It’s been quite the adventure this year since the release last April of my clean crime thriller Islands of Deception. My goal in writing the book was to create a page-turner filled with intrigue and suspense without swearing, sex, or excessive violence. Based on the feedback I’ve received, I think I’ve met that goal. Yet it was a sentence in a review of my book on the blog “Michigan in Books” by Tom Powers that started me wondering about how some people view Christian authors. The first paragraph of the review opens with:
“There’s a lot to like in this thriller set in Michigan that features more mayhem and flying steel than a figure-eight demolition derby. The book was written by a first time novelist with a BA in Journalism and a Masters Degree from a Theological Seminary. There is not a lot in this thriller that would reflect positively on the latter degree.”
Did you catch that line? “There is not a lot in this thriller that would reflect positively on the latter degree.” In some ways I view this as a compliment—that I broke the stereotype that people with seminary degrees cannot write about the gritty and messy things in life. One of my goals in writing the book was to inject a person who has become a follower of Jesus into a crime thriller. I wanted to show people wrestling with hard questions about life—that doing the right thing isn’t always easy and can be very costly. Christians in the world wrestle with the hard questions in life just like everyone else and things don’t always wrap up nicely with a neat bow on top.
At a book talk last summer, a person asked me where the faith message came from in the book. It was good to hear that readers noted the element of faith subtly woven through the plot. I shared that I am a Christian and yes, there are some Christian themes in the book. I elaborated on how one character wrestles with whether he can believe that his dad’s life has really been changed for the better by Jesus—he wants to know if it’s real. These are real questions we deal with in life–if the change in someone’s life is real. People want to know if Jesus can really transform lives for the better.
These reflections are in the back of my mind as I work on the sequel to Islands of Deception. I want my next book to continue the intrigue and suspense without having to rely on swearing, sex, or excessive violence. It can be challenging at times to weave the Christian faith into the plot so that’s it feels natural and not forced–so that it feels like everyday life.
Perhaps that is what people want to see in us as well–that our faith in Jesus Christ is so entwined with our everyday life, that it feels natural and real to those we encounter each day.
Leave a comment below and share your thoughts as well as the titles of Christian crime thrillers you have enjoyed. You can read the full review at https://chrisgthelen.com/reviews/
140 Character Christian 
So glad, I stumbled across this blog. I double in writing a blog and poetry, and I’m always looking for something good to read. I don’t think there are enough thriller Christian books out there, so I am really looking forward to reading this. It took a bit of doing, but I found it on the Aussie kindle store. Cool as I am blind so now I can read it in braille.
Thank you for commenting and sharing that. I was not aware that my book was translated into braille for Kindle. I appreciate you searching for my book and your encouragement about the need for more thriller Christian books. I am working on the sequel to Islands of Deception and sometimes the editing gets laborious. Thanks for the timely encouragement. Blessings.
Chris, thank you for sharing more of your journey with writing your novel. I agree that a writer can find the right voice without turning to life’s excessive thoughts and actions. I have written a longer short story, which follows a similar journey to your novel. And yes . . . Christians can write crime thrillers.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate the supportive community of bloggers, like you, and their encouragement. Is your short story available for me to read? Blessings.
I agree will review book when I’ve read it
Thanks! Reviews are always appreciated.
I see my wife has your book on her kindle. Fun. She was ahead of me this time. God gives us gifts and inserts us into places that raise eyebrows.
Hope your wife enjoys the read. Thanks for the comment. May we use the gifts God gives us to “raise eyebrows” toward Him. Blessings.
Oh, we will both read it…I called first dibs already
Gary, I get a bang out of those “raised eyebrows.” It means there could be a dialogue about faith that goes beyond the cliches.
Dialogue about faith would be a great outcome. Thanks for the comment. Blessings.
Art for the sake of art. Skilled Christians should produce high quality art that is thoughtful, entertaining and beautiful. Their works are for all people. All people live “real” lives in this fallen world and Art should speak to them where they live.
I didn’t know you wrote a book. I will check it out.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree that we should seek to produce high quality work that engages all people. Blessings.
Congratulations on your book!!! I love the last paragraph you wrote here…that our faith is natural and real. Our faith is not something we add-on to our lives; it is who we are and what we do; it is everything. Wishing you blessings at Christmastime and always!
Thanks, Linda; and thanks for the comment. Blessings to you as well.
First, congratulations on your book! As an author, I realize the effort it takes to go from manuscript to published. I think as a Christian author when we face bad reviews specific to our faith or faith message, it feels very personal. Is it legit? Or is it a spiritual attack to derail your writing and message? I say whether positive or negative pick out the pieces which are helpful, and discard the rest. As long as you are praying, and walking with the Lord through the process, your message will strike home with the right people—God will see to it—and hopefully hearts will ultimately change for the kingdom.
Thanks for your encouragement. Congrats to you as well! Yes, it’s a lot of work to get a book published. Overall, I thought the review was positive. That one sentence, however, intrigued me. I was curious as to what others thought about it, especially being new to writing books. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You can read the full review at: https://chrisgthelen.com/reviews/
Last night, I found a quote by Alex Trepek, of game show Jeopardy! fame:
“ Don’t tell me what you believe in. I’ll observe how you behave and I will make my own determination.”
This fits your idea of seamless integration of the gospel into one’s life.
Yet there are some who will reject anything that calls for our reconciliation with God. My first thought is the critic’s final sentence reflects this. He or she takes a stab at you—as a Christian writer (and seminary graduate) who dares to write a clean crime thriller.
It’s not unlike someone writing clean country western music.
Anyway, your writing style and voice now have a clear source, Chris: your background in journalism and theology.
As you say, blessings!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, David. Blessings.