10910: An Allegorical Christian Thriller

by Nick Samra

In college, Paul Topasteehl personally experienced the evils of the drug known as 10910. Not only is it the most addictive substance known to man, but the effects are irreversible. Twenty years later, as a special agent for the Narcotics Enforcement Administration, Paul’s mission is to banish this scourge from society forever.

Texas cop Brad Labradine has no such vendetta. Not until a series of grisly murders leads him to a psychic named Claire, whose prophetic visions reveal a new form of 10910—one that is capable of creating a serial killer known as The Hobbler.

As Paul and Brad join forces in a nationwide crusade, their paths collide with an enigmatic billionaire only referred to as the Dark Prophet, who gathers followers and hands out truckloads of 10910 for free. Can they decode the mysterious allure behind this narcotic and stop both the Hobbler and the Dark Prophet before 10910 entices the entire country—including Paul’s own family? But this is not just another street drug. It’s something more powerful than they could have ever imagined.

A mind-bending thriller packed with twists, 10910 is a story of addiction, deception, and the fine line between salvation and damnation. Perfect for fans of Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker.

Genres: Fiction

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2025

About the author

Nick Samra is an electrical engineer who’s spent his career designing silicon chips that power everything from smartphones and laptops to the artificial intelligence behind the Amazon Cloud. How did a design engineer end up writing a novel? That’s a question Nick still asks himself daily. The best answer he’s come up with is that God has a sense of humor—and doesn’t take no for an answer.

Nick lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and kids, all of whom moonlight as his beta readers. Whenever he’s able to escape from his keyboard, you’ll find him running or mountain biking along the Barton Creek Greenbelt. He’s also an avid traveler, including a yearly pilgrimage to the Big House in Ann Arbor to cheer for his beloved Wolverines.

For Nick’s full story, visit his website: nicksamra.com.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this so fast! I just had to know how it was going to end. There aren’t many Christian books out there with this many twists and turns. I never would have thought to make a story with murders and mystery from Romans 10:9. So creative

[Cc · Rating 5 out of 5]

My personal criteria for satisfaction when reading a novel hinges on mental, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual engagement. Does the writer transport me into their world in a way that I visualize the characters and the scenes in detail? Does the author present new ideologies and worlds to experience that I had not imagined? Do I find myself becoming invested in the character's stories? Does the story inspire me to begin thinking about my world and personal landscape differently and bring up questions for me to answer for myself? And lastly, and perhaps most importantly, did I read the last sentence and feel that the time spent engaging in this world was an investment that left me positively altered and looking forward to what's next? Samra checks off all these boxes and more! I could not put this down from the first sentence and was immediately catapulted into a deftly-written alternate reality of suspense and spiritual symbolism that kept me intrigued, eagerly awaiting the next turn. Highly recommend you dive in to the experience to see what you find for yourself.

[TS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now THIS is one of the best books I've ever read. Genuinely. It captured my attention right off the bat, the writing is sophisticated and incredibly suspenseful with some creative touches of comic relief, and I couldn't put it down from the beginning to the very end. The characters are lovable and relatable, and their development throughout the story is incredibly done and so naturally portrayed. It has everything I've ever wanted in a book - a murder mystery, thrilling action scenes, different plotlines that are intricately woven together, and a setting that I feel like I'm actually a part of.

And that's all before I discovered it was an allegory.

BRILLIANTLY done (maybe even Chronicles of Narnia level), Nick has portrayed Christianity from a lens I have never seen it portrayed before - an addictive drug that captures society. The amount of easter eggs, theological concepts, and biblical themes that are the undertones of the entire novel is quite a feat. You could fully read the novel as a thriller and it would be absolutely incredible. But when you realize there's SO MUCH MORE to it... SO GOOD. The ending had me sitting there in awe, pondering over everything, flipping back to reread different sections, making connections between the novel and real life. I could not recommend this book enough!!!

[Doug B · Rating 5 out of 5]

10910 is a thrilling read with some great suspense. Great characters and enough twists and turns to keep you on your seat! I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys an unpredictable thriller with Bible-based themes.

[Dillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best thriller’s I’ve read in a long time. All of the pieces fall into place like a puzzle, yet it’s unpredictable the whole way through. The allegorical structure also adds another layer of depth that takes the story to another level.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really creative story, with an unfolding twist that is powerful and engaging! You'll find yourself caught up in the action even as you are being forced to think and understand the Christian story through new eyes. I highly recommend you read this book!

[Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book you'll want to read a second time to catch all the metaphors and hidden references throughout. Reading this book truly changes your perspective on how Christianity is portrayed in our world. In addition to all the deeper meanings, it was truly a great read and one that you won't want to put down. I would recommend this to anyone who loves suspense or searching for the deeper meaning in a novel. Nick Samra really hit it out of the park with his first publication!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

10910 was a great book! It was well written and kept me interested throughout the entire storyline. Throughout the story there were surprises and turns that I was not expecting, but that kept the book interesting. The storyline and book were both well-thought-out and were also thought-provoking. Allegories are fun to read because they approach topics or ideas from a different standpoint and 10910 does just. Overall, this book was really good and definitely worth a read!

[Mike Oosse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully written allegory, with well-developed characters, and mystery throughout. I kept telling myself, “Just one more chapter”, but then I’d continue for several more - I needed to see what happened next!! I haven’t read a book so compelling and full of intrigue, from cover to cover, in a long time. Definitely looking forward to reading the next thriller in the series!!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

10910: An Allegorical Christian Thriller by Nick Samara is a powerful and thought-provoking read that blends suspense, symbolism, and faith in a truly engaging way. Samara delivers a story that works both as a gripping thriller and as a deep spiritual allegory exploring redemption, temptation, and the struggle between light and darkness. The writing is vivid and fast-paced, keeping you hooked while inviting reflection on life’s bigger questions. If you enjoy thrillers with a strong moral and spiritual dimension, 10910 is a book that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

[Margaret B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read. In fact, now that I know how it ends, I want to read it again!It had so many characters and storylines that it was hard to put down. All throughout the book is a powerful spiritual message about good versus evil. The ending is unpredictable and is a must-read for anyone who loves thrillers with spiritual undertones.

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

i won this in a giveaway

[Jacek Rosiak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously, stop what you're doing and pick up 10910: An Allegorical Christian Thriller by Nick Samra. I totally get why this book has an outstanding stars—it’s a compelling, must-read thriller that completely blew me away.

From the jump, this book is an "AWESOME BOOK!" Samra successfully merges high-octane suspense with a Christian allegory that hits you right in the feels. We follow Agent Paul Topasteehl and Detective Brad Labradine as they chase after the destructive drug "10910" and try to stop the "Dark Prophet." This plot is non-stop. I found the high-stakes setup—especially with the introduction of "The Hobbler," a serial killer—absolutely gripping. The pace is so "fast" that Samra truly does "weave crime, mystery and suspense throughout the book so you don’t want to put the book down."

But here is the genius part: the meaning behind everything. When you’re deep into the thriller plot, fighting the Dark Prophet and learning about the drug, you suddenly have that 'aha!' moment. As soon as I pulled back and realized the spiritual meaning, everything clicked. It was exactly like another reviewer said: "when you finally zoom out and realize what the drug represents, all of the pieces laid throughout the book fall into place."

This is more than just a crime story; it’s a smart look at addiction, spiritual warfare, and redemption, all packaged in a slick thriller. If you want a book that entertains the mind and feeds the spirit, you absolutely need to read 10910. It exceeds all expectations!

[Molly Winson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great novel! 10910 has so much depth that kept me hooked until the very end. Without recognizing its references to Christianity, this book is still full of unexpected twists and turns that make you want to keep turning the pages. But when looking closer at the characters, setting, and relationships throughout the novel, it invites you to view Christianity through a fresh lens. This thrill driven novel is powerful and offers a meaningful story for every reader! Would recommend this to anyone!!

[Kathy L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not for a person who wants a "light reading" experience. From beginning to end, it is an allegorical thriller that requires total immersion in the book and its intricate story lines. Once you start reading it, you can't put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was challenged by it.

[Susan Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book is like a theme park coaster ride. Exciting climbs and thrilling plunges. The story has a supernatural element to it along with strong Christian themes. You’ll quickly get caught up in the battle of good against evil as an extremely addictive drug is making itself known with a series of murders. Factor in a Texas cop and a special Agent for the Narcotics Enforcement Administration (read DEA) who are trying to keep this horrifying drug from taking over the world. There’s an evil billionaire called The Dark Prophet behind this whole thing. It’s the classic and addictive battle of good against evil. I promise that once you start 10910: An Allegorical Christian Thriller, you won’t want to put it down.

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received my copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.

This book subverted my expectations for the direction the plot was going in several very clever ways, was entertaining from beginning to end (I particularly loved the running gag surrounding the backstory of a certain character's dislike of the color orange), and conveyed the spiritual message it aimed to; it's a clear 5/5 from me.

One caveat: There were a lot of somewhat outlandish situations and odd behavior choices by the characters in the book. If that would seriously irk you and you want a really realistic read, this may not be the book you're looking for. For anybody else, I'd recommend the book.

[Ed Mahr · Rating 5 out of 5]

10910 by Nick Samra was an excellent book. It was thrilling and captivating, I had a hard time putting it down. The allegories were fantastic which kept me thinking long after I finished reading. The story line moved at just the right pace and the descriptive details were so acute I pictured every scene in my mind. My favorite part was attempting to unpack the spiritual truths in each character and situation as it tested my Gospel knowledge. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well-balanced detective, mystery type novel. It would make a perfect book club read.

[Thomas F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

10910 is an AWESOME book! Starting with the incredibly creative title and diving quickly into the text, 10910 is a creative, fast-passed, Christian-based thriller. The author weaves crime, mystery and suspense throughout the book so you don’t want to put the book down. Then, when you finally zoom out and realize what the drug represents, all of the pieces laid throughout the book fall into place.

[Drew Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic from start to finish! I won this book in a giveaway and did not have high hopes for it based on the quality of other giveaway books I’ve received and read, but this exceeded every possible expectation I had. It’s great as an allegory, it’s great as a thriller, and it’s highly entertaining. I could not put it down and finished it very quickly. Excellently written.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 10910, Nick Samra masterfully combines an allegorical thriller with a profound spiritual journey. The book is a real page turner with believable characters and a gripping suspenseful storyline. I found it to be an exciting, thought provoking novel.

[George Samra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This topic is really interesting. I don't know exactly what I was expecting going in, but it is different, in the best way, than all of my expectations and just like every good drug, each chapter has really kept me hooked and wanting more.

[Thankful · Rating 5 out of 5]

10910 is a Christian allegory, and takes its name from Romans 10:9-10, which says “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified; and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” In the book, various characters interact with a street drug they call “10910.” or just “one-0” for short. The drug is seen in a positive light by those who consume it. They report having miraculous experiences. But the drug is held in suspicion, even contempt by those who have never tried it. Some characters even lead a public crusade against the drug, blaming the drug for the ills of society. The author uses the idea of taking a life-changing drug perpetually to represent the Christian life: we are dependent on God. Samra illustrates in the life of his main character the process through which people come to Christ, and that what often changes the heart can only occur through direct, personal experience.