In the Heat of the Night

Published in 1965, John Ball’s In the Heat of the Night is a crime novel set in Wells, South Carolina. The story focuses on the police department’s numerous struggles to solve a recent murder. Virgil Tibbs, a Black detective from Pasadena, California, lends a helping hand, but his interactions with the locals reveal the deep-seated racism of Wells. Through this murder mystery, the novel addresses issues of systemic racism and offers hope for a better, more compassionate future.

Upon its release, In the Heat of the Night won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. In 1967, it was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. In 1988, it became a television series as well.

Note: This study guide quotes and obscures the author’s use of the n-word.

Plot Summary

Sam Wood, a police officer in Wells, South Carolina, discovers a dead body lying in the road while out on a night patrol. The deceased is Enrico Mantoli, an Italian man who was planning a music festival. Sam and Bill Gillespie, the gruff and demanding new chief of police, both lack formal training and are ill prepared to conduct a murder investigation. Bill orders Sam to search the railroad station to see if anyone is trying to leave town, and Sam reluctantly obeys. There, Sam finds a Black man, Virgil Tibbs, waiting for a train. Sternly and rudely, Sam takes Virgil to the station. There, Bill is hostile to Virgil too.

Sam and Bill keep Virgil in a cell while they check his credentials. They learn that Virgil is a detective in California with an excellent record. Raised to distrust Black people, Sam and Bill now realize they might need Virgil’s help with the murder investigation. Enrico’s body arrives at the station. Bill reluctantly asks Virgil to examine the body. Meanwhile, Bill decides that since in the South Black people can’t be officers, he’ll get rid of Virgil as soon as possible. Harvey Oberst, a suspect found with Enrico’s wallet, is brought in. Bill wants to close the case, but Virgil explains that Harvey can’t be the killer: From his examination, Virgil knows that the killer is right-handed, but Harvey is left-handed. Bill scoffs at Virgil and demeans him. Virgil, accustomed to getting respect in California, stands his ground.

Sam visits Mr. Endicott, a wealthy man who was hosting Enrico before he died. Sam tells Mr. Endicott about the murder, and they return to the police station to identify the body. Mr. Endicott, a Northerner by birth, treats Virgil with respect and as an equal. He uses his influence to convince the mayor to let Virgil help solve the case. Bill and the mayor don’t like the idea, but they rationalize that Bill can take credit for Virgil’s detective work, and, if the investigation fails, Virgil can take the fall. Sam and Virgil return to the Endicott home so Virgil can ask more questions. Enrico’s daughter Duena’s beauty staggers Sam. During his questioning, Virgil proves to be a skillful detective, but Sam resists admiring him because of his race.

Virgil questions Harvey, who berates Virgil. Virgil remains unfazed and shows that Harvey didn’t kill Enrico. Sam continues investigating too. He patrols the city at night, but he grows more fearful that the killer is watching him, waiting to strike. Sam and Virgil work diligently. Slowly, they come to respect each other. They track multiple suspects, but there isn’t enough evidence to implicate any of them. The city council becomes irritated with Virgil’s presence in town, but Bill, seeing Virgil’s value now, insists that Virgil stay.

Bill discovers that Sam recently paid off his mortgage with cash and theorizes that maybe Sam is the killer. He arrests Sam, but Virgil commits to proving his innocence. Delores Purdy, a young woman, accuses Sam of seducing her, harming his reputation even more. Duena visits Sam in his cell. She senses he isn’t her father’s killer, and she kisses Sam as she leaves. Meanwhile, Virgil works tirelessly. One night, two white men attack him. He subdues them, but they don’t face charges because the justice system in Wells is prejudiced against Virgil.

Virgil helps prove Sam’s innocence. Sam paid off his mortgage with money he saved over time. Delores is unmarried and pregnant, so she accused Sam to force him to marry her. With Sam free again, all the officers set out on another night patrol. They stop at a diner for food, but Virgil waits in the car because Ralph, the counterman, won’t serve him. After the others order, Virgil surprises everyone by walking in. Ralph screams and pushes Virgil, but Virgil restrains him, and declares Ralph the killer. At the station, Bill gets Ralph to confess to the crime. Ralph was seeing Delores. When she got pregnant, he attacked Enrico to steal money for an abortion. With the case solved, Virgil prepares to leave Wells. He recommends Sam be promoted to sergeant. Bill, filled with a newfound respect for Virgil, offers to take him to the railroad station. It’s a calm and pleasant evening, and Bill helps Virgil with his bags. Virgil asks Bill if he can sit at the bench reserved for white people. Bill says yes, and the two men go their separate ways.