Adrenaline-packed fiction doesn’t have to compromise faith.
If you’re the kind of bookworm who likes the feel of your heart slamming against your ribcage but often forgoes the latest horror flick on account of questionable content, I’ve got you covered. The five YA Christian fiction thrillers, suspense novels, and horror stories featured in this week’s post are sure to keep you up at night.
Hey, I’m Lauren, author of YA Christian fiction and
blogger for teens ready to level up in faith.
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In This Article
How I Chose What Made the Cut
In addition to nail-biting plot twists and heart-pumping suspense, with each book you’ll find:
- A Christian worldview
- Little or no sexual content
- Little or no profanity
- Appropriate levels of violence
As Goodreads reviews will tell you, expectations within any given genre are highly subjective. Avid lovers of Christian YA horror books, for example, can’t agree on what exactly constitutes a phenomenal horror story: Psychological torture or a heart-pumping race from physical danger? Your call.
But, overall, these Christian YA suspense novels appeal to a large number of readers, so I challenge you to give them a whirl.
A Note About Violence:
The battle against evil is a common element in Christian YA thrillers, suspense, and horror novels. Therefore, most of these books contain some form of violence. Take note of my content warnings for each. Be assured, however, that even the higher-violence books on this list are still, in my opinion, confined to a level appropriate to the story and a YA audience. But this is my opinion. Use your discretion.
A Note About Other Content Warnings:
If you don’t find any mention of sexual content, language, substance abuse, etc., under “Content Warnings” for a given review, that’s because they’re not an issue for the book. Trying to make this list as streamlined as possible!
YA Christian Fiction Thrillers, Suspense & Horror
#1: Echo Island by Jared C. Wilson
YA Christian Fiction Mystery Thriller
Four recent high school graduates return from a weekend of camping to find empty streets, abandoned cars, and utter silence. Electronics won’t work. The wind has stopped. Everyone has disappeared. As the friends attempt to solve the mystery, they learn that nothing was ever quite what it seemed on Echo Island.
My Thoughts:
When I first picked this book up, I wasn’t sure if I’d be reading a thriller, a horror, or a paranormal. And after reading it . . . I’m still not quite sure how I’d categorize it. It was definitely suspenseful.
Echo Island offers perspective on God, the meaning of life, and the nature of reality (in a roundabout way). The male teen characters are realistic and relatable without resorting to crude language, and there is no “romantic mush.” You’ll find C.S. Lewis’s teachings incorporated into the story.
Incidence of graphic violence: low-medium. Limited to a few fight scenes and several non-graphic deaths.
#2: Hangman’s Curse by Frank Peretti
Veritas Project #1 – YA Christian Fiction Thriller; Horror
A mysterious curse appears to be spreading throughout Baker High, leaving three popular athletes incapacitated and the rest of the student body crippled with fear. As part of The Veritas Project—a group covertly commissioned by the President to investigate strange mysteries—teenage twins Elijah and Elisha, along with their parents, are called in to uncover the truth before it’s too late.
My Thoughts:
If the term horror makes you think of chainsaw massacres, high body counts, and slasher whodunits, you’ll be pleasantly surprised (or disappointed?) by Hangman’s Curse. Christian YA horror books are not dependent on blood and gore, but on three elements: 1) suspense, 2) real dread provoked by real monsters (human or otherwise), 3) hope (even false hope) in a happy ending.
At any rate, Hangman’s Curse is successfully chilling. The story poignantly depicts the devastating effects of bullying and intolerance. It also touches briefly on witchcraft, the paranormal, and Christian apologetics (an odd combination, yes, but skillfully pulled off). I enjoyed the cool science elements, the friendships between unlikely characters, and the twins’ unique relationship.
Incidence of graphic violence: Low. There is a body count, but it is neither astronomical nor graphic.
Other content warnings: Arachnophobes, beware.
