Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt delves into the fascinating, complex world of Savannah, Georgia, a city steeped in history and southern charm. The book is a masterful blend of true-crime investigation and vivid travelogue, offering readers an unparalleled look at the quirky, colourful characters that inhabit this storied city. The narrative starts with the author, John Berendt, arriving in Savannah and becoming captivated by its old-world allure. As he becomes more involved in the social scene, he uncovers an extraordinary, convoluted tale centred around Jim Williams, a wealthy and influential antiques dealer, and the mysterious death of a young man in his grand mansion, Mercer House. Throughout the story, Berendt introduces a host of eccentric locals, giving readers a rich tapestry of life in Savannah—a city where high society mingles with the distinctly peculiar.

Genteel society ladies who compare notes on their husbands' suicides. A hilariously foul-mouthed black drag queen. A voodoo priestess who works her roots in the graveyard at midnight. A morose inventor who owns a bottle of poison powerful enough to kill everyone in town. A prominent antiques dealer who hangs a Nazi flag from his window to disrupt the shooting of a movie. And a redneck gigolo whose conquests describe him as a 'walking streak of sex'. These are some of the real residents of Savannah, Georgia, a city whose eccentric mores are unerringly observed - and whose dirty linen is gleefully aired - in this utterly irresistible book.

At once a true-crime murder story and a hugely entertaining and deliciously perverse travelogue, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is as bracing and intoxicating as half-a-dozen mint juleps. Berendt's keen observations and engaging storytelling bring the city and its inhabitants to life, making it impossible to put the book down. The intrigue of the murder trial, coupled with the dazzling array of Savannah’s unforgettable characters, ensures that this book will captivate and entertain from beginning to end.