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The Ultimate Biblical Fiction Booklist: 222+ Novels Listed In Biblical Order

Okay, confession time:

Sometimes, reading the Bible feels a bit boring.

Not because there aren’t great stories and lessons (and far more than that) in there, but because I’ve heard the stories a few too many times, and in the same way.

Enter Biblical fiction.

When I discovered that there were authors out there who expanded these retellings into entire book-length novels, I was hooked. Not only did many Biblical fiction books give me a greater sense of the context of Bible events, they also inspired me to pick up my Bible and re-read the old stories from a new perspective.

I mean, having the power of Biblical stories brought to life by creative writers with often phenomenal research and description talents?

Yes, please!

So if you are getting tired of reading the Bible, may the stories below re-light your interest as well.

Recommendations:

Personally, I enjoy reading Biblical fiction that is well-researched and sticks closely to the original story.

Of course authors must take creative liberties when writing historical or Biblical fiction, but I appreciate it when authors do so in ways that strengthen the story.

That said, I highly, highly recommend all of Lynn Austin’s Biblical fiction, particularly her series on King Hezekiah (Chronicles of the Kings). I also recommend Pearl in the Sand, The Bronze Bow, Mesu Andrews’ Miriam, Ben Hur, and Quo Vadis.

And if anyone has further recommendations on this topic, let me know! I am always looking for good Biblical fiction to read!

Below, I list all of the books and authors in this genre culled from Google, Amazon, and Goodreads. They are listed in Biblical order.*

Formatting Key:

• Title of Book/Series, (# of books in series) — Author’s Name (Biblical person/events referenced**)
• [Books that are not technically Biblical fiction but related/close enough]
• Books that I presonally have read and recommend

OLD TESTAMENT

Genesis

• Eve: A Novel of the First Woman — Elissa Elliot (Adam & Eve)
• Havah: The Story of Eve — Tosca Lee (Adam & Eve)
• Eve: Mother of All — Shirley Corder (Adam & Eve)
• Sinners and the Sea: The Untold Story of Noah’s wife — Rebecca Kanner (Noah and the Flood)
• Generations of Noah series (3) — Rachel S. Neal (Noah and the Flood)
• The Remnant Trilogy series (3) — Tim Chaffey (Noah)
• The Genesis Trilogy series (3) — Kacy Barnett-Gramckow (Shem, Noah, Nimrod, tower of Babel)
• Out of the Whirlwind — Chris Hambleton (post-Babel)
• Song of Abraham — Ellen Gunderson Traylor (Abraham)
• The Castors of Giza — Chris Hambleton (Abraham)
• Abraham and Sarah — Roberta Kells Dorr (Abraham & Sarah)
• Sarai — Jill Eileen Smith (Sarah)
• Sarah — Marek Halter (Sarah)
• Sarah — Orson Scott Card (Sarah)
• Rebekah — Jill Eileen Smith (Rebekah)
• Rebekah — Orson Scott Card (Rebekah)
• Sons of Isaac — Roberta Kells Dorr (Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Esau)
• Rachel — Jill Eileen Smith (Rachel)
• The Red Tent — Anita Diamant (Dinah)
• Joseph and His Brothers — Thomas Mann (Joseph)
• Unveiled — Francine Rivers (Tamar, Judah)
• Tamar — Gladys Malvern (Tamar)

Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

• Shadow of the Mountain series (ongoing) — Cliff Graham (Caleb, Joshua)
• Pharaoh’s Daughter — Mesu Andrews (Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses)
• Miriam — Mesu Andrews (Miriam, Moses, Aaron)
• The Shadow Women — Angela Elwell Hunt (Moses, Miriam, Pharaoh’s daughter, Zipporah)
• Slender Reeds: Jochebed’s Hope — Texie Susan Gregory (Jochebed, Pharaoh, Shiphrah)
• Miriam — Lois T. Henderson (Miriam, Moses, Aaron)
• Miriam Part I: Devoted Sister — Shirley Corder (Miriam)
• Zipporah, Wife of Moses — Marek Halter (Ziporrah & Moses)
• Out From Egypt series (3)— Connilyn Cossette (Moses, et al)
• Escape from Egypt — Sonia Levitin (Moses et al)
• The Priest: Aaron — Francine Rivers (Aaron)
• The Warrior: Caleb — Francine Rivers (Caleb)

