Read or Dead

To our Read or Dead listeners: After 9 years of bringing mysteries and thrillers to your ears, we are sorry to say that this will be our last episode. We want to thank you all for making this show so excellent, and we hope you’ll stick around as we celebrate our favorite Read or Dead memories in today’s episode. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn a...

Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss their most anticipated new book releases for the second half of 2026. News Edgar Awards Winners 2026 This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed Wisdom Corner - David Heska Wanbli Weiden (July 7th) Helpless - Jessica Knoll (July 7th) The Secret Dinner - Raphael Montes...

Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss retellings. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed Wild Dark Shore - Charlotte McConaghy Beth Is Dead - Katie Bernet In the Hall With the Knife - Diana Peterfreund The Weight of Blood - Tiffany D. Jackson Jane Steele - Lyndsay Faye And Then She Fell - Alicia Elli...

Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss some of the books nominated for the Edgar Awards! News Freida McFadden’s true identity revealed! Things Mentioned Book Club Pick: Butter - Asako Yuzuki, Translated by Polly Barton The Edgar Awards This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed Murderland: Crime and Blood...

Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss missing person mysteries and thrillers. News Liane Moriarty is writing a sequel to Big Little Lies, called Big Little Truths, and yes, it’s being adapted as Season 3 of Big Little Lies on HBO. Tina Fey is adapting Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan is Killing It for Peacock. Maya Hawke has been cast in God of the Woods! This content contains affiliate...

Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss the genre of true crime, the ethics behind it, and what writers are tackling questions around the genre today. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed “On True Crime” - Myriam Gurba Beth Is Dead - Katie Burnet Whidbey - T Kira Madden Unspeakable Acts: True Tales o...

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 readorde...

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 e...

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 affiliat...

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 con...

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 affilia...

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. S...

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...

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 Boo...

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...

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 p...

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 sugges...

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 c...

Latine Heritage Month! Be sure to join us for our first book club to discuss The Fiend by Alma Katsu on October 31st. (Apologies—we said the 24th in the episode.) 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...

Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss dark academia 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! 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 star...

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...

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.co...

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 re...

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 jus...

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 ju...