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.

This was deeply unsettling, but also strangely poignant? It's one that I'll continue to think about.

4.5 ⭐️

This was really fucking good. This wasn’t a standard “horror” novel. There is something monstrous and supernatural occurring, but this book is about more than that. This was about what it means to live. There was an eeriness that kept me intrigued. I had to know who this woman was. So many POVs. So many characters. So many time periods. It felt like so many books in one. At the center of every storyline is one selfish bitch causing all the chaos and death.

Literary horror that was much better than I had expected.

a gem you must add to your reading list! It's raw, unique, compelling, and unsettling, with dark Japanese horror themes that guarantee nightmares

Old Soul is a haunting examination of a woman desperate to stay alive, the people she sacrifices for immortality, and those caught in her wake of devastation. Told in alternating chapters of testimonies from those that knew the woman’s victims and a present-day account of the woman charming her latest target in the Bisti Badlands, this story takes readers across multiple countries and decades of time to unravel the mystery of an ancient evil. Barker takes us on a journey of discovery, shepherded by our protagonist Jake, who is investigating how the loss of his friend Lena is connected to a string of other unexplainable deaths. As the two story frames converge, the lasting impact of each victims life is felt through the tales told by those left behind. Old Soul is made all the more interesting because of the deep complexity of the characters we meet. Characters are looked at honestly, presenting both virtues and flaws to provide a realistic portrayal of who they were. While the novel is more of a slow-burn in the way the mystery unfolds, it doesn’t pull its punches when it comes to delivering on the psychological, body, and cosmic horror promised by the concept. Dark and at times mean-spirited, this book will leave you thinking about it long after you read the final page.

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

It’s rare for me to be bored by a vampire novel, but alas, here we are.

There’s no issue with Barker’s writing, which is lovely and thoughtful. But while I thought the concept of this had potential, the execution felt flat.

Most of the first half of this book is the characters gathering testimonials about a female vampire’s crimes, and it works well at first but quickly becomes repetitive. We either needed a lot less of this or a lot more variety in what we get. The same goes for the chapters that focus on the vampire herself, which start to feel redundant fairly quickly.

I don’t mind that the book is slow moving, but I struggled a lot with how flat it felt, and the fact that so much of the content is just, effectively, a list of examples of how the vampire operates. Her name changes, as do setting and of course the victims, but the action is the same. This one needed a really big climax to offset that, and we didn’t get it.

I like the way Barker writes and the tone felt appropriate to the material, but the story needed more—or perhaps in terms of quantity—less

Old Soul is best-described as a slow-burn horror story. The reader follows along as Jake investigates the malady that killed his childhood best friend, Lena, while, in a parallel story, some ~events~ are taking place in the desert. Jake’s investigation takes the form of vignettes as he tracks down more and more people who befell a similar fate to Lena. Pieces start to come together as Jake’s investigation begins to converge with the present day events.

This book really hooked me through the first quarter, but then I started to find the vignettes a little stale. I was really interested in the first tale or two, but I became less interested as we moved further back from the present day and encountered new characters that I felt less connected to. However, I did enjoy when the stories reached a converging point near the end.

Overall, I would really recommend this book for readers who are interested in horror and literary fiction; I found this book to be very unique in combining those genres.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

It’s clear that Susan Barker has a talent at crafting mesmerizing worlds and dynamic characters. That being said, “Old Soul” had all of that, but unfortunately felt a bit too drawn out. I completely understand wanting to establish this mysterious woman and give insight into those who crossed her path, but it felt a tad repetitive, especially once these characters were established. It’s a slow burn, taking its time to wave through the story, which many may enjoy, but just didn’t quite work for me in this one. I found the story to be captivating, but it took a lot of effort to get to the point where I was enjoying reading this. This honestly just may not have been the right time for me to experience this story, so it is certainly one that I will want to visit again in the future, and hopefully connect more.

