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Fear Has a Name: A Pulse-Pounding Contemporary Christian Thriller (The Crittendon Files Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Creston Mapes (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 4,131 ratings
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A Haunting Name From the Past . . .

Granger Meade. He was mentally scarred as a boy by his religious zealot parents. He was bullied at school for his quiet, oafish appearance, which naturally made him a loner and outcast.

But one girl treated him differently—Pamela Wagner. Pamela talked to Granger, took an interest, listened, made him feel like a human being. She cared when no one else did, and Granger loved and respected her for it; and still does 20 years later.

So Granger goes back to their Ohio town. Back to Pamela.

But she is happily married to reporter Jack Crittendon, who's embroiled in a time-sensitive story about a pastor who's disappeared and left a suicide note; a case swirling with suspicion and scandal. When Granger crosses paths with Pamela, he snaps and does the unthinkable, putting Pamela's life in the balance, and sending Jack on a death-defying quest to save his wife.

With tension on every page, Amazon #1 Best-Selling author Creston Mapes demonstrates why he is a "Top Pick" among mystery, fiction and thriller lovers.

Fans of Terri Blackstock, Charles Martin, Christy Barritt, Robert Whitlow, Karen Kingsbury, and Francine Rivers will love this thriller from award-winning and bestselling author Creston Mapes.

Reader praise for Fear Has a Name

★★★★★ Gripping Suspense, Edge of Your Seat Reading. Fear Has a Name is a gripping Christian suspense novel that gives you everything you want from cover to cover. You will be on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next. The best thing about this novel from a Christian readers perspective is the way that faith, mercy and forgiveness are woven seamlessly throughout the book . . . A very good read for anyone who likes Christian Suspense and drama. Once you start reading you won't be able to stop until it's done.

★★★★★ First time I have read a Christian suspense novel . . . I'm hooked. Honestly not sure how I stumbled on to this book but have found a new genre. I have read a lot of suspense and crime novels and didn't know there were Christian suspense novels until this one! Creston Mapes is an incredible author. Powerful storytelling with believable characters and plenty of suspense.

★★★★★ Fast-Paced Christian Thriller. Two intriguing storylines converge in the end . . . I read late into the night, and after I went to sleep, I had a nightmare about being kidnapped like Pamela. I woke up and had to finish the book before I went back to sleep.

★★★★★ This is an excellent and gripping Christian Fiction thriller that will keep you glued to the pages until the very end. Or, if you are like me, it will keep you up all night because you can’t walk away from it. The story line is enticing and action packed.

★★★★★ Highly Recommend. This was a great read! I enjoy clean suspense. The plot was well laid out. The Christian themes were strong. This book is a ministry, and it was nice to see such a strong statement of faith presented in a story that was full of real life hurt, pain, and imperfection.

★★★★★ Creston Mapes has a new series called "The Crittendon Files" that promises to be his best writing yet . . . We aren't supposed to make a personal connection and actually feel empathy with the bad guy in a book, right? But Granger is, in my opinion, one of the best written antagonists I have ever read. And the final paragraph in this book really hit home for me. I mean...it was a jaw dropping wow moment that I haven't had since Ted Dekker's "Heaven" series . . . If you only buy one book this year, make sure you buy this one . . . It's that good.
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Crittendon Files
  2. Print length
    342 pages
  3. Language
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  4. Sticky notes
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  5. Publication date
    February 4, 2019
  6. File size
    4452 KB
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  1. If all of these trials bring me closer to you, then I will walk through the fire if you want me to.
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From the Publisher

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"It takes a lot for a suspense novel to impress me, but this one definitely did. Anyone who likes my books will love Fear Has a Name. The plot is skillfully woven, and the story has a spiritual depth that will resonate with readers. Creston Mapes is an author to watch in the suspense genre." - Terri Blackstock, Best-selling Author

