TOP FIVE Reasons to buy Joyce Dudley’s Second Novel

You probably know Senior Deputy District Attorney Joyce Dudley
more as a subject of news stories than a spinner of fictional
yarns, but it’s true: This month Dudley the crime/mystery author
released her second self-published novel, a tale of arson, rape,
murder, and mountain hideaways called Intoxicating Agent.
It’s a follow-up to her debut Justice Served, and again
stars Jordon Danner, whom Dudley admits is a pumped-up version of
herself. Here are five reasons why you should pick it up from
dudleybook.com or
bookstores around town.

1. It’s set in Santa Barbara — with all the familiar fixings of
KEYT, Isla Vista, Cottage Hospital, plus thinly veiled names of our
town’s minor celebs — and who doesn’t love reading about places
they know?

2. It’s a fast-moving, 217-page, 48-hour romp through numerous
crimes, so you could easily read it in one weekend.

3. It gives a unique and enlightening perspective on the way
justice is served in this town, focusing — albeit fictionally — on
the dynamics of relationships between cops, firefighters, judges,
the media, and attorneys.

4. About three-quarters of the way through the book, Jordon
Danner stumbled across an article on alcoholic blackouts in The
Indy written by editor Matt Kettmann. Aside from being our
shamelessly selfish plug, it also shows that Dudley is helping
shine light on how the conundrum of blackouts is being dealt with
in the legal realm.

5. Lastly, the author’s a ruthlessly talented prosecutor, and if
by chance you land in her courtroom, perhaps she’ll treat you a
little nicer if you’re familiar with Danner’s adventures.