{"product_id":"five-pieces-of-jade-9781612329765","title":"Five Pieces of Jade","description":"The body of an elderly Chinese importer of rare jade lies on the carpet of a quietly expensive house in Pasadena, California. In a rough semicircle around his head rest four pieces of jade; protruding from the heart is a fifth-the Ya-Chang ritual knife.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWho murdered the importer? Was it Yumeko, the beautiful half-black, half-Japanese girl who lived with him? Johnny Wu, a rich Chinese-American? Another customer? Or a political enemy from overseas?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlack homicide detective Virgil Tibbs finds himself in the middle of a deadly situation involving hard drugs, Communist Chinese agents, and the exotic settings of the jade trade as he coolly tracks down the murderer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePraise for John Ball\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A nice tight murder puzzle.\"-Times Literary Supplement \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A taut, dramatic yarn.\"-Charlotte Observer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 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 \u0026amp; 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.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Speaking Volumes LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50474246439186,"sku":"9781612329765","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_c7028902-a3ff-4046-af7b-1d9753214ba9.jpg?v=1730215517","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/five-pieces-of-jade-9781612329765","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}