Read or Dead

By Book Riot

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

4.2

213213 ratings

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FAQs about Read or Dead:

How many episodes does Read or Dead have?

The podcast currently has 215 episodes available.

Read or Dead episodes:

August 22, 2025Historical Crime and Horror Novels
Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss historical crime and horror novels!
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!
Book Riot is hiring a digital content specialist! If you love books and know the ins and outs of social media strategy, and especially social video, consider joining the team. Find details and apply by August 22, 2025, at riotnewmedia.com/careers.
News
Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù To Lead Netflix Series ‘All The Sinners Bleed’

Noir at the Bar Kentucky Tour
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Books Discussed
Burn Baby Burn - Meg Medina

Mrs. Poe - Lynn Cullen

The Possession of Alba Díaz - Isabel Cañas

Little Deaths - Emma Flint

Your Favorite Scary Movie: How the Scream Films Rewrote the Rules of Horror - Ashley Cullins

Five Found Dead - Sulari Gentill
Otherwise you can:
Find Kendra on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester
Find Katie on Twitter @kt_librarylady
We will talk to you all next time!

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51min
August 08, 2025Let's Celebrate Women in Translation Month!
Month!
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!
Book Riot is hiring a digital content specialist! If you love books and know the ins and outs of social media strategy, and especially social video, consider joining the team. Find details and apply by August 22, 2025, at riotnewmedia.com/careers.

Things Mentioned
Murder, She Wrote is getting a film adaptation with Jamie Lee Curtis starring as Jessica Fletcher

Women in Translation Month
Books Discussed
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The Woman in the Purple Skirt - Natsuko Imamura; transl. by Lucy North

I Remember You - Yrsa Sigurdardottir; transl. by Philip Roughton

Thing We Lost in the Fire - Mariana Enriquez, transl. by Megan McDowell

Death Takes Me - Cristina Rivera Garza, transl. by Sarah Booker and Robin Myers

The Faceless Thing We Adore - Hester Steel

The Dead Husband Cookbook - Danielle Valentine
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
...more
48min
July 25, 2025Books That Have Been on Our TBRs for Far Too Long
Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss books that they’ve been meaning to get to for far too long. No time like the present!
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!
Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations is here to help! TBR delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. You can get your recommendations via email, or receive hardcovers or paperbacks in the mail. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Plans start at just $18!
The CWA Dagger Awards

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The Good Daughter - Karin Slaughter

While Justice Sleeps - Stacey Abrams

Kala - Colin Walsh

Natural Beauty - Ling Ling Huang

The Confessions - Paul Bradley Carr

A Twist of Fate - Se-Ah Jang, Trans. S. L. Park

The Hunger - Alma Katsu
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

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...more
44min
July 11, 2025Our Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers of 2025 Pt. 2
Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss their most anticipated book for the second half 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!
Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations is here to help! TBR delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. You can get your recommendations via email, or receive hardcovers or paperbacks in the mail. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Plans start at just $18!

Crime Reads Most Anticipated Books of Summer 2025
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An Evil Premise - T. Marie Vandelly (August 12th)

The Possession of Alba Díaz - Isabel Cañas (August 19)

You Weren’t Meant to Be Human - Andrew Joseph White (September 9)

Fiend - Alma Katsu (September 16th)

We Love You, Bunny - Mona Awad (September 23rd)

Dead Man Blues - S.D. House (October 14th)
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

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40min
June 27, 2025Mysteries and Thrillers for Audiobook Month
Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester recommend some of their favorite mystery and thriller audiobooks.
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!
Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations is here to help! TBR delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. You can get your recommendations via email, or receive hardcovers or paperbacks in the mail. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Plans start at just $18!

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission
The Outsider - Stephen King, narrated by Will Patton

Red Widow - Alma Katsu, narrated by Mozhan Marnò

King of Ashes - S.A. Cosby, performed by Adam Lazarre-White

Murder at Gulls Nest - Jess Kidd, performed by Siobhan McSweeney

Fog & Fury - Rachel Howzell Hall

Do Not Disturb - Freida McFadden
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

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...more
47min
June 13, 2025Mysteries and Thrillers for Pride Month!
Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester recommend mysteries and thrillers for Pride Month.
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!
Stumped on a great gift this Father's Day? Tailored Book Recommendations brings a personalized touch to any reading list with books hand-picked by professional book nerds. With over 150,000 book recommendations under our belt, we’ve got the chops to find the right read for your loved one this Father’s Day. Plus, with a simple checkout process and the ability to schedule the welcome email, gift-giving has never been easier. Gift TBR today starting at just $18!

