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    Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
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    Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
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    Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
    Audiobook15 hours

    Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

    Written by John Berendt

    Narrated by Jeff Woodman

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    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: A Savannah Story is a sublime and seductive reading experience.  Brilliantly conceived and masterfully written, this enormously engaging portrait of a most beguiling Southern city is certain to become a modern classic.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateNov 22, 2005
    ISBN9780739334546
    Unavailable
    Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

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    Reviews for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

    4/5

    3,579 ratings161 reviews

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    • 4/5
      While randomly exploring cities in the US, author Joe Verendt arrived in Savannah and fell in love. At first he was drawn by the beautiful open squares surrounded by historical mansions and Southern society. After he deciding to split his residence between New York and Savannah, he found much more to love.He introduces an unusual bevy of entertaining characters. Not just the proper uppercrust society of Savannah, but also those quirky enough to catch his eye. There's a man who could poison all of Savannah; a beloved resident who lives happily without permission in vacant mansions while their owners are away; a flamboyant drag queen, and my favorite of all – a voodoo witch who is certain she can alter trials with help from those in their graves.Most of the story revolves around Jim Williams, a 'new-money' dealer of priceless antiques whose gay lover is found shot to death in Jim's study. Jim doesn't deny he did it, but the police theory of how it happened and Jim's explanation vary wildly. I would not give this Pulitzer Prize finalist the 'true crime' label it often wears. But it is fun and entertaining and I'm glad to have finally read it.
    • 4/5
      Hard to put down. Very vivid writing!
    • 3/5
      I'm leaning somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I learned some very interesting things about Savannah through the author's descriptions and the stories about the residents. I got a bit bored with the many trial scenes and wished there had been a bit more of a plot. I very much enjoyed the first half of the book that told of the rich Savannah history and how the old homes were restored.
    • 4/5
      Beautifully written, interesting plot and revealing look at an eccentric city.
    • 2/5
      I knew there was going to be a chance I didn't like this one, with all the mixed reviews, but I soldiered on and read it anyway. I'm left here going, "Meh." It wasn't a horrible book, there were definitely some interesting moments, but at the end I'm just sort of wondering, where was the story?
    • 2/5
      Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A Savannah Story by John Berendt is a weird story about even weirder people! I would be gone from that town soooo fast. What creepy people! With the strange people you knew the murder mystery would be just as creepy, but not good. Easy to figure out that Jim and Danny were lovers right away. Why hide it in this town? You have a man that only puts make up on one eye, a man who walks an invisible dog, a man that hordes enough poison so he can at sometime kill everyone, and a transvestite dating a man. These are the sane people! I wasn't impressed with the writing, the plot, or the mystery. His weird characters were weird but that was it. Not my kind of book.
    • 4/5
      Historic Savannah, Georgia is the setting of this travelogue/murder mystery/gossipy book. It is tailored around the beauty of the city and its unique individuals - including a wealthy middle-aged man who murders his part-time, 21-year-old companion.I wasn't ever bored with this story, but I wasn't enthralled with it either. It was definitely a character-driven book, but it encompassed the intrigue and ominous aura that a murder brings. The community does have its share of unusual people and their passion for keeping their city "as is" was prevalent.I've had the opportunity to visit Savannah several times, but just haven't taken the step to make it happen. This book has revitalized the desire to visit, so the next time the opportunity arises - I'm there! :) (3.75/5)Originally posted on: Thoughts of Joy
    • 4/5
      Known in Savannah as 'The Book', this incredible book details the murder trials of Jim Williams, owner of Mercer House. It also depicts the lifestyle and culture of Savannah, a one of a kind city in the southern states of the USA. A must read, and the film is a must see.
    • 5/5
      Had to read this one a second time before going to Savannah again. It's the book that caused me to put Savannah on my bucketlist.
    • 4/5
      I don't read a lot of non-fiction but once in a while, I get a book recommendation from someone I really trust and then I have to read it. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is so full of weird and eccentric characters that you forget you're reading a true story. It's got drag queens, invisible dogs, aging society darlings, a murder...and that's just the first half of the book. (If you've seen the movie, forget it - read the book.) Plus now I have to plan a trip to Savannah, Georgia.
    • 4/5
      I'm leaving for a trip to Savannah in a few days, so I finally took this book off my to-read shelf and read through it. It's an interesting look at Savannah as both a Southern city and an unique place. It hinges on a murder trial, or rather, four murder trials, since the murder convictions kept getting overturned. Even through this book isn't that old (published in 1994), it also gives an interesting view on how far society has progressed on issues like homosexuality and transgender people, but it also gives this book a dated feeling. A few of the people portrayed in this book wrestle with these issues and one of my favorite characters has to be Chablis, a trans woman who faces the world with aplomb and plenty of drama. This is a great book to dig into before planning a trip to Savannah.
