Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Published in 1994, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a "non-fiction novel," based on factual events but with these events modified to fit the format of a novel. Bringing in a variety of eccentric characters, author John Berendt paints a colorful picture of the social life of Savannah, Georgia.

For those expecting a novel structure, Midnight takes its time getting around to the action. The inciting event of the plot doesn't happen until almost halfway through the book, though Berendt's fast-moving prose and entertaining introductions to the various characters involved in the story keeps this from being a detriment. The book overall is a fast and entertaining read, exposing the less savory side of Savannah's culture without ever losing the reader's sympathy for the characters or the city itself. With plenty to say about homophobia, racism, and the debilitating effect of social stagnation, Midnight never shoves any of its message down the reader's throat.