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Billy Joe Watkins loves words and everything about them. How they look in print, how they feel on the tongue, and how they have the ability to transport anyone anywhere and anytime… they are incredible and powerful! An avid reader since early childhood, his world was changed by his 5th grade teacher. She introduced the class to creative writing, and he was inescapably hooked. Now years later, Billy is the author of the horror thriller – While Others Sleep.
When not writing, Billy enjoys the simple pleasures of being a husband and father. He and his family live in Maine where they enjoy the bounty of nature that the great state of Maine provides. You can always find him playing with his kids, driving his wife a little nutty, or spending time semi-lost in the woods.
Reviewed by Mimie Odigwe for Readers' Favorite
In Billy Joe Watkins' thriller, While Others Sleep, Tom Parson's mundane life is shattered when he discovers 'The Sleep'—inexplicable periods where time stops, the world pauses, people are suspended in mid-action, and an unsettling silence prevails. Tom realizes that he is awake. His body is trapped, yet his mind and eyes roam. Puzzled by the phenomenon, Tom doubts his sanity until an episode when he hears a sound. Aware that he is not the only one Awake during The Sleep, Tom's interest grows from fascination to obsession. His quest to discover what is out there leads him to something dark, lurking and hunting while the world sleeps. When Elizabeth Sanders vanishes suddenly on her way back from work, all fingers point to Tom Parson. The only one who believes in his innocence is a ragged, homeless old man. With more disappearances and stakes rising, Detective Kate Strathmore has to navigate the blurred lines between reality and the supernatural to solve this case before it is too late.
The atmosphere in While Others Sleep is unsettling yet immersive. Billy Joe Watkins is a master of tension. He doesn't rush the suspense, letting it simmer, making every discovery significant. Like Tom, readers will feel trapped and helpless while trying to comprehend what happens during The Sleep. I felt excitement as Tom got closer to discovering the source of the sound and disappointment when he fell short. The fear of the unknown, the supernatural, the disappearance of Elizabeth Sanders, and the unexpected warmth between Detective Kate and the old man are well-done and make While Others Sleep a wonderful blend of psychological thriller and paranormal horror.
