Too flimsy source material for a full fledged book. Should have been a thesis or a long article. Also, did not appreciate the paranormal elements. Just made it too frivolous and almost flippant.

In Hazel was a Good Girl: Solving the Murder that Inspired Twin Peaks, Dr. Jerry C. Drake separates fact from fiction in an effort to figure out who killed Hazel Drew, the woman who inspired the iconic Laura Palmer.
Twin Peaks is a cult TV show that ran for two seasons from 1990 to 1991, followed by a prequel movie (Fire Walk with Me, 1992), and received a revival in 2017 on Showtime. It also spawned a variety of companion novels. It was created by Mark Frost (based on the legend of a girl his grandmother told him about) and the esteemed David Lynch. Twin Peaks is quintessential television viewing, and its influence on all forms of art cannot be understated. Set in the Pacific Northwest, Special Agent Dale Cooper is investigating the murder of a local girl named Laura Palmer, who is found wrapped in plastic on the banks of the local mill lake. While Agent Cooper thinks her death may tie into another case, the town of Twin Peaks learn their Homecoming Queen lived a double life.
The woman in Frost’s legend? That was Hazel Drew. Her body was found in July of 1908 floating in a mill pond in Upstate New York. Her death captured headlines across the nation and around the world, but in less than thirty days, the District Attorney abruptly closed the case. What everyone knew was that Hazel lived above her means as a service girl. While she was alive, she went to church, but once she died, correspondence with the gentlemen she visited was made public, and it seemed she had been doing sex work. In fact, this “good girl” had been living a double life.
But Drake will tell you this is not the case. Drake set out to show you the true Hazel Drew in this mystery, and even comes to a sensible conclusion about who the killer is. Drake includes photos of Hazel, including one done up and used for the media, and the original it was based on. There are pictures of newspaper clippings instead of just quotes, like a lot of true crime books, and they include local, national, and tabloid rags. He gathers information from locals, railroad Robber barons, political bosses, and, in true Twin Peaks fashion, psyches and hypnotists. He researched the books that came before him, creating as close to a true picture of Hazel as we will ever get.
Drake organizes the book well. He sets out the accepted story of Drew and then breaks it down, presenting the actual facts instead of the tabloid fodder that many people believed. He also sets out a clear timeline of events, allowing readers to truly understand her movements. Then the author goes through each suspect logically coming to the conclusion that she was accidentally killed and who was responsible for it. His theory is logical and well thought out. He even includes some supernatural creepiness in true Twin Peaks fashion.

The title and assumption of the book is misogynistic. I had assumed the title was ironic, knowing what I did about Twin Peaks. I didn’t realize the author still proscribes an archaic idea. While I can understand trying to set her legacy straight, a man continuing to push the “good girl” narrative is demeaning and continues to put down women who are involved in sex work or women who just enjoy sex. I get that the early 1900s were different times, and the fact that the legend the show is based on is untrue, but the 19-year-old was far from a little girl and had secrets her aunt refused to share. She was a complex woman. Also, this same man also refers to the Twin Peaks high school student, Laura Palmer, as a “sexy blonde woman.” Somehow, it’s ok to lust after a 17-year-old girl and turn her into a woman since she is fictitious. In 2025, the double standard of saint/sinner is still very much alive.
Overall, Hazel Was a Good Girl: Solving the Murder that Inspired Twin Peaks is an interesting read that draws a logical conclusion about who her accidental killer probably was. I read this book because it was attached to a show I love; I have no interest in reading anything else by the misogynistic author.

Thank you Netgalley & CLASH Books for an eARC ♥️♥️♥️


As a die-hard *Twin Peaks* fan, I’ve always been fascinated by the real-life mysteries that inspired David Lynch surreal, small-town noir. The unsolved murder of Hazel Drew in 1908—a case that eerily mirrors the fictional death of Laura Palmer—has haunted me ever since I first heard about it. So when I discovered Dr. Jerry C. Drake’s investigation into the century-old crime, I dove in immediately, hoping for answers… and maybe even a little of that *Twin Peaks* atmosphere.

