John Ball
John Ball
8 July 1911 – 15 October 198811
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The son of a scientist, John Dudley Ball was born in Schenectady, New York, and grew up in Milwaukee. He attended Carroll College in Wisconsin. He subsequently worked as a science staff writer on Fortune, a music critic and feature writer for the Brooklyn Eagle, a daily columnist on the New York Wor…
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Mystery Crime Fiction Thriller Short Stories
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John Dudley Ball, John Ball Jr.Featured Works
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Frequently asked questions
What is John Ball best known for?
John Ball is widely recognized for his Virgil Tibbs series, which introduced a Black homicide detective in a racially charged Southern setting. The first novel in this series, "In the Heat of the Night," received an Edgar Award for Best First Novel.
Are there any film adaptations of John Ball's books?
Yes, his novel "In the Heat of the Night" was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film starring Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs. This film also inspired a successful television series.
In what order should I read the Virgil Tibbs series?
The Virgil Tibbs series begins with "In the Heat of the Night," followed by "The Cool Cottontail," "Johnny Get Your Gun," "Five Pieces of Jade," "The Eyes of Buddha," "Then Came Violence," and "Singapore." Reading them in publication order allows for the natural progression of the character and his cases.