John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a true-crime novel set in Savannah, Georgia. The book tells the story of scandalous events that occur in the city after Jim Williams, a well-known local antiques dealer, shoots and kills his young lover Billy Hanson. As different people share their version of what happened on the night of Hanson’s death, the narrative builds to a climax with Williams’ trial for murder.
For who is this book for ?
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a captivating non-fiction novel that takes its readers on a suspenseful journey through the Savannah, GA underworld. True crime fans will appreciate John Berendt’s skillful storytelling, while those simply looking for an interesting read will enjoy getting to know each of the eccentric characters populating this page-turner.
Pros :
- The book is well-written and interesting
- It provides a unique look at life in Savannah, Georgia
- The story is suspenseful and keeps the reader engaged
Cons :
- It is extremely long.
- The writing can be dense and difficult to follow at times.
- It may not be as interesting to people who are not familiar with Savannah or Southern culture.
Learn more about the author
John Berendt is a native of New York City. He has worked as an editor at Esquire, Maxim, and Spy magazines.
Reader Reviews
“Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a non-fiction novel written by John Berendt. The book was published on October 1, 1994 by Random House Publishing Group.”
“Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a true-crime novel set in Savannah, Georgia. The book tells the story of scandalous events that occur in the city after Jim Williams, a well-known local antiques dealer, shoots and kills his young lover Billy Hanson. As different people share their version of what happened on the night of Hanson’s death, the narrative builds to a climax with Williams’ trial for murder.”
“John Berendt’s nonfiction work Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a breathtaking account of true Southern Gothic storytelling. Berendt artfully weaves together seemingly mundane details to create a richly detailed tapestry that provides readers with an intimate glimpse into life in Savannah, GA during the 1980s. Peeling back layer upon layer of this eccentric community, Berendt slowly reveals all that is dark and depraved about human nature-from greed and envy to lust and murder. This captivating tale has everything: colorful characters, jaw-dropping incidents, spellbinding suspense.”
“One of the most peculiar and enchanting books I have ever read.”