I wasn’t disappointed.
Drake’s book reads like a true-crime episode of *Twin Peaks*, complete with creepy woods, corrupt elites, and a young woman whose tragic death became a tabloid spectacle. The setting—Upstate New York in the Gilded Age—is dripping with the same dark Americana that Lynch loves: misty mill ponds, shadowy railroad tycoons, and whispers of the supernatural. The parallels to *Twin Peaks* are uncanny, but what makes Drake’s work so compelling is that this story is *real*. Hazel Drew wasn’t just a character; she was a flesh-and-blood woman whose murder was sensationalized, then forgotten.
What I loved most was how Drake peels back the layers of myth to reveal Hazel as more than just a "ghost story." Through old newspaper clippings, witness accounts, and even hypnosis records (yes, really!), he reconstructs her world with the care of a historian and the pacing of a detective novel. The suspects range from powerful political bosses to mysterious strangers—just like *Twin Peaks’* roster of eccentric killers and red herrings. And while Drake ultimately names Hazel’s killer (something *Twin Peaks* fans know is a rare luxury!), the journey is just as gripping as the reveal.
As someone who obsesses over *Twin Peaks’* blend of crime and surrealism, I couldn’t help but imagine Agent Cooper piecing together Hazel’s case over coffee and cherry pie. The book doesn’t just solve a murder—it resurrects a forgotten era, full of secrets as twisted as anything in the Black Lodge.
If you love *Twin Peaks*, true crime, or just a damn good mystery, this is a must-read. Hazel Drew’s ghost has waited over a century for justice. Thanks to Drake, she—and we—finally get closure.

Jerry C. Drake's book Hazel was a G0od Girl is a story about a murder/cold case that happened in my neck of the woods back in 1908. The murder took place in the Sand Lake area of Upstate New York, near Troy; however, it was a world-wide sensation, which was not a common occurrence during the times of print media. What I appreciate about the work is that it really does break down the entire story, from beginning to end, providing readers with a strong understanding of all the possible suspects involved and how the story progressed. No doubt, Drake is a fantastic investigative reporter and researcher. As a police procedural and a piece of journalism it works.

With that said, however, as the work progresses, Drake starts to write this as if it is more of a dinner conversation or a discussion with a pseudo-Jessica Fletcher, thus making the work a bit redundant and long-winded. There are moments where he writes straight to the audience, which takes me away from the story...a breaking of the fourth wall is not really needed here. Also, the Twin Peaks angle is interesting, but not added enough for it to be a major component of the book.

★ ★ – A Slow Burn with Repetitive Twists

Hazel Was a Good Girl had an intriguing premise, but for me, the execution didn’t fully deliver. While the mystery element kept me mildly engaged, the story leaned too heavily on character opinions and speculation rather than concrete developments or surprises. The narrative often circled the same ground, making it feel repetitive and slow-moving.

The "whodunit" aspect was built more around hearsay and internal monologues than real plot progression, which made the mystery less compelling. Instead of feeling like I was unraveling clues, it felt like I was stuck listening to characters rehash the same suspicions.

The writing style itself wasn’t bad, but I personally found it a hard read—not because of complex language, but due to the lack of momentum and depth in the investigation. I kept hoping for a big twist or emotional payoff that never quite landed.

That said, fans of slow-burn psychological dramas who enjoy diving into the minds of unreliable narrators might appreciate this more. But for me, it was a middle-of-the-road read.

