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The Secret History of Twin Peaks Hardcover – 20 Oct. 2016

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,165 ratings

The Secret History of Twin Peaks enlarges the world of the original series, placing the unexplained phenomena that unfolded there into a vastly layered, wide-ranging history, beginning with the journals of Lewis and Clark and ending with the shocking events that closed the finale. The perfect way to get in the mood for the upcoming Showtime series.
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From the Publisher


About the author

Mark Frost is an American novelist, screenwriter, director and film producer, best known as a writer for the television series Hill Street Blues and as the co-creator of the television series Twin Peaks.

The Secret History of Twin Peaks

The Secret History of Twin Peaks enlarges the world of the original series, placing the unexplained phenomena that unfolded there into a vastly layered, wide-ranging history, beginning with the journals of Lewis and Clark and ending with the shocking events that closed the finale. The perfect way to get in the mood for the upcoming Show-time series.

Product description

From the Author

Mark Frost was co-creator, alongside David Lynch, and executive producer of the legendary ABC television series Twin Peaks. He received a Writers Guild Award and an Emmy nomination for the acclaimed television series Hill Street Blues, and in 2005 wrote and produced The Greatest Game Ever Played as a major motion picture from Walt Disney Studios. He is the bestselling author of The Greatest Game Ever Played, The Grand Slam, and the novels The Second Objective, The List of Seven, and The Six Messiahs. Mark lives in Los Angeles and upstate New York with his wife and son.

From the Inside Flap

The Secret History of Twin Peaks enlarges the world of the original series, placing the unexplained phenomena that unfolded there into a vastly layered, wide-ranging history, beginning with the journals of Lewis and Clark and ending with the shocking events that closed the finale. The perfect way to get in the mood for the upcoming Showtime series.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Macmillan; Main Market edition (20 Oct. 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 144729386X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1447293866
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 18.7 x 3.6 x 24.3 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,165 ratings

About the author

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Mark Frost
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MARK FROST is the bestselling author of The Greatest Game Ever Played, The Grand Slam, and the novels The Second Objective, The List of Seven, and The Six Messiahs. He received a Writers Guild Award and an Emmy nomination for the acclaimed television series Hill Street Blues, was co-creator and executive producer of the legendary ABC television series Twin Peaks, and in 2005 wrote and produced The Greatest Game Ever Played as a major motion picture from Walt Disney Studios. Mark lives in Los Angeles and upstate New York with his wife and son.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
2,165 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book an enjoyable read that helps explain the background mysteries of Twin Peaks. They appreciate the well-presented book with great pictures and illustrations. Many consider it a worthwhile purchase for fans, with good value for money. The book expands the Twin Peaks universe and makes certain characters more prominent. However, opinions differ on the pacing, with some finding it rich and immersive while others mention it's a grand compendium of the town's history.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

64 customers mention ‘Readability’57 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it an excellent read and a joy to read. Readers describe it as essential reading for Twin Peaks fans and a great companion to the series. The book looks into the history of Twin Peaks, and some consider it quite a heavy read.

"...Lynchian abstractions that make Twin Peaks the (more than just a) great show it is, in a degree of context and historical detail, WITHOUT in any way..." Read more

"...It really accumulates! I loved reading this book and it’s a beautiful thing to have on the shelf now that I’ve finished it...." Read more

"...Overall, a really enjoyable - if flawed- book, and one that will satisfy the cravings of any Peaks fan until the new series airs." Read more

"...Its a rich, immersive read. Go with it and dive deep. Fabulous stuff. As to what it all means..the universe is filled with mysteries...." Read more

36 customers mention ‘Mystery content’36 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's mystery content. They find it insightful and helpful for understanding the backstory of the TV show. The book tells interwoven stories covering a period from the 19th Century to the present. It explores the mythology and gives clues towards what may or may not happen. Readers appreciate the in-depth history and the fascinating journey through American history through the lens of the Twins.

"...make Twin Peaks the (more than just a) great show it is, in a degree of context and historical detail, WITHOUT in any way reducing Twin Peaks's..." Read more

"...gleefully as they step through this (only slightly) alternative take on American history, eventually peppered with not only characters they know and..." Read more

"...history of conspiracies than a straight narrative; the passages on real life events (and there are plenty, from Roswell to JFK to L. Ron Hubbard)..." Read more

"...It's fascinating, thorough,based on real historical events, beginning with the Lewis and Clark expedition,and ending at the end of series 2 of Twin..." Read more

22 customers mention ‘Presentation’22 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's presentation. They find the pictures and illustrations great, with etched details and facts. The print version looks great, and the hardback book has beautiful typewriter-non-glossy pages with character insert pieces. The dossier of faux historical documents, clippings, and articles is beautifully produced, revealing a series of subtle and blink-miss indicators.

