who holds crucial insights into the nature of this enigmatic figure.

The novel masterfully blends elements of horror, Western, and thriller genres, creating a narrative that is as unpredictable as it is engrossing. The woman at the center of the story is more than a mere antagonist; she is a force of nature, representing a malevolent presence whose influence has spanned centuries. Jake’s quest to unravel her identity and end the cycle of destruction is both a deeply personal and an epic struggle against a seemingly unstoppable evil.

*Old Soul* excels in its ability to evoke a sense of dread and suspense while also delving into profound themes of predation and human nature. The novel’s horror elements are juxtaposed with a Western sensibility, highlighting the stark, rugged landscapes of New Mexico and the solitary, grim determination of its characters. This blend of genres creates a unique and compelling reading experience that challenges conventional boundaries.

The character development is particularly striking, with Jake’s relentless pursuit of answers revealing both his vulnerabilities and his strength. Theo, as a key figure in the narrative, provides a crucial perspective that adds depth to the mystery. The psychological and existential dimensions of the story are explored with a deft touch, offering readers a thought-provoking and unsettling examination of the nature of evil and the limits of human endurance.

*Old Soul* is a bold and imaginative work that stands out for its fearless genre experimentation and its ability to engage readers on multiple levels. It is a gripping tale of horror and suspense that will resonate with fans of dark and literary fiction alike. With its intricate plotting, atmospheric settings, and complex characters, this novel is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the darker corners of human experience and the supernatural.

“Old Soul” by Susan Barker is a literary horror novel that attracted me immediately by its description. It opens with its two main characters meeting in the Tokyo airport where they just miss getting onto their flight. While having dinner and drinks together, they begin to discuss the tragic losses in their lives and find some eerie common threads that cause them to pursue their pasts. This sets the stage for the mysterious force the “Old Soul” to surface as we travel the globe meeting the victims.

Unfortunately for me the writing style, and lack of punctuation really put a damper on my ability to enjoy the book. Also for me, this book is more of a character driven fantasy than a horror story and perhaps would be better described that way.

I do think this book will appeal to anyone interested in a debut novel with a contemporary twist on a complex and chilling theme.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

→ 3 stars

this one is perfect for fans of sally rooney because the author also has bad blood with quotations marks. it surprisingly didn’t bother me as much as i expected to, but it was still annoying at times. “old soul” is marketed as a literary horror, and while the writing fits the literary aspect, i did not see the “horror” it promised. i think it does the book a disservice, because it’s a good book, but it’s definitely not a horror – somewhat of a thriller with paranormal moments, but not a horror.

the book is split in two – one part is a recollection of the memories other people have of the villain and their interactions with her and in the other we see the woman in the current time, trying to get another victim. i think this juxtaposition worked well, but i enjoyed reading the “interviews” more.

i don’t think any of the characters were fleshed out enough that, as a reader, you’ll care about what happens to them. i liked reading about what went on in their pasts, but i didn’t have a connection to any of them, not even the villain. theo, whom we meet towards the end of the book, was the one that had somewhat of a personality. so if you’re more of a character-driven person, don’t pick up this one, since it’s more heavy on its plot.

i disliked the ending as i was hoping the book would go in a different direction, but i can see why it ended the way it did. however, the epilogue missed the mark for me, as it relied too heavily on lyricism, to the point i simply didn’t understand what i was reading.

overall, it’s a solid debut and i liked the writing style quite a lot, so i will probably read the author’s future works as well.

Mysterious and steeped in dark romance, Old Soul resonates with an enduring sense of dread and a slow, simmering terror that will captivate, disturb, and envelop readers until the final, haunting conclusion.

This gothic folktale spans continents and epochs, unraveling the tale of a black widow figure ensnared by a sinister, otherworldly force, forever tied to the cyclical fate of Venus.

Susan Barker’s debut novel Old Soul is a multi-layered, engrossing ghost story of sorts—a slow burn, spiritual ghost story through the vein of a Faustian bargain.

Old Soul truly does start out like a trippy story you hear at a party and spins out in a multitude of directions. I use “ghost story” in a loose sense—some might even be annoyed by my use of the term ghost story—but both death and life are pervasive throughout the book.

Barker pulls the reader in with a story of a chance encounter at the airport. A Englishman and a Japanese woman find they have more in common than just a missed flight. They’ve both lost someone dear to them and both in the oddest circumstances. Jake, the Englishman who has lost a dear friend named Lena, then becomes one of the main figures, as he tries to tie together other stories of loss with similarly bizarre circumstances.

