Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

by John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil cover
Good Books rating 3.55
True Crime
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Waterstones
Paperback • £10.99
Amazon
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Technical
  • ID: 866
  • Added: 2025-09-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9780307538376
  • Publisher: Vintage
  • Published: 2010-05-12
  • Formats: 23
  • Reviews: 4

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a captivating blend of true crime and Southern Gothic charm. John Berendt's narrative weaves a suspenseful tale around a high-profile murder case in Savannah, Georgia, while introducing readers to a cast of unforgettable characters that embody the city's unique culture and history. The book is not just a murder mystery but a rich tapestry of life in Savannah, filled with humor, intrigue, and a deep sense of place. /n/nThe 30th Anniversary Edition includes a new afterword by the author, enhancing the already engaging narrative. Berendt's skillful storytelling transforms a real-life crime into a compelling read that feels like fiction, making it a modern classic in the true-crime genre.

Reviews
Goodreads · 2025-10-20
engaging 3.90

The book is captivating with extraordinary characters but can be slow and challenging at times. It is considered a classic and well-loved despite some parts being difficult to get through.

This review highlights the extraordinary story and characters that make the book so compelling. The reviewer finds the narrative engaging but notes that some parts are slow and hard to get through, which is why they didn't give it a perfect score. Despite these challenges, they consider it a classic and express a deep appreciation for the book overall. The reviewer's love for the book shines through, making it a must-read for those who enjoy rich, character-driven stories.

Quick quotes

    Extraordinary story and characters

    slow read, some parts for me were a bit hard to get through

    A classic though. Loved it.

Reddit - r/books · 2025-09-21
disappointing 1.50

The book was lackluster and failed to engage the reader. The characters and setting did not hold the reader's interest.

The reviewer found the book to be lackluster and struggled to stay engaged with the story. They felt that the characters were not particularly interesting, and the setting did not capture their imagination. Overall, they were disappointed with the reading experience.

Quick quotes

    It was lackluster and didn't really entice me to continue reading.

    I wasn't particularly invested in the characters or even the setting.

    Each chapter felt like a chore to get through.

Devon Trevarrow-Flaherty's Blog · Devon Trevarrow-Flaherty · 2022-08-29
engaging 3.80

The book was engaging and exceeded expectations with its compelling narrative. However, it lost some momentum towards the end.

Devon started reading this book with high expectations and was pleasantly surprised by how engaging it was. They found the narrative compelling and the characters intriguing, making it hard to put down. However, they felt that the book lost some of its momentum towards the end, which slightly dampened their overall enjoyment.

Quick quotes

    When I first started reading this book, I was somewhat enamored.

    I just didn't expect it to be so engaging.

    It lost some of its momentum towards the end.

Writing.ie · 2022-01-07
perfect 5.00

The book was perfect in every aspect, from the pace to the characters and dialogue. It reads like a novel, making it a truly enjoyable experience.

The reviewer found the book to be perfect in every aspect, praising its pace, characters, dialogue, and prose. They were particularly impressed by how the non-fiction work read like a novel, making it a truly enjoyable experience. The reviewer appreciated the way Berendt crafted the narrative, creating a compelling and immersive story that was hard to put down. They found the book to be a standout in its genre, with a unique blend of true crime and literary fiction.

Quick quotes

    A non-fiction book that reads like a novel.

    Everything about it is perfect, for me anyway.

    The pace, the shape, the characters, the dialogue, the prose.

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