Old Soul

De: Susan Barker

Narrado por: George Blagden, Jill Winternitz, Olivia Vinall

The Historian meets Under the Skin in this searingly provocative literary horror novel about one woman’s determination to stay alive at any terrifying cost.

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.

Following traces this mysterious person left behind, Jake travels from country to country gathering chilling testimonies from others who encountered her across the decades—a trail of shattered souls that eventually leads him to Theo, a dying sculptor in rural New Mexico, who knows the woman better than anyone—and might just hold the key to who, or what, she is.

Part horror, part western, part thriller, Old Soul is a fearlessly bold and genre-defying tale about predation, morality and free will, and one man’s quest to bring a centuries-long chain of human devastation to an end.

©2025 Susan Barker (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Every subplot is a beautifully complete, historically accurate little world of its own. . . Rendered so bleakly that H.P. Lovecraft would be envious. . . Do not miss Old Soul, the most satisfyingly grim supernatural novel in years.” —Wall Street Journal

"Old Soul is an extraordinary achievement. A brutal interrogation of art, connection, the meaning of and impulse toward life itself. I couldn't put it down." —Beth Underdown, author of The Witchfinder's Sister

"Susan Barker is a tremendous writer and Old Soul snags the reader in its claw and mesmerises from page one. I often wondered if I was devouring the story or vice versa, I was so engrossed. It is not an option to put this book down." —Monique Roffey, author of The Mermaid of Black Conch

Superb!

Both the plotting and the writing are deft. The only slow part of Old Soul is the first 15 minutes or so. After that, it doesn’t slow down or let the listener go.

I put other things on hold - like sleeping! - to finish this one.

Most horror recycles the same monsters: werewolves, zombies, vampires, demons, ghosts, and serial killers.

This monster is unique, and yet it shares enough roots with more familiar monsters that I found it easy to suspend my disbelief.

While not a “psychological thriller” (it follows the tropes of monster horror more closely) this novel explores some interesting aspects of psychology. The ways in which people are lured, and kept complacent, are fascinating to me.

Warning to other readers: I love ambiguities, so I like the fact that some aspects of the monster are never explained. The ending is clear, but the origin of the monster, the “why” of it, isn’t. If you’re a reader who needs everything explained, this novel will probably frustrate you. Personally, I think the lack of explanation makes the story stronger. The curtain is never pulled back completely - the literary equivalent of never showing the monster on screen. Those unexplained details are going to keep me thinking about this story.

I got this on a 2-for-1 deal, and chose it based on other readers’ comments. Now I have to add my own appreciation. I’m putting this author’s other novels on my TBR list.

Creepy and good

Loved that I was surprised at the end. Looking forward to more by this author.

very different

I loved this book completely different from anything I've read. Great characters and enjoyed the timelines changing in a unique way.

Stunning

Best new novel I’ve read in years. I will read anything Barker writes going forward.

Terrifying Thought

If one has an open mind about supernatural possibilities, the story is terrifying - both the antagonist and her victims are sad. Neither are free from the Tyrant.
This story is one that I've not heard of before. I have read very few stories about skinwalkers, but none have been like this. I'm not sure if this is a "true" skinwalker, but the evil seems awfully similar.
The character descriptions and their stories were well written. I listened to the audiobook version and thought the narration was well done.
I'd recommend this book.

Very Heavy

I really enjoyed the detail and creativity of this story, and the character development was very well done. That said, the book overall was heavy and not a happy journey, and the ending did not leave me where I wanted to be.

Not the horror I expected but equally satisfying

I dont want to give spoilers but I will say I had a bit different type of expectation for a horror book and while it wasnt what I expected, I love it all the same, especially the epilogue.

Never Heard Anything Like It

Through several different POVs, we are told the story of a woman who is an agent of The Tyrant, a Venusian god, for whom she procures sacrifices and in return has eternal life.

I love how this book almost makes the reader feel empathy for such a woman.

Great narration and pace. Loved this one.

Good story but…

The story definitely kept my interest but I couldn’t help but be distracted by the “German accent” that was much more of a Russian accent. Strange.

Interesting!

I really enjoyed trying to figure out where this story was going. It could get a little confusing at times because of the change in narrators in different time periods. Multiple character’s stories unfold but not necessarily sequentially. It creates an unease too, almost like the confusion and determination the first character finds in this discovery. Great job!