All in all, Old Soul isn’t a run-of-the-mill horror or mystery, though it has elements of both genres. The book is structured in multiple layers, so that one could easily revisit it in a second reading and find added enjoyment. A number of the story threads cross paths, which makes things more interesting. On the surface, the book is the story of Jake trying the figure out what happened to Lena and if he can find a way to stop it from continuing to happen to others, while others, such as Mariko—the Japanese woman who also lost someone—simply walk away because the loss affected them too greatly. That alone is the start of an intriguing plot line, but the book is even more intriguing than that (trying to keep spoilers to a minimum).

This reader enjoyed the deeper thematic concerns, especially the spiritual elements, as most of the characters are grappling with spiritual elements in one way or another—whether a Catholic faith, a Luciferian faith, a Buddhist faith or even a more loosely structured faith base. Such a quality seems more and more absent in recent books. Regardless of our faith system, most of us look for answers beyond ourselves—even if our chosen God happens to be social media adulation and a New Age spiritualism (yes, such a character exists within the confines of this book). You’ll think about Old Soul long after reading it. Highly recommended.

Good, not great. The story has a "Picture of Dorian Gray" vibe with a genuinely creepy subject. The frequent changes of time and point of view make for a choppy reading experience but I was still interested enough to finish the book. There were a couple of spots where there could have been a bit more background research for verisimilitude, if the author was trying for that.

Grim and darkly romantic, Old Soul buzzes with a timeless dread and slow-burning terror that will unsettle, enthrall and enrapture readers until the bitter end.

A gothic folktale woven over continents and centuries, Old Soul tells the story of a black widow figure, slave to a malevolent otherworldly entity and bound by the rise and fall of Venus.

Thank you to Penguin Publishing Group and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is my kind of scary story - I loved it. What would you do to live forever? What starts as two people missing their plane, talking over drinks, and then one of them searching the world for a person that never dies. I'm tired of stories with fairytale endings - this isn't one of them.

The genres are a bit iffy with labeling this as horror. There was a little bit of horror aspect. It was well written and a story full of plot twists.

What a mind blowing ride! I could not put this down! The story centers around a man named Jake who loses his best friend Lena after a mysterious woman in her thirties comes into her life. Jake travels around the world finding other people who lost loved ones under the same circumstances. Each chapter is split into a different testimony from the people he meets. I was in awe at the ending.

Thank you so much to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

What a breathtaking, layered novel. Susan's writing feels so fresh and stands out in a crowded market. Every character is complex and addicting. The elements of horror are thought-provoking, creepy, and just so good! (Some of the desert scenes with Rosa were my favorite.) I couldn't put this down, nor did I want it to end. Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy -- I have no doubt this will be a bestseller, and I can't wait to add a hard copy to my library & share it with everyone I know.

When you're being experimental with your writing, the decisions you make that break the mold must make sense for the story. Not writing dialogue correctly not only didn't work, but it didn't make sense. I can't get through the story without cringing at the lack of proper quotation marks (and the unnecessary letters with colons to show dialogue in the first few pages). This book might be good, but I'll never find out for myself.

Thank you to Penguin Publishing Group & G.P. Putnam's Sons for this advanced reader's copy.
*SPOILER ALERT*

Susan Barker's Old Soul follows Jake, an Englishman who comes across other people who've brutally lost loved ones after crossing paths with the same mysterious woman no one has seen since. He travels across the globe gathering chilling testimonies from others who encountered the Woman across the decades, which leads him to a sculptor in New Mexico - who knew the Woman better than anyone else had. Does the sculptor hold the key to who, or WHAT the Woman is?

"Old Soul" embodies everything I crave in a horror novel: supernatural elements, a haunting desert backdrop, themes of travel, death, murder, and a touch of smut. Susan Barker masterfully weaves a dual narrative that seamlessly unfolds the story. The pacing is impeccable, revealing twists and secrets without leaving readers in prolonged suspense, even with the occasional cliffhanger.

SPOILER
The Woman is an intricately crafted character, having evaded death for nearly 300 years due to an abusive relationship. The novel probes the fine line between pursuing happiness and succumbing to greed. This line is crossed when The Woman's desperation peaks in Theo's home, leading her to commit remorseless murders.

"Old Soul" is set to be published on January 28, 2025.

ARC releasing 1/28/25. A demon steals your soul to live longer or something? I don't know. Don't read this.