<P> Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is atmospherically Deep South coastal (Savannah, Georgia, Beaufort, South Carolina) and Southern Gothic in tone, depicting a wide range of eccentric personalities in and around the city of Savannah, Georgia . </P> <P> The story, unsettling and real, broke down the idea of the quintessential phenomenon of a true American city--only to reveal its quirks: its man walking an invisible dog; its voice of the drag queen; a high - society man in its elite community--all that somehow, unravels a murder mystery . Virtually seeming like a novel and reading like a tale, the non-fictional story is about the real - life events surrounding the murder . </P> <P> The central narrative concerns the killing of Danny Hansford, a local male prostitute (characterized as "a good time not yet had by all") by an important Savannah socialite, respected antiques dealer Jim Williams . This results in four murder trials, with the fourth ending in acquittal after the judge finally agreed to a change of venue to move the case away from the Savannah jury pool . The book describes Williams' version of the killing, which is that it was in "self - defense"--the result of Hansford, who is prone to fits of rage, shooting at Williams with a gun that is on display, and Williams shooting back in self - defense--and not murder, pre-meditated or otherwise by Williams . The death occurred in Williams' home' Mercer House' . </P> <P> The book highlights many other notable Savannah residents, as well, including The Lady Chablis, a transgender woman and local drag queen and entertainer . Chablis provides both a Greek chorus of sorts as well as a light - hearted contrast to the more serious action . </P>

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