Awaken the Dawn

An unsuspecting teen discovers a secret that lures her into the snare of a ruthless crime boss. Can she survive his twisted game? When her dad dies during a business trip to Romania, Kat Barrett blames herself for their broken 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 while trying (unsuccessfully) not to fall for each other, the scavenger hunt reveals a dangerous 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 tragic fate as her dad? "Ellis K. Popa (delivers) an amazing story full of mystery, intrigue and romance." - John Benedict, Bestselling Author of Adrenaline ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Popa seamlessly blends international intrigue, criminal machinations, and family secrets to captivating effect." - The BookLife Prize

"A gripping and unforgettable read that heralds Popa as a rising star in the genre..." - Elicia Meairs, Netgalley ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Get ready for an exhilarating ride that will keep you guessing until the final, breathtaking conclusion. Perfect for fans of 'Sherlock', Inheritance Games, Da Vinci Code, The Reappearance of Rachel Price, and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Awards & Recognition Cascade Awards - 1st Place Blue Seal Awards- 1st Place The Selfie Awards UK (London Book Fair) - Shortlist: Top 8 The Wishing Shelf Awards UK - Finalist Page Turner Awards UK - Finalist Killer Nashville Readers' Choice Awards - Finalist: Top 6 (All Genres) Claymore Awards - Finalist: Top 6 Silver Falchion - Top Pick Writers' League of Texas - Finalist Badge of Honor - 1st Place (Fiction) / Runner Up (All Genres) Write to Publish - 2nd Place Serious Writer's Writer of the Year - Semifinalist Worldwide Praise

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

"This book blew me away. It was thrilling." - Mark M., Goodreads (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) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

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

"The story is action packed involving dead ends, jeopardy, trying to keep one step ahead of the bad guys and I loved the twists in the tale."- Helen F., Librarian + Netgalley Reviewer (UK) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"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) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️