"Fear Has a Name is an exceptional treat, a story of unrelenting tension that dares to stare evil in the face. Mapes has a gift. He reveals wickedness and vice yet sprinkles it with something rare that kept me riveted: the hope of redemption." - Harry Kraus, MD, Best-selling Author

"Creston Mapes is one of my favorite authors. Fear Has a Name mesmerized me from the first page. Multiple plot twists and terrific characters kept me glued to the page. I loved it and highly recommend it!" - Colleen Coble, Best-selling Author

"Captivating from breathless start to throat-clenching finish, Fear Has a Name possesses everything a great thriller should, and more. A must-read for fans of Terri Blackstock and Brandilyn Collins." - Tamera Alexander, USA Today Best-selling Author

From the Author

Thanks for downloading FEAR HAS A NAME. Get info on my other novels at CrestonMapes.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07NDGY1CK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rooftop Press (February 4, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 4, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4452 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 342 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 4,131 ratings

About the author

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Creston Mapes

Creston Mapes

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Creston Mapes grew up in northeast Ohio, where he has fond memories of living with his family of five in the upstairs portion of his dad's early American furniture store - The Weathervane Shop. Creston was not a good student, but the one natural talent he possessed was writing.

He set type by hand and cranked out his own neighborhood newspaper as a kid, then went on to graduate with a degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University. Creston was a newspaper reporter and photographer in Ohio and Florida, then moved to Atlanta, Georgia, for a job as a creative copywriter.

Creston served for a stint as a creative director, but quickly learned he was not cut out for management. He went out on his own as a freelance writer in 1991 and, over the next 30 years, did work for Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, The Weather Channel, Oracle, ABC-TV, TNT Sports, colleges and universities, ad agencies, and more. He's ghost-written more than ten non-fiction books.

Along the way, Creston has written many contemporary thrillers, achieved Amazon Bestseller status multiple times, and had one of his novels (Nobody) optioned as a major motion picture.

Creston married his fourth-grade sweetheart, Patty, and they have four amazing adult children. Creston loves his part-time job as an usher at local venues where he gets to see all the latest-greatest concerts and sporting events. He enjoys reading, fishing, thrifting, bocci, painting, pickleball, time with his family, and dates with his wife.

STAND ALONE THRILLERS

Celebrity Pastor

I Am In Here

Nobody

SIGNS OF LIFE SERIES

Signs of Life

Let My Daughter Go

I Pick You

Charm Artist

Son & Shield

Secrets in Shadows

THE CRITTENDON FILES

Fear Has a Name

Poison Town

Sky Zone

ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

Dark Star: Confessions of a Rock Idol

Full Tilt

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
4,131 global ratings
Book not as billed
2 Stars
Book not as billed
Very disappointing. I feel duped. This book was billed as a Christian thriller. I read thrillers weekly and really liked the idea of a Christian thriller which I have read several before. This book is not what I would consider a thriller at all. At times the writing and dialogue were painful to read. The overall premise of this book was the emotional and mental illnesses of the characters with a little bit of thriller thrown into the mix (and not very thrilling……snooze).
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Top reviews from the United States

