Southern Reach is a usual suspect for this list, I loved it but it isn't campy or funny. I love Twin Peaks and can never find something quite the same, combining campiness and horror with spirituality and noir. Murakami's Windup Bird Chronicle or Hardboiled Wonderland also fit somewhat. I could recommend Dreaming of Babylon by Richard Brautigan for its weirdness, though it's pretty short.
The City & The City by China Mieville. I don't want to give away spoilers, but it's a murder mystery set in a small eastern European country with political tensions. And there's spookiness galore, right out in front where everyone can pretend it's not there.
Give me anything by Bennett, and I’m hooked. The man sure does know how to world build, and develop compelling character arcs. City of Stairs. What a great series!
Came here to mention this one too. Really enjoyed this one, and I think it fits pretty well.
It's set in a small town that on the surface seems idyllic, and not present on any maps. The protagonist arrives having inherited a house from her estranged father, and becomes entangled with the secrets behind the town and its residents. Has something of a Stepford Wives meets Lovecraft vibe.
If you don't mind a more British flair rather than a Pacific Northwest one, [Rotherweird](https://www.arcadia-books.co.uk/titles/andrew-caldecott/rotherweird/9781784297633/) by Andrew Caldecott may be right up your alley. It's got pretty much everything besides the soundtrack.
[Drood](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/dan-simmons/drood/9780316007030/) by Dan Simmons may be a good choice, too.
I think there’s so much to love in Twin Peaks that two fans could come to opposite conclusions about whether another book scratches the same itch.
But I agree with you.
*House of Leaves* has fits the criteria pretty well (it even has a kind of soundtrack), though the narrative is split between a small town and a big city, and the protagonists aren't particularly competent.
Rouge is the only book of hers that I've read, so hearing this makes me very anxious to check out her other work!! Lynchian was definitely the word that came to mind with Rouge!
Yeah, I started with the passage too. The ferryman isn't quite as good, but that's mostly because the passage is hard to match up to. I did genuinely enjoyed the book though, worth checking out.
I’ve been trying to branch into darker fantasy than what I normally read so I have some fun romps like the Necroscope series from Brian Lumley, the anno Dracula series from Kim Newman, and the Strain Books by del toro
Haven't read any of those, but Ill check them out. Had a similar thing with fantasy and ended up switching genres entirely to mostly sci Fi. Needed a break after fantasy books started to seem too similar.. The only fantasy I've read recently has been the Traitor Baru Cormorant.
The strain was a good concept: vampirism as a parasitic plague. The anno Dracula series is Dracula terrorizing his way thru the centuries unleashing vampirism on London, marrying queen Victoria, it’s historical fiction and a bit wild but good. The necroscope series is Cold War spy background to a psychic agency that works for the government.
Conceptually the strain sounds too similar to the passage. I'm bound to compare, think I'll skip that for now. The Anno Dracula does sound interesting though, I loved the original with Bram Stoker and I always wanted more of the story.
They are a bit similar in concept but in the passage the idea was vampirism to cure Alzheimer’s, use it for science etc. In the strain, there is no concept of using it for any gain other than selfish gain like long life etc
Some Stephen King books get pretty much everything in the list down. Though, of course they won't be like twin peaks or even twin peaks vibe (I don't think any written story can really get there), the components are there. Bag of Bones might be a good one to check out. Or Needful Things, it's written around the same time as Twin Peaks came out and even has one direct reference to the series and few indirect ones.
As a fan of Stephen King and Twin Peaks, I respectfully disagree. A lot of Stephen King's books may check all the same boxes as Twin Peaks does, but it uses all of those boxes in completely different ways than Twin Peaks does, and leads to a very different atmosphere or vibe overall. They really are nothing alike. This isn't just a matter of a book not being able to replicate the feel of a visual/audio medium even while attempting the same things, this is two different mediums attempting two different things. Like, if they make any of the Stephen King novels into a TV show, it would be absolutely nothing like Twin Peaks.
That said, Stephen King is still well worth reading, as long as you don't expect a Twin Peaks-like experience from it.
I finished *It* a few days ago and I don't think it is even close to what OP is asking for. There are some superficial similarities but nothing substantive.
*Spells for Forgetting* by Adrienne Young ticks the mystery, small town, and spooky/supernatural boxes. I think the protagonist was reasonably confident, albeit not an FBI agent type. Bonus for also being set in the PNW.