    • 4/5
      This nonfiction book comes from an author who first visited Savannah for a weekend and fell in love with the city, coming to spend roughly half of his time there. The first part of the book introduces the reader to a number of interesting personalities in Savannah as the author meets them. This includes a man who walks an imaginary dog every day, a biracial couple who are only seen together in public when jogging a pace apart, a fading beauty from the 1930s, a performer dubbed "The Lady of 6,000 Songs," and so forth. While these were certainly colorful people with interesting stories, I must confess I was a little off-put trying to remember who everyone was, especially as some of these people do weave back and forth into the narrative while some do not.The second half of the book concerns a case in which a wealthy antiques dealer shoots a young employee in his study sometime in the middle of the night. He claims self-defense, but it's up to the court to decide. What follows is a bit like watching an extended version of a Law & Order episode, complete with descriptions of the crime scene, police reports, witness testimony, etc. Of particular interest was how Berendt discussed more than the just the court proceedings; he also made a point of explaining the back-end politics behind all the major players. For instance, the DA was new and trying to prove himself, in addition to being financially supported by the defendant's neighbor who never liked him. Throughout the book, you see highlights of Savannah's culture -- the beautiful old homes, their pride in university football, the festive St. Patrick's Day parade, the Alpha Phi cotillion, etc. -- as well as less favorable aspects, such as the negative attitudes toward people of color, the LGBT community, and even women, as of the book's time in the 1980s and early 90s.The audiobook was read by Jeff Woodman, who was absolutely fabulous at bringing to life all these characters and making each voice unique and fitting to the personality. This version also had an interview with Berendt at the end. He had some rather interesting things to say, which put a new perspective on what I had just read. All and all, this was a compelling read and a little outside the norm, which made it all the more intriguing.
    • 4/5
      This is a book about Savannah, Georgia - its people, history, scenery, and its idiosyncrasies. I've always been fascinated with the cities in the deep south, especially Savannah, so that is why I read this book. Berendt does a great job of depicting Savannah the way I'm sure that they want to be depicted. He lived off and on in the city for eight years while he was writing his book. There is everything here for readers to enjoy - a murder in a big mansion in the city, and the ensuing legal battles from that, society balls and socializing, and even a voodoo queen. There is even a very lovable, piano playing con artist who winds his way into the hearts of the citizens of Savannah, in spite of his blatantly illegal dealings. We get an intimate look at the people who live in Savannah, and their lives. We are even entertained by a black drag queen by the name of Chablis, who, I think, is by far the strongest character in the book. I can tell by Berendt's writing that he loves the city and its people. He has used a loving hand to write every chapter in this charming book. I thoroughly enjoyed the virtual trip to this quaint city and would like to visit someday.
    • 4/5
      Having recently visited Savannah, Georgia, I wanted to read this book about one of its famous citizens. Jim Williams, the owner of Mercer House in Savannah was the only US Citizen to be tried 4times for the same crime. He was convicted 3 times of killing his house mate Danny Hansford and and finally found not guilty when the trial was moved to Augusta.Savannah is a very beautiful city and is occupied by a variety of interesting characters and a very colourful history. Jim Williams was viewed by seen as a newcomer and a source of much speculation by fellow citizens. He worked as as an antique dealer and owned one of the most historic houses in the city. His friendship with Danny was cause for much speculation as Danny was a well known gay hustler
    • 5/5
      Awesome book. The characters in Savannah are real and vivid. Lots of things going on.
    • 5/5
      My sister-in-law recommended it and let me borrow her copy and I've been slowly eating it up a couple chapters a night. The plot moved so effortlessly and the characters, every single one of them, were so fun and intricate that it felt like it couldn't possibly be nonfiction. While I always love finishing a book, I am also a bit sad to say goodbye to Chablis and Joe Odom and, of course, Jim Williams.
    • 4/5
      Since I'm heading to Savannah in June I was told I had to read this book. I was glad I got the recommendation because I thoroughly enjoyed this piece of non-fiction that,among other things, investigates the murder of Danny Hansford by Jim Williams, an eccentric antiques dealer and part of the social scene of the town. Williams was tried multiple times for this murder and the case became pretty famous. In addition the author does a wonderful job of bringing out the characteristics of the city and introducing us to a number of memorable characters.
    • 5/5
      Great read. Amazing characters.
    • 4/5
      I loved this book!! I read it when I was in college MANY years ago, but I didn't give it a fair chance because back then I read it because I HAD to, not because I WANTED to. Plus I did the ole Cliff's Notes thing just to get it done! So now, I can honestly say that I gave it the attention it deserves. This is a fabulous book and I really did myself a favor by going back and re-reading it.

