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While Others Sleep
Tom Parsons’ days are interrupted by an unsettling and peculiar stoppage of time. He dubs these terrifying events The Sleep and when they occur, he is left in a state of complete limbo, with nothing active but his eyes and mind.
At first, he questions his own sanity. But when a sound cuts through the stillness, he realizes something else is out there.
Watching. Waiting.
Detective Kate Strathmore is hunting for a missing woman, and all signs point to Tom. But a chance encounter with a homeless man - who speaks of true evil lurking in the frozen moments between time - gives her pause.
As Tom, Kate, and the old man confront the darkness hiding inside these moments, they find themselves in a fight for their lives... Because while others are asleep in the stillness, something else is wide awake.
At first, he questions his own sanity. But when a sound cuts through the stillness, he realizes something else is out there.
Watching. Waiting.
Detective Kate Strathmore is hunting for a missing woman, and all signs point to Tom. But a chance encounter with a homeless man - who speaks of true evil lurking in the frozen moments between time - gives her pause.
As Tom, Kate, and the old man confront the darkness hiding inside these moments, they find themselves in a fight for their lives... Because while others are asleep in the stillness, something else is wide awake.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 16, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 26, 2025
Tom Parson is sitting at his cubicle at work when everything around him stops. He can’t move his limbs or his head, but his mind and his eyesight are untouched. Those around him are frozen in mid-action and he looks around for signs that anyone else notices. Not seeing recognition in anyone’s eyes, he’s disappointed and feels all alone. It isn’t the first time he has experienced the Sleep, as he calls the temporary stoppage of time when everyone else seems to be asleep. He knows there’s no use in struggling and all he can do is wait for it to pass.
On his way home it happens again, but now the silence that usually comes with the Sleep is interrupted by a faint sound. The Sleep cycles are getting longer and now he is obsessed with finding out the source of the Sound. During one of these time pauses, he hears a woman scream. He’s horrified and realizes that something is terribly wrong.
Det. Kate Strathmore is looking for Elizabeth Sanders, a missing woman and one of Tom’s co-workers. The evidence tells her that Tom is either involved or knows what’s going on. Then she meets a homeless man who speaks of an evil presence lurking in the frozen moments. Something is on the prowl while others sleep. Tom, Kate, and the homeless man are aware of the darkness hiding inside these moments and must confront it before more people get hurt.
While Others Sleep by Billy Joe Watkins brings Tom’s nightmares to life, creating an unpredictable universe. At first, he thinks he’s going crazy. As the silence gives way to scratches and shadows, he’s terrified but day after day he retraces his steps trying to find out what happened to Elizabeth. When Det. Strathmore starts looking into her disappearance, there’s hope that she might be the saving grace, but the investigation just makes her a target. Soon she starts seeing and hearing things she can’t explain. The homeless man has personally witnessed the destruction this predator can unleash. He shares his survival tactics with her but instead of backing off, her instincts push her into fighting until the bitter end.
I was drawn to this novel because I enjoy reading psychological thrillers and this one revolves around a man who is questioning his sanity. Tom being paralyzed yet still aware of his surroundings sounds eerily similar to sleep paralysis. Having experienced it myself, I was curious to find out how it plays out in the story. He can’t understand why these time pauses are happening and why he’s the only one who seems to notice them.
While the reason behind the pauses isn’t explained, what exists between and around them is more frightening than anyone imagined. The first sentence immediately hooked me, it felt like a gut punch because I didn’t expect the action to start so soon: “The assault came without warning.”
This suspenseful thriller follows Tom’s emotional journey, which leaves him feeling isolated and powerless because he has no control over the time pauses. The narratives switch between Tom and Det. Strathmore, building tension through the shifting character perspectives. The characters are well developed and relatable, especially the homeless man, who is the voice of reason. He validates Tom’s fears and helps Det. Strathmore realize that it will take more than logic to solve the case.
With small chapters and constant action, it’s a quick read that pulls readers in right from the start. I could feel Tom’s anxiety as he realizes how powerless he is:
He tried to form words but the simple sight of movement on the edge of his periphery had ripped all coherent thought from his mind.
While Others Sleep by Billy Joe Watkins is an exploration of the human condition using the themes of grief and survival. It confirms how vulnerable we are to external forces beyond our control. Fans of cosmic horror similar to H.P. Lovecraft’s works will appreciate Tom’s existential crisis and the novel’s overall feeling of helplessness.
