31 Reads of Terror: 'Thr3e' by Ted Dekker

Has anyone else waded into the twisted waters of Ted Dekker's thrillers? This "Christian" author is a curious blend of horror and suspense, crafting narratives that often dance on the edge of the supernatural and the psychological. I’ve dabbled in a few of his works, like House—beware, there's another book with the same title from Bentley Little that gives a far more visceral horror experience. I’ve been chewing on my feelings about Dekker; while he dabbles in themes that may not adhere strictly to Christian doctrine, he sometimes misses the mark when it comes to delivering true horror. Still, I decided to take a bite out of Thr3e.

Originally published in 2003 and later sliced into a film in 2006—one I’ve yet to lay my eyes upon—the plot kicks off with Kevin, our beleaguered protagonist, driving home from graduate school. Suddenly, his peaceful commute shatters when a mysterious voice—Slater—calls, demanding confessions of sin within three tense minutes, or he’ll turn Kevin's car into a fiery tomb. What follows is a dark, spiraling descent into dread, as Kevin narrowly escapes the fate of becoming roadkill and finds himself wrapped in an escalating game of cat and mouse with Slater. Each call brings with it a riddle, a penalty, and just three minutes to tame his own demons, revealing a deeper complexity to Kevin's character—or perhaps a frustrating lack thereof, depending on how you read it.

The narrative breathes with the eerie pulse of the late ‘90s. Dekker's prose remains slick, drawing you in with a compelling voice, yet I can’t help but feel that, like many of his other works, the story stumbles in the latter half. It's as if the plot was sketched out on the back of a napkin—intriguing at first, but the details become muddled as the finishing touches are left unattended.

Thr3e isn’t exactly a page-turner; more like a decent stopover on a long, winding road trip. The characters? A tad too one-dimensional for my taste. Kevin has a flicker of depth, but I found myself yearning for more layers, more grit to sink my teeth into. The pacing is brisk and keeps your interest enough to push through, but the stakes feel a little light.

In the end, Thr3e is what I’d call an entertaining snack of a thriller—fluff and a bit of fun, but don’t expect a gourmet feast. It’s likable, sure, but you might find it's not quite as satisfying as you had hoped. Read at your own peril. ╌★★★✰✰

〜B.J. Burgess