John Ball: Then Came Violence

John Ball: Then Came Violence (USA 2014)

From the Publisher:
Virgil Tibbs, the cool, highly-competent black detective of the Pasedena Police Department, returns one day to his bachelor apartment to find that it has been expertly stripped to the bare walls -- not a thing remains to show that he has ever lived there. At headquarters he is given a cryptic note from Police Chief McGowan, sending him to a certain address in the better section of Pasedena. When he arrives he finds his possessions carefully installed in a fine new home. But that's not all. The door is opened by a very attractive young woman who informs him that she is Mrs. Virgil Tibbs. He has never seen her before, and he certainly isn't responsible for the two children who greet him as their father.

Meanwhile, a brutal holdup is followed by an execution-type hanging of one of the bandits. More violence follows, and Pasedena's ace homicide investigator is tested to the limits by a double assignment calling for every bit of his tact, skill, and discipline.

The son of a scientist, John 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 World-Telegram & Sun, a broadcaster for a Washington radio station, and a Director of Public Relations for the institute of Aerospace Sciences. His In the Heat of the Night was awarded a Mystery Writers of America "Edgar' for the Best First Mystery Novel of the Year, and since had been followed by The Cool Cottontail, also featuring his African-American detective, Virgil Tibbs. Mr. Ball has also authored a number of notable young adult books.

John Ball: Then Came Violence. A Virgil Tibbs Mystery. Speaking Volumes, ISBN: 9781612329802 (March, 2014), 201 p., $14.95, eBook $9.99.

John Ball: Then Came Violence (USA 1988)

From the Publisher:
"Tibbs is as much a model of perfection as the late Wimsey... A good detective who actually ratiocinates. -- Times Literary Supplement (London)

Virgil Tibbs, the cool, highly competent black detective of the Pasedena Police Department, returns one day to his bachelor apartment to find that it has been expertly stripped to the bare walls -- not a thing remains to show that he has ever lived there. At headquarters he is given a cryptic note from Police Chief McGowan, sending him to a certain address in the better section of Pasedena. When he arrives, he finds his possessions carefully installed in a fine new home. But that's not all. The door is opened by a very attractive young woman who informs him that she is Mrs. Virgil Tibbs. He has never seen her before, and he certainly isn't responsible for the two children who greet him as their father.

"A first-rate writer who lends authenticity to his work by incorporating an unusual understanding of police investigative techniques." -- Richmond News Leader

John Ball: Then Came Violence. A Virgil Tibbs Mystery. Perennial Library, ISBN: 0060808337 (March, 1988), 201 p., $3.95.

John Ball: Then Came Violence (USA 1980)

From the Publisher:
Virgil Tibbs, the cool, highly competent black detective of the Pasadena Police Department opens the door of his bachelor apartment to find that it has been expertly stripped to the bare walls -- not a thing is left to show that he ever lived there. At headquarters he is given a cryptic note from Police Chief McGowan -- he is to go to a certain address in the better section of Pasadena. When he arrives, he finds his possessions carefully installed in a fine new home. But that isn't all: the door is opened by a very attractive young woman who informs him that she is Mrs. Virgil Tibbs and does he wish to leave a message for her absent husband. He has never seen her before in his life, and he certainly isn't responsible for the two children who greet him as their father.

Meanwhile, a brutal hold-up is followed by the execution-type hanging of one of the bandits, and it is Virgil's case all the way. Then more violence follows and Pasadena's ace homicide investigator is tested to the limit by a double assignment that calls for every bit of his tact, skill and discipline. If that weren't enough, he finds himself in a growing emotional situation that is almost more than he can handle.

This is John Ball's sixth novel about Virgil Tibbs who first appeared in the memorable In the Heat of the Night, the screen version of which won five Academy Awards. Mr. Ball is also widely known for such works as Miss 100 Spring Blossoms, Last Plane Out, Rescue Mission, The Winds of Mitamura, Phase Three Alert and Police Chief. He lives in Encino, California.

John Ball: Then Came Violence. A Virgil Tibbs Adventure. Doubleday / Crime Club, 1980, ISBN: 0385157266 (April, 1980), 208 p., $?.??.