jujubean
5.0 out of 5 stars just when you think you know
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2024
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I have to say that I enjoyed Fear Has A Name. It was suspenseful and kept me wanting to turn the page, and the next. I had a feeling Pam would get abducted, and I new Evan would end up helping somehow, but thought for sure it would be in FL, not Lake Serenity. Although this is fictional, I loved seeing God’s hand.
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Jennifer Lara
4.0 out of 5 stars A slow burn suspense
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2023
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Fear Has a Name is the first book in the Crittendon Files by Creston Mapes. A stranger breaks into the home of Jack Crittendon while his wife, Pamela and young daughters were home. As the police chalk it up to another in a string of home invasions, something feels off. Only personal items were taken and personal items destroyed. As a journalist, Jack is put on a story of a missing pastor, who reportedly left a suicide note. His investigation leads him into a dark world of lies, greed and danger. When a name surfaces from Pamela’s past, is there a connection between their home invasion and the missing pastor? It is a race against the clock as Jack knows he must uncover who this person is and what he wants with Jack’s family before it’s too late.
A Christian suspense? An oxymoron? No, this story is filled with suspense, intrigue and faith. As a Christian, I find many Christian fiction to be too overly positive. The same goes with books labeled as Christian suspense. With the same basic, repetitious sunshine and rainbow versions of faith and believers, the story would fall flat. However, the Christian message in Fear Has a Name is real and deep which didn’t shy away from the issues that many Christians struggle with. These characters aren’t perfect, they are deeply flawed and struggle with their faith and their human nature. Fear Has A Name is a slow burn suspense story with a fast paced ending that will leave you hooked. Overall, I enjoyed Fear Has a Name. If you enjoy suspenseful stories with a Christian message, I recommend Fear Has a Name.

Fear Has a Name is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook
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Johnny D. Robinson
5.0 out of 5 stars Clean and still riveting!
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2024
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Really like the author. And I wasn’t insulted by cheap profane writing. Good story check this author out..
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Gwendolyn Plano
5.0 out of 5 stars Suspense at its best.
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2024
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In this fast-moving psychological thriller, readers are brought into the mind of a mentally ill man, Grander Meade. Raised by fanatical parents, Grander lacks the normal interpersonal skills of most of the population. He is a loner, disrespected by many, especially his father.

Pamela Wagner went to school with Grander and felt compassionate toward him. Unbeknown to her, she was the only person who was kind to him. Once school was over, Pamela forgot about him. But Grander never forgot about her.

This was a suspenseful and thought-provoking read. Intense but plausible, it kept me on edge wondering and questioning. Mapes ingeniously drew me into deep faith questions – about trust, about the love of our neighbors, and about life’s purpose. The last lines of the book hit home: "They were all guilty. All deserved judgment. Sentencing. Imprisonment. Yet someone had chosen to love – radically. That’s what Pam wanted to do. Jack lowered his head. Perhaps that was why all this had happened. To show a man mercy. To show a man Christ on the cross."
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Gerri Sullivan
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book I’ve read in a Long Time
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2024
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I loved the intermingling of all the characters. The true spirit of Christ being woven in each of the stories. Mental abuse and the devastating effects for the victim. The abuse of church power. The power of worthlessness, yet the power of Jesus and giving it all to God. Everything happens for a reason and a time. God is love. Trust in that.
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JD
3.0 out of 5 stars Adventuresome Thriller, Christian themed, but with scathingly ignorant attitudes about mental health
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2021
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Creston Mapes' story of a woman stalked by a former acquaintance was interesting, fast paced, and un-predictable. It ended on a hopeful note, with some important character lessons learned. BUT, the author either is incredibly ignorant about mental disorders, or he wanted his characters to appear this way. Since the Christian view of the author is evident throughout the book, it stands to reason that the ignorant views are also his. The stalker, of course, is the most mentally ill. His past is presented in a way that the reader can be sympathetic to him, while knowing that his actions are dangerous and disgusting. The pastor in the book is suffering from depression, and he too is portrayed in a somewhat sympathetic way, but with many of his thought distortions blamed on his medication, instead of on his disease and sudden withdrawal from his medicine. He believes himself to be weak, cowardly and sinful, and is ashamed that he takes medicine ("drugs"). Only at the very end is there a mention of the medicine withdrawal contributing to his problem. The mother of the women being stalked also suffers from an anxiety related medical disorder. However, throughout the book, she is portrayed poorly due to this. She is repeatedly referred to as a "nutcase", selfish, basket case, etc. She is repeatedly chastised by her husband and son-in-law, who blames her for his wife's small amount of anxiety. Even after it comes to light that she experienced an extremely traumatic incident in her teens, she is still considered a problem when her anxiety shuts her down after learning of her daughter's situation. As a mental health professional, it is painfully obvious to me she suffers from PTSD, but nowhere in the story does the mention of treatment, counseling, medication etc. come up,. Even when her daughter comes to a better understanding of what her mother has suffered, she is still considered the family "problem." Since the book was pretty interesting, I finished it, but it was painful to read the author's descriptions of these emotional illnesses, and even more painful to be reminded that much of the Christian church shares his views. In spite of the high interest of the book, I am hesitant to read another from this author, and hope that at some point, he consults with the Christin mental health community for more accurate information on this painful subject.
15 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

