Gregg Winsor
@kcbookpusher
Librarian. Husband. Dad. Cat owner. Always excited to hear people talk about their favorite books. Fan of assorted nerdery. Kansas City forever.
I’m just a librarian from KC eating dinner in a sports bar in Minneapolis along with the Minnesota Timberwolves mascot, Crunch. Life takes you strange places, is what I’m saying.
My #fridayreads: NATURAL BEAUTY by Ling Ling Huang explores the dark side of the beauty industry as a former piano prodigy works for a trendy wellness brand and discovers the (very) ugly truth underneath. Elegantly written with a note of unease foreshadowing the body horror to come. Pick it up.
First book of 2026 is a good ‘un: A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE by @jordanharper.bsky.social. Three characters on the periphery of L.A. celebrity uncover corruption, scandal, and a serial killer. Jordan’s thriller weaves dark street poetry like prime Ellroy; this book is a knife to the kidney. Out in April.
Final day of #LibFaves25: THE EVERLASTING by Alix E. Harrow. A time-slip tale about a lady knight, whose sacrifice is instrumental in the founding of her country, and her strange connection with a future scholar as they try to change their destinies. Epic and devastating - a love story for the ages.
Almost home! Day 9 of #LibFaves25: KING OF ASHES by S.A. Cosby. A prodigal son returns to deal with criminals corrupting his rural Virginia hometown, transforming his school smarts into street smarts. Operatic, pulpy, and visceral, Cosby never disappoints thriller fans. (Or me, for that matter.)
Day 8 of #LibFaves25: THE DEVILS by Joe Abercrombie. A motley crew of unholy supernatural creatures are tasked to complete a holy quest. Wry humor, sparkling action, and a story of redemption and a surprisingly touching found family will remind you of a fantasy version of your favorite Marvel movie.
Welcome to day 7 of #LibFaves25: THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans, a masterful word-of-mouth debut about a chronic letter-writer, a story told entirely in letters and emails. Sybil, the smart, curious, opinionated, an stubborn main character, is one of this years most delightful discoveries.
Day 6 of #LibFaves25: KILL YOUR DARLINGS by Peter Swanson. A marriage of two murderers told in reverse, moving back in time to the fateful meet cute that started it all. This domestic thriller has the feel of classic film noir, with character revelations that bite. Hitchcockian and compelling.
At the halfway point of #LibFaves25! Mostly known as a YA author, John Green gives us a witty, informative - and above all, supremely accessible - medical history in his non-fiction hit EVERYTHING IS TUBERCULOSIS.
Day 4 of #LibFaves25: RED CITY by Marie Lu: her adult novel debut about two star-crossed outsiders brought up to wield both power and magic in opposing sides of a crime syndicate street war is both electrifying and emotionally compelling: Fonda Lee meets V.E. Schwab; romantasy meets The Godfather.
Day 3 of #LibFaves25: either it’s a dark satire of one or a straight-up horror novel, but whichever the case, VICTORIAN PSYCHO by Virginia Feito is an unforgettable bloody romp about a governess with very bad intentions. Not for the squeamish. Couldn’t stop thinking about this one for months.
Day two of #LibFaves25: THE INCANDESCENT by Emily Tesh, a Dark Academia tale of a magic academy told from the POV of a beleaguered professor, keeping the students safe while battling the school’s history. (Literally.) Wistful, witty, and sharp - and with a great magic system - this one cut.
Kicking off day one of #libfaves25 with HEAD CASES by John McMahon: a delightful twist on your standard catch-the-serial-killer cold case procedural with a well-written (and possibly neurodivergent) protagonist. Where’s my sequels?
While visiting Iowa State on a college tour, I spotted this chained to a nook in the Engineering building - an artifact from 2014.
Inspired by @alexsegura.bsky.social: post four comic pages/panels that make up your #comicsdna
Happy birthday, Raymond Chandler! Still one of my favorite authors - I take “The Long Goodbye” off the shelf every few years and discover a new favorite quote.
Also I’ve been yapping to everyone in earshot about Alix E. Harrow’s EVERLASTING, a fantasy/romance that’s decidedly not a romantasy: this novel of time travel, Arthurian-ish mythmaking, and a doomed romance is one of my favorites of the year. #ewgc
Howdy, #ewgc! Been a minute. If you haven’t ready Marie Lu’s RED CITY, give it a shot. Contemporary fantasy with star-crossed magicians recruited by crime syndicates. Shades of Fonda Lee’s JADE CITY with a dash of V.E. Schwab. Out in October.
This week’s #fridayreads: KING OF ASHES by @blacktopkid.bsky.social. Cosby’s a 100% can’t miss and this thriller about a financial advisor who must go back to his corrupt small town to handle family business is wry, visceral, and propulsive. Out in June; place your library holds now.
For #fridayreads, if you’ve never read Peter Swanson, you’re in for a treat. His latest, KILL YOUR DARLINGS, out in June, is a delightfully twisty (and twisted) character study of a marriage told in reverse, with Swanson’s noir style on full display. @librarylovefest.bsky.social #booksky