If you're up for a good bit of frightening Christian fiction, I recommend the supernatural thriller House (click here for a Wikipedia article on the book, but beware of spoilers--it tells how the book ends) by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker.
Four stranded travelers find their way to what should be refuge in a backwoods inn. But instead of safety they find themselves trapped in a demon-possessed house that brings only panic and murder. And the only way out is an inward journey of faith.
If you're familiar with both of these authors' books and writing styles, you'll probably agree that it seems like Dekker had more of a hand in it than Peretti. Wikipedia says, "House takes place in the same universe as The Paradise Novels (Showdown, Saint, and Sinner). White is created by Marsuvees Black, The Paradise Novel's main antagonist, as is a number of other characters that are in Dekker's Books of History Chronicles. While not being mentioned directly within House itself, it is mentioned in Saint."
Because of the relationship to these books, I think the reader who is unfamiliar with the world view of Ted Dekker would probably enjoy the book more. Having read several of Dekker's novels, I found House to be a little redundant, though thoroughly enjoyable. I would have liked to have heard a bit more of Peretti's voice in the book, to counter redundancy. All in all, though, it was a great read.
Dekker's and Peretti's books push the envelope of Christian fiction. In one interview I read, Dekker says that in order to understand salvation, you have to completely understand evil and sin. Only then can you appreciate what we've been saved from. So these authors pull no punches in this Christian horror. If you choose to read this novel, be prepared to be afraid. Then, be prepared to learn that "perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18)."
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