"...LAST EPISODE/SEASON - it aims to make more comprehensible, and more tangible - without being reductionist (crucially) - the perennial and..." Read more

"...It’s a stunning thing indeed, and Frost’s writing immediately grabs you and takes you on a bewilderingly joyful journey...." Read more

"...It is a beautifully produced dossier of faux historical documents, clippings and articles,revealing a series of historical conspiracies ,leading..." Read more

"...All in all it's a well presented book with a lot of extra lore to add to the Twin Peaks universe, and makes a good gift...." Read more

11 customers mention ‘Value for money’8 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's value for money. They say it's worth it for Twin Peaks fans, with nice quality and a good price.

"...this is a beautifully presented book, and has always been a reasonable price so I don't think any Twin Peaks fan can regret buying this...." Read more

"...Well worth it for anoraks like myself." Read more

"It's not as billed, so if you were expecting it to show what's happened in the intervening years since the show ended, you're likely to be..." Read more

"...a complete must for any twin peaks fan like me and is a cracking price for the quality and content of the book" Read more

9 customers mention ‘Companionship’9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a great companion to Twin Peaks. They say it's an excellent addition to The Return and expands the universe. It deepens and broadens the scope of the series, making certain characters bigger players.

"...What it does do,is deepen and broaden the scope of the series. Its a rich, immersive read. Go with it and dive deep. Fabulous stuff...." Read more

"...It's nice to have and it's nice to have an official Twin Peaks book written by one of the creators finally...." Read more

"...A very good companion between “then” and “now” with many, many avenues for you to choose, if you want to, that may or may not make Twin Peaks..." Read more

"A great addition to the Twin Peaks universe, lots of topics to discuss - from historical events to the characters that appear in the series, and how..." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Character development’5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the character development. They appreciate the exposition and conspiracy elements, which expand several characters' stories beyond the first book. The book also includes Gordon Cole character inserts that make certain characters bigger players than they may seem in the show.

"...dive in to the fictional location of Twin Peaks and the enigmatic characters of the show...." Read more

"...It’ll have to do, anyway. There are vignettes of various personalities from the series, fleshing-out those characters and, in some cases,..." Read more

"...answers here." A fun and interesting dossier that expands several character's stories beyond the limits of the 1st & 2nd seasons...." Read more

"...book and beautiful typewriter none glossy pages with character insert pieces from Gordon Cole. I love this and will be taking my time reading it...." Read more

7 customers mention ‘Pacing’3 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing. Some find it immersive and interesting, with some clues for the next series. Others feel it's a waste of time, especially the first half of the book.

"...past 25 years of its inhabitants, we are presented with a rather pointless history that tries (and fails) to connect random events of American..." Read more

"...What it does do,is deepen and broaden the scope of the series. Its a rich, immersive read. Go with it and dive deep. Fabulous stuff...." Read more

"...However, in terms of content this was very disappointing and a bore to read on the most part...." Read more

"...It's a grand compendium of the town and people's history, but I wouldn't say it's essential to fans awaiting the series' return...." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Reader experience’0 positive5 negative

Customers find the book's first half tedious and difficult to engage with. They say it's not a simple tie-in or primer for Season Three, but rather a missed opportunity. However, they find the middle third hard to put down.

"...This is not a simple tie-in book. Nor is it a primer for Season Three...." Read more

"...It has little sparks of interest but, in the end, for me is a frustrating experience and a missed opportunity." Read more

"...I found the middle third hard to put down, the first third was hard to keep going...." Read more

"...in the format of investigative notes is good in theory, but quickly becomes a chore, especially when navigating the footnotes on a mobile device..." Read more

Great book, poor shipping/handling
4 out of 5 stars
Great book, poor shipping/handling
I'm sure the product is excellent. But the way it arrived is unacceptable. I cannot gift this with a sleeve this creased and damaged.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 October 2016
    Never written a review before and never had any intention to, but I am impelled to do so now in light of the negative reviews thus far submitted for this book, which I feel are wholly unjustified. Let me be clear, I am a HUGE Twin Peaks fan. In fact, I almost don't feel ridiculous in saying that each episode, for me, is almost like a rosary bead, helping me keep count of the number of Hail Marys said, as 'the mysteries [of Twin Peaks]' are contemplated... almost.

    NEVERTHELESS! I am not in any way the kind of mug who would gobble (like a turkey in the corn) up any and every piece of franchisey cash-in ephemera related to something they love. That being said, let me now proceed to saying that, so far (104 pages in, I think), this book is AMAZING!! It begins with a memorandum from Gordon Cole, briefing an unnamed agent on a new murder (or 'crime scene' I think it says actually... I assume murder...) that occurred THIS YEAR IN JULY 2016. Said memorandum explains that said crime scene may relate to a spate of murders which occurred in 1991, in Twin Peaks, and that said agent is tasked with going through this trove of evidence which has been recovered, and reporting back with findings/conclusions.

