Oh my gosh I don't even know what to say about this book. First of all, the opening chapters of this book were incredibly compelling and sucked me in immediately. I loved the writing style (I typically enjoy and am never bothered by the lack of quotations) and the vibe was unsettling off the bat. I also enjoyed the narrative structure of hearing the testimonies of all these different characters. However, I did find myself more engaged with some stories than others. Lastly, the ending really upset me, just because of the type of reader I am and what I look for in resolution to stories. But that's a me problem not a book problem!


SPOILERS:
I did not enjoy that everyone--literally everyone--died. I am not even bothered by the evil conquered good at this moment. However, I don't like getting attached to characters only for them all to die! I wish at least Jake survived.

From a tragic passing 11 years earlier, to Mariko and her twin’s untimely passing, Jake finally has a connection and maybe an answer to the long gone friend, but not forgotten Lena and her death as this connection sends him on a new journey.

A novel of old gods, a tyrant, and a woman with a camera; it takes quite a bit to really explain anything. I went into this one blind and about 60 pages in, I had to read an excerpt cause I was still confused. Since the story kept following different perspectives and introducing new characters to tell their story, it almost felt like reading a collection of short stories with a slow to get there common theme.

Each story is intriguing but nothing really furthers the plot or character development - like is there really a plot anyway? The writing is good and the story could be unsettling and some testimonies were stronger than others. The plot had a little more drive near the end but it felt a little too late.

This was a very unique horror story. There aren’t any “monsters” or pop scares but this story really terrifies you in the most subtle way. The collector goes by many names and has crossed centuries of time to make her collections for the tyrant. We meet him very briefly and while he is not a direct character in the book, his presence is in every page. What does she collect you ask? Souls. Her victims don’t even know it’s happening before they are too far gone. The collector is beautiful, glamorous, charming and all she wants is to take your picture. Her gift is capturing your essence through her photography. By the time you realize something is wrong, you have days left and it’s much too late. The only issue I had was the number of characters. It was a bit much to follow but I was fascinated by their stories and their encounter with the collector.

I wanted to love this book, and in the beginning I did, but it lost momentum for me. I wanted more horror. I wanted more. You can tell that the author did their research and truly loved writing this. For me, I just needed more momentum more horror for the ending to be worth it

This is a tough book to review.
Elements of the story felt scary, but they were the ones removed from the central aspect of what was being told.
The main narrative itself felt too distant, too removed.
And so, I found myself fractured while I was reading.

I do hope this finds its readers, as I think it’s an experimental piece of horror, and had parts I enjoyed. Overall, it wasn’t entirely for me.

Thank you Netgalley & G.P. Putnam’s Sons Publishing for an eARC ♥️

_Holy Cow, This Book Is Good!_

Susan Barker's writing is insane - it's like she's weaving a spell that draws you in and refuses to let go. I mean, I've read some creepy books in my time, but this one takes the cake.
The story's about Jake, a guy who's trying to uncover the truth behind a mysterious woman who's killing people in some seriously weird ways. Like, their internal organs are all reversed. It's freaky, man. And the more Jake learns about this woman, the more he realizes that she's not just a killer - she's something else entirely.
As Jake digs deeper, he discovers that he's not the only one searching for answers. There are others out there who've encountered this woman, and they're all trying to figure out what's going on. It's like a big puzzle, and Jake's determined to solve it.
What I loved about this book is how original it is. The writing's smart, the characters are complex, and the plot's twisty and unpredictable. It's like a rollercoaster ride of emotions - you're scared, you're curious, you're invested.🤯
I also appreciated how Susan Barker explored themes of grief, trauma, and the supernatural. It's clear that Barker's done her research, and the result is a story that's both thought-provoking and terrifying.
If you're a fan of horror, suspense, or just great storytelling, you need to read this book. Trust me, it's worth it. But be warned: this book is not for the faint of heart. It's dark, it's twisted and I absolutely loved it🤩

4 🌟

Beautifully written and upsetting in a quiet, ponderous sort of way. The horror here isn't in-your-face screams, but something that worms into the back of your brain and takes root there, spreading discontent and paranoia.

I found the lack of quotation marks off-putting at first, but I adapted quickly, and it honestly suits the story.

This one will stick with me for awhile.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

DNF at 20% because the plot was too slow. I did enjoy the characters and getting to learn more about them. The setting was really moody and dark.

Strangers Jake and Mariko meet by chance when they both miss their plane at the Osaka airport. Over dinner, they realize they are connected in a very upsetting way — each has had a loved one die gruesomely, shortly after the same woman entered their lives. This revelation sends Jake on a quest to unravel the mystery of this woman, chasing her backwards from the present, meeting the loved ones of her victims, and following clues across the miles and years. He presents these heart-wrenching stories in chapters. As the stories converge, the true nature of what Jake and Mariko are up against is revealed—a centuries-old reign of terror and death.

The author has written a gripping read that will captivate fans of psychological horror, literary fiction, and philosophical thrillers. At times, I was so involved in this story that I enjoyed this part horror, part western and part thriller showing ancient evil in a new way.

I'm not completely sure how I feel about this book. It was weird and at times confusing, but it also pulled off an unsettling vibe really well. I was definitely pulled in every time I started reading, even if I felt a bit lost at times. I struggled with the lack of quotation marks and didn't care for that, but that's probably just a matter of personal preference.

I definitely think a lot of people will enjoy this, it's very mysterious and creepy.

Two strangers discover their loved ones died under the same odd and mysterious circumstances. One of them sets off to find the truth, which leads to a woman, whose name always changes.

This one was downright creepy at many parts, but also really slow in some. It was worth the slow parts. Don’t expect a fast paced horror, it’s more of a literary horror where it slowly creeps up on you.

