Dawn Before Darkness

By Liz Lazarus

A psychological thriller inspired by real events revealing the treachery of a ruthless stalker, the alarming failure of the legal system and the unthinkable battle a daughter must face to protect her family.
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Dawn Smith, a vet tech living in rural South Carolina, catches her boyfriend in a series of lies and abruptly ends the relationship. Rather than accepting the break-up, he begins to stalk and harass her, forcing Dawn to seek a restraining order. Undeterred, he launches a deeply personal attack-suing for guardianship and conservatorship of Dawn's infirm mother. In court, he manipulates the truth using evidence that he planted while the couple were still dating. And just when Dawn thinks things can't get any worse, she is faced with an impossible choice: rekindle the relationship or lose her mother forever.

Readers also enjoyed Liz's other books with these themes:
Free of Malice (self-protection, racial tension)
Plea for Justice (self/body-image, literacy)
Shades of Silence (grief, sex trafficking)
Complimentary excerpts at: www.lizlazarus.com

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 099093747X
• ISBN13: 9780990937470
• Release Date: May 2026
• Publisher: Mitchell Cove Publishing
• Length: 292 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

True to life

9/11/26 - 9/16/26 Dawn Before Darkness by Liz Lazarus I received this book in with my August Monthly Book Box from Brenda Novak’s Book Club Group. It was a pleasant surprise and an excellent thriller read. Never having read one of Ms. Lazarus’ novels before, this was an interesting and gripping story that I can literally see happening in today’s world of men intimidating women, and using them in a very narcissistic sadistic way. One sick minded individual going after a single woman, hunting her down by researching her through means based on his lies to her and her being blinded by his first off charming appeal. Then in a split second like when lightning strikes and thunder claps, this diabolical person s lies start to surface and Dr Jekyll personality appears. Including in front of others. His power and cleverness manage to take some precious things from her, that chip away at her but make her resolve stronger to fight him instead of give in. Excellent novel.