There are books you read and then there are books that change the way you see a place. For Savannah, few books have become as intertwined with the city’s identity as John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. More than 30 years after its publication, the bestselling work of nonfiction continues to introduce readers around the world to a Savannah filled with grand historic homes, shaded squares, eccentric personalities, long-held traditions, and more than a little intrigue.
For the first selection in our Upper East River Book Club, we’re revisiting this modern classic and inviting neighbors and future neighbors alike to discover a story that feels especially meaningful when Savannah is the place you call home.
About the Book
First published in 1994, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil blends true crime, travel writing, and unforgettable character studies into a portrait of Savannah unlike any other.
At the center of the story is the 1981 shooting death of Danny Hansford inside the Mercer House and the ensuing trials of prominent antiques dealer and preservationist Jim Williams. But the crime is only one piece of Berendt’s story. After becoming fascinated with Savannah during a visit in the 1980s, the New York writer spent years immersed in the city, observing its customs and getting to know the colorful cast of characters who would eventually populate the book.
The result reads remarkably like a novel, despite being a work of nonfiction. Berendt introduces readers to Savannah society, historic preservation, parties, scandals, traditions, and personalities ranging from the charismatic Lady Chablis to musician and raconteur Joe Odom and Minerva, a practitioner of rootwork whose nighttime visits to the cemetery inspired the book’s unforgettable title.
Savannah itself, however, may be the book’s most memorable character.
Its squares, mansions, gardens, cemeteries, and social circles aren’t simply a backdrop for the story. They shape it. Berendt captures a city deeply connected to its past yet populated by people who continually defy expectations—a contradiction that remains part of Savannah’s appeal today.
Photo Courtesy of Mercer Williams House Museum
The Mercer Williams House
Reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil while living in Savannah comes with a rare opportunity: you can step beyond the pages and visit many of the places that inspired them.
None is more closely associated with the book than the Mercer Williams House Museum on Monterey Square.
Construction on the Italianate mansion began in 1860 for General Hugh W. Mercer, great-grandfather of songwriter Johnny Mercer. A century later, Jim Williams purchased the house and undertook an extensive restoration, filling its rooms with antiques and works of art. The house later became famous as the setting of the shooting at the heart of Berendt’s book. Today, it remains one of Savannah’s most recognizable historic residences and is open to visitors for guided tours.
For readers, visiting the Mercer Williams House after finishing the book offers an entirely different perspective. Instead of imagining the architecture, interiors, and surrounding neighborhood, you can experience the setting firsthand, and then walk out the door into the same network of historic squares and streets that Berendt describes.
That’s one of the pleasures of reading a book about your own city. The story doesn’t necessarily end when you turn the final page.
Make It a Savannah Book Date
A Savannah book club deserves a Savannah bookseller.
Before beginning Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, make a visit to E. Shaver Booksellers, the beloved independent bookstore tucked inside a historic building on Madison Square. Browse the shelves, find your next read, and spend some time with the shop’s famously literary atmosphere.
Then make an afternoon of it. Savannah offers countless spots for lingering over a few chapters with a cup of coffee, meeting a friend to discuss the book over lunch, or finding a bench beneath the live oaks in one of the city’s squares.
You could even plan a Midnight-inspired outing: pick up the book locally, read it with friends or neighbors, and finish with a visit to the Mercer Williams House.
When you live in Savannah, a book club can become an excuse to rediscover the city around you.
Questions for Your Book Club
Once you’ve finished the book, pour a drink, gather around, and see where the conversation takes you.
- Savannah often feels like a character in its own right. How would you describe the version of the city Berendt creates?
- Which of the book’s many characters did you find most memorable, and why?
- How does Savannah’s relationship with history influence the people and events in the book?
- Berendt was an outsider when he first encountered Savannah. How do you think that perspective shaped the way he portrayed the city?
- The book frequently explores the contrast between appearances and reality. Where did you notice that theme most strongly?
- How do architecture, gardens, squares, and historic homes contribute to the atmosphere of the story?
- What parts of Berendt’s Savannah still feel recognizable today? What feels distinctly of another era?
- If you were introducing someone to Savannah for the first time, would you give them Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil to read? Why or why not?
- If you could spend an evening with one person from the book, whom would you choose?
- What Savannah-set book should the Upper East River Book Club read next?
A Community Worth Sharing
The best book clubs aren’t really just about books. They’re about conversation, connection, and having a reason to come together.
That’s also part of what makes life at Upper East River special.
Set along the Savannah River and just moments from the city’s historic heart, Upper East River offers the opportunity to enjoy Savannah not simply as a destination, but as your hometown. The restaurants, architecture, history, galleries, independent shops, and cultural institutions that visitors travel to experience become part of everyday life.
And at home, thoughtfully designed residences and inviting shared spaces create opportunities to get to know the people living around you, whether you’re gathering for a neighborhood event, enjoying an evening along the river, or discussing a very Savannah story with a few neighbors over a glass of wine.
So, consider this your invitation: pick up a copy of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, settle into your favorite reading spot, and rediscover one of America’s most fascinating cities through John Berendt’s eyes.
Then pass the book along to a neighbor. After all, the best stories are meant to be shared.
Summer’s Grand Finale
If you are thinking of making Upper East River your new home, don’t miss out on our end-of-summer promotion. Save up to $100K on contracts written before September 30, 2026. Explore our available homes and connect with our agent at 912-800-1885 for promotion details!