“Don’t let her in. She’ll leave you alone when I’m gone.”

Old Soul comes out 1/28.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC!

Susan Barker’s "Old Soul" is a restrained horror story that aims for spine-tingling unease but reaches only skin-crawling boredom.

The book’s premise is straightforward—a mysterious woman drifts through the world, somehow extending her (undead?) life by preying on vulnerable people. The narrative is fractured but gradually pieced together through a series of globe-spanning testimonies.

In theory, Barker’s approach sounds engaging, as if the range of perspectives would enrich the story’s mystery. In practice, it’s a real drag. Typically, I try to write reviews with a focus on whether the book is succeeding in its narrative goals, so it’s irrelevant if a writing style doesn’t personally gel with me.

In "Old Soul," it felt impossible to maintain this approach.

The prose is distractingly cluttered by a tendency to misconstrue information as specificity—a call can’t be a call. It must be a “WhatsApp call.” A camera can’t be a camera. It must be a “DSLR camera lens.” When it doesn’t feel like product placement, it reads like the author simply populates each page with details from a cursory google search: “What are foods people in eat in Japan? Okay, Mos Burger it is.” It’s not world-building as much as it’s word-dumping, and it makes the storytelling feel fruitless.

If one were to strip out most of these adjectival details, the book would simply be the same horror cliché over and over. Perhaps this Mad Libs style of writing will be enough for some readers, but it certainly wasn’t for me.

What did I think?? A lot, and at the same time not much. The first 25-30% was incredible. Once I figured out what I was reading I couldn't stop. Such a novel novel, so to speak. The plot was clever and original and the characters were people I cared about, wanted to follow the progress of. And then - it went on and on and on and on. All the energy that built up in the beginning began to dissipate in all of the repetition. I won't give any real spoilers but let's just say that I hated the ending and while each of the mini stories in this book were interesting, they just diluted the effect of the initial build up. The writing was excellent and the plot was very unique. I just wish it were a LOT shorter.

This ARC was provided by NetGalley and the publisher, the opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.

Old Soul is a unique horror/thriller. It has a slower pace, but it fits the story. There are a lot of characters and timelines, but it never feels overwhelming and it's easy for the reader to keep track. In fact, to call it horror/thriller doesn't seem exactly right, but that's probably the best fit.

What a wild ride! It starts off with this super eerie vibe, which totally sucked me in. Jake and Mariko meet by chance in Osaka, and they immediately bond over this mysterious and tragic connection—both of their loved ones had died under the same strange circumstances after encountering the same woman. Talk about a whoa moment, right? 🌍

As Jake dives deeper into the mystery, he travels around the globe, interviewing people whose lives were also upended by this dark-haired woman. Each of these stories is like a slow-burn horror tale, and while the premise is so unique, there were moments where the book did feel a bit drawn out. The tension definitely dips in the middle, but it picks up by the end with an unexpected twist that had me like, "Wait, WHAT?" 🤯

I loved how atmospheric the writing was, though—Barker’s style is all haunting and lyrical, which made it feel like the book was more of a literary horror experience than just a regular thriller. It's creepy, yes, but it also leaves you with a lot of questions. And the ending was a total mind-bender! 🔮

Overall, I’m giving it a solid 4 stars. I was hooked enough to keep going, even when the pacing slowed down, and the eerie vibe definitely stuck with me.

Big thanks to NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion! 🙏

Old Soul by Susan Barker, this book starts at the airport in Osaka, Jake and Mariko have both been laid over by a canceled flight and see each other in passing at the airport, but when they turn up at the same grocery store, they decide to get through it together and this is how they start talking and learn that Mariko‘s twin brother as well as Jake’s best friend both went missing after being around a certain woman. Throughout the book we go from the woman with different people to Jake, who is trying to figure out who this woman is. I just want to say this book had some truly creepy moments in it and although, not straight up horror nor paranormal. It definitely has a touch of both. I like the different international settings from Japan to Russia to Arizona, I know a lot of reviews said they were confused by this book and although I wasn’t, I did notice that it did feel as if something was missing, but not enough to make the book unenjoyable. I found the writing style was a bit strange, but all in all I really enjoyed the story. this is an original story that I absolutely enjoyed and definitely recommend. #NetGalley, #SusanBarker, #OldSoul,

This was the first book about westerns that included the horror genre I have read. It was a thrilling ride. Trying to figure out who the killer was is the reason why I read thrillers. Reading all the clues and deciphering what they mean is what makes a book like this fun to read. I followed the clues and was pretty spot on about who the culprit was. Great book to read cozied up in a chair with a drink and a blanket.

OLD SOUL is an alluring tale told through testimonies of individuals throughout the world who have encountered one peculiar woman and had their bodies and lives inexplicably altered. This woman is always on the move and never ages. Designated as “literary horror” the novel is more subtly haunting than traditional jumpscares and gore typically found in the genre. Aside from one graphic scene at the end the story leans more supernatural than horrifying. This is a truly unique reading experience begging to be discussed.

Read This If You:
-are more drawn to darkly different stories
-can handle a story without proper punctuation
-are intrigued by an epilogue unlike any other you’ve read

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A creepy horror that follows a woman whose only goal is to keep living. This is the opposite of a cozy book. The terror is terrifying, the victims were messy and not innocents, and the ending... well, you'll just have to read to find out. Read only if you are in the mood for dark things.

This was such a cool and unique story. It dives into the idea of reincarnation, following a character who’s lived so many lives through different times in history. The stories are emotional and gripping, and you really feel connected to all their experiences. The writing is very vivid so it’s easy to get lost in the timelines.

If you’re into stories that mix history, love, a dash of mystery, you'll want to check this one out.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for this advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.