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Artwork for Read or Dead

Read or Dead

Book Riot
Mystery Literature
Thriller Literature
Mystery and Thriller Literature
Book Recommendations
Mystery and Thriller
Edgar Awards
True Crime
Mystery
Read Harder Challenge
Indigenous Literature
Book Riot
Read Or Dead
Cozy Mysteries
Hispanic Heritage Month
Mystery Genre
Thriller
Romantic Suspense
The Vampires Of El Norte
Animals In Literature
Latinx Authors

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes234Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsFictionBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Read or Dead

Latest Episodes

Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss their most anticipated new book releases for the second half of 2026.

News

Edgar Awards Winners 2026

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Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discuss retellings.

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Books Discussed

Wild Dark Shore - Charlotte McConaghy

Beth Is De... more

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 Award... more

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.

more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Well-Read
Well-ReadAnn Cox and Halle Carlson
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Reading GlassesBrea Grant and Mallory O'Meara

Recent Guests

Trisha Brown
Co-host of Book Riot's One in Romance podcast, focused on the romance genre.
Book Riot
Episode: When in Romance Meets Read Or Dead!

Hosts

Katie McLain Horner
Co-host of Read or Dead, Book Riot
Kendra Winchester
Co-host of Read or Dead, Book Riot

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 299 ratings
  • Why?

    Could you get someone on here who has read the book she’s talking about? Every book Katy talks about is on her TBR but hasn’t read. Maybe put heron a podcast about video games and cats. I am done with this.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Carol reads123
    United Statesa month ago
  • Enough with the Chatter

    This is a good podcast. However the personal chatter at the beginning is often enough for me to stop listening. Don’t care about your weather. Get to the show already. The second, quieter host is helpful in tamping don’t the blather.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Juliette2316
    United Statesa month ago
  • Christmas Carol response

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    AMH957
    United States4 months ago
  • Love it!

    Fabulous hosts with great book recs… What more could you want?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bouncy_Mouse_59
    United States10 months ago
  • Great recs and convo!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lahairoi
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the hosts' enthusiasm and book recommendations.
Fans value diverse picks and spoiler-aware structure.
Some reviews flag rambling or topic transitions as a weakness.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#177
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#151
Norway/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#200
Japan/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Reading Each Other's Favorites
Q: What are the upcoming book recommendations?
The co-hosts discuss a variety of upcoming titles and their personal reading experiences, including 'The Only One Left' by Riley Sager and 'Things We Lost in the Fire' by Mariana Enriquez.
From Page to Screen
Q: What is your second pick for a book that could be adapted?
"Butter" by Asako Yuzuki is a fascinating insight into culture and society with great narrative opportunities.
From Page to Screen
Q: What book would you recommend for adaptation?
I would recommend "Horror Movie" by Paul Tremblay as it has rich content and complexity that could be great for a miniseries.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Read or Dead

What is Read or Dead about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A bi-weekly mystery/thriller show that foregrounds book recommendations, author interviews, and thoughtful genre conversations. Episodes often include spoiler discussions, book club-style deep dives, and diverse topic clusters—from historical mysteries and cozy sleuthing to true crime-adjacent thrillers and translation-focused features. Notable strengths include a lively, guest-inclusive format, clear enthusiasm for genre-bending picks, and a rhythm that blends early spoiler-free reactions with later in-depth debates. A standout aspect is the duo's approachable chemistry and their willingness to tackle topical themes (race, gender, and representation) within mystery and thriller narratives, making it helpful for listeners seeking fresh reco... more

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How many subscribers and views does Read or Dead have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Read or Dead has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Read or Dead?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Read or Dead:

1. All the Books!
2. Book Riot - The Podcast
3. Well-Read
4. Book Talk, etc.
5. Reading Glasses

How many episodes of Read or Dead are there?

Read or Dead launched 9 years ago and published 234 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Read or Dead?

Recent guests on Read or Dead include:

1. Trisha Brown

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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