This non-fiction book reads like an unputdownable novel. Great writing--it's suspenseful but also laugh out loud funny. I've read it several times. I also recommend the unabridged audio book.

Let's start out by reminding everyone this is NON-FICTION but you would not every believe it by the smooth and creative writing style of the author. It reads like a crime novel because the author is clearly a great story teller. I think the most creative thing the author did was to develop characters, which there are many, in the beginning of the book. This is another reason it's a little slow because Berendt also wants you to fall in love with Savannah, just like he did, so he painstakingly describes the beauty of the architecture and landscape of this hidden city in the South. As for the characters, don't feel like you have to remember every single one for a book club review. There are a couple of handfuls that are important and they (Jim, Danny, Joe, Chablis, Adlers, Lawton, Seiler, Minerva)come up so often and are so colorful you won't be able to forget them. The others (Serena, Diggers, Glover, UGA iv and v) are in the novel to help build the weird and extreme events that were going on during the 8 years Berendt spent in Savannah.

With a non-fiction book club event it's hard, other than discussing the writing style, to talk about plot/story line, characters, etc. because they are what they are. So We decided to view the movie (of the same title), directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Kevin Spacey (Williams), John Cusack (Berendt) and Lady Chablis (played herself) to compare how the book was different from the movie. It was a lot of fun and different than anything we ever did. It's a 2.5 hour movie so allow enough time and, if people hate talking through movies, I wouldn't recommend this method because we did a lot talking.

Overall a very well written book with lots of enjoyment - you start asking yourself can this really happen in one town? Be patient in the start and, if you are, you will be rewarded.

I think you will have fun learning about Savanah and all of her interesting characters. We had a fun discussion that came around to comparing & contrasting our town to the personality quirks of Savanah.

Good writing style - a easy book to read.

Adult subject matter - drag queens & alternative lifestyles on display. Tastefully done for the most part. I just don't a reader to be surprised by the content and therefore put off by an otherwise well crafted story.

Overall I enjoyed this book, it's a quick read and interesting.

Curiosity was aroused from page one for the bizarre behaviour and personalities outlined by the journalist narrator and his vivid descriptions of local events in the 1980s, Savannah, U.S.A.
It seems that tourism and travel to this area have thrived through the introductions made by this author. The sudden interest undoubtedly comes from knowing a little about the eccentrics, the appeal of the historical colonial architecture and a feeling of having already been there through the pages of the book.
Some of us were totally engaged in the eccentricities of characters in this true life depiction and one particularly shines out as a delight to encounter. ‘The Lady Chablis’; he/she is a one off who self-promotes with outrageous behaviour and thrives in an extremely unusual way of life.
Two members agreed that having a dislike of the ‘Deep South’ or the preconceived ‘Gone with The Wind’ setting, combined with the slow build up to any sort of action had made them lose interest early on. Having watched the movie (screened conveniently on television at the time) made the plot more understandable for them, but it had not encouraged them to return to finish reading the story.
The mention of Voodoo practices would have put one reader off the book completely, but she persevered because it had been recommended to the group and was not disappointed.
The four murder trials are the major focus for the second half of the book and this did not make easy reading. The murder victim (Danny Hansford) was a male prostitute and the defendant (Jim Williams) was a respected antiques dealer. The victim was not likeable or popular and this made it difficult to side with the prosecution case. Our group went onto discuss Jury Service, our personal experiences of it and how it would be difficult to decide who and who not to believe when the legal beagles work so hard to convince us what is the truth. Jim Williams, the defendant, changes his story as he sees fit and so, ultimately, he is not so likeable either.
We gave an average mark of 5 and most felt it was a very worthwhile read.

Characters are well-written and very colorful. The description of the squares and the city of Savannah took me back to my visit there. The story is interesting but the storyline is slow moving. Overall, I liked it and would recommend it but it is not a fast read.

I really enjoyed this book but I had just gotten back from Savannah so it made me want to return. A colorful city with a patchwork past. Enjoyed the story, the history and the quirky characters. Hard to believe it is all really real.

This was not a book I wouldvhavevpicked for myself, so I am very glad our club picked it. It was a fun interesting read. I learned about Savannah. A few of our members had visited Savannah and loved visiting again through the book. I loved the characters.

I love this book. I read it 20 years ago when it first came out and we just re read it for book club. It was just as fun and exciting. The characters are colorful, the story is fascinating and it is well written. It makes me want to visit Savannah! I love the fact that this book was found in the sociology section of the book store.

Since it is a non fiction book I found it a very interesting read. It makes it more interesting to listen to interviews with the author after you read the book, he really adds insight to much of the details. Slow moving with all the detail, some of it not necessary to the story line.

The town of Savanna as a character and the stories about the inhabitants were better than the details of the murder/trail. The amount of quirk in this book would alarm you.