Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A Savannah Story
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.
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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Readers say *Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil* is a richly told, atmospheric true-crime narrative that vividly captures Savannah’s charm, color...
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil feels like an evening on a Savannah porch with sweet tea, neighborhood gossip, and a storyteller who knows every scandal hiding behind the city’s grandest doors. John Berendt turns nonfiction into a rich Southern narrative filled with murder, social politics, historic mansions, and residents too colorful to feel invented. Savannah becomes more than a setting with its beauty, contradictions, traditions, and secrets shape every chapter.
Berendt arrives as an outsider and gains access to Savannah’s guarded social circles. His curiosity leads him to Jim Williams who is a wealthy antiques dealer and historic preservationist living inside the magnificent Mercer House. Williams soon stands accused of killing Danny Hansford who is his volatile employee and lover. The shooting transforms Berendt’s portrait of Savannah into a true-crime account involving four trials, conflicting evidence, courtroom maneuvering, and a city eager to discuss every detail over cocktails.
The narrative storytelling made the first two-thirds of the book especially enjoyable. Berendt introduces each resident with the timing of a gifted dinner-party storyteller. Joe Odom charms his way through unpaid bills and questionable business ventures. Luther Driggers walks an invisible dog and carries enough poison to inspire citywide concern. Minerva performs spiritual rituals inside Bonaventure Cemetery. Each resident introduced reveals another layer of Savannah’s elaborate social order.
The Lady Chablis stole every scene she entered. Her humor, confidence, and talent for gossip brought humor to the narrative. She refused to shrink herself for Savannah’s small minded conventions. Her personality made her one of the most memorable person in a book filled with eccentric characters. I would have happily listened to several more chapters devoted to her adventures.
The historical preservation details surprised me. Berendt explores the money, influence, mapping decisions, racial divisions, and political maneuvering that determine which neighborhoods receive protection. His discussion of redlining and racism added an importance beneath the humor and spectacle. I gained a new perspective on how preservation can celebrate history while also deciding whose history receives funding and recognition.
The final third tested my patience. Four murder trials may be historically remarkable, but the repeated courtroom arguments began to feel excessive. My thoughts frequently became, "Get to the point," and, "Wrap it up." The legal saga halted the lively narrative of the residents and city culture that made the earlier chapters so irresistible.
Jeff Woodman and Will Damron bring Savannah’s voices to life with deep Southern accents and relaxed storytelling. Their delivery made the audiobook feel personal. Similar to hearing a friend share local legends on a balmy summer evening. Berendt’s own narration provided authenticity and reinforced his role as both observer and participant.
Pick this up if you are a Savannah fan, narrative nonfiction reader, and true-crime listener who enjoys character-driven storytelling. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil made me want to return to Savannah, wander through its shaded squares, visit Bonaventure Cemetery, and listen for more stories behind its beautiful doors. I may also arrive prepared to defend Charleston after learning how eagerly Savannah locals enjoy criticizing their northern neighbor.
Anyone who loves Savannah and its people should give this a read. Savannah is one of my favorite places in Georgia, and a frequent vacation destination of mine. It's crazy to see how different Savannah was several decades ago, and also how its remained unchanged since. It's cool to know its always been a wacky city full of wacky people. /pos :)
C
This is my 2nd read. I had read the book when it was first released, and I liked the book. A lot of the content was new, and sometimes shocking, to me. Fast forward to current times, and re-read the book. Meh. The separation of each chapter about a different character, not my favorite writing style. I realize it is written from the journalist’s point of view as he meets these characters. Would probably have rated it higher when I first read the book than I rate it now. That’s the difference the years make.
Ok, I am torn between 3 and 4 stars. It's definitely NOT forgettable. It's not my first time trying to read this book; I got to the same point as last time and thought MEH. However, I then discovered this book is classified as nonfiction. I discovered this when some postcards fell out of this book - of the Mercer House, and of Jim Williams in his living room holding a cat. My Savannah mom loaned me the book a few years ago. It has a sticker inside that says "THE BOOK" GIFT SHOP 127 E Gordon St Savannah. Googled that and it looks like its had some SERIOUS issues and is currently a historic mansion with 1960-1922 described as a period of "Gradual Decline" and now there is a restoration underway. Which makes the sticker interesting. Because clearly that gift shop hasn't existed in decades. Apparently after this book was published, everyone in Savannah called it "THE BOOK". So some kind of book related-gift shop must have existed at this location. Anyway, SO. Jim Williams was a real person and without spoiling the story, the facts appear to be pretty real. The author says 99% real, but frankly I am gonna have to go with 80/20 after reading and just doing a little online surfing. However, the REAL aspect made it a LOT more interesting and I became so much less judgy and just enjoyed the story. It's an entertaining story. A little too much in the moment sex and everything else for this to be 99% nonfiction...there is no way you could describe the cemetery sex unless you interviewed the person. And THAT person was not referred to as a witness nor did I see a claim to have interviewed them. I might still look that up. The Lady Chablis descriptions - I understand they are firsthand - because the author met her, AND she was in the movie. But, they struck me as odd. What do I know though. Google tells me there is a RuPaul episode where someone did a Lady Chablis so I may have to check that out. Maybe it's just the 1994 approach to the drag/trans sphere being dated. It was not negative, just kinda weirdly presented. Maybe I should hold off my judginess until I see this Lady Chablis who apparently appeared IN THE MOVIE and was famous. That leads me to the fact that there is a movie. That CLINT EASTWOOD directed with KEVIN SPACEY, and a few people in the story WERE IN THE MOVIE. First off I am laughing my @$$ off that they went with Kevin Spacey. I mean, it was before we knew...BUT. And then, to hear the author say Kevin Spacey declined his offer of access to recordings of interviews with Jim Williams to get the voice right because he did not need them - he had already heard a tape. And after seeing the movie, the author figured out it was clearly the one tape from an event where Jim Williams had been giving testimony on a sedative. And, if you are connected to the state of GA, you may also be entertained by descriptions of one of the real life lawyers, who had a part in the movie, and is the custodian of all the UGA mascot bulldogs. Until I read this book I thought it was spelled UGGA. I may have to watch this movie, or at least fast forward through it. If you have any familiarity with Savannah, which I do, you will at least connect with the book for that reason. And if you do, and you know it is "nonfiction" it's a good ride. I enjoyed looking up facts about the story. The author is an engaging writer. Outside of that, I probably could not say READ THIS STAT. I can say it is unforgettable, a good story, and true-ish. So, hey - give it a shot. And, if you have not been to Bonaventure Cemetery you are missing out.
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