Inspirational mysteries and thrillers have existed as a subgenre of suspense for decades. While stories about catching the bad guys will always be relevant, the Christian book industry has recently seen seismic—or divine, perhaps—shifts, including an ever-shrinking brick and mortar space (think the recent closing of Lifeway and Family Christian brick and mortar stores). Is this leading those of us in the Christian suspense subgenre to lean into edgier content to stay competitive in the broader suspense arena where our books must compete?
How will we find the balance between faith and felonies in our stories and stick to our guns? Does more intense drama, higher stakes, and news ripped from the headlines where justice doesn’t always prevail, mean more blood, gore, and sex in order to sell?
I’ve been writing Christian romantic suspense for more than two decades and have seen the industry’s continued reshaping. Several of my fellow Christian suspense authors—both veteran and new to the industry—and I, talked about these most recent changes and how we are keeping our stories and the subgenre relevant.
Cara Putman is an award-winning author of more than thirty books who teaches law full time at a Big Ten university and is active in her local church. Carrie Stuart Parks, a forensic artist and multi Christian-award-winning author, pens thrillers exploring forensic art, unique locations, and real events. Randy Singer is a pastor and lawyer who pens critically acclaimed legal thrillers designed to entertain readers while confronting them with Biblical truths on controversial issues.
–Colleen Coble
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What’s the one major change you’ve seen in this specific sub-genre in the last decade?
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Colleen Coble: For one thing, sales have soared as more readers (thanks to e-books, I think) have discovered us. Daily I hear how excited they are to find a suspenseful read without bad language or sex scenes. I also love the authenticity of today’s suspense writers. Examples are my co-hosts for this article. Carrie is a forensic artist herself, and I love learning about what she does in real life. Randy and Cara are both attorneys, and I’m fascinated by the lawyer-type scenes that I’ve never experienced.
“When I was growing up and initially thinking about writing, Christian fiction involved pioneer wagon trains and Biblical fiction. That seemed to be it.”-Cara PutmanCara Putman: Aw, thanks, Colleen. It’s an exciting time to write. I love that there is so much space for different types of Christian suspense. When I was growing up and initially thinking about writing, Christian fiction involved pioneer wagon trains and Biblical fiction. That seemed to be it. Then in the early 2000s we discovered Brandilyn Collins, Terri Blackstock, James Scott Bell, and more.
Randy Singer: What’s changed the most to me is the freedom to write authentic stories that don’t have to follow any formula or avoid any topics. I think we all want our stories to reflect the ragged edges of real life rather than the smooth perfection of unrealistic plots. As Cara said, there is a lot of space to explore outside the traditional lines of Christian fiction.
Carrie Stuart Parks: I will humbly bow to my co-hosts, Colleen, Cara, and Randy, on this question as I am such a newcomer to this field. I do know readers love mystery-suspense-thrillers and often comment on how they have to skip over some parts of the book to stay with the main story line.
Coble: I never dreamed things could change so much in such a few short years, did you, Cara?
Putnam: Now there are so many subgenres with truly great writing and fresh plots that there are too many books for me to keep up with reading. It’s a wonderful problem to have. I also love the authenticity. The writers I know are doing the hard work of research to get the details correct. I love the books these authors pen because they are real and don’t sugarcoat life. There’s no formula, and that keeps their writing so fresh.
Where are Christian suspense writers taking the most risks these days?
Coble: I think we are less hindered by misconceptions about Christian suspense. We aren’t limited to cozies but can fully explore the darkness that can bubble to the surface. I like exploring how one wrong decision can lead to another and then another until the character finds themselves doing something they never dreamed they would.
Parks: Writers are touching on difficult concepts that often have knee-jerk reactions—and we want to keep the reader engaged. That can be a difficult tightrope.
Putman: The books are real. I never thought I’d write about childhood sexual abuse or domestic violence gone terribly wrong, but those have been parts of my books. They are real. They are gritty. But they are hope filled. And publishers and readers are going there with us. That’s why we can take the risks to write the stories on our hearts and minds.
Singer: If there is “risk,” I think it lies in losing some of our traditional readers that might be looking for safer or less gritty fare. And, of course, anytime we throw our books into the mainstream, we risk criticism from those who find the Christian worldview offensive. All of these risks are worth it—there is nothing quite like connecting through story.
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Is it an oxymoron to write Christian books that have murders and other crimes committed by the characters you create?
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Coble: It can feel that way! I jokingly say I kill people for a living, and that raises eyebrows! But human nature exists in all of us: darkness and light. There is evil in the world, and we all come in contact with it in varying degrees.
Putman: Bingo, Colleen. And the theme that runs through our stories, like Christianity, is that the light triumph over darkness-the good wins over evil.
Singer: As a pastor and lawyer, some people consider me a walking oxymoron. So, I am qualified to speak on the subject. But in all seriousness, I think we try to avoid gratuitous violence in our books, but we do want our stories to reflect the real-life struggles between good and evil, darkness and light. As a lawyer, I know that it often takes the confrontational approach of cross-examination to reveal the truth. In the same way, stories can best surface “true truth” in the context of conflict, violence and the evil that so often permeates this world.
Putman: What I appreciate is the way this genre highlights the reality of the hope we have in Christ in a world that can feel very dark. Life is hard. A friend’s family just walked through a murder a couple weeks ago, and it’s heart-breaking. But it’s also hard when someone gets a cancer diagnosis, or a spouse is unfaithful, or a child chooses not to follow God. Suspense allows the story to remind us how God is with us even in the darkest times and that His hope can penetrate with light. At the end of a good Christian suspense, I’m often left thinking about the characters and how what they learned applies to me.