Thank you for the Copy of Old Soul. I wasnt sure about what to expect with this book, going in blind. To say the least it was definitely intriguing and the whole story keeps you wondering whats going to happen. Two Strangers named Mariko and Jake both miss their flights and they start to talking and discover that they both had lost loved ones and somehow their paths cross with the same exact woman. What a coincidence. But where is this lady at? So Jake goes onto looking for answers and asking around to see if anyone has seen her. Then he comes across someone who just might have the answers and find out what happened.
This one is good if you like a thriller horror book and definitely a unique story you will read!

First off let me start by stating, Susan Barker’s writing is straight-up mesmerizing. I’ve read my fair share of creepy books, but this one? Next level and so different. It’s much deeper than your typical horror novel. It’s like she cast some kind of spell, and once you’re in, there’s no getting out.

So, we’ve got Jake, who’s trying to uncover the truth about this mysterious woman—except she’s not just a woman. She’s something else. And the way her victims are found? Yeah, their internal organs are reversed. Let that sink in. Absolutely unhinged.

The deeper Jake digs, the more he realizes he’s not the only one looking for answers. Others have crossed paths with this woman, and no one really understands what’s happening. It’s like one big, eerie puzzle that needs solving.

What really got me was how original this story is. The writing is razor-sharp, the characters have layers upon layers, and the plot? Unpredictable in the best way. It’s one of those books that makes you feel everything—the dread, the intrigue, the absolute need to know what happens next.

And on top of all the horror and suspense, Barker weaves in these heavy themes of grief and trauma, making it even more unsettling. You can tell she did her research, and it pays off in the most disturbing, thought-provoking way.

If you love horror, suspense, or just brilliant storytelling, you need to read this. But fair warning—this one is dark. Twisted. Chilling. And I absolutely devoured it.

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.

Two grieving strangers meet by chance in Osaka airport and uncover a disturbing connection. Jake's best friend and Mariko's twin brother both died, 6,000 miles apart, in brutal and strange circumstances after having encountered a mesmerising, dark haired woman in the days before their deaths. That same woman came looking for Mariko and then disappeared.

Jake decided to follow the trail set by Mariko's story, a tale that spans across continents and centuries and leading back to the many who have all died in terrifying and similar ways.

Old Soul is such a creepy and horrifying story. The story slowly plays out as Jake gathers testimonies. The stories he hears are interesting but there are a lot of them. It takes a while to get any answers.

A slow paced narrative combined with a lack of quotation marks for dialogue creates a sense of being outside the story. This probably makes sense in the end, but it's not my preferred style. The story is original and quite horrific in the end.

This book was mesmerizing. Creepy, intriguing, a mystery. The subject matter made me mildly uncomfortable, yet the writing style was elegant and the characters were all so real and raw in their terror. This is not the genre of book I usually go for, but I'm really glad I did, I really enjoyed it. It did deal with subjects such as immortality, murder and being possessed, so avoid if that's not your thing. The only thing that drove me crazy was the lack of quotation marks throughout the book during all the characters' conversations 🥴 However, I could not put this down and will likely buy it in print, and read it again to soak in all the details.

I give this a 4.5/5.

I haven’t heard anything about this author or this novel other than in my very intense 2025 releases research, and I haven’t seen it crop up on anyone else’s anticipated reads list - which is such a shame! Old Soul was such a unique and propulsive reading experience, firmly cemented in my brain as completely different than anything else I’ve read. Described as part thriller, part Western, and part Japanese horror, the book starts when two strangers meet at the Osaka airport after missing their flights. Over dinner and drinks, Jake and Mariko discover that each of them has lost someone close to them in the same horrible and mysterious way. Shortly after each met and was photographed by a peculiar woman, they devolve into madness and die. Upon investigation into their deaths, it’s discovered that all of their organs have been reversed inside their bodies. The woman is an old soul, seemingly immortal and always under the guise of a new identity while seeking out her next victim. The book takes us through Jake’s journey across the globe to find out who she is and why she’s leaving this path of macabre destruction in her wake.

