Murder at Teal’s Pond: Hazel Drew and the Mystery That Inspired Twin Peaks

Who killed 20-year-old Hazel Drew and left her bludgeoned corpse in an Upstate New York pond in 1908? In this taut true crime page-turner, Bushman (Conversations with Mark Frost: Twin Peaks, Hill Street Blues, and the Education of a Writer) and Givens vividly revisit the murder, which inspired the cult TV series Twin Peaks. The eccentric individuals linked to the crime include Drew’s reclusive uncle, William Taylor, who owned a farm near Teal’s Pond and seemed oddly indifferent to his niece’s fate, and her aunt, Minnie Taylor, the victim’s closest confidant, who was reluctant to share information with investigators. Jarvis O’Brien, the DA who supervised the investigation, uncovered secrets about Drew, a servant who suddenly left her job without an obvious reason days before her body was found. O’Brien’s inquiries revealed possible links between the killing and rumored “wild sex parties and young women held captive against their will at a camp” near the pond, as well as evidence implicating some influential local politicians. The authors effectively summarize five years of research, utilizing a range of sources, and paint a convincing picture of events that make readers feel like they’re experiencing developments in real time. While their solution to the crime may not persuade everyone, this account will hold appeal beyond David Lynch fans. (Jan.)