

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Books | True Crime / Murder / General
3.8
(21.3K)
John Berendt
THE LANDMARK NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, NOW A MAJOR MUSICAL COMING SOON TO BROADWAY • An enormously engaging portrait of a most beguiling Southern city: “Elegant and wicked.... [This] might be the first true-crime book that makes the reader want to book a bed and breakfast for an extended weekend at the scene of the crime." —The New York Times Book Review • 30th Anniversary Edition with a New Afterword by the Author.Shots rang out in Savannah's grandest mansion in the misty,early morning hours of May 2, 1981. Was it murder or self-defense? For nearly a decade, the shooting and its aftermath reverberated throughout this hauntingly beautiful city of moss-hung oaks and shaded squares. John Berendt's sharply observed, suspenseful, and witty narrative reads like a thoroughly engrossing novel, and yet it is a work of nonfiction. Berendt skillfully interweaves a hugely entertaining first-person account of life in this isolated remnant of the Old South with the unpredictable twists and turns of a landmark murder case.It is a spellbinding story peopled by a gallery of remarkable characters: the well-bred society ladies of the Married Woman's Card Club; the turbulent young redneck gigolo; the hapless recluse who owns a bottle of poison so powerful it could kill every man, woman, and child in Savannah; the aging and profane Southern belle who is the "soul of pampered self-absorption"; the uproariously funny black drag queen; the acerbic and arrogant antiques dealer; the sweet-talking, piano-playing con artist; young blacks dancing the minuet at the black debutante ball; and Minerva, the voodoo priestess who works her magic in the graveyard at midnight. These and other Savannahians act as a Greek chorus, with Berendt revealing the alliances, hostilities, and intrigues that thrive in a town where everyone knows everyone else. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a sublime and seductive reading experience. Brilliantly conceived and masterfully written, this true-crime book has become a modern classic.
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More Details:
Author
John Berendt
Pages
400
Publisher
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published Date
2010-05-12
ISBN
0307538370 9780307538376
Ratings
Google: 4.5
Community ReviewsSee all
"Self-described as non-fiction, this is a story of some of the colorful and quirky Savannahians and their adventures and misadventures in the city they call home. "
J D
Jackie Davidson
"A classic Southern true crime, this book is filled with eccentric characters and detailed descriptions of the Savannah scene. It’s definitely a different kind of true crime read, but if you don’t mind side storylines about various characters, I’d definitely recommend."
O H
Olivia Huie
"Overall a positive read, but it took me a long time to get though. Characters were interesting and the imagery was vivid but I found the plot slow. Enjoyed it mostly because I recently visited Savannah and loved the city - reading the book assuaged my nostalgia, making me feel like I was still there. "
V E
Veronica Em
"One of the best true crime pieces ever written."
R N
Rather NotSay
"Very light on plot. The main “plot line” doesn’t even start until halfway through the book. There are a lot of specific details trivia that aren’t really essential. And SO MANY people introduced and described. You can skip pages and not miss anything. I found it boring but I suppose it could appeal to someone interested in the history of Savannah. "
R S
Ruth S.
"Boring, slow read. I made it to the end, but should have just DNF as it wasn’t worth it. "
K W
Kelly W
"After reading this book, I couldn’t wait to visit Savannah myself. It only took me 18 years, but I got there!"
J D
Jenny Drane
": I found myself a little disappointed reading this book. It was well written but I didn’t feel it was really the true crime genre. To me, this felt more like a memoir about a man’s love for Savannah and fascination with the people he encountered there with some intrigue thrown in here and there. The cast of characters are interesting and engaging but I felt I knew more about the Lady Chablis at the end than I did about the actual crime.
Savannah is still very much an old southern town. Even in the 1980s, tradition is observed with reverence and strictly adhered to. It should come as no shock that the shots that rang out from the study of one James Williams would cause quite the stir at all levels of Savannah society. One of their most prominent and influential citizens is now on trial for murder. "
J L
JJ Lew
"I appreciate the différences in characters, thé mystery and some of thé humor that takes place. Good book."
M G
Marleen Gonzalez
"I have this book but haven't read it yet what is your opinion on it? "
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