      The people are what made this book what it is. Don't get me wrong, I am a sucker for a good Southern story, but I totally got caught up in this eclectic hodgepodge of personalities! My absolute favorite was Minerva, who used her voodoo skills to try to protect Mr Jim. I could read another book just about her alone! And who couldn't love the crude Lady Chablis?? I found myself laughing just imagining her in my head. And yes, I realize this is a true tale of murder, but for some reason this book did not captivate me with the story of the trial itself. The whole book provided me with immense entertainment on a snowy afternoon. When I finished the last page, I looked up and said aloud "Now THAT was a great book!"

      This book is filled with everything a good story needs to keep the reader dead-set on finishing it in one setting. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading....and that is probably the highest praise possible that I can think of! So if you read it before because you HAD to, read it again - you will be glad you did.
    • 4/5
      This was a fascinating read. Savannah is not at all what I expected of a genteel southern city. The diverse set of characters that mrsgaskell mentioned might be found individually in other places. Savannah seems to produce them on every street corner. And they seem very content to stay in Savannah. I was especially fascinated by Minerva who cast spells throughout the four trials that Jim Williams has to face. Williams seems to think that he got at least as good results from Minerva for $25 a day as he did from his high priced lawyers who cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now I'm itching to go to Savannah to see the homes and streets that Berendt describes so well. My sister and brother-in-law visited there after seeing the movie and I now understand why.
    • 4/5
      Racy, weird, hilarious.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed reading this book but it was hard to stay motivated. It seem to drag on a bit. I did buy this in Savannah and saw some of the locations in the book wich made reading it fun. The characters are so life like and Berendt writes them vividly. Overall is a good read.
    • 5/5
      I am sorry I never did get to see New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina hit it. More than any other American city, New Orleans seems to have a mythical life of its own, thanks to books like this, and Anne Rice's novels.
    • 4/5
      As I read this book I was reminded of "Seinfeld" a show in which the characters are terribly engaging despite the fact that they're utterly unlikeable. Berendt has an eye for the weakness of the flesh, but he reports on it, not judgementally, but with good humor. The people who populate the book, from the murdered boy to the man who killed him, from the feckless party boy to the black drag queen, are all beautifully written. If they end up looking less than savory, it's their own doing - out of their own mouths they are condemned - Berendt just reports the facts as he saw or heard them. I don't think that this story is as much about Savannah, or even about the South as it is about how people in any fairly inbred socity can become odd or eccentric. This is the sort of story that could take place anywhere; the grace notes are typically Southern, but the passions involved are universal, and that's what makes this such a compelling book. I recommend it highly
    • 4/5
      Midnight in the Garden of Eden is a fictionalized story of real-life events in Savannah, GA in the 1980s. Jim Williams, an antique dealer and house restorer, kills his assistant/lover and stands trial for murder four times.Berendt strikes a good balance between travelogue and fiction; his characters are compelling and self-organized, like a novel, but he retains just enough reality and outsider perspective to keep you guessing whether the story itself will resolve into a narrative. He seems to care about the people involved, and tries not to treat them as character-fodder.As is typical in southern narratives, the voodoo practitioner is the moral guide. This is a functional restriction which makes you wonder whether the character actually existed, since she's so convenient to the forward momentum of the plot. Whether she's real or not, at least Berendt doesn't bring her in as the token practitioner and then wheel her out, stage left, throwing curses as she goes.
    • 3/5
      I had read this years ago, but recently listened to it as an audio book. Yes, interesting about the city of Savannah, but I didn't really like any of the people involved so I found it generally unsatisfying.
    • 5/5
      A true story with many interesting characters. Mostly the book centers around Jim Williams an arts collector who is charged with the murder. Savannah, Georgia is the setting for this story, the architecture and squares in the city provide a wonderful back drop.
    • 2/5
      Vivid details, decent storytelling but true crime just isn't my thing. Picked up this book hoping to connect with the city where my ancestors lived for over a hundred years but couldn't get past the first third of it. Descriptions of the city are intriguing and brought the city to life but to hell with the characters. Definitely well written, just nothing I want to waste my time with.
    • 4/5
      John Berendt crafts an engaging novel surrounding the real world death of Danny Hansford at the hands of Jim Williams, a multi-millionaire antique dealers. More than a murder story, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a story of the isolated city and peoples that populate Savannah, Georgia in the 1980s.
    • 5/5
      Splendid Non-fiction! So enamored with this story. I've read this twice now and enjoyed the film as well.