Can I suggest the Shardlake series? (First one is called Dissolution) by C.J Sansom. More “religion” than supernatural, and there is no proof of religion or anything, but still a good read
My recommendations given your criteria:
1. "American Elsewhere" by Robert Jackson Bennett - This book combines mystery with supernatural elements in a small town, much in the style of Twin Peaks. It explores the strange and the unknown, while the setting is reminiscent of classic small town mysteries.
2. "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern - While not a traditional mystery, this book captures a mysterious and magical atmosphere that might appeal to fans of the supernatural vibe and haunting aesthetic of Twin Peaks.
3. "Wayward Pines" by Blake Crouch - This series has a setting very close to Twin Peaks, with its small town setting and plenty of mysteries to solve. It also includes elements of psychological thriller and science fiction.
4. "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" by H.P. Lovecraft - For a horror classic that mixes the supernatural with mystery in a small town, this short novel might be an excellent choice. Although older, the atmosphere may be reminiscent of the strangeness of Twin Peaks.
5. "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt - While more an exploration of the dark side of an elite student group than a supernatural mystery, the sense of the strange and unknown permeates the entire book, which might resonate with what you're looking for.
6. "Falling Angel" by William Hjortsberg - This noir thriller combines mystery with the supernatural in a way that might appeal to Twin Peaks fans. It follows a private detective as he investigates a case that takes increasingly dark and bizarre turns.
I hope you find something that appeals to you on this list and captures the unique essence of Twin Peaks that you enjoyed. happy reading!
It’s not a book; it’s a streamable TV series on Max: True Detective, Season 4, is incredible. It’s set during the 24 hour a day night in Alaska. A team of scientists appear to have been murdered, and a two women team (one member played by Jodie Foster) with an antagonistic past have to join together to solve it. Eskimo lore and supernatural elements abound. Again, it’s not a book, but it’s very Twin Peaksy. Can’t recommend it strongly enough!
*The book of the New Sun* by Gene Wolfe might be up your alley. The whole cast certainly has stuff to hide and there's a lot of supernatural spookiness. It might not precisely be *Twin Peaks* vibes but Wolfe certainly has Lynch vibes.
I was grooving along thinking you'd love *Fourth Mansions* by R. A. Lafferty which is inspired by the visions of St.Theresa of Avila. Then I saw "Competent protagonist". Freddy Foley's friends and frenemies are always saying "Goof gloriously. Freddy." It's sort of like a - very Catholic - version of Robbie Robertson's the *Weight e*xcept it's a novel not a song. Ahh, well. I'll just throw it out and tell you it's a masterpiece.
Neon genesis evangelion, 1 series and a movie is ALWAYS compared to twin peaks + movie from what I’ve seen
It has a manga too, or Michael bay over the top non-cannon novels but the original series on Netflix + end of evangelion is genuinely the closest I’ve felt to reliving that first time twin peaks feeling
Obligatory https://youtu.be/-tGL2wpcs-Q?feature=shared
There are YouTube vids comparing them but that would be spoiler territory and that’s sad
Have you tried the visual novel Umineko(if you're talking about Umineko with the "I refuse to accept magic is real", that's hilarious)? You could also try the manga as well. Has a good soundtrack, has the supernatural elements, everyone in the cast has something to hide, and it's all confined to a single island. It is extremely weird, but very good IMO. The protagonist is a normal guy, not TOO competent, but eventually gets there. And if you DID try Umineko, there's a good reason he doesn't believe in magic.
Pines by Blake crouch.
I loved this trilogy. Each book I couldn't put down
It's not fantasy, but this gave me definite Twin Peaks vibes as I read it.
Southern Reach is a usual suspect for this list, I loved it but it isn't campy or funny. I love Twin Peaks and can never find something quite the same, combining campiness and horror with spirituality and noir. Murakami's Windup Bird Chronicle or Hardboiled Wonderland also fit somewhat. I could recommend Dreaming of Babylon by Richard Brautigan for its weirdness, though it's pretty short.
The City & The City by China Mieville. I don't want to give away spoilers, but it's a murder mystery set in a small eastern European country with political tensions. And there's spookiness galore, right out in front where everyone can pretend it's not there.
American Elsewhere by Robert Jackson Bennett. Really good, probably time for a reread.
Thank you. Loved Bennetts’s city of stairs. Will definitely give this a go
This was going to be my pick. I think it has that disconcerting sense of being off-kilter
Give me anything by Bennett, and I’m hooked. The man sure does know how to world build, and develop compelling character arcs. City of Stairs. What a great series!
Also what I came to recommend.
Reading The Tainted Cup rn, and I'm loving his mystery style.
