Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) - John Berendt

February 19, 1996

MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL

Novel by John Berendt

Synopsis by Brian Aldrich

This non-fiction book is more about the city of Savannah, Georgia than the murder and trials it describes. The WRITER, although from New York, decided to make Savannah his second home and in the years he lived there he met several eccentric characters, some of whom were eventually to be involved in the murder case.

The writer made friends with: JOE ODOM, a charismatic con man and lawyer; MANDY, Joe's sexy girlfriend and partner; LUTHER DRIGGERS, a ruined inventor turned poison and bug freak; SERENA DAWES, Luthor's flamboyant girlfriend; EMMA KELLY, a former singing star who know over 6000 songs; and CHABLIS, a black transvestite who does a bawdy act at a strip joint. Eventually, another of the writer's acquaintances, super-wealthy, gay, antique dealer JIM WILLIAMS is charged with the murder of DANNY HANSFORD, 21, an angry, young male hustler, bisexual, employee, house companion, and lover of William's.

Evidently, when Danny wasn't having sex with anybody and everybody in town or doing drugs, he was threatening Williams's life and smashing up the antiques in Williams's mansion-the famous Mercer House of Old Savannah. One night, Danny was especially disturbed and threatened Williams with a gun, firing off a few shots before Williams could grab a weapon and kill Danny. Although pleading self-defense, Williams is arrested. Williams's society rivals LEE and EMMA ADLER convince ambitious District Attorney SPENCER LAWTON to prosecute Williams for first degree murder.

In the first trial, Lawton's case is that Williams shot Danny and altered the crime scene to make it look like self-defense. Williams's expensive lawyers JOHN WRIGHT JONES and BOBBY LEE COOK do their best to refute the evidence, but Williams is found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment, but the conviction is overturned when it is revealed Lawton concealed evidence from the defense which could've damaged the State's case. In the second trial, Williams's new lawyer FRANK "SONNY" SEILER aggressively casts doubts on the State's case, but Williams is found guilty again. However, the verdict is once again overturned. In the third trial, Seiler is able to show the mishandling of evidence. Secretly, Williams confides to the Writer that he did alter the crime scene after killing Danny in self-defense. Meanwhile, Williams enlist the assistance of MINERVA, a voodoo witch who casts spells on Williams's foes as well as the jury. The third trial results in a hung jury and a mistrial. The fourth trial is moved to Augusta where in 45 minutes the jury finds Williams not guilty. Williams lives a few years longer before dropping dead of a heart attack, but the city of Savannah is changed forever.

Summary Criticism: This is an excellent portrayal of a society corrupted by its own wealth, elitism, and inbreeding. The characters are compelling and the plot explores timely themes.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) - imdb

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) - wiki