Starred review from October 21, 2024
Barker (The Incarnations) delivers a sweeping work of literary horror that spans the globe yet remains distinctly itchy beneath the skin. Strangers Jake and Mariko meet at an airport in Japan and, over the course of their brief conversation, uncover a disturbing connection between the recent deaths of their loved ones. The autopsies of both victims revealed that their organs were “the wrong way round” and both encountered a mysterious woman shortly before their deaths. The details of these encounters lead Jake on an international investigation piecing together testimonies from others who have met the enigmatic woman whose presence, he discovers, can be linked to countless deaths across centuries and continents. Driven by guilt and curiosity, he races to uncover her true nature, even as the woman, always one step ahead, sets her sights on her next victim. Barker weaves an eerie and suspenseful narrative, alternating between Jake’s present-day pursuit and haunting flashbacks of the woman’s victims. The slow-burning tension and lush, atmospheric prose build a creeping sense of dread that lingers long after the final page. Fans of both the deeply personal speculative horror of Carmen Maria Machado and the subtle, character-driven mystery of Haruki Murakami will be enthralled.