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Billy Dering spent the first eighteen years of his life growing up on the New Jersey shore. After high school, his life took a path through South Carolina, Louisiana, and finally home, back to Ocean County, New Jersey, where he currently resides. This geographic area is a part of New Jersey not enough people really see, with the splendor of the Atlantic Ocean, Barnegat Bay and the forests of the Pinelands National Reserve, all becoming a primary backdrop for the Utopia Project trilogy. A business administrator by profession, Dering has written many professional pieces and press releases, and is now applying his love of writing in crafting his own post-apocalyptic novels. He has always been an avid reader of all genres, especially post-apocalyptic, dystopian and techno-thrillers. Dering also enjoys outdoor recreation, songwriting, guitar playing, sports and the soul-soothing ambiance of the sea, especially when the beach and boardwalk are deserted!
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Utopia Project: The Frayed Threads of Hope is a work of fiction in the science fiction and post-apocalyptic adventure subgenres. It is intended for the general reading audience and forms the second novel of the Utopia Project trilogy by author Billy Dering. The pace really picks in this second thrilling story, as we are reunited with survivor group leader Kid Carlson whilst he attempts a deadly rescue mission in the Vermont mountains. Meanwhile, a fellow survivor, Heidi Leer, finds herself engulfed by trauma, setting off a chain of dark reactions that will threaten the very core of the survivors’ current livelihoods.
Author Billy Dering was handed the tough task of the middle novel in a trilogy, and he doesn’t disappoint by amping up the action, tension, and excitement in this tale of cross-country chases, deception, survival, and ultimate betrayal. One feature of the work that I found particularly impressive was the pacing and scene-craft, shifting readers from one mood to another and delicately weaving the threads of deceit, tension, and the breakdown of relationships. Dering does this with a confident narration that knows when to hold back and when to deliver. The dialogue was also a highly useful tool for adding elements of mystery and dropping breadcrumbs for readers to follow. On top of this, the cinematic atmosphere of a world in ruins creates the perfect backdrop to complement the plot. Overall, Utopia Project: The Frayed Threads of Hope will be an exciting continuation for those who are already enjoying this series, and it leaves readers with a lot of suspense and promise for the final part.