Joshua

• Pearl in the Sand — Tessa Afshar (Rahab)
• Unashamed: Rahab — Francine Rivers (Rahab)
• The Crimson Cord: Rahab’s Story — Jill Eileen Smith (Rahab)
• Rahab’s Story — Ann Burton (Rahab)
• This Scarlet Cord: The Love Story of Rahab — Joan Wolf (Rahab)
• The Scarlet Cord — Carlene Havel, Sharon Faucheux (Rahab)

Judges

• The Prophetess: Deborah’s Story — Jill Eileen Smith (Deborah)
• The Triumph of Deborah — Eva Etzioni-Halevy (Deborah)
• Deborah’s Story — Ann Burton (Deborah)
• Jael’s Story — Ann Burton (Jael)
• Desired: The Untold Story of Samson and Delilah — Ginger Garrett (Samson & Delilah)
• Delilah: Treacherous Beauty — Angela Elwell Hunt (Delilah, samson)
• Building Benjamin: Naomi’s Journey — Barbara M. Britton (Benjamite kidnapping)

Ruth

• In the Field of Grace — Tessa Afshar (Ruth)
• Redeeming Grace: Ruth’s Story — Jill Eileen Smith (Ruth)
• Unshaken: Ruth — Francine Rivers (Ruth)
• Ruth — Lois T. Henderson (Ruth)
• The Foreigner — Gladys Malvern (Ruth)
• A Journey of One Thousand Miles: the Story of Ruth and Naomi — D. Avraham (Ruth, Naomi)
• The Song of Ruth — Frank G. Slaughter (Ruth)
• Naomi and Her Daughters — Walter Wangerin Jr. (Naomi, Ruth, Orpah)
• Naomi — Shirley Corder (Naomi, Ruth)

1 & 2 Samuel

• Rabshakeh — Jill Francis Hudson (Saul)
• David — Cliff Graham (David)
• The Shepherd King: Book One, The Foundation Stone — D. Avraham (David, Goliath)
• Lion of War series (4) — Cliff Graham (David and his Mighty Men: Benaiah, Eleazer, etc.)
• Hall of the Mighty Men series (5) — Cliff Graham (David’s Mighty Men: Benaiah ben Jehoiada, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, Ittai, Gareb)
• The Secret Chord — Geraldine Brooks (David)
• Michal — Jill Eileen Smith (Michal & David)
• Michal’s Window — Rachelle Ayala (Michal & David)
• Saul’s Daughter — Gladys Malvern (Michal)
• Queenmaker: A Novel of King David’s Queen — India Edghill (Michal & David)
• Daughter of the King — Carlene Havel (Michal)
• Hittite Warrior — Joanne Williamson (Uriah)
• Bathsheba — Jill Eileen Smith (Bathsheba & David)
• Unspoken: Bathsheba — Francine Rivers (Bathsheba & David)
• Bathsheba: Reluctant Beauty — Angela Elwell Hunt (Bathsheba & David)
• Bathsheba — Torgny Lindgren (Bathsheba)
• David and Bathsheba — Roberta Kells Dorr (David & Bathsheba)
• Abigail — Jill Eileen Smith (Abigail & David)
• Abigail — Lois T. Henderson
• Abigail’s Story — Ann Burton (Abigail)
• The Prince: Jonathan — Francine Rivers (Jonathan)
• The Rape of Tamar — Dan Jacobson (Tamar, Amnon)
• Zoheleth — Jill Francis Hudson (Absalom)