#3: I Am In Here by Creston Mapes
Christian YA Suspense
Eighteen-year-old Hale Frodele is presumed brain-dead after a tragic accident. Little does anyone know, Hale hears and understands everything with crystal clarity. He knows his father owes a large sum of money to a potentially dangerous man. He’s aware that his stepmother has been quietly blaming Hale for ruining her marriage. And he believes his best friend Gilbert is catching on to the sinister happenings.Â
But Hale cannot make himself be heard.
My Thoughts:
I Am In Here definitely has a unique premise, and despite the depressing beginning, it delivers an overall message of hope and redemption. Characters are realistic and relatable (even the bad guys have soft spots you can’t help but sympathize with) and their relationships are well-developed. This story tackles hard themes through a Christian worldview
Incidence of graphic violence: Low. A few gunshot wounds and some mention of blood.
#4-7: The Homelanders Series by Andrew Klavan
YA Christian Fiction Action Thriller Series, books 1-4
Charlie West wakes up in a torture room with no recollection of how he got there. The last thing he remembers is falling into bed with a smile on his face after an ordinary school day. Homework, karate practice, friends, the pretty girl who wrote her number on his hand… It was only yesterday, right? But then a strange voice outside the door orders his death and his concerns go from How did I get here? to How am I gonna make it out alive?
My Thoughts:
Andrew Klavan delivers traightforward writing without a lot of fluff. You’ll encounter plenty of action and plot twists, but also regular reprieves that offer you a chance to catch your breath. The best part about this series is the main character—a hero with a big heart, a black belt in karate, and the wisdom to know how to use both.
This series is clearly a work of YA Christian fiction—no attempts to disguise the Christian elements—and religion is naturally integrated.
Incidence of graphic violence: Medium-High. Numerous fight scenes and shootouts, though the violence isn’t overly graphic. Book 2, in particular, has a lot of blood in the beginning.
Read more about Charlie West in my post Standout Characters in YA Novels.
#8: Frozen Footprints By Therese Heckenkamp
Christian YA Suspense Thriller, first book of a duology
When 18-year-old Charlene’s twin brother Max disappears and her uber-rich, coldhearted grandfather refuses to take the ransom note seriously, Charlene goes looking for Max on her own. What ensues is a chilling nightmare in a remote cabin as the twins struggle to survive a lack of basic comforts and the iron hand of their sadistic captor.
My Thoughts:
If you’re romance-averse, you’ll appreciate that the main male-female relationship in this book is of the sibling variety. This story addresses the question “Where is God when I need him most?” and the struggle over choosing to do what’s right despite being forced to act on the contrary. You’ll find continued suspense, descriptive writing, and dark themes tackled from an accurate Christian worldview
Content Warnings:
- Incidence of graphic violence: HIGH. It’s not so much the frequency of the violence as it is the personal nature of it. Charlene and her brother are dealing with a very depraved assailant.
- Sex: Rape is brought up.
- Other: This book handles a lot of very dark themes, including kidnapping, torture, anger, hatred, and sadism. For this reason, I recommend it for mature readers, ages 16 and up.
Read my review of the second book of this duology, After the Thaw, in my list of Great Teen Fiction: 17+ Squeaky-Clean YA Romance Novels.
#9: The June Boys by Court Stevens
Christian YA Suspense-Thriller
The Gemini Thief is a serial kidnapper who takes three boys on June 1st, holds them captive for thirteen months, then releases them unharmed. The Thief has eluded authorities for nearly a decade, having taken at least twelve boys—including, possibly, Thea Delacroix’s cousin. Then one of the boys turns up dead and Thea is determined to find the Thief and the remaining boys before it’s too late. Only she’s beginning to wonder . . . What if her father is the Gemini Thief?
My Thoughts:
This book is now on my list of favorites. If you can handle the onslaught of new characters in the beginning, you won’t be disappointed. I loved the complex story, engaging writing, and unique format. This book is half epistolary, which means half the story is told through letters written by one of the characters. You’ll encounter plenty of plot twists (seriously) and a touch of clean romance.
This book is not marketed as Christian YA fiction, but faith in God is an important element to the story so I’m including it anyway.
