False Negatives is a fictional story of a young man who joined the LAPD in the wake of the Watt’s riots and amidst the rising tide of violence. The novel initially sounds like the memoir of a naive idealist who was sure he could make LA’s streets safer and improve the department’s troubled relationship with the minority communities. When the point of view opens, the listener sees what the young idealist does not: the truth.

Written by a retired LA cop, the fast-paced novel is as real as it gets. The 25-year veteran doesn’t pull any punches. Nothing is taboo. Every word echoes with the unmistakable ring of authenticity. The story tells the truth that could only be told in a work of fiction. 

Listening to the novel, you are not a witness - you are there. Sometimes gritting your teeth, other times laughing out loud, it immerses you in the life of an LAPD rookie in the early 1970s. Listening to the book will have you locking your doors at night and looking over your shoulder. If you’re prone to indigestion, better grab the Alka-Seltzer. It is an experience you have not had unless you were an LA cop.

In the words of Max Stoller’s first training officer, “Experience is a hell of a teacher.” It is time to go to school.