    The book then the proceeds, page by page, by presenting all of this 'evidence' which has been recovered - this, in and of itself, for me, is an incredible way of telling a story (in fact almost 'genre-inventing/busting', unless it's been done before I guess) - thumbing your way through old newspaper clippings, photographs, lost letters, and so on, all with annotations from the unnamed agent to whom it is addressed, and all relating to (and enriching in the process) the history of Twin Peaks, is THRILLING.

    To give you one example, without giving too much away (avoid the following regardless if you want to go in blind, and if you're already sold at this point then you should do so!), there are letters in this book, supposedly recovered and written by certain members of what you might call, 'the pioneers' or 'the pilgrims' of early American history, in which the authors talk about meeting Native Americans for the first time, in the Pacific North West... and one of these Native Americans, it is explained, gives the explorer/pioneer/pilgrim a RING(!!)... and when asked where they got the ring, they say they got it from 'white people', BUT...... ACCORDING TO ALL RECORDS, THESE EXPLORERS WERE SUPPOSEDLY THE FIRST WHITE PEOPLE TO REACH THIS FAR INTO THE INTERIOR OF NORTH-WEST AMERICA!! Cue goose-bumps.

    Another fascinating thing that's happening in this book is that the pioneers mentioned are actually real people/pioneers... and one in particular, in real life, has a 6 day ish gap in their actual published memoirs/journals, which historians actually speculate upon, in real life, like 'what happened?'....... and this book purports to have recovered these missing pages of the journal, and these purported pages purport to document said pioneers going to a strange place......... in other words, it seems the author has taken real-life gaps in historical people's lives and histories, and attempted to weave the Twin Peaks mythology right into the heart of American history. THAT BLOWS MY MIND.

    Who knows, maybe the next 250ish pages won't amount to anything wholly incredible and/or altogether cohesive... but I'm already a satisfied customer at this point(!), and all signs so far indicate that I'll love the rest! You'll read about Mayor Milford as a cub scout, Owl Cave will be mentioned, even Roswell is mentioned... and who knows what's to come! This book presents the mysteries of Twin Peaks as something that both predates the original series, and, rightly I think, something that will likely outlast season 3. It grounds the Lynchian abstractions that make Twin Peaks the (more than just a) great show it is, in a degree of context and historical detail, WITHOUT in any way reducing Twin Peaks's mysteries to 'this explanation' or 'that'. To me, much like the best 'non-Lynch episodes' of Twin Peaks do, this book serves as a sort of reaction to, and reflection on, the abstract and surreal aspects of Twin Peaks that usually present themselves in the Lynch episodes - like a WHOA WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED LAST EPISODE/SEASON - it aims to make more comprehensible, and more tangible - without being reductionist (crucially) - the perennial and inexplicable mysteries at the heart of Twin Peaks, and in doing so it creates a new sort of 'platform' of new material which Lynch can, in future episodes, depart from, and twist or mess with or whatever, taking Twin Peaks into newer and even more strange territories! In other words, this book sets the stage for season 3, and as such you should be DEVOURING it, in preparation for season 3!

    Make the purchase!
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 February 2021
    This beautifully designed hardback is a wonder to pore through! It’s a stunning thing indeed, and Frost’s writing immediately grabs you and takes you on a bewilderingly joyful journey.

    Twin Peaks fans will be grinning gleefully as they step through this (only slightly) alternative take on American history, eventually peppered with not only characters they know and love, but the ancestors of those characters!

    Beginning with the fabled Lewis and Clark exploration and ending up with Laura Palmer, this impressively researched volume also takes in Jack Parsons, Project Bluebook and the Manhattan Project, as well as many other things I won’t mention due to spoiling the thrill of reading it yourself! It’s written as a collected FBI dossier, so there is a lot to enjoy ‘around’ the text, including ‘reprints’ from the Twin Peaks gazette and a whole lot more.

    Frequently, I reached for my phone to google a name or event, only to find the info to be 100% true! The Twin Peaks pre-story is fed through these real events subtly and sympathetically, achieving a really spellbinding effect. It really accumulates!

    I loved reading this book and it’s a beautiful thing to have on the shelf now that I’ve finished it. I wholeheartedly recommend this without hesitation.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 November 2016
    It's not as billed, so if you were expecting it to show what's happened in the intervening years since the show ended, you're likely to be disappointed.

    However, that doesn't dampen what for any TP fans out there, is a truly good book. More of a potted history of conspiracies than a straight narrative; the passages on real life events (and there are plenty, from Roswell to JFK to L. Ron Hubbard) show just how corrupt those in power who should hold accountability really can be - The chapter on the Nez Perce alone is heartbreaking.