Content Warnings:
- Incidence of graphic violence: Medium-low. A body is found and several abductions are described in brief, non-gory detail. One scene of gun violence and blood.
- Language: occasional mild crude language (including use of “hell” as a curse word)
- Other heavy issues to take note of: Serial kidnapping, mental health, difficult family relationships, and abandonment. ***Possible suicide triggers.***
#10: Curses And Other Buried Things by Caroline George
Southern Gothic / Christian YA Horror
Seven generations of women in Susana Prather’s family have been lost to the Georgia swamp behind her house, and it looks like Susana is next. No matter how she tries to stop it, night after night she’s pulled from her safe bed in a state of sleepwalking, haunted by her own family legacy. It’s only a matter of time before she loses her mind and the swamp becomes her grave. Unless she can figure out how to break the curse.
My Thoughts:
I’ll be honest, I have a few reservations about this book. This has a higher incidence of implied sexual activity than I prefer (see content warning) and all the talk of superstitions, curses, and paranormal activity make the Christian elements harder to pinpoint.
However, this is a story about breaking generational cycles—the “I can’t help it” mentality vs. “I’m choosing to be this way”—and it’s played out very effectively through the curses. The messages of forgiveness, grace, and redemption are biblical. So I’m including it here with the assumption you’ll use your own discretion about reading it.
My favorite quote from the book: “God doesn’t curse people. We do.”
Other great aspectsof this book include a hefty dose of Southern culture and tradition, and a realistic portrayal of characters without glazing over negative patterns or lifestyles.
Content Warnings:
- Incidence of graphic violence: Low. Violence (suicide, murder, rape, abuse) is implied only through its aftermath.
- Language: a few instances of minor crude language
- Sex: Several steamy kissing scenes imply closed-door sexual activity and an undercurrent of lust continues throughout the story.
- Substance abuse: Substance abuse by teens is prevalent in this story, though it’s more about showing habits passed down through generations rather than promoting such activities.
- Other: Readers sensitive to mental health struggles should use caution. Rape is mentioned.
Bonus Books: Clean YA Fiction for Christian Readers
Not every work of “clean YA fiction” is appropriate for a Christian audience. Fortunately, while these bonus thrillers are not marketed specifically for Christians, they do not contain content that contradicts biblical teachings. Enjoy!
Thin Air, by Kellie M. Parker
YA Mystery Thriller
Eight hours. Twelve contestants. A flight to Paris full of teenagers turns deadly, and 17-year-old Emily Walters must figure out who to trust and who’s trying to kill them all before she becomes the next victim.
My Thoughts:
I loved how the characters start off aloof and judgmental, then slowly open up to each other. This is superb writing. The actions and facial expressions of the characters were so vivid and natural, I could “see” it all as it happened.
Content Warnings:
***Warning for suicide triggers***
- Incidence of graphic violence: High. There is a fair amount of blood and death, though violent scenes are not unnecessarily prolonged.
- Language: one incidence of profanity
- Sex: none
- Substance abuse: mentions of drug use and addiction
- Other: an abortion is mentioned
Not if I Save You First, by Ally Carter
YA Mystery Thriller / Romantic Suspense
The daughter of a Secret Service agent is stranded in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness with the boy who wronged her—who happens to be the President’s son. Maddie would really like to kill Logan, but then an assassin moves in and drags Logan to some unknown fate. So now she has to save him first.
My Thoughts:
I wouldn’t read this if you’re strictly looking for serious survival knowledge, but lovers of romance and suspense will be happy. Some of the scenes are slightly outside of believable but, hey, that’s what makes it fiction, right?
Content Warnings:
- Violence: mild, nongraphical & brief. Lots of moments of peril.
- Language: none
- Sex: limited to kissing
- Substance abuse: none
- Other: terrorism
Got One to Add to the List?
Know of any other great YA Christian fiction thrillers, suspense, and horror novels? Send me a note and I’ll check it out!
More Clean & Christian YA Fiction Reading Lists
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