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Murder in the Dressing Room - Holly Stars

Nothing But Blackened Teeth - Cassandra Khaw

Scorched Grace - Margot Douaihy

Model Home - Rivers Solomon

Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers - Caroline Fraser

A Murder for Miss Hortense: A Mystery - Mel Pennant
Otherwise you can:
Find Kendra on Instagram and BlueSky @kdwinchester and on TikTok @kendrawinchester
Find Katie on Twitter @kt_librarylady
And we will talk to you all next time!
Books Discussed

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43min
May 30, 2025Summer Reads from Real People
Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester recommend summer reads!
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 to level up your reading life? Become a Book Riot All Access member and explore our full library of members-only content, including must-reads, deep dives, and reading challenge recommendations. For a limited time, the first 50 new All Access annual members get a FREE copy of Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz courtesy of Tor Publishing! Join Book Riot All Access to level up your reading life and claim your free copy of Automatic Noodle.
News
AI Summer Reading List with the Chicago Sun Times

All the Sinners Bleed coming to Netflix

Crime Reads Summer Reading List

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Books Discussed
Victorian Psycho - Virginia Feito

#FashionVictim - Amina Akhtar

Murder at Gull’s Nest - Jess Kidd

King of Ashes - S.A. Cosby

Be Gay, Do Crime - edited by Kristel Buckley and Molly Llewellyn

Welcome to Murder Week - Karen Dukess
Otherwise you can:
Find Kendra on Instagram and BlueSky @kdwinchester and on TikTok @kendrawinchester
Find Katie on Bluesky @kt-librarylady
And we will talk to you all next time!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
50min
May 16, 2025The 2025 Edgar Awards!
Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester recommend books from this year's Edgar Awards finalists!

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 to level up your reading life? Become a Book Riot All Access member and explore our full library of members-only content, including must-reads, deep dives, and reading challenge recommendations. For a limited time, the first 50 new All Access annual members get a FREE copy of Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz courtesy of Tor Publishing! Join Book Riot All Access to level up your reading life and claim your free copy of Automatic Noodle.

News
A master class in writing taught by an AI version of Agatha Christie?

An Unsettling AI Agatha Christie Is Here to Teach You How to Write

2025 Edgar Awards

Books Discussed
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They All Fall the Same - Wes Browne

Cold to the Touch - Kerri Hakoda

The Amish Wife: Unraveling the Lies, Secrets, and Conspiracy that Let a Killer Go Free - Gregg Olsen

Find Her - Ginger Reno

God of the Woods - Liz Moore

The Man Made of Smoke - Alex North

The Dark Maestro - Brendan Slocumb
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
...more
48min
May 02, 2025Our 200th Episode!
Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester celebrate 200 hundred episodes of Read or Dead!
Trust your reading list to the experts at Tailored Book Recommendations! The professional book nerds (aka bibliologists) at TBR have recommended over 160,000 books to readers of all kinds. Let TBR match you with your next favorite read! Simply fill out a quick survey about what you want more of in your reading life, and your bibliologist will scour their bookish knowledge to find three reads they think you’ll love. Choose from receiving just the recommendations via email, or opt to have paperbacks or hardcovers delivered right to your door. Get started for only $18!
Mystery author Peter Lovesey has died at 88.

Kerry Greenwood, author of the Phryne [FRY-nee] Fisher mystery series, has died at 70.
1849 titles
835 unique authors
1147 unique titles
40.1% authors of color
TOP Author mentions:
Sujata Massey - 28

Tana French - 26

Riley Sager - 24

Alma Katsu - 20

Attica Locke, Jane Harper, SA Cosby - 17

Stephen King - 16

Angie Kim - 14

Stephen Graham Jones - 12

Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Jesse Q. Sutanto - 11

Oyinkan Braithwaite, Alyssa Cole, Ausma Zehanat Khan, Wanda M. Morris, Ovidia Yu - 10
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Top Title Mentions:
The Widows of Malabar Hill - Sujata Massey - 13

My Sister the Serial Killer - Oyinkan Braithwaite - 10

Miracle Creek - Angie Kim - 9

When No One is Watching - Alyssa Cole - 8

Beneath the Mountain - Luca D’Andrea - 8

American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land - Monica Hesse - 7

Final Girls - Riley Sager - 7

The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century - Kirk Wallace Johnson - 7

The Frangipani Tree Mystery - Ovidia Yu - 7

The Jigsaw Man - Nadine Matheson - 7

The Satapur Moonstone - Sujata Massey 7

The Witch Elm - Tana French - 7

Theme Music - T. Marie Vandelly - 7

Winter Counts - David Heska Wanbli Weiden - 7
If you want to send an email with feedback or show suggestions, you can reach us at [email protected].
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
...more
53min
April 18, 2025 Genre-Bending Mysteries, Thrillers, and Horror Novels
Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester recommend genre-defying mysteries, thrillers, and horror novels!

Trust your reading list to the experts at Tailored Book Recommendations! The professional book nerds (aka bibliologists) at TBR have recommended over 160,000 books to readers of all kinds. Let TBR match you with your next favorite read! Simply fill out a quick survey about what you want more of in your reading life, and your bibliologist will scour their bookish knowledge to find three reads they think you’ll love. Choose from receiving just the recommendations via email, or opt to have paperbacks or hardcovers delivered right to your door. Get started for only $18!

News
The American Library Association has sued the Trump administration for the gutting of IMLS. Attorneys general from 21 states have also filed a lawsuit

EveryLibrary condemns the Trump administration’s termination of IMLS grants as an attack on libraries, museums, and archives everywhere

Tracking the Trump Administration’s attacks on libraries

Books Discussed

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Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
When No One is Looking by Alyssa Cole
Himself by Jess Kidd
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
Opal Watson: Private Eye by Brittany J. Thurman
Coram House by Bailey Seybolt

If you want to send an email with feedback or show suggestions, you can reach us at [email protected].

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
...more
46min

FAQs about Read or Dead:

How many episodes does Read or Dead have?

The podcast currently has 215 episodes available.