The Dawn Prayer

Praise

“This rollicking and gripping account of [Matthew Shcrier’s] time in detention is an insight into what happens to humans when they are deprived of their freedom.”

—New York Journal of Books

“Captured by Al Qaeda in Syria, Matt Schrier essentially played a long game of chess with them—and won. He escaped from their torture chambers and went on to write one of the most terrifying and suspenseful books I’ve ever read. This is an absolutely extraordinary story.”

—Sebastian Junger, author and journalist 

“A tightly told story of brutal survival, unexpected friendships and ultimate escape . . . Matt’s engrossing story took me back to those days of struggle and survival and the desperate need for freedom.”

—Billy Hayes of Midnight Express

“A searing narrative of personal courage and the determination to survive. Schrier takes us inside the hellish world of secret Syrian prisons and his daring escape from his jihadist captors. He also paints a brutally frank portrait of the unexpected friendships and hostilities he formed with his fellow captives.”  

—Philip S. Balboni, CEO and co-executive editor of DailyChatter and founder of

GlobalPost

“The Dawn Prayer by Matthew Schrier is a thrilling documentary that reads like a novel. . . . The fact that he, as a Jewish photographer, survived to tell his story is amazing enough, but his escape to freedom was nothing short of miraculous. Take a deep breath before you begin reading; there is no breathing room in the pages of this one!”

—A.B. Grantham, Commandant, Department of Alabama, Marine Corps League 

“If I ever had a chance to pick a guide to walk through hell, that would be, no doubt, Matt Schrier, whose gifted hand is able to tame the dreadful memories of his darkest hours in captivity into the most clear, powerful and enlightening narrative.”

—Juan Ríos, Spanish Mission to the UN