Old Soul by Susan Barker is a compelling and intriguing story.
This was haunting, it was beautifully written and so unique. I really excited reading this book and I’m looking forward to reading more of her work.

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

While I did really enjoy this- the writing felt a bit underwritten at times. Making it hard to understand what was exactly going on. Overall the premise was very dry interesting. Felt so original and something that I’d never really found in books before that I wanted to figure it out and stay engaged the entire time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam books !!!

When a novel doesn’t live up to the premise, it’s really difficult to find a happy medium where any enjoyment isn’t directly impacted by the lack of expected execution. Old Soul by Susan Barker, unfortunately, falls prey to this all too common affliction and yields a novel high in expectations but much lower in results.

On the outside, the novel sounds ambiguously terrifying, two people who meet by pure happenstance discovering that they’ve lost loved ones who both met the same women shortly before their disappearance, who has since vanished. And for roughly the first third of the novel, with the various points of view giving readers a glimpse into others who have met this enigmatic women, dread slowly starts to build, a bit of constriction and claustrophobia as each story evokes the same feelings of terror and yields more questions for the reader to ponder.

But it’s here, also, where the novel falters. There are so many shifts in perspective, so many opportunities for the author to keep her foot on our throat while reading but choosing to leave us high and dry and shift back to another point of view, that indignation sets in and frustrations abound. So many opportunities to keep us glued to the book, wanting to explore, get more answers, and so many opportunities gone unrealized, the author instead pulling the rug out from under us, a precipitous shift in tension and intrigue yielding a loud sigh of exasperation and an eye roll, that the author just keeps getting in their own way.

Each perspective in this novel IS interesting, the main focus the search for this woman and who she is, but the issue lies in execution; too many times the author makes the wrong decision to switch perspective and grind the book to a screeching halt. Had these shifts been spaced out a little better, giving us more time to digest each point of view before being thrust into another, then this likely would have been a far more satisfying novel.

I still recommend picking this novel up for the intrigue factor alone: for those readers that maybe aren’t as impacted by swift shifts, this could end up being the perfect execution. It may not have been for this reader, but the entirety was still well written and fascinating, so it’s worthy of at least 3*.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing for the opportunity to review this ARC!

This was such unique story. Very twisted, and slightly confusing at times. It was nothing like I anticipated it to be, it was a lot darker of a tale, but very good!

*2.5

While I found this book intriguing, I was never fully invested in it. It felt disjointed with each testimonial, and maybe that was the point. Each testimonial introduced new characters and their backstory, but I just did not care. I especially did not care for the sculptor's section, it was too long and the diary format made me feel an even greater disconnect to the book. I kind of wish the entire book had just been told like the Badlands sections, still focused on a different victim, but told through the woman's perspective. The ending was not what I was expecting, which is a good thing. Overall, not my favorite horror, but it did have parts that I enjoyed and would probably read other works from this author.

The book starts off with Jake missing his flight out of Tokyo, and as he is trying to get on the flight - up runs Mariko who was supposed to be on the flight as well. Since they are unable to get a flight, they end up getting dinner together as they had nothing else to do until their rebooked flights the following day. During dinner, Mariko discussed that she lost her twin brother in a weird way - he called her right before his death telling her not to let the woman in, and then he was found dead with his intestines disrupted inside. Jake is shocked as he reports his best friend died in the same way in a different country. When Mariko gives Jake a tip of another encounter, Jake begins to follow a trail collecting interviews with people who have lost loved ones in the same way. The book then flips back and forth between Jake's interviews and the woman in question (Marion). Marion seems to never age - meeting people from decades ago, but still looking the same in current times.

This was labeled as horror, literary fiction - I thought it was more literary fiction with a very tad amount of horror/maybe more scifi than horror when it comes to the Tyrant. I really enjoyed this book though as I wanted to see what was going to happen and to discover if Jake and the woman would eventually collide. It was a quick read, I think it could have used some editing in regards to shortening the novel as it dragged on at times.

Check my goodreads review linked below. I also posted on IG at @the.bookish.dietitian