    *Spoilers (mild)*

    However, as far as the show is concerned, apart from a couple of minor characters, you don't find anything out about what has occurred in the intervening years since the show originally went off the air. Enough to whet your whistle for the new series, definitely and that would be fine. There a couple of *really* strange retcons in there, which seems to contradict events already discussed in the series itself - which, considering Mark Frost wrote this, comes across as odd, to say the least. More troubling however is a series of (seemingly) purposeful glaring omissions on the part of Cooper's old partner; Windom Earle. I won't go into exactly what they are, and I know that the events of the second series aren't always viewed in the best light, but if you're familiar with the show, you'll be more puzzled at some aspects of the 'secrets' involved here than captivated

    There is also a bit of a mishap perhaps in reference to the books own timeline. This could be deliberate; a kind of red herring, if you will, but if we're to treat the book's 'author' as a reliable witness (Which, considering the character involved, I'm more than sure we're supposed to) some of the inconsistencies will leave you scratching your head. Although I'm sure a personal head-canon check would sort out any issues one discovers (or I could not see the woods for the trees (pun intended).

    Overall, a really enjoyable - if flawed- book, and one that will satisfy the cravings of any Peaks fan until the new series airs.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Banosjo
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book is definitely a must for all Twin Peaks fans!
    Reviewed in Canada on 10 December 2023
    I have absolutely no idea why it is now impossible to but a new copy of this brillant book. It is a must for all Twin Peaks fans, and I’m pretty sure that even those readers who never watched that fantastique TV show can definitely enjoy this monumental work by Mark Frost. Rooted in the true History of the United States of America, this finely written art of fiction is a pure delight. I also don’t understand why there doesn’t seem to be any translation into French of this book.

    The best book I’ve read this year.

    I highly recommend as well Twin Peaks : the Final Dossier by Mark Frost in which several loose ends are finally tied up. I adore Mark Frost’s universe and I don’t think it’s fair that Lynch received all the credits for Twin Peaks. Frost’s genius in storytelling is just incredible.
  • Patrick Dantas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente!
    Reviewed in Brazil on 16 April 2018
    A aparência, qualidade e acabamento do livro são excepcionais. Linda capa dura, páginas grossas, além do conteúdo, que pra quem é fã, é muito interessante e te dá muita profundidade na história de Twin Peaks.
  • Mfiligras
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging book
    Reviewed in Mexico on 26 June 2017
    It's sort of a scrapbook of stories surrounding Twin Peaks that are presented in very in different and original ways, which makes the whole experience very engaging. It's deeply recommendable if you're a fan!! The edition quality is pretty nice too.
    Customer image
    Mfiligras
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging book
    Reviewed in Mexico on 26 June 2017
    It's sort of a scrapbook of stories surrounding Twin Peaks that are presented in very in different and original ways, which makes the whole experience very engaging. It's deeply recommendable if you're a fan!! The edition quality is pretty nice too.
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    Customer image
    Customer image
  • Dale Cooper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Un libro che non può mancare nella biblioteca di un appassionato della più bella serie TV della storia!
    Reviewed in Italy on 15 December 2017
    Inizialmente mi aspettavo un testo che trattasse le sorti degli abitanti della tenebrosa Twin Peaks, raccontandone gli ultimi venticinque anni. In realtà vi è poco di tutto ciò, ma il libro risulta comunque estremamente interessante, poiché contribuisce a delineare il background di alcuni personaggi secondari, e ad aprire squarci molto, molto interessanti, relativi ad altre figure.
    Utile per conoscere un po' meglio la città di Twin Peaks dall'interno, anche se comunque molti aspetti vengono del tutto (consapevolmente) tralasciati, poiché destinati ad essere ripresi, e più esaustivamente analizzati, nel nuovo libro, appena pubblicato (e che ho immediatamente acquistato, questa volta in lingua italiana).
    I testi, in inglese, sono scorrevoli e piacevoli, e la qualità del libro è sorprendentemente elevata. Splendida la scelta grafica, con mappe, foto, ritagli di giornale e lettere, che rendono effettivamente l'idea di un dossier compilato a mano.
    Un libro che consiglio a tutti gli amanti della serie. Un libro che non darà la rispose cercate - su questo è meglio esser chiari - ma aiuterà a tratteggiare ancor meglio il contesto in cui si sono svolti i fatti raccontati nella serie!
    Il mondo di Twin Peaks è, semplicemente, meraviglioso!
  • Pau
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesante trasfondo de la serie
    Reviewed in Spain on 24 May 2017
    No es una novela (sino un dossier deuna investigación) ni cubre los 27 años entre temporadas, pero explica muchas cosas del pasado de Twin Peaks y sus personajes.

    Por la cantidad de fotos y cartas, es necesario leerlo en libro o en tablet; en e-reader, muchos pasajes son casi ilegibles por la naturaleza del contenido.