1 & 2 Kings & Chronicles

• Chronicles of the Kings series (5) — Lynn Austin (Kings Hezekiah & Manasseh)
• The Fifth Mountain — Paul Coelho (Jezebel, Elijah, widow of Zarephath)
• In the Shadow of Jezebel — Mesu Andrews (Elijah, Jezebel)
• Reign: The Chronicles of Queen Jezebel — Ginger Garrett (Jezebel, Ahab)
• Adara — Beatrice Gormley (Naaman, Elisha)
• Little One, Maid of Israel — Bill Harvey (Naaman)
• Providence: Hannah’s Journey — Barbara M. Britton (Naaman)
• The Shepherdess — Jill Eileen Smith (Abishag & Solomon)
• The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen — Tosca Lee (Queen of Sheba)
• The Queen of Sheba — Jill Eileen Smith (Solomon, Queen of Sheba)
• Wisdom’s Daughter — India Edghill (Solomon & Sheba)
• The Last Queen of Sheba — Jill Frances Hudson (Solomon & Queen of Sheba)
• Queen of Sheba — Roberta Kells Dorr (Queen of Sheba)
• The Desert Princess — Jill Eileen Smith (Naamah & Solomon)
• Daughter of the Nile — Jill Eileen Smith (Solomon’s Egyptian wife)

Ezra, Nehemiah, Zechariah

• The Restoration Chronicles series (3) — Lynn Austin (Zechariah, Nehemiah, Ezra)
• Harvest of Rubies, Harvest of Gold — Tessa Afshar (Darius, Nehemiah)
• Lilah — Marek Halter (Ezra)
• Take This Cup — Bodie & Brock Thoene (Nehemiah)
• Within the Palace Gates — Anna P. Siviter (Nehemiah, Ezra)
• Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey — Barbara M. Britton (Nehemiah)

Esther

• Hadassah: One Night with the King — Tommy Tenney (Esther)
• Esther: Royal Beauty — Angela E. Hunt (Esther)
• A Reluctant Queen: The Love Story of Esther — Joan Wolf (Esther)
• Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther — Ginger Garrett (Esther)
• Esther — Norah Lofts (Esther)
• Jewel of Persia — Roseanna M. White (Esther)
• Behold Your Queen — Gladys Malvern (Esther)
• Esther the Queen — H.B. Moore (Esther)
• Esther — Rebecca Kanner (Esther)

Job

• Love Amid the Ashes — Mesu Andrews (Job & Dinah)
• Job’s Wife — Elmer L. Towns (Job & Dinah)

Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs

• Love’s Sacred Song — Mesu Andrews (Solomon & the Shulammite)
• Solomon’s Song — Roberta Kells Dorr (Solomon & the Shulammite)

Isaiah

• Isaiah’s Daughter — Mesu Andrews (Isaiah, Hezekiah)

Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel

• Garden of Madness — Tracy L. Higley (King Nebuchadnezzar)

Hosea

• Love in a Broken Vessel — Mesu Andrews (Hosea & Gomer)
• (Redeeming Love — Francine Rivers [Not Biblical fiction, but so well known and based on the Hosea & Gomer story, that I had to include it in this list])

Amos

• The Prophet: Amos — Francine Rivers (Amos)

Other Minor Prophets: Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

No books so far. Anyone want to give it a try? *Nudge, nudge, wink, wink* ;)