Though unable to move a muscle, he felt as though he were stretched forward, hand cupped to his ear, holding his breath, eyes closed–doing all he could to still any other sense beyond hearing.
On his way home it happens again, but now the silence that usually comes with the Sleep is interrupted by a faint sound. The Sleep cycles are getting longer and now he is obsessed with finding out the source of the Sound. During one of these time pauses, he hears a woman scream. He’s horrified and realizes that something is terribly wrong.
Det. Kate Strathmore is looking for Elizabeth Sanders, a missing woman and one of Tom’s co-workers. The evidence tells her that Tom is either involved or knows what’s going on. Then she meets a homeless man who speaks of an evil presence lurking in the frozen moments. Something is on the prowl while others sleep. Tom, Kate, and the homeless man are aware of the darkness hiding inside these moments and must confront it before more people get hurt.
While Others Sleep by Billy Joe Watkins brings Tom’s nightmares to life, creating an unpredictable universe. At first, he thinks he’s going crazy. As the silence gives way to scratches and shadows, he’s terrified but day after day he retraces his steps trying to find out what happened to Elizabeth. When Det. Strathmore starts looking into her disappearance, there’s hope that she might be the saving grace, but the investigation just makes her a target. Soon she starts seeing and hearing things she can’t explain. The homeless man has personally witnessed the destruction this predator can unleash. He shares his survival tactics with her but instead of backing off, her instincts push her into fighting until the bitter end.
I was drawn to this novel because I enjoy reading psychological thrillers and this one revolves around a man who is questioning his sanity. Tom being paralyzed yet still aware of his surroundings sounds eerily similar to sleep paralysis. Having experienced it myself, I was curious to find out how it plays out in the story. He can’t understand why these time pauses are happening and why he’s the only one who seems to notice them.
While the reason behind the pauses isn’t explained, what exists between and around them is more frightening than anyone imagined. The first sentence immediately hooked me, it felt like a gut punch because I didn’t expect the action to start so soon: “The assault came without warning.”
This suspenseful thriller follows Tom’s emotional journey, which leaves him feeling isolated and powerless because he has no control over the time pauses. The narratives switch between Tom and Det. Strathmore, building tension through the shifting character perspectives. The characters are well developed and relatable, especially the homeless man, who is the voice of reason. He validates Tom’s fears and helps Det. Strathmore realize that it will take more than logic to solve the case.
With small chapters and constant action, it’s a quick read that pulls readers in right from the start. I could feel Tom’s anxiety as he realizes how powerless he is:
He tried to form words but the simple sight of movement on the edge of his periphery had ripped all coherent thought from his mind.
While Others Sleep by Billy Joe Watkins is an exploration of the human condition using the themes of grief and survival. It confirms how vulnerable we are to external forces beyond our control. Fans of cosmic horror similar to H.P. Lovecraft’s works will appreciate Tom’s existential crisis and the novel’s overall feeling of helplessness.
Though unable to move a muscle, he felt as though he were stretched forward, hand cupped to his ear, holding his breath, eyes closed–doing all he could to still any other sense beyond hearing.
April 8, 2025
I really enjoyed the multiple POVs in this book. The author does a great job of revealing the story through the perspective of three different characters.
I liked how the book was structured with the different parts connected to each character’s POV, it helped me wrap my mind around the premise of story. It is a really fascinating thriller! I struggled a little with the first POV (Tom) but once I got to Kate and the Old Man I felt the story start to roll.
Kate and the Old Man were the two characters that I connected to as I read.
There were twists and turns that surprised me. I also love a strong female lead! I’m looking forward to the next installment!
I liked how the book was structured with the different parts connected to each character’s POV, it helped me wrap my mind around the premise of story. It is a really fascinating thriller! I struggled a little with the first POV (Tom) but once I got to Kate and the Old Man I felt the story start to roll.
Kate and the Old Man were the two characters that I connected to as I read.
There were twists and turns that surprised me. I also love a strong female lead! I’m looking forward to the next installment!
April 4, 2025
While Other’s Sleep pulls you in at the very first paragraph!! Billy Joe Watkins is a very talented writer with the ability to draw his readers in and leave them wanting more. As you read the book, you can feel and hear everything that is happening to Tom, Detective Kate Strathmore and the old man. A great physiological thriller to read!!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews