Gritty Suspense, Religious Horror Books & Christian Readers
What's the difference between gritty suspense and Christian thriller books? How do religious horror novels tie in? And are any of these for you?
What are “gritty suspense” books? Are “religious horror novels” different from regular horror books?
Today, we’re looking at these two interesting sub-genres. We’ll figure out what differentiates gritty suspense novels from traditional Christian thrillers. We’ll also dissect the religious horror category and see why Christians (and non-Christians) reach for books in this genre.
Gritty Suspense Books: What Are They?
Let’s start by defining gritty suspense novels. I like the definition that Autumn Christian shares in her article, “How to Write Edgy Fiction Without Being Obnoxious.”
The first time you read an edgy piece of fiction, I mean actually edgy, in the way that it makes you think of humanity/the world/yourself in a new light — it changes you on the molecular level. It adds new neural connections in your brain…you know after reading this fiction that nothing will ever be the same again…the understanding of what is possible has changed.
AUTUMN CHRISTIAN, AUTHOR OF ECSTATIC INFERNO
So, what do we get if we add “Christian” or “faith-based” into the mix? Dark, sometimes twisted thrillers that deal with raw and often ugly situations and people…but that always includes a focus on hope and the Light that Christians place their faith in.
Gritty Christian Suspense vs. Traditional Christian Suspense
Aren’t all Christian thrillers gritty? Murder, serial killers, disasters . . . there are plenty of these things happening in this category of books.
Here’s the differentiating factor in my mind: gritty Christian thrillers tend to exclude some of the regular tropes that Christian thrillers contain. They’re also usually darker and edgier in terms of subject matter.
It might be a wilderness thriller where cannibalism is involved. An edgy Christian thriller novel might portray incest or polygamy or feature a Christian character with a history of sexual abuse. That’s not to say that traditional Christian thrillers couldn’t wade into these waters, but it’s less likely.
Christian Horror Books or Religious Horror Novels
“What about Christian horror?”
Is there is such a thing? As a weird Christian who loves (some) horror and dark thrillers, I’m answering with a resounding, “yes!”
And I’m not alone.
In The Horror Zine, author Thomas Smith says, “At first glance, the words [Christian and horror] seem to go together like jumbo shrimp or controlled chaos; the concept seems to be something of an oxymoron. But on closer examination, the two are more closely entwined than you might think.”
Smith goes on to explain that in many horror books and movies, there are symbols, practices, and nods to the Christian faith. Religious Horror is popular both in books and movies. Think of Poltergeist or The Exorcism of Emily Rose, for instance. Even many of Stephen King’s books and movies contain Christian elements.
Maybe this is because of our innate need to balance out the dark with the light, or our desire to connect with something, or Someone, greater than ourselves.
“What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself.”
BLAISE PASCAL, PHILOSOPHER AND AUTHOR OF PENSEES
Mike Duran, author of several dark novels and a great nonfiction book, Christian Horror, would agree. While the term may seem like an oxymoron, Duran states on his site, that there are good arguments for Christian artists to reclaim horror. Duran refers to it as an “eminently biblical genre.”
The State of Christian Publishing
The Christian book market is going strong. According to statistics by Statista, religious books generated 757.7 million U.S. dollars in sales revenue in 2022. The number of Christian books sold has been trending upward with slight exceptions, since 2017.
But is there really a need for gritty, dark, disturbing, and sometimes even graphic fiction in this typically squeaky-clean genre?
I don’t think I’m the only Christian who hungers for something deeper, rawer, and real, than typical Christian fiction. Don’t get me wrong; I grew up on it. I read Janette Oak and any other prairie book I could get my hands on. I read Christian romance, Christian suspense, and Christian thrillers. And I enjoyed many of them.
But over time, it started to feel like there was a little too much preaching in between the prose. I saw the “perfect” heroines in the novels I read and saw how far I fell short. The more I saw how they reacted to life situations, the more I felt like a bad Christian.
This is very likely a “J.P. thing” and I’m not saying this to make fun of or criticize any Christian authors. But it all felt a little too much like watching a Hallmark movie. It was hard to relate. It was too neat and tidy, too perfect. (The exception? Frank Peretti, one of my favorite authors and an inspiration in my writing journey.)
What’s the Point of Writing Christian Horror or Edgy Christian Thrillers?
Is there a place for Christian horror or gritty Christian suspense? Yes! Is there room for authors who are Christian but don’t write “Christian books”? Yes! What about traditional Christian authors who pen faith-based novels? Is there room for them too? Yes!
As I stated earlier, it’s really the focus of the book that’s key. Where is the author pointing the reader: toward the glorification of evil or toward Light and hope?
Mike Duran states in Christian Horror, “Showing moral and spiritual evil is meant to elicit the awareness of Light, not celebrate what is dark.” (p. 69)
I believe that reading or watching horror does two important things for Christians.
It warns of us evil.
It reminds us that God is greater and more powerful than any evil.
This article isn’t meant to try and convince you to read or watch horror. If it’s not your cup of tea, feel free to bypass it. But for those Christians who enjoy darker themes, elements, and topics, you aren’t alone.
And at the end of the day, it’s really between you and God, isn’t it? As believers we have discernment. What might be okay for one person isn’t for another. Our histories, challenges, experiences, and current situations all play a role as well. Some people find horror cathartic while others find it traumatizing. Again, using discernment will help you find the right balance.
*** What do you think? Are gritty suspense, dark Christian thrillers, and horror something that resonates with you or does it make you feel confused or disturbed? ***
J.P. Choquette is the author of suspense novels set in Vermont. Atmospheric pageturners, her novels are gothic inspired and frequently tie in the themes of art, nature, and psychology. Her 11 novels have been downloaded nearly 25,000 times across multiple platforms.