Ok, so I wasn't a fan of this one. As a Twin Peaks aficionado, this was an auto-request for me. What I expected was an engaging examination of the murder of Hazel Drew, which I previously had not heard of, should have inspired the TV series Twin Peaks. What we did get was frequent assertions THAT the murder of Hazel Drew inspired Twin Peaks. Not a word of WHY. Why on earth should any random death that happened 80 years prior to TP inspire the creation of character Laura Palmer? Because they are both pretty blond young females murdered and found near a body of water? Because the grandmother of Mark Frost MIGHT once have heard about Hazel Drew? Not much to go on, as there surely had been - sadly – many murders of pretty young blond girls over the years till 1990. WHY on earth should this murder in the 1900s, which happened about as far from Washington as we can get, inspire the fictional character of Laura Palmer? Jerry C. Drake never once tells us this. What he does tell, however, on and on and on, is that 'Hazel was a good girl' and asserting every so often that she did NOT lead a double life at all when the double life of Laura Palmer is at the very core of Twin Peaks.
Laura Palmer is NOT a good girl, so why should the murder of a neat girl be the inspiration of her character?

What he also gives us is a highly subjective account of the whereabouts of Hazel Drew and some of her acquaintances, rattling off endless descriptions of New York State/Troy geography and local politics. The tone of the book changes between bland and downright flippant, far to flippant in my opinion to take this seriously. Excuse me, what do we read here – a differenciated piece on an unsolved murder or a high school essay? In the last third of the book I was so fed up I did not care about the mystery of Hazel Drew's murder any more at all & just wanted the book to be over. Sorry, but this just wasn't for me.

Thank you, Netgalley and CLASH Books, for the chance to read a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions written are completely honest and my own.

I'm normally not one to read about true crime , but I started reviewing this thinking it was fiction. (I tend not to read the entire description).

I however found Hazel's story intriguing and the writer respectful to her. Not matter how long ago it was, no one deserves slander. The writing itself was extremely captivating and I could not put to book down.

I will read Jerry C. Drake novels in the future for sure.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fine true crime book. It was interesting and well researched (with what research could be done). I just think that maybe there was just not enough "there" there for a full fledged book. I feel there was a lot of speculation in this book.

Wasn’t able to read this one digitally but I will be ordering a copy of the book so will be reviewing it after I’ve read it. I’m really excited for it as I’ve only heard great things about it.

I am incredibly grateful to both NetGalley and CLASH Books for the opportunity to read and review Hazel Was a Good Girl: Solving the Murder that Inspired Twin Peaks. Being selected to explore this captivating story before its official release has been such a treat, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on it with all of you. A huge thank you to the teams at NetGalley and CLASH Books for their generosity and for making this advanced reading experience possible.

Well, what to say...

That was an experience.

Jerry C. Drake REALLY wants you to know that Hazel Drew inspired Twin Peaks. This book could honestly double as a drinking game. Every time Twin Peaks is mentioned, take a shot.

I personally didn't find this a very good true crime book, or even just generally a good non-fiction book. And I will tell you why.

There was just so much theorising and so much speculation from the author. I appreciate that it's an unsolved case with limited evidence but you cannot just use that and warp it into your own theories.

There were also so many instances where the author says "we'll touch on this later". JUST SAY IT NOW! I don't want to have to wait several more chapters for you to finish making your initial point.

This book was so name and date heavy it was hard to follow. What I want is for a true crime case to be told to me as if it were fiction. Many podcasts achieve this so why can it not be achieved in a written format?

Now, I don't doubt that the author really put a lot of time and effort into this but I just found it quite boring and repetitive. It was more like a dissertation than it was a book. I think the storytelling could've been a lot better and perhaps the layout of the chapters so that we didn't have to keep coming back to things.

Hazel Was a Good Girl by Jerry C. Drake is a captivating historical investigation into the mysterious murder of Hazel Irene Drew, whose death in 1908 shocked the nation. Hazel's body was found floating in a mill pond in Upstate New York, and her tragic fate became the subject of national headlines. Despite a whirlwind investigation that lasted less than a month, the District Attorney closed the case, leaving Hazel’s death unresolved. This haunting case quickly turned into a legend, with stories circulating of Hazel's ghost haunting the woods where her body was discovered.

