Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of death, racism, transgender discrimination, and antigay bias.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil blends travelogue, true crime, autobiography, and Southern Gothic elements. Which aspects of the book most captured your interest, and why? Have you read other Southern Gothic works (such as Flannery O’Connor’s short story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”) that create a similar atmosphere?

2. How did your perception of Savannah change as you progressed through the book? Did your understanding of the city change as you moved from the idyllic descriptions in the early chapters to the revelations of its darker side during the trials?

3. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil has been compared to Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood for its blend of journalism and narrative storytelling. If you’ve read both books, how is their approach to true crime different? If not, how does Berendt’s style compare to other nonfiction or true crime books you’ve read?