NEW TESTAMENT

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

• Unafraid: Mary — Francine Rivers (Mary, mother of Jesus)
• Mary: Chosen of God — Diana Wallis Taylor (Mary, mother of Jesus)
• How Far to Bethlehem? — Norah Lofts (Mary, Joseph)
• Before Bethlehem — James Flerlage (Joseph & Mary, James)
• (A Donkey for the King — John & Patricia Beatty [Jesus])
• Dear and Glorious Physician — Taylor Caldwell (Luke)
• Honored — Roberta Kells Dorr (Mary, Luke)
• The Prisoner in the Third Cell — Gene Edwards (John the Baptist)
• Salome — Beatrice Gormley (Salome)
• Quarantine — Jim Crace (Jesus, pre-ministry 40-day fast)
• The Big Fisherman — Lloyd C. Douglas (Peter)
• Mary, Called Magdalene — Margaret George (Mary Magdalene)
• Mary Magdalene — Diana Wallis Taylor (Mary Magdalene)
• Seven — Tristan K. Hodges (Mary Magdalene)
• Unveiling Mary Magdalene — Liz Curtis Higgs (Mary Magdalene)
• Daughter of Jerusalem — Thom Lemmons (Mary Magdalene)
• Martha — Diana Wallis Taylor (Martha)
• The Jerusalem Chronicles series (3)— Bodie & Brock Thoene (Lazarus, Jesus)
• [Ben Hur — Lew Wallace (Jesus. A bit of a stretch, but this IS set during the time of Jesus, even if Jesus is not present in the majority of the book)]
• Land of Silence — Tessa Afshar (The woman with the bleeding problem, healed by Jesus)
• Days of Messiah series (3)— Amber Schamel (a leper healed by Jesus)
• Journey to the Well — Diana Wallis Taylor (the Samaritan woman at the well)
• The Well — Stephanie Landsem (the Samaritan woman at the well)
• Hidden Faces: Portraits of Nameless Women in the Gospels novella series (4) — Golden Keyes Parsons (unnamed women who met Jesus)
• Iscariot — Tosca Lee (Judas Iscariot)
• I, Judas — Taylor Caldwell (Judas Iscariot)
• Behold the Man — Bodie & Brock Thoene (Jesus, Pilate)
• Pilate’s Wife — Antoinette May (Pilate, Jesus)
• The Thief — Stephanie Landsem (Jesus, the crucifixion)
• The Tomb — Stephanie Landsem (Martha, Lazarus, Jesus)
• The Spear: A Novel of the Crucifixion — Louis de Wohl (Jesus, et al)
• Barabbas — Par Lagerkvist
• The Advocate — Randy Singer (Jesus, Barabbas, Paul)
• A.D. Chronicles series (12) — Bodie & Brock Thoene (life of Jesus, et al)
• Man of Nazareth — Anthony Burgess (Jesus)
• The Testament of Marcellus — Marius Gabriel (Jesus)
• Behold Your King — Florence Marvyne Bauer (Jesus)
• The Centurion — Ken Gire (Jesus, Mary Magdalene, crucifixion)
• Risen: Novelization of the Major Motion Picture — Angela Elwell Hunt (Jesus, resurrection)

Acts

• Bread of Angels — Tessa Afshar (Lydia)
• Woman of Means — Thom Lemmons (Lydia)
• Apostle Paul — James Cannon (Paul)
• The Scribe: Silas — Francine Rivers (Silas + Paul)
• Priscilla & Aquila — Lois T. Henderson (Priscilla & Aquila)

The Epistles & beyond (Romans…Philemon…)

• Mother of Faith — Thom Lemmons (The “chosen lady” from 2 John)
• John, Son of Thunder — Ellen Gunderson Traylor (John the Beloved)
• Twice Freed — Patricia St. John (Philemon, Onesimus)
• Quo Vadis? — Henryk Sienkiewicz (early Christians; Peter)
• The Robe — Lloyd C. Douglas
• Mark of the Lion series (3) — Francine Rivers (early Christians)
• So Shines the Night — Tracy L. Higley (early Christians; Paul)
• The Bronze Bow — Elizabeth George Speare (early Christians)
• The Queen’s Handmaid — Tracy L. Higley (Herod, early Christians)
• Acts of Faith series (3) — Janette Oke, Davis Bunn (early Christians)
• The Secret Sign — Gladys Malvern (early Christians)
• The Kingdom of the Wicked — Anthony Burgess (early Christians)
• (Masada — Ernst Gann [siege of Masada, First Jewish-Roman War])
• Woman of Mettle — Linda Caddick (early Christians)
• Palace of Darkness — Tracy L. Higley (early Christians)

Disclaimers:

*I’ve read some, though of course not all, of the books listed here. Inclusion does not mean unmitigated approval of all the books. You must judge for yourself!

**Biblical characters referenced are not necessarily the main/featured character of the novel. Some authors prefer to tell their story through the eyes of another minor or made-up character.

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