The Secret History of Twin Peaks

With some original cast members and one of the original authors, this audiobook tells the fictional history of Twin Peaks and proves more engaging than its print counterpart. Through reports, journals, newspaper stories, and other epistolary material, this case-book narrative begins in the early 1800s and leads into the original show's plot before moving into the present. Many familiar characters appear while new characters also emerge, setting the scene for the forthcoming TV miniseries. Each narrative within this case file is performed by a different narrator, including some from the original cast such as Kyle MacLachlan (Dale Cooper) and Michael Horse (Harry S. Truman). With interwoven entries, the use of multiple narrators significantly aids in keeping the story clear for listeners. L.E. � AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

Starred review from November 21, 2016
Devotees of the cult TV series Twin Peaks, due for a revival in 2017 on Showtime, will welcome this inventive jigsaw puzzle of a book from one of the show’s creators. The tantalizing revelations concern events preceding the prequel movie, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, and those following the show’s last episode. Frost’s impressive effort demands close attention. He provides information in the form of a 2016 FBI case file, classified “three levels above top secret,” assigned to an unnamed agent after a dossier was recovered from a “crime scene that is still under active investigation.” The file consists of an eclectic collection of documents, including facsimiles of purported excerpts from the writings of explorers Lewis and Clark, a newspaper account of an unusual 1927 camping trip, and censored government materials pertaining to UFOs. These documents may be related to special agent Dale Cooper’s legendary inquiry into the murder of 18-year-old Laura Palmer. This cryptic volume captures the show’s trademark quirky noir flavor as it raises new questions that Twin Peaks fans are sure to feast on.

February 1, 2017

This companion novel connecting the original Twin Peaks TV show to the new series from Showtime could have been a simple cash grab. Instead, series cowriter Frost has mixed actual history, ufology, cryptozoology, and other "real" occultism and tied them to characters and events from both series. Starting with Lewis and Clark and leading to the modern era, it tells the tale of weird happenings through the eyes of the town's former newspaper editor, who is also a spy. He goes through history chasing UFOs, otherworldly visitors, and a mysterious green ring. The writing is fun and flows well, telling little stories that hint at a greater whole. The book summarizes relevant series details without overdoing it. Additionally, the images from the print version are included on one of the discs. The book is read by a marvelous full cast including actors from both shows. The only downside is that the actors who originally portrayed the two most prominent characters are now deceased. VERDICT This works as a fun introduction to the series or an engaging and lightly fictionalized look at the history of weird in America. Recommended for fans of either of the series, conspiracies, UFOs, and history.--Tristan M. Boyd, Austin, TX

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.