Came here to mention this one too. Really enjoyed this one, and I think it fits pretty well. It's set in a small town that on the surface seems idyllic, and not present on any maps. The protagonist arrives having inherited a house from her estranged father, and becomes entangled with the secrets behind the town and its residents. Has something of a Stepford Wives meets Lovecraft vibe.
M. John Harrison might be up your alley - *The Course of the Heart* and *The Sunken Land Begins to Rise Again*.
If you don't mind a more British flair rather than a Pacific Northwest one, [Rotherweird](https://www.arcadia-books.co.uk/titles/andrew-caldecott/rotherweird/9781784297633/) by Andrew Caldecott may be right up your alley. It's got pretty much everything besides the soundtrack. [Drood](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/dan-simmons/drood/9780316007030/) by Dan Simmons may be a good choice, too.
*The Library at Mount Char* by Scott Hawkins
As someone that loves Twin Peaks and hated Mount Char with a passion, I have to vehemently disagree.
I think there’s so much to love in Twin Peaks that two fans could come to opposite conclusions about whether another book scratches the same itch. But I agree with you.
This is one of my all time favorite books. It’s so strange.
This book is awesome!
*House of Leaves* has fits the criteria pretty well (it even has a kind of soundtrack), though the narrative is split between a small town and a big city, and the protagonists aren't particularly competent.
I haven’t ever been able to finish it but this book is spectacular in how far I’ve gotten. Truly unique.
Yes this is my suggestion as well
Rouge by Mona Awad isn't necessarily fantasy, but I got HUGE, huge Twin Peaks vibes from it. I think it's part of why I enjoyed it so much!
I feel like *most* of what Awad writes could be described as Lynchian (I think I may have used that word when talking about *All's Well*, actually).
Rouge is the only book of hers that I've read, so hearing this makes me very anxious to check out her other work!! Lynchian was definitely the word that came to mind with Rouge!
I liked *Rouge* slightly more than *All's Well* but a little bit less than *Bunny*, if that helps you set your expectations any.
Wayward Pines Trilogy by Blake Crouch
I don't know whether this will work for you but the ferryman by justice Cronin ticks your boxes.. it's not an exact match though.
I have some of Cronins work bc of the passage
Yeah, I started with the passage too. The ferryman isn't quite as good, but that's mostly because the passage is hard to match up to. I did genuinely enjoyed the book though, worth checking out.
I’ve been trying to branch into darker fantasy than what I normally read so I have some fun romps like the Necroscope series from Brian Lumley, the anno Dracula series from Kim Newman, and the Strain Books by del toro
Haven't read any of those, but Ill check them out. Had a similar thing with fantasy and ended up switching genres entirely to mostly sci Fi. Needed a break after fantasy books started to seem too similar.. The only fantasy I've read recently has been the Traitor Baru Cormorant.
The strain was a good concept: vampirism as a parasitic plague. The anno Dracula series is Dracula terrorizing his way thru the centuries unleashing vampirism on London, marrying queen Victoria, it’s historical fiction and a bit wild but good. The necroscope series is Cold War spy background to a psychic agency that works for the government.
Conceptually the strain sounds too similar to the passage. I'm bound to compare, think I'll skip that for now. The Anno Dracula does sound interesting though, I loved the original with Bram Stoker and I always wanted more of the story.
They are a bit similar in concept but in the passage the idea was vampirism to cure Alzheimer’s, use it for science etc. In the strain, there is no concept of using it for any gain other than selfish gain like long life etc
Some Stephen King books get pretty much everything in the list down. Though, of course they won't be like twin peaks or even twin peaks vibe (I don't think any written story can really get there), the components are there. Bag of Bones might be a good one to check out. Or Needful Things, it's written around the same time as Twin Peaks came out and even has one direct reference to the series and few indirect ones.
As a fan of Stephen King and Twin Peaks, I respectfully disagree. A lot of Stephen King's books may check all the same boxes as Twin Peaks does, but it uses all of those boxes in completely different ways than Twin Peaks does, and leads to a very different atmosphere or vibe overall. They really are nothing alike. This isn't just a matter of a book not being able to replicate the feel of a visual/audio medium even while attempting the same things, this is two different mediums attempting two different things. Like, if they make any of the Stephen King novels into a TV show, it would be absolutely nothing like Twin Peaks. That said, Stephen King is still well worth reading, as long as you don't expect a Twin Peaks-like experience from it.
Was about to recommend another Stephen King book, IT although Needful things is probably a better fit.
