In the Heat of the Night

• Genre: Fiction; Mystery/Crime
• Originally Published: 1965
• Reading Level/Interest: Grades 9-12; College/Adult
• Structure/Length: 14 chapters; approx. 184 pages; approx. 5 hours and 37 minutes on audiobook
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The story follows Virgil Tibbs, a skilled Black homicide detective from California, who finds himself embroiled in a murder investigation in the racially tense town of Wells, South Carolina. As Tibbs assists in solving the murder, he faces racism and prejudice from the local police and residents. Set in a small Southern town in the 1960s, the story addresses themes of racial tension and justice.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Explicit racial prejudice and discrimination; violence; racial slurs

John Dudley Ball, Author

• Bio: Born 1911; died 1988; American author and playwright; known for his detective fiction and screenwriting; wrote several novels and screenplays; achieved critical acclaim for his portrayals of social issues, including racial discrimination; often addressed themes of justice and inequality in his work
• Other Works: The Cool Cottontail (1966); Five Pieces of Jade (1972); Miss One Thousand Spring Blossoms (1980)
• Awards: Edgar Award for Best First Novel (1966)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Systemic Racism Hurts Everyone
• Compassion and Empathy
• Poor Infrastructure Harms Communities

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will: