Read or Dead

Book Riot
  • 4.6 (21)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Read or Dead is a bi-weekly show dedicated to the worlds of mystery and thriller literature.

  1. 6D AGO

    Book Club: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

    Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss their second book club pick, The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. Things Mentioned Discussion Guide This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed The God of the Woods by Liz Moore If you want to send an email with feedback or show suggestions, you can reach us at readordead@bookriot.com. Otherwise you can: Find Katie on Twitter @kt_librarylady Find Kendra on Instagram and BlueSky @kdwinchester And we will talk to you all next time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    53 min

  2. FEB 20

    Let's Celebrate Black History Month All Year Long

    Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester recommend books for Black History Month. News God of the Woods - Liz Moore - next book club read! - March 6th E. Lockhart and Sarah Mlynowski are cowriting a new series featuring Nancy Drew as a divorced 40-year old Brooklyn mom who finds herself back in the sleuthing saddle. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed A Hymn to Life - Gisele Pilicot, Translated by Natasha Lehrer and Ruth Diver Performed by Emma Thompson The Body - Bethany C. Morrow One of Us Knows -  Alyssa Cole Invisible: The Forgotten Story of the Black Woman Lawyer Who Took Down America’s Most Powerful Mobster - Stephen Carter The Star from Calcutta (A Perveen Mistry Novel) - Sujata Massey Hooked: A Novel of Obsession - Asako Yuzuki, Translated by Polly Barton Goodbye Earl - Leesa Cross-Smith Dollface - Lindy Ryan If you want to send an email with feedback or show suggestions, you can reach us at readordead@bookriot.com. Otherwise you can: Find Katie on Twitter @kt_librarylady Find Kendra on Instagram and BlueSky @kdwinchester And we will talk to you all next time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    40 min

  3. FEB 6

    Historical Mysteries

    Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester recommend some of their favorite historical mysteries! News God of the Woods by Liz Moore - our next book club read! - March 6th Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series is being adapted for TV. Adrian McKinty’s The Chain is getting a series adaptation at HBO. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed Island Witch - Amanda Jayatissa At the Water’s Edge - Sara Gruen Murder at Gulls Nest - Jess Kidd Murder at the Spirit Lounge - Jess Kidd Even As We Breathe - Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle Such a Perfect Family - Nalini Singh Trad Wife - Saratoga Schaefer If you want to send an email with feedback or show suggestions, you can reach us at readordead@bookriot.com. Otherwise you can: Find Katie on Twitter @kt_librarylady Find Kendra on Instagram and BlueSky @kdwinchester and on TikTok @kendrawinchester And we will talk to you all next time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min

  4. JAN 23

    It's Time for the 2026 Read Harder Challenge!

    Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss some mystery and thriller recommendations for the 2026 Read Harder Challenge! Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more mystery/thriller recs and news, sign up for our Unusual Suspects newsletter! Things Discussed God of the Woods - Liz Moore - next book club read! - March 6th Read Harder Challenge 2026 This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed 22) Nonviolent True Crime: The Dinosaur Artist: Obsession, Betrayal, and the Quest for Earth's Ultimate Trophy - Paige Williams 17) Cults: Kismet - Amina Akhtar 6) Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years - The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story - Olga Tokarczuk, Translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones 21) Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation - Death Takes Me - Cristina Rivera Garza, Translated by Robin Myers and Sarah Booker My Husband’s Wife - Alice Feeney (January 20th) On Sundays She Picked Flowers - Yah-Yah Scholfield (Jan 27th) If you want to send an email with feedback or show suggestions, you can reach us at readordead@bookriot.com. Otherwise you can: Find Kendra on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester Find Katie on Twitter @kt_librarylady And we will talk to you all next time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    43 min

  5. JAN 9

    Our Most Anticipated Books of 2026

    Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss their favorite books of 2026! Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more mystery/thriller recs and news, sign up for our Unusual Suspects newsletter! News God of the Woods - Liz Moore - next book club read! - March 6th This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed Paper Cut - Rachel Taff (Jan 27) The Body - Bethany C. Morrow (Feb 10) Someone Else’s Husband - Kimberly McCreight (June 16) Whidbey - T Kira Madden (March 10) Hooked: A Novel of Obsession - Asako Yuzuki, Translator Polly Barton (March 17) The Ending Writes Itself - Evelyn Clarke (April 7) The Star From Calcutta - Sujata Massey (March 3) The Keeper - Tana French (March 31) Last One Out - Jane Harper (April 14) If you want to send an email with feedback or show suggestions, you can reach us at readordead@bookriot.com. Otherwise you can: Find Kendra on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester Find Katie on Twitter @kt_librarylady And we will talk to you all next time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    38 min

  6. 2025-12-26

    A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens from Zero to Well-Read

    Read or Dead is taking a short holiday break, so we thought we'd share with you a recent episode from our newest Book Riot podcast, Zero to Well-Read, in which Jeff and Rebecca revisit Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, a story so familiar it’s often mistaken for simple. They consider its moral stakes, its enduring influence on readers and society, and why Scrooge's redemption still resonates. Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content. Follow Zero to Well-Read on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Email us: zerotowellread@bookriot.com This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 15m

  7. 2025-12-12

    Our Favorite Books of 2025!

    Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss their favorite books of 2025. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more mystery/thriller recs and news, sign up for our Unusual Suspects newsletter! We’ve got the chops to match the book lover in your life with their next favorite read. And it only takes a few clicks to gift Tailored Book Recommendations! Simply head to mytbr.co/gift to get started. News Fern Michaels has died at 92 This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed Fiend - Alma Katsu Nothing But Blackened Teeth - Cassandra Khaw Victorian Psycho - Virginia Feito The Buffalo Hunter Hunter - Stephen Graham Jones The Witch’s Orchard - Archer Sullivan King of Ashes - S.A. Cosby They All Fall the Same - Wes Browne If you want to send an email with feedback or show suggestions, you can reach us at readordead@bookriot.com. Otherwise you can: Find Kendra on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester Find Katie on Twitter @kt_librarylady We will talk to you all next time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    42 min

  8. 2025-11-28

    It's Time for Native American Heritage Month 2025!

    Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester recommend books for Native American Heritage Month and beyond. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more mystery/thriller recs and news, sign up for our Unusual Suspects newsletter! We’ve got the chops to match the book lover in your life with their next favorite read. And it only takes a few clicks to gift Tailored Book Recommendations! Simply head to mytbr.co/gift to get started. Books Discussed This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Sisters of the Lost Nation - Nick Medina Blood Sisters - Vanessa Lillie Sisters in the Wind - Angeline Boulley The Buffalo Hunter Hunter - Stephen Graham Jones If you want to send an email with feedback or show suggestions, you can reach us at readordead@bookriot.com. Otherwise you can: Find Kendra on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester Find Katie on Twitter @kt_librarylady And we will talk to you all next time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min
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4.6
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Read or Dead is a bi-weekly show dedicated to the worlds of mystery and thriller literature.

Information

  • Creator
    Book Riot
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    229
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022 Book Riot
  • Show Website
    Read or Dead

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