Ominous Whoosh: A Wandering Mind Returns to Twin Peaks

Audacious. Cryptic. Vexing. These are a few words that describe David Lynch and Mark Frost’s Twin Peaks: The Return, the third chapter in the Twin Peaks cycle (following the original series, Twin Peaks, and the feature film, Fire Walk With Me). Operating by its own rules, The Return subverted conventional narrative, rejected the lure of nostalgia, and defied the boundaries of its medium. It was a masterpiece, but an elusive one.

In Ominous Whoosh: A Wandering Mind Returns to Twin Peaks John Thorne dives deep into The Return, closely examining each episode and offering in-depth theories about the show’s most perplexing riddles: Who is “telling” the story we see? What is Laura Palmer’s new role in the Twin Peaks universe? How do Audrey and Diane fit into this complex new tale? Drawing on a study of David Lynch’s past work and Lynch’s observations about Hindu theology, Thorne offers compelling answers to these and other questions.

Aspiring to persuade, certain to provoke, Ominous Whoosh resonates with insight and imagination.

“John Thorne has been the definitive voice on Twin Peaks for over two decades, and now he brings his signature insight and thoughtfulness to David Lynch’s masterwork, Twin Peaks: The Return, shedding light on its darkest corners and diving into its many mysteries. This book will deepen every Twin Peaks fan’s understanding. If I’m ever lost in those dark woods, I want John Thorne to come looking for me.” – Jeff Lemire, creator of Sweet Tooth

“In the popular fanzine Wrapped in Plastic, John Thorne and Craig Miller explored every possible aspect and angle of the original Twin Peaks. In his latest book, John Thorne returns to Twin Peaks, exploring the 18-part continuation of the series. Undoubtedly, Thorne is one of the most prominent and convincing Twin Peaks scholars out there, and his new book is full of insight and valuable analyses, applying Hindu theology, a strong understanding of film history, and an unmatched knowledge of David Lynch and the Twin Peaks universe. This is, arguably, the best companion to Twin Peaks that you will ever read.” – Andreas Halskov, author of TV Peaks: Twin Peaks and Modern Television Drama (2015) and Beyond Television: TV Production in the Multiplatform Era (2021)

“John Thorne, the greatest of Twin Peaks detectives, has produced the ultimate investigation into pop culture’s most daunting and alluring mystery. His interpretive readings illuminate and entertain with their ideas and inventiveness, but even better, his theorizing, suffused with respect for the material and others who are passionate about it, teaches us the art of intelligent, gracious fandom.” – Jeff Jensen, writer, HBO’s Watchmen and Better Angels: A Kate Warne Adventure