It’s hard to believe it has been five years since I last reviewed a Liz Lazarus novel. It was during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic when I was sent a copy of “Shades of Silence,” the third book by the pro-2A crime thriller novelist. Upon learning there were two earlier novels, I went to Amazon, clicked on “add to cart,” and soon found myself immersed in the stories of brave women forced to take charge of their personal defense—very reminiscent of the women we often feature on this site. I was hooked from the beginning and I binged all three books in just days. The thing about binging, though, is that unlike the bittersweet but inevitable conclusions for our addictive TV streaming series (for which we simply push the “next episode” button 8 or 10 times), there was no “next episode” button for the next Liz Lazarus book. I was assured there would be one, however. That button is finally here in the form of her latest novel, “Dawn Before Darkness,” and the prospect of reading it brings me great joy.
The book is set to release in print and audiobook on May 26, 2026—and you can pre-order an e-copy here. I’ll be posting a full review of Liz’s latest endeavor to portray women in their strongest light, not caving to doubt and fear, trusting their instincts and fighting to the bitter end to protect themselves and those they love the most. In the meantime, from her press materials is a preview of her latest heroine and her seemingly unsurmountable challenge to save the most important person in her life—her mother.
“Dawn Smith, a veterinarian 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.”
This book might end up being my favorite Liz Lazarus book yet, as it hits home on several topics with me—caregiving and guardianship of an elderly parent; and animals. To write about these subjects adequately requires a firsthand intimate knowledge of both, and in a upcoming interview, we’ll find out more about how Liz arrived at them as central to her plot in “Dawn.”
Meantime, learn more about Liz here, and if you haven’t yet read any of Liz Lazarus’ first three novels—you still have time to do it before her next release. I promise you will not be disappointed—except for when you are looking to push that “next episode” button!
—Ann Y. Smith, Editor in Chief, NRAWomen.com
