Midnight in the Garden of Good and EvilMidnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Score Modern
What it's about
John Berendt, a New York writer, moves to Savannah, Georgia, and meets its extraordinary people: a man who walks an invisible dog, a drag queen named the Lady Chablis, a voodoo priestess, and Jim Williams, a wealthy antiques dealer who throws the city's best parties. Then Williams shoots his young assistant in his mansion, and goes on trial for murder four times.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 10 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and was a Pulitzer finalist. It's true crime and a portrait of a strange, beautiful Southern city.
You'll love it if you liked
In Cold Blood
The Devil in the White City
The Executioner's SongGood to know
Berendt changed some details and the order of events, so it's not strict journalism. The 1997 film was directed by Clint Eastwood.
By the numbers
- Readers27 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics32 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller71 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #161 of the 198 history books we rank
- #763 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1437 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Dark, Gripping
If you like this, read next
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators
13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession
Between the World and Me
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of CancerExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil worth reading?
Yes. It spent 10 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and was a Pulitzer finalist. It ranks #1,437 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil about?
John Berendt, a New York writer, moves to Savannah, Georgia, and meets its extraordinary people: a man who walks an invisible dog, a drag queen named the Lady Chablis, a voodoo priestess, and Jim Williams, a wealthy antiques dealer who throws the city's best parties. Then Williams shoots his young assistant in his mansion, and goes on trial for murder four times.
How long does it take to read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?
About 10 hours (388 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?
If you liked it, try In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson or The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer.