content: It just didn't do it for me. Like so many other people, I loved Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It was such a rich, unexpected book and came alive in the reading. But, I fear John Berendt had only one in him - one great story. He found a crime and a city and another series of characters, but he just didn't find the magic.Good writing? Yes. Interesting characters? Somewhat. Compelling plot? No.Maybe it's just that he tried too hard to make Venice new to his readers. Maybe he tried too hard to replicate the formula and twists of Midnight, even though reality didn't afford him similarities to work with. Maybe he just tried too hard.