By Mitchell S. Karnes
When they started filming the streaming series of my Abbey Rhodes Mystery series, beginning with Water Grave, I learned that they categorized it as “Faith-Adjacent.” According to the Internet (which never lies), “The phrase suggests exploring ideas, stories, and cultural touchpoints that are near faith but not necessarily within strict theological doctrine — much like the ‘adjacent’ areas around a religious center. This allows for broader, more inclusive discussion while still engaging with biblical narratives and spiritual themes.”
I am a Christian, and I am an author. Most of my works involve a Christian character or two who infuse the story with Christian values. My current series features Nashville Homicide Detective Abbey Rhodes. By nature of the series, my stories deal with death. They also include such gritty topics as sexual assault, abortion, and suicide. Each case/mystery triggers a part of Abbey’s hidden past that I peel back book by book like an onion. The mystery is the focal point of the story. Her journey of reconciliation with her past, God, and the church happens over the course of six books. This is why it falls under “faith-adjacent” rather than “Christian fiction.”
When I began pitching the idea of Water Grave, book one in the series, I was asked, “Who is your target audience?”
“Abbey.” When they asked me to explain, I said, “People, like my protagonist, who have been hurt by someone in the church and drifted away from God.” Her redemption story is what I hope and pray will happen with my readers: that they will realize God never left them or gave up on them. He understands their pain and wants desperately to heal their emotional, psychological, and spiritual wounds. He waits like the father of the prodigal son with open arms.
“Own the truth, or the truth will own you.” This is my series’ theme. Until we embrace our past (the good and the bad) and take ownership of our role in getting us where we are, we will never be able to move forward. I just completed book five, Closure, in which a major character says, “You can’t move forward if you’re always looking back.”
We need to embrace the past but not live in it. Check out my series anywhere you can buy books online. Better yet, go to my website, www.mitchellskarnesauthor.com, and see what Abbey Rhodes Mysteries are all about.
Mitchell S. Karnes is best known for his Abbey Rhodes Mystery series. Mitchell uses his experiences as a pastor, teacher, counselor, and two-time cancer survivor to challenge and inspire his readers to live for Christ Jesus.