Awaken the Dawn (ePub)

From award-winning author Ellis K. Popa comes this gripping new mystery suspense, centered around a cryptic scavenger hunt, about a dark secret that leads to the betrayal and demise of a young woman's father.

Now the same ruthless men are coming for her. Can she decode the clues in time?

"The main characters, Kat and Maksim jump from the page as real people you'll want to root for. The driving plot has a Dan Brown feel to it, with plenty of puzzles woven into this masterful thriller." - John Benedict, Bestselling Author of Adrenaline

A cryptic puzzle. A family secret. A deadly betrayal.

When her dad dies during a business trip to Romania, Kat Barrett blames herself for their failed relationship. She's racked with guilt, haunted by strange dreams about the crash that killed him, and she'd do anything to have him back.

Then a package arrives. It's from her dad and contains a list of clues — one of his classic scavenger hunts. Desperate for answers, she follows the clues to Bucharest and meets Maksim, a local with a dark past who offers to help. Kat doesn't trust him, but when she hits a dead end, she's left with no other choice.

As they work together, decoding the clues and trying (unsuccessfully) not to fall for each other, the scavenger hunt reveals a deadly secret the dreams have been pointing to, something Maksim's old crime ring has been hiding all along, and Kat has walked into their trap.

Can she beat them to the final clue — and solve it — before she suffers the same fate as her dad?

Get ready for an exhilarating ride that will keep you guessing until the final, breathtaking conclusion. Perfect for fans of 'Sherlock', The Bourne Identity, puzzle mysteries like The Da Vinci Code and Inheritance Games, and clever crime thrillers like The Naturals and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.

Cascade Awards (Winner) ~ Blue Seal Awards (Winner) ~ The Selfie Awards UK (Shortlist) ~ The Wishing Shelf UK (Finalist) ~ 80+ Ratings (Goodreads) 4.4⭐️ average

Worldwide praise for Awaken the Dawn: The Awaken Saga, Book 1...

"Go ahead, go add this to your TBR!" - Books with Cats (Europe) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Ellis K. Popa hits it out of the park with Awaken the Dawn, delivering an amazing story full of mystery, intrigue and romance." - John Benedict, Bestselling Author of Adrenaline (US) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"This is an absolutely delicious book. I both devoured it in one day, and savoured every word!" - Charlotte, Blue Fairy Bugs Books (UK) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Popa masterfully orchestrates a labyrinthine plot brimming with unexpected twists, pulse-pounding suspense, and heart-stopping revelations." - Elicia M., Netgalley (US) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"...there were many nights where I told myself 'just one more chapter' yet continued reading for many more..." - Kasey Morris, Author + Romania Enthusiast (US) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"It was both dangerous and thrilling. Kat was amazing and a kick-ass character." - Kriti, This Reader Girl (India) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"The book was absolutely amazing and I couldn't get enough of it. I can't wait to see what happens next." - Scarlet Le Clair, Horror & Romance Author + Netgalley Reviewer (UK) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️