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

Savannah Steals Your Heart

Captivating characters. Sublime setting. Brilliantly writte. Delightfully delivered. A riveting read from start to finish!!

Truth is stranger than fiction!

Beautiful in it's conception and presentation, this book is fascinating as much for its cast of eclectic characters, especially Savannah itself, as for its unbelievably true story.

Savannah

My daughter and I listened to this driving back to NYS, that was our 4th trip to Savannah. I already cant wait to go back.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Well, it makes me want to take a trip to Savanah to see the people and places! I did not realize it was a true story until I listened to the author talking about it at the end. We read it for our book club and are going to watch the movie when we meet next.

Oh Savannah

I read the book in early late 90s. I wanted to revisit the story after a recent trip to Savannah..

Colorful characters who are real people.

Great narrator with believable Savannah southern dialect.

Loved it.

Totally enjoyed the book and the author interview. Had no clue until the end that it was based on actual events. Will look forward to more books by this author.

A must-listen for anyone intrigued by Savannah

A brilliantly-written story that brings in so many of the eccentric and fantastic people of Savannah, centered around Jim Williams. It’s well narrated in the audiobook — and a must-listen for anyone intrigued by Savannah. We listened on our road trip there: what a perfect way to prep for a visit!

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

For years a friend insisted on me reading the book and I am happy I finally audibled it! Yessss child, audibled it! Loved all the characters in the book! Easy, comfortable and intriguing read. The narrator was charming and entertaining! At the end, enjoyed the author's interview. Now, I can see the movie!

Fascinating and entertaining!

I couldn't wait to listen! Fascinating and entertaining! I highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed.

fabulous

incredible true story. the BEST narration I have heard yet on audible.com. I couldn't stop listening once I started.