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.

I have read the other book about Hazel Drew's murder, Murder at Teal's Pond, I think this book was more readable and did a better job of explaining how the murder inspired Twin Peaks.

This was an interesting read, but there was a lot of conjecture within the book. While some of the circumstantial evidence does seem to point in a certain direction, there is not enough to say one way or another for sure.

I was also really mixed on Hazel. Was she truly a good girl, or is that just what the author wants to believe. Again, without concrete evidence, we will never know.

With some proper editing, this book could be very decent. It also needs to have an addendum stating that all views within the book are those of the author.

I usually love books like this, books that tackle infamous cases. However, from the start I struggled with the pacing and the writing style. It didn’t flow very well, this read more like a second draft rather than a finished book. I also disliked the way Drake kept referring to Hazel as a “sexy” popular girl, it felt entirely inappropriate and unnecessary for the story. A vast majority of the book focused on Hazel’s connection to Twin Peaks without uncovering any new information or leads. This just didn’t work for me, it was rushed and certain commentary was entirely inappropriate.

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

Hazel Was A Good Girl By Jerry C. Drake
Publication Date: June 10, 2025
Publisher: CLASH Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐✨
(3.5 ⭐ - Rounded Up To 4⭐)

📚MY REVIEW:

As a die-hard fan of all things Twin Peaks, I was immediately intrigued by the premise of Hazel Was A Good Girl. I never knew that Twin Peaks' main plot, the murder of Laura Palmer, was actually based on the real-life killing of Hazel Drew in upstate New York in 1908. I was so excited to be approved for this ARC through NetGalley and the publisher.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was so much more than just a connection to Twin Peaks! Drake really researched not just this unsolved murder, but also the history of the local community, the history of each person associated with the case, and how everyone connected with the victim. This was cold case research and a review of a questionable police investigation, combined with what read like historical non-fiction too.

At times, though, the writing became frustratingly dry, seemingly redundant and repetitive. The first half of the book began to feel really long-winded after the first few chapters, and I found myself skimming the minutia that didn't seem important to the true crime case at hand. It almost felt as if I were reading a bullet-pointed list of facts, in short and staccato sentences. I realize Drake was trying to get across a whole lot of facts and history he'd learned in his research, but there was a lack of storytelling prose which made it difficult to keep my interest. As a result, I found myself able to read only a handful of chapters in each sitting. Some reviewers were bothered by grammatical errors, but those didn't bother me as much as I know this was an advanced copy and not the final book.

The second half of the book piqued my interest again, as Drake presented his logical and pragmatic layout of the timeline of Hazel's life and movements in her last few days. I really enjoyed the systematic way Drake went through each potential explanation and/or suspect for Hazel's death, eliminating theories which simply did not make sense or did not match the facts. And I really loved his theory about the potential killer, as his rationale made a lot of sense and tied so many things together that had been presented earlier in the book. My biggest gripe was that I wished the logic, rationale, and easier-to-follow presentation of information had arrived sooner than the second half of the book.

Fans of true crime, cold cases, murder mysteries, or Twin Peaks are likely to really enjoy this book! It was fun to learn about this cold case and the way it inspired Twin Peaks. Thank you so much to NetGalley and CLASH Books for this advanced e-book in exchange for my honest review.

#HazelWasAGoodGirl #JerryCDrake #CLASHBooks #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #SolvingTheMurderThatInspiredTwinPeaks #ARC #truecrime #coldcases #HazelDrew #LauraPalmer #twinpeaks #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

This is the perfect book for ANY Twin Peaks fan that loves true crime !!

The research the author Jerry poured into this investigation of who killed Hazel Drew does not go unnoticed!!

Hazel is a Good Girl is a labour of love and I loved reading this and dissecting along with the author and appreciated all the links and newspaper articles, it was a very hands on and unique experience!!

Thank you NetGalley , CLASH Books & Jerry C Drake for this amazing true crime cult classic inspired ARC !!