Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

By: John Berendt

Narrated by: Jeff Woodman, Will Damron, John Berendt

Length: 15 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • 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

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 flows 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 listening experience. Brilliantly conceived and masterfully written, this true-crime book has become a modern classic.

©1994 by John Berendt (P)1995 by Random House Audio Publishing, Inc., All Rights Reserved Under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions, Reproduced by Arrangement with Random House Audio Publishing, Inc.

Critic reviews

“John Berendt has written a gorgeous and haunting blend of travel book and murder mystery. It is enchanting and disturbing and deeply atmospheric.”—Michael Herr

“Forceful, clear, gripping, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is the best nonfiction novel since In Cold Blood and a lot more entertaining, since Berendt’s book has everything going for it—snobbism ruthless power, voodoo, local color, and a totally evil estheticism. I read it till dawn.”—Edmund White

“John Berendt has the ability to make the truth read like an exciting novel. This book is original, funny, and bleak—and it beckons quite alluringly to armchair adventurers who are as curious about human nature as about the nature of certain places. I finished reading it convinced that Savannah, may be the greatest performance artist of our day.”—Ann Beattie

Best narration

Best. Narrator. Ever. Seriously this was incredible and now I simply must visit Savanna, GA.

Love love loved it

It was a little slow at first, but I loved learning about all the characters. It was absolutely perfect. A modern classic. I would recommend to anyone!

unbelievable nonfiction

Memoir, history and humor... all in one. I enjoyed a different style of story telling.

Lived up to expectations

Great Listen. Added bonus on the insights of urban gentrification I didn't expect. Engaging characters. I was surprised they weren't fictional, hard to believe or maybe that was just a twist the author made.

Truly an excellent read

This has got to be one of the best books written in our time. Filled with lively stories and even livelier accounts of the people the author interacted with, I was engrossed in the whole book from start to finish. So glad I read this, sorry I waited so long to.

I live in Savannah and such a great book !!

I live in Savannah and such a great book !! What great history and stories! Fabulous

Great characters, great narration

I enjoyed the characters and the Narrator
Did an wonderful job of bringing them even more to life.

Amazing!

I read this book after it was referenced in blogs about weekend trips to Savannah. It didn’t disappoint. The characters are fabulous and the coverage of the murder trial was just a bonus. I can’t wait to visit this year.

City Revealed

I visited Savannah a few years back and really enjoyed the experience. Saw all the recommended spots included Bonaventure Cemetery with a guide. Can't believe I did that without reading "The Book". The audio book was fantastic and now I am returning to Savannah with a whole new perspective. Every town must have its stories and history. But the way this was written and read was captivating and makes Savannah a destination, not a detour. Just saying. And don't miss the cemetery.

Soooooooo Gooooood

I mean this book is legendary. It doesn’t need anymore reviews, but it is excellent. It’s def one I go back to every now and then. It’s so yummy.