In the Heat of the Night

by John Ball Narrated by Dion Graham

Overview

The pioneering novel featuring African American police detective Virgil Tibbs

“They call me Mr. Tibbs” was the line immortalized by Sidney Poitier in the 1967 Oscar-winning movie adaptation of In the Heat of the Night, which won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award and was named one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the 20th Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association. Now fans of classic crime can rediscover this suspense-filled novel whose hero paved the way for James Patterson's Alex Cross, George Pelecanos's Derek Strange, and other African American detectives.

A small southern town in the 1960s. A musician found dead on the highway. It's no surprise when white detectives arrest a black man for the murder. What is a surprise is that the black man-Virgil Tibbs-is not the killer but a skilled homicide detective, passing through racially tense Wells, South Carolina, on his way back to California. Even more surprising, Wells's new police chief recruits Tibbs to help with the investigation. But Tibbs's presence in town rubs some of the locals the wrong way, and it won't be long before the martial arts-trained detective has to fight not just for justice, but also for his own safety.

Editorial Reviews

AUGUST 2015 - AudioFile

Narrator Dion Graham makes listeners feel the ambiance of this book’s title as Ball establishes its setting—the Deep South in the 1960s. The rhythm of Graham's voice quickens as a local cop on his late-night beat goes from drinking an ice-cold Coke in the diner to dealing with a dead body. Listeners may know that the first suspect turns out to be black Pasadena homicide investigator Virgil Tibbs, who is passing through town. Surprisingly, Tibbs is asked to join the investigation, at one point eliminating a suspect through a man's shave, shoes, and left-handedness. The gentle voice that Graham gives Tibbs is juxtaposed with the redneck tones of some of the locals, a contrast that maintains the undercurrent of racial tension that Ball blends with the mystery, the first in the Tibbs series. Deftly balancing the story's elements, Graham provides a strong introduction to a classic series of procedurals. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2015 - AudioFile

Narrator Dion Graham makes listeners feel the ambiance of this book’s title as Ball establishes its setting—the Deep South in the 1960s. The rhythm of Graham's voice quickens as a local cop on his late-night beat goes from drinking an ice-cold Coke in the diner to dealing with a dead body. Listeners may know that the first suspect turns out to be black Pasadena homicide investigator Virgil Tibbs, who is passing through town. Surprisingly, Tibbs is asked to join the investigation, at one point eliminating a suspect through a man's shave, shoes, and left-handedness. The gentle voice that Graham gives Tibbs is juxtaposed with the redneck tones of some of the locals, a contrast that maintains the undercurrent of racial tension that Ball blends with the mystery, the first in the Tibbs series. Deftly balancing the story's elements, Graham provides a strong introduction to a classic series of procedurals. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172697715
Publisher:	Brilliance Audio
Publication date:	07/21/2015
Series:	Virgil Tibbs Series , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged

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