If you know anything about me from social media, then you probably know I’m a huge David Lynch fan. Ever since I saw Eraserhead during my first year in college, I’ve been hooked on Lynch’s unique brand of horror, humor, and surrealism.
From Blue Velvet to Mulholland Drive and everything in between, a day doesn’t go by in my life that I’m not inspired by the Lynchian landscapes and unforgettable characters that he created for the cinema.
And then of course, there’s Twin Peaks, which perfectly blended horror television with sudsy soap opera. With equal parts terror and melodrama, there’s possibly never been a TV show before or since that’s so perfectly attuned to my own sensibilities, and I’m far from the only fan who feels that way.
Lynch’s death earlier this year has been incredibly hard to take, but fortunately, in addition to his enviable filmography, there are plenty of books out there that take inspiration from his work.
So for those of you who know the owls are not what they seem and that you can tell a damn fine cup of coffee when you taste one, here are four books to read if you love Twin Peaks. Alas, a key to the Great Northern Hotel is not included.
Laura's Ghost: Women Speak About Twin Peaks
If you haven’t read Laura’s Ghost by Courtenay Stallings yet, then please do yourself a favor as a Twin Peaks fan, and pick it up immediately.
This one made it on the Preliminary Ballot for the Bram Stoker Awards back in 2020, and it still makes me sad even now that it didn’t make the final cut, because this particular book most certainly deserves an even wider readership.
With an introduction from actress Sheryl Lee who plays Laura Palmer, Laura’s Ghost is told through the eyes of numerous women who have experienced trauma and the ways in which Laura Palmer has helped them to heal.
It’s an affecting book and one that’s absolutely vital for anyone who wants to examine the larger legacy of David Lynch and Mark Frost’s inimitable series.
Girl in the Creek
Author and editor extraordinaire Wendy Wagner is a long-time fan of David Lynch—in fact, it was her Facebook post back in January where I first learned the tragic news of his death—so it comes as no surprise that her forthcoming book, Girl in the Creek, has been described as having “eerie Twin Peaks vibes.”
Set in the Pacific Northwest, which brims with Lynchian ambiance, the story revolves around a woman who’s in search of her missing brother, only to discover there’s something decidedly unnatural afoot.
There’s nothing quite like secrets and rustling trees to give you that Twin Peaks fix. This eco-horror novel is sure to be a major standout in 2025, so run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookseller and pre-order a copy now.
Hazel was a Good Girl: Solving the Murder that Inspired Twin Peaks
I haven’t read this one yet, since it’s not due out until next month, but it’s mostly definitely on my radar.
What some fans of Twin Peaks might not know is that Laura Palmer was in fact partially based on a real young woman who was murdered in the early days of the twentieth century.
The body of Hazel Drew was discovered in 1908 in Upstate New York, and her murder was never solved. Or was it?
Author Jerry C. Drake works through the evidence, examining who might be the culprit of this heinous crime that’s inspired generations of television fans.
Definitely a must-read for true-crime aficionados.
Room to Dream
And let’s finish off this list with a title from the visionary himself.
Truth be told, I’m still working my way through this one; I purchased it shortly after Lynch’s death, and I’m savoring every minute with it, as if that gives me a literary way to spend more time with Lynch himself.
A New York Times bestseller co-written with Kristine McKenna, Room to Dream charts David Lynch’s own life and creative pursuits starting in childhood and all the way up until his last finished directorial project, Twin Peaks: The Return.
Lynch’s signature voice is on full display here, and there are also some terrific black-and-white photos, both from his personal life as well as from behind-the-scenes exploits.
Also, if you’re looking for a book by Lynch and Room to Dream doesn’t particularly strike you (or you’ve already read it), then I can most definitely recommend another Lynch-penned book: Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity, which talks all about his creative process. It’s super short, easy to read, and it’s a total blast.
