Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil written by John Berendt was first published in 1994.  Interestingly I had just joined my first book group locally with a few women with small children.  We would meet late at night after the kids were asleep.  We were all sleep deprived and it was hard to read a book a month let alone understand and discuss it.

That was my excuse for not realizing that this book was supposed to be non fiction and not a novel. Though I remember not really understanding the plot at the time, it seems to have made a comeback now and is on many reading lists so when I was looking for a non fiction murder story for my group I added it to the list.

Though Berendt insists the book is non fiction he does mention that there are a few changes to the timeline to fit the facts he wants to emphasize. The story of an antiques dealer on trial for the murder of a male prostitute in Savanah Georgia.  Male prostitute, Danny Hansford was shot by his employer and possible lover, respected antiques dealer Jim Williams.  The book follows Berendt's time in Savannah before and during the murder trials, there were four trials, of Williams.  

The timeline of events is altered to add Berendt being in Georgia earlier in the sequence of events than he really was.  The book also is written to have the suspense and build up of a mystery novel.  It has been referred to as a nonfiction novel  in the press.  Berendt says he is the only fictional character in the book until he catches up with himself, meaning he adds himself to the beginning of the story when he was not there but hten later he is really a part of the timeline.

Once again I found it rambling and difficult to follow.  There is quite a big build up of getting to know the characters and the setting of Savannah and its society scene.  An interesting story that has increased the attention to Savannah and its tourist visitations.