Read or Dead

Book Riot

4.2 (218)
BOOKS
UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

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

3H AGO

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
12/26/2025

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
12/12/2025

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
11/28/2025

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
11/14/2025

Holiday Gift Guide 2025

Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester recommend books for Read or Dead's annual holiday gift guide. 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 New Tana French novel!! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed The Dead Path - Stephen M. Irwin Thursday’s Children - Nicci French The Weight of Blood - Tiffany D. Jackson Night Film - Marisha Pessl Portrait of a Thief - Grace D. Li The Feather Thief - Kirk Wallace Johnson Blue Monday - Nicci French, Performed by Beth Chalmers The Kamogawa Food Detectives - Hisashi Kashiwai, Translated by Jesse Kirkwood Restaurant of Lost Recipes - Hisashi Kashiwai, Translated by Jesse Kirkwood Menu of Happiness - Hisashi Kashiwai, Translated by Jesse Kirkwood Midnight Timetable - Bora Chung, Translated by Anton Hur 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! Books Discussed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

51 min
10/31/2025

Book Club: FIEND by Alma Katsu

Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss their very first book club pick, Fiend by Alma Katsu. 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! Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Fiend - Alma Katsu Empire of Pain - Patrick Radden Keefe Death in Mud Lick - Eric Eyre Dreamland - Sam Quinones Dopesick - Beth Macy The Nature of Pain - Mandi Fugate Sheffel If you want to send an email with feedback or show suggestions, you can reach us at readordead@bookriot.com. Find Kendra on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester Find Katie on Twitter @kt_librarylady And we will talk to you all next time! Books Discussed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

57 min
10/17/2025

Down the Rabbit Hole with Fantastical Mysteries and Thrillers

de of the fantastic. Be sure to join us for our first book club to discuss The Fiend by Alma Katsu on October 31st. 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! Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed Fiend by Alma Katsu Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2025 edited by Don Winslow The Sister’s Curse by Nicola Solvinic 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

53 min
10/03/2025

Cozy Books, Cute Animals—What's Not to Love?

Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss books on the cozier end of the mystery spectrum. Plus, they all feature cute animals! Be sure to join us for our first book club to discuss The Fiend by Alma Katsu on October 31st. 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! Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18! Books Discussed This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. The Fiend - Alma Katsu The Cat Who Could Read Backwards - Lilian Jackson Braun The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra - Vaseem Khan Menu of Happiness - Hisashi Kashiwai, translated by Jesse Kirkwood Mockingbird Court: A Shady Hollow Mystery - Juneau Black The Midnight Timetable: A Novel in Ghost Stories - Bora Chung, translated by Anton Hur I Make My Own Fun - Hannah Beer 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

44 min

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TRAILER

Welcome To Read Or Dead

Read or Dead is a bi-weekly mystery fiction podcast dedicated to the worlds of mystery, thriller, and true crime literature. Join hosts Alice and Kim for lots of recommendations, news updates, and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10/30/2020

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3 min

4.2

out of 5

218 Ratings

Christmas Carol response

6d ago

AMH957

Hey, lovely hosts! The children hidden in the Christmas Present’s cloak appear in the Patrick Stewart, TNT-produced, version of the story. Or they were there originally.
Love it!

08/01/2025

Bouncy_Mouse_59

Fabulous hosts with great book recs… What more could you want?
Great recs and convo!

06/28/2025

Lahairoi

I’ve been listening to this pod since the beginning. Despite a few host changes, they have consistently provided interesting, diverse recommendations. Highly recommend!
Corgis, cozies, crime, and so much more

07/04/2024

embowlden77

Easily my favorite of the Book Riot podcasts (even though I've been listening to the OG show since it's beginning), this podcast has led me down so many reading rabbit holes--plus the hosts are lovely.