Explore This: Amazing and Unusual Heights, the Journey of Hannibal Lecter, A Hundred Years of Hitchcock, Martin Scorsese’s Cinematic Work, and Beyond.

      Summer has arrived, bringing with it a plethora of books from our latest selection that are perfect for taking to the beach. Just be prepared for some raised eyebrows if you’re engrossed in a book about Hannibal Lecter while relaxing by the pool.

      **A Place Both Wonderful and Strange** by Scott Meslow (Running Press)

      The passing of David Lynch in early 2025 has led to a surge of new books, many related to the Lynch-Mark Frost masterpiece, Twin Peaks. One of the best is Scott Meslow’s *A Place Both Wonderful and Strange: The Extraordinary Untold Story of Twin Peaks*. Although several of these tales are familiar—such as the project's beginnings as Northwest Passage, its initial success, subsequent decline, the movie *Fire Walk With Me*, and its revival as *The Return*—Meslow’s approach revitalizes the narrative. He dedicates considerable attention to *The Return*, making *Wonderful and Strange* a vital addition to the Twin Peaks legacy. Reflecting on episode 18, he poses questions like, “What does it all mean? Has Jowday prevailed or been vanquished? What’s the toll? Is this an end, a beginning, or a cycle?” These are the enigmas that continue to puzzle fans of Twin Peaks.

      **Hannibal Lecter: A Life** by Brian Raftery (Simon & Schuster)

      Brian Raftery, author of *Best. Movie. Year. Ever.: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen*, brings his wit and liveliness to the biography of Thomas Harris’ fascinating and unsettling creation, Hannibal Lecter. Raftery chronicles the reclusive Harris's life, his literary accomplishments, and the adaptations that followed. He boldly begins *Hannibal Lecter: A Life* by discussing Donald Trump’s fixation on “the late, great Hannibal Lecter.” He explores several plausible connections: “[B]oth are unapologetically id-driven, chasing their desires without guilt.” Even more intriguingly, he notes that by the time Trump began praising Hannibal in interviews and speeches, both figures had been notorious for decades, managing to reinvent themselves along the way.

      **A Century of Hitchcock: The Man, the Myths, the Legacy** by Tony Lee Moral (University Press of Kentucky)

      Tony Lee Moral’s *A Century of Hitchcock* demonstrates that there remains much to explore regarding the legendary filmmaker of *Vertigo* and *Psycho*. The book spans Hitchcock's entire career, but its most compelling section focuses on the director’s legacy posthumously. I found the third part, titled “Hitchcock’s Legacy,” particularly captivating, especially the tale of Donald Spoto’s scandalous and still-debated biography, *The Dark Side of Genius*. Moral argues that Spoto was “more of a narrative architect than a truthful biographer,” crafting stories that reflected his personal views. As for the future, Moral concludes that shifts in culture and the perspectives of biographers will shape Hitchcock’s standing.

      **Karmic Winds: Reflections of the Smartest Guy in Hollywood** by Peter Hoffman (Rare Bird Books)

      The genre of "Hollywood insider exposes" is a favorite of mine, especially when the insider is a producer or studio executive. Peter Hoffman served as president of Carolco Pictures during its zenith—when films like *Rambo*, *Total Recall*, *Terminator 2: Judgment Day*, and *Basic Instinct* were made. Like many such narratives, this one ends in turmoil, with Hoffman even spending time in federal prison. Yet, Carolco’s achievements are undeniable, and Hoffman was at the forefront. Among the numerous engaging anecdotes, one favorite recounts how Hoffman insisted that *Terminator 2*, then overdue, be completed to hit its July 4 release. James Cameron objected, and his attorney said he wanted his name off the credits. Hoffman asserted that Cameron didn’t have the “Alan Smithee” clause in his contract. “I hung up and sweated,” Hoffman recalls. Cameron managed to deliver a finished film in ten weeks, but never forgave Hoffman for his demand.

      **Intimate Audrey: An Authorized Biography** by Sean Hepburn Ferrer and Wendy Holden (Grand Central)

      Over three decades have passed since Audrey Hepburn’s death, yet she continues to embody elegance both on and off the screen. Her life has been chronicled numerous times, including by her son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, in the photo-rich *Audrey Hepburn: An Elegant Spirit*. In *Intimate Audrey*, Ferrer provides a more intricate exploration of his mother’s life, focusing not only on her film work but also her personal endeavors. Readers will particularly appreciate her commitment to humanitarian causes. Ferrer notes that Hepburn “was a big-hearted individual who risked her life in places most wouldn’t dare to go.”

      **A double dose of Marty: Insomnia and