Drake’s meticulous research in Hazel Was a Good Girl dives deep into the facts, separating legend from reality. Using archival evidence, newspaper clippings from Troy and Albany, and firsthand accounts from locals, Drake unravels the mystery of Hazel Drew’s death. He explores the various theories surrounding the case, from tabloid journalists and psychic investigators to railroad magnates and political bosses. With great care, Drake debunks the sensationalised myths, finally revealing the truth about Hazel’s life and death.

The book’s historical context, set against the backdrop of the Gilded Age, adds richness to the narrative, allowing readers to feel immersed in the era. The inclusion of photographs throughout the book further enhances the connection to the events and people involved, making the story feel tangible and personal. The author presents a compelling, clear, and convincing argument for Hazel’s true story, and it is a heart-wrenching reminder of how, in this case, justice was never served.

Hazel Was a Good Girl is a deeply engaging and emotional read, one that honours the real woman behind the legend and finally brings her killer to light. The case that haunted a community for over a century is given the attention it deserves, and Hazel Drew’s ghost can finally rest, knowing her truth has been revealed.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Like twin peaks which i watched a few episodes when i was younger this is out there. If you have the time a through investigation and plausable outcome to a very strange happening.

If you want to watch Twin Peaks with no spoilers, definitely do so before you read this book. I don't think you need to have watched the show to enjoy this book, but the author's clear interest in the show first and foremost make it an asset to the reading experience. This book discusses an unsolved mystery, and while the author does come to a potential conclusion, don't expect any concrete proof that this person is without a shadow of a doubt the killer. Because it is unsolved there is a lot of "this could have happened" and "this probably would have" ... so be prepared for that.

I am such a true crime fanatic and will binge any documentary or book I can but this is a case I had never heard of which made it even more interesting to me. The book was incredibly detailed and had obviously been meticulously researched but never felt dull in any part. A fantastic read

A great historical true crime story that takes the reader through some thoughtful and insightful sleuthing. Timelines are discussed in detail and suspects eliminated by the author’s own meticulous research. A great read that I truly enjoyed.

I was really excited to read this book. I love true crime and was eager to learn more about this murder mystery! I’m sad to say I think the book fell flat. While the author’s passion was clear and fully present, it felt somewhat like reading a long college thesis. Parts were repetitive and i wasn’t gripped by the writing. This book may be for some, but it unfortunately wasn’t for me.

This is a competent account of a historical murder, and an interesting study of an early-twentieth century city beset with the usual corruption and abuse of power that we've come to associate with the period. Based on all the evidence that Drake provides, I have to believe that he's correct about the identity of Hazel's killer. Occasional biographical asides claiming to be in some kind of contact with Hazel's ghost read as flat and corny, and the book would have been stronger without them (even if these events really did happen). Ultimately, I was frustrated with the author's insistence on Hazel's "goodness" (read: virginity). Falling into the same trap as the newspaper men he criticizes, Drake seems to suggest at times (particularly in the later portions of the book) that the death of a high-class call-girl is somehow less tragic than that of a run-of-the-mill flirt.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. It’s so sad that Hazel never got justice. The authors used the archived evidence available in order to support his theory on the crime. I read some of the other reviews and I’m confused as to why they are so critical of the author. He made a clear and convincing argument of the crime that took place on that fateful night. I also appreciated the photos included throughout the book, they helped me connect with the people and scene of the events that occurred. I would recommend this book to my sister, I do worry, however, the number of people mentioned would confuse her.

A big thank you to NetGalley and CLASH books for a copy of this ARC, in return for an honest review! ✝️🩵

This book was good if you are a die-hard Twin Peaks fan.
Jerry Drake will tell you not once or twice but about 60 times that Hazel Drew inspired Twin Peaks. However, the murder of Hazel is too old to be solved, and this book just drags a bunch of dead people through the dirt with no hard evidence, just Jerry’s opinions. The book is readable and did a good job of explaining how the murder inspired Twin Peaks but, this wasn’t for me…

I sadly DNFed this book. I was very interested because I love true crime and investigative stories but for me this felt more like it was just speculation with some paranormal twists thrown in.

I also was very uncomfortable with the murder victim being described as sexy.