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You mention “good” suspense. So, what is the hallmark of a good Christian suspense?
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Coble: First of all, a good STORY as well as organic characters who don’t exist to give a moral. I think that’s what turned some readers off in the early years of Christian suspense. Every writer’s worldview (and we all have one) clearly comes through in a novel. I always try to have a hopeful ending in my novels. Good always wins in the end.
Putman: I want to believe Goliath will be defeated. I get so frustrated when David loses! It’s a “throw the book against the wall” moment for me.
Parks: Not predictable, cookie cutter, or didactic. Full of unexpected twists and turns, nail-biting moments, and thrilling endings. An underlying message of grace.
Coble: Like using a bra to escape…Ahem. Very creative, Carrie!
“As a Christian writer, my stories should contain glimpses of grace, redemption, courage and sacrificial love. Otherwise, they are just empty entertainment calories that do nothing for the soul.”–Randy SingerSinger: I think the C’s (Colleen, Carrie and Cara) have nailed it. Story is king (or queen). If you want to hear me preach, you can come to my church. My novels should tell a compelling story with unforgettable characters. Yet, as Colleen mentioned, the worldview of the writer will always show through. As a Christian writer, my stories should contain glimpses of grace, redemption, courage and sacrificial love. Otherwise, they are just empty entertainment calories that do nothing for the soul.
Putman: There will be characters we love, twists we can’t anticipate, and a story that keeps the pages turning. In my books I also try to keep the details realistic so no one will throw the book across the room because it’s just not possible it could happen that way.
Coble: Love that comment about your church, Randy. I actually think I’d like to hear you preach! I’ll sit in the front pew.
Putman: Right next to me!!
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So, if you shouldn’t be preachy, what’s the best way to fit in Christian content?
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Singer: I don’t really think of it as “balance” between Christian content and story, which may imply that the two are at odds. Instead, I believe weaving in the spiritual aspects of life completes the story. Many authors write stories that ignore the spiritual component of this world. Is that real story? Or does it leave out some of the most important emotions, themes and awakenings that we experience? I am grateful that I can write in a genre and for a publisher where I can explore all aspects of a character’s story, including the vitally important spiritual aspects.
Coble: I never have a moral or something I’m trying to preach. It’s that whole worldview thing that just comes through. My characters tell me what they’re dealing with, and I try to be faithful to that. I always start with story and premise.
Parks: I often have a verse in mind (that I place at the start of the manuscript.) That’s not to say that I stay with that theme! The story will often veer off in another direction. As Colleen says, when we, as writers, have a Christian worldview, that will permeate our thinking, writing, and story.
Putman: As a Christian, my faith influences every aspect of my life. I can’t turn it off. However, I want my stories to have the faith that is organic to those characters and that situation. That means the level of faith will fluctuate based on what the story demands.
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With all the rapid changes, what do you see for the future of this sub-genre?
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Parks: I think the genre will grow as folks discover great stories without the obligatory sex, foul language, and graphic violence. I don’t think readers miss those elements. They read to challenge their minds, fall in love with characters, learn new things, and know that all will come out well in the end. They’ll cheer the protagonist as he or she emerges a little more bruised but having grown as an individual.
Putman: I hear that longing and relief from readers often. They want a good read that doesn’t make them blush.
Coble: It’s a bright future! Many readers love suspense and mystery but hate the language and sexuality in much of the general market fiction. We offer a clean read that gets a reader’s adrenaline pumping.
Singer: I agree with the C’s that the future is bright in terms of readers discovering and being drawn to this sub-genre. However, I also think lines will blur between Christian suspense and “mainstream” suspense.
Parks: Readers are voracious. They have an almost limitless demand for good books, so I think the future is bright.
RS: That’s true, Cara. The exclusively Christian retail outlets are disappearing, meaning that Christian authors are being digitally “shelved” next to mainstream authors (as it should be). And being in the general marketplace challenges all of us to hone our craft as we are forced to compete with the great storytellers who already exist there.
MORE ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS TO THE ROUNDTABLE:
Cara Putman: An award-winning author of more than thirty books, including her most recent Delayed Justice. Putman teaches law full time at a Big Ten university and is active in her local church, both of which influence her novels. She lives in Indiana with her husband and four kids where she’s imagining her next legal thriller. www.caraputman.com
Carrie Stuart Parks: Forensic artist Carrie Stuart Parks is a Christy, multiple Carol and Inspy award winning author and pens mystery-suspense-thrillers exploring forensic art, unique locations, and real events. Her newest book, Formula of Deception, is set on present day Kodiak Island, Alaska, and touches on World War II events and biological warfare…and dogs. Always at least one dog. www.carriestuartparks.com
Colleen Coble: USA Today bestselling author Colleen Coble who has written more than 65 novels and novellas with more than 4 million books in print. She writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Her newest novel, Secrets at Cedar Cabin, is set in the Pacific Northwest and deals with human trafficking. www.colleencoble.com
Randy Singer: As a pastor and lawyer, Randy Singer pens legal thrillers designed to entertain readers while confronting them with Biblical truths on controversial issues. Randy’s most recent novel, Rule of Law, arose from his experience trying cases for terrorism victims against state sponsors of terrorism. www.randysinger.net
