Honestly, forget the star rating – *Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil* is absolutely worth your time. Just remember going in that this is nonfiction, and you'll be hooked by the way John Berendt unfolds the story. People who forget it's a true account and expect a novel might be disappointed, but that's on them.I was completely absorbed in this book, and Berendt did a fantastic job of bringing everything to life. It was such an easy read, and I felt like I was right there in Savannah thank...

And as “the Angels Sing,” justice is finally served!!! The setting is Savannah, a hauntingly beautiful city, and one of the oldest in the state of Georgia, making it perfect for a gripping crime novel told under a veil of Spanish moss and in shaded squares. But *Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil* is a retelling of a true crime story while still possessing all the ingredients and witty dialogue of a fictional story. The characters are deeply drawn and somewhat eccentric, the setting is idy...

3.5 stars rounded up – I've been wanting to read *Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil* for ages, ever since I was captivated by the book cover back in 1994. Selected as an October read by ‘On the Southern Literary Trail,’ I finally decided to see what all the fuss was about, especially since this novel spent 216 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. While it includes a murder mystery, at its core, it seems as much about Savannah and its colorful characters as it does about the crime i...

This is a book about the shooting of a young man in a rich guy’s fancy house, but the real crime is how boring this story is!!! Seriously!I do not know what happened here.I mean, this book has EVERYTHING:- old rich people- gossip about the aforementioned old rich people- the history of the city of Savannah (famously interesting place, not even being sarcastic, and yes it is concerning to me that my earnest thoughts read as irony)- drag queens- alcoholism - historical restorations- feuds- murder-...

One of the best true crime books I've ever picked up. Every single detail is utterly captivating. It reads like fiction, so much so that I kept having to remind myself it *actually happened*. Right from page one, I was hooked. Suddenly, I had this intense urge to pack my bags and see Savannah for myself. What sets this apart from so many other true crime books is the characters. They're not just names on a page; John Berendt truly brings them to life. And it's not just the people – his writing b...

"Now, you know how dead time works. Dead time lasts for one hour—from half an hour before midnight to half an hour after midnight. The half hour before midnight is for doin’ good. The half hour after midnight is for doin’ evil.”“Right,” said Williams.“Seems like we need a little of both tonight,” said Minerva, “so we best be on our way.”…For me, Savannah’s resistance to change was its saving grace. The city looked inward, sealed off from the noises and distractions of the world at large. It grew...

This book has a lot of fans, which makes sense. Magazines are certainly popular, and this is magazine writing at its most polished. John Berendt knows how to create an atmosphere. He describes things carefully, subtly, with a deadpan but mischievous irony. He can certainly describe a rich man's house so well that you could then describe it to someone else as if you've been there. Characters are sketched expertly, using physical details and a telltale mannerism or two – "objective" but sympatheti...

BkC7) Delicious, shimmering prose. Wonderful story. Savannah really should give John Berendt a pension.Well now, I have to dim my searchlight to a streetlight. Still think it's good but now, well, now I can't see past the one-hit-wonderness to the glories I once took for granted.Rating: 3.75* of fiveThe Publisher Says: 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 r...

An extraordinary story with equally extraordinary characters. It was a bit of a slow read for me, and some sections were harder to get through, which is why it gets four stars instead of five. Still, a classic. Absolutely loved it. Now I really want to visit Savannah!

Another early review of mine resurfacing... time really does fly.
Oh my goodness, I adored John Berendt's *Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil*! This book is a must-read for those looking for a great true crime story.

Note, February 2014: I was just rereading this review, and FUNNY STORY, I moved to a small town. Not so much a big city person as I had originally thought...Original review, circa 2007: I love John Berendt's *Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil* to the point where I don't even really know what to say about it, because nothing I can say about it will be good enough to explain just how incredible this book really is. If you're looking for captivating true crime books, look no further!After rea...