John Dudley Ball Jr. (July 8, 1911 – October 15, 1988)[1] was an American writer best known for mystery novels involving the African-American police detective Virgil Tibbs.
For a time he worked as a part-time reserve deputy for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, was trained in martial arts, and was a nudist.
He was a member of the exclusive The Baker Street Irregulars, a society of ardent Sherlock Holmes fans.
The first involves a group of travelers in a troubled Third World country, waiting for the last plane out, which they hope will carry them to safety.
He died in 1988 and was buried at the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.