John from Croatia
5.0 out of 5 stars A case for judgement
Reviewed in Germany on December 22, 2019
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We all are guilty of sin and deserve the judgement of death. Like Granger we all have our life struggles that make up who we are. Evan a pastor, a man of God who like all of us is just a mere man, struggles of depression, guilt and worthiness that taunts most of us if we are honest about. Pam was able to forgive Granger and is an example of the love of Christ. This book moved me and the characters were well thought other. This is first I have read from this author but won't be the last.
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EDJ
4.0 out of 5 stars Mercy triumphs over judgement
Reviewed in Australia on March 7, 2021
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This is the first book I've read by Creston Mapes. I loved his story and character development. There was plenty of action and suspense alongside the gradual divulging of important character's secrets.

His theology is about God being in control. I prefer to say that God influences us, he is everywhere in everyone and he tries to guide us to good. But I do not see evil as ever coming from God, only Satan and therefore I would argue that Satan has some limited "control" or influence as well that goes against God's will. However, God uses evil for good and that's the ultimate point that we agree on.

Creston also brought up the topic of gun violence, but I felt like he didn't follow it through very far. I was raised in a culture that out a significant stop to gun violence in the 90s (Australia) so on the one hand I found the gun talk a bit jarring (it's not in my culture) but on the other I wanted him to follow through and say something more about how violence breeds violence... But hey, I'm Australian and I recognise that I was raised in a different culture.

I loved that Creston tried to get readers to identify with the bully of the story. I want mercy for him too ❤️

Overall I enjoyed this page turner!
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Cornelia Frost
5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 3, 2016
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This was an edge of the seat gripper crime thriller! A powerful story highlighting the consequences of severe abuse. How God can test us and our faith in severe storms. As well as a brilliant story to read, this also offers lots of life lessons and truths about God's word and how we can or should live that out in our daily life's. Struggled to put it down!!
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Kathryn svendsen
5.0 out of 5 stars Complex and Fascinating Story!
Reviewed in Canada on September 16, 2014
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Fear Has a Name is a multilayered novel. The main theme is about the stalker that has targeted the Crittendon family. He has broken into their home, but taken nothing of significant value. The second theme is the pastor who seems to have disappeared in order to commit suicide. His wife though, is convinced this is not the case. There Is more going on here than meets the eye though. Crittendon is having trouble getting to the bottom of it because his mind is on the safety of his family. He has to find out who is stalking his wife.

I found this story complex and fascinating as the author not only wove both stories, but wove them together into one when they seemed disconnected at first. I liked the main characters Jack and Pam Crittendon. They seemed like real people you might meet anywhere. I felt very sorry for the stalker who I think was the way he was due a large part to his abusive upbringing.

I liked the pacing of the book too. I certainly had no problem finishing Fear Has a Name in short order, not because it was a short book, but because it was so entertaining that reading it was not a chore, but rather a pleasure and I seemed to tune out everything else.

I would highly recommend Fear Has a Name to anyone who enjoys thriller-suspense novels. This one is a winner. I rated this novel 5 stars out of 5.

I purchased this book on Amazon.

This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogspot.com/2014/09/book-review-fear-has-name-by-creston.html
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Jody
4.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
Reviewed in Canada on September 17, 2019
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I really enjoyed this novel. I finished it quickly and wished it could have gone on even longer. I look forward to reading more from this series.
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