Hazel was a Good Girl

"4 Books to Read if You Love Twin Peaks." -The Lineup

"Hazel Was a Good Girl aims to restore Hazel's good name, to show the young woman behind the myth, to portray her as distinct from Laura Palmer, her dead-blonde Twin Peaks doppelganger." —New York Post

“Jerry Drake's Hazel was a Good Girl adds new speculation to Rensselaer County murder that inspired Twin Peaks TV series.” —Albany Times Union

“In his investigation, he scoured local newspaper cuttings, examined contemporary photographs, and reviewed the various theories presented to the cops. He identified what he believed were key shortcomings in the original investigation, claiming that Hazel was the victim not just of misrepresentation by a scandal-hungry press, but also of a cover-up by powerful men at that time.” —Daily Mail

"Hazel was a Good Girl is a haunting and exhilarating journey into the heart of darkness of a time and place that will shake you to your core." —S.A. Cosby author of All The Sinners Bleed

“Hazel was a Good Girl explores how the time period’s class system and victim blaming led to the case of Hazel Drew being unsolved for over a century. Drake lays out a feasible conclusion to the identity of the perpetrator(s) of this crime. A great read.” —Betty Frizzell, author of If You Can't Quit Cryin', You Can't Come Here No More and former Chief of Police, Winfield, MO

“In Hazel was a Good Girl, Dr. Jerry C. Drake embarks on a journey through the tangled web of yellow journalism, flawed media narratives, and the mythos of the cult TV show Twin Peaks to unveil the true story behind the mysterious death of Hazel Drew. This meticulously researched book kicks away the shiny veneer of Gilded Age glitz and the dreamlike fantasy of Twin Peaks to reveal the haunting story of who killed the woman who inspired Laura Palmer. With a sharp eye for evidence and a methodical approach to investigation, Drake peels back the layers of lies and legend, shedding light on the perils that shadowed Hazel's quest for a life beyond her working-class roots. Hazel was a Good Girl is a riveting exploration of class, corruption, ambition, and the relentless quest for truth that transcends time.” —Eddie McNamara, author of Zodiactually: The Real Story of a Fake Serial Killer (March 2026)