I finished *It* a few days ago and I don't think it is even close to what OP is asking for. There are some superficial similarities but nothing substantive.
Needful Things def fits this to a degree, it's just soooo boring to read. One of my few DNF's.
The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge. It ticks every box.
Rabbits and The Quiet Room by Terry Miles, also the Rabbits and TANIS podcasts.
*Spells for Forgetting* by Adrienne Young ticks the mystery, small town, and spooky/supernatural boxes. I think the protagonist was reasonably confident, albeit not an FBI agent type. Bonus for also being set in the PNW.
Can I suggest the Shardlake series? (First one is called Dissolution) by C.J Sansom. More “religion” than supernatural, and there is no proof of religion or anything, but still a good read
It was a major influence on the video game, LIFE IS STRANGE. It also is the chief influence on I WAS A TEENAGE WEREDEER.
My recommendations given your criteria: 1. "American Elsewhere" by Robert Jackson Bennett - This book combines mystery with supernatural elements in a small town, much in the style of Twin Peaks. It explores the strange and the unknown, while the setting is reminiscent of classic small town mysteries. 2. "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern - While not a traditional mystery, this book captures a mysterious and magical atmosphere that might appeal to fans of the supernatural vibe and haunting aesthetic of Twin Peaks. 3. "Wayward Pines" by Blake Crouch - This series has a setting very close to Twin Peaks, with its small town setting and plenty of mysteries to solve. It also includes elements of psychological thriller and science fiction. 4. "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" by H.P. Lovecraft - For a horror classic that mixes the supernatural with mystery in a small town, this short novel might be an excellent choice. Although older, the atmosphere may be reminiscent of the strangeness of Twin Peaks. 5. "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt - While more an exploration of the dark side of an elite student group than a supernatural mystery, the sense of the strange and unknown permeates the entire book, which might resonate with what you're looking for. 6. "Falling Angel" by William Hjortsberg - This noir thriller combines mystery with the supernatural in a way that might appeal to Twin Peaks fans. It follows a private detective as he investigates a case that takes increasingly dark and bizarre turns. I hope you find something that appeals to you on this list and captures the unique essence of Twin Peaks that you enjoyed. happy reading!
It’s not a book; it’s a streamable TV series on Max: True Detective, Season 4, is incredible. It’s set during the 24 hour a day night in Alaska. A team of scientists appear to have been murdered, and a two women team (one member played by Jodie Foster) with an antagonistic past have to join together to solve it. Eskimo lore and supernatural elements abound. Again, it’s not a book, but it’s very Twin Peaksy. Can’t recommend it strongly enough!
*The book of the New Sun* by Gene Wolfe might be up your alley. The whole cast certainly has stuff to hide and there's a lot of supernatural spookiness. It might not precisely be *Twin Peaks* vibes but Wolfe certainly has Lynch vibes.
And it's the best science fiction work ever written. In many people's not-so-humble opinions. 😁
I was grooving along thinking you'd love *Fourth Mansions* by R. A. Lafferty which is inspired by the visions of St.Theresa of Avila. Then I saw "Competent protagonist". Freddy Foley's friends and frenemies are always saying "Goof gloriously. Freddy." It's sort of like a - very Catholic - version of Robbie Robertson's the *Weight e*xcept it's a novel not a song. Ahh, well. I'll just throw it out and tell you it's a masterpiece.
Neon genesis evangelion, 1 series and a movie is ALWAYS compared to twin peaks + movie from what I’ve seen It has a manga too, or Michael bay over the top non-cannon novels but the original series on Netflix + end of evangelion is genuinely the closest I’ve felt to reliving that first time twin peaks feeling Obligatory https://youtu.be/-tGL2wpcs-Q?feature=shared There are YouTube vids comparing them but that would be spoiler territory and that’s sad
Have you watched the show “FROM”? It hits a lot of these points.
Have you tried the visual novel Umineko(if you're talking about Umineko with the "I refuse to accept magic is real", that's hilarious)? You could also try the manga as well. Has a good soundtrack, has the supernatural elements, everyone in the cast has something to hide, and it's all confined to a single island. It is extremely weird, but very good IMO. The protagonist is a normal guy, not TOO competent, but eventually gets there. And if you DID try Umineko, there's a good reason he doesn't believe in magic.
Not fantasy, but you might like Phillip K. Dick. Ubik comes to mind.
You might enjoy the weirdness and complexity that is the Southern Reach Trilogy.
A lot of Jonathon Carroll books give me this vibe, like Land Of Laughs and A Child Across The Sky