Nothing Left to Prove
“The sharp, hardboiled prose you would expect from a detective novelist… Smith shares vivid details, hard-earned insights, and stories of courage and terror, told with crisp, raw dialogue, a feeling for the drama of potentially violent confrontations, and an undercurrent of despair, despite many heartfelt tributes to cops he trusted and the mentor whose murder he had to look into”(BookLife Review).
From the streets of South Los Angeles to the elite homicide bureau, former sheriff’s detective Danny R. Smith saw some of L.A.’s darkest hours: a crack cocaine epidemic, unprecedented gang warfare, a spike in homicides that stunned the nation, the Rodney King riots, until one day, a beating left him unconscious. Only the miraculous malfunction of a killer’s automatic weapon saved his life. But it was the hundreds of deaths and innumerable tragedies—murdered colleagues, dead kids, a Native American burned alive by skinheads—that took the greatest toll.
In this no-holds-barred memoir, Smith offers a rare, unfiltered view of a career in law enforcement, and reveals his unique insights into battling PTSD and being forced to leave the profession he loved.
Nothing Left to Prove is shocking, riveting, and poignant—remarkably honest. It’s the very personal story of one man’s career and its effect on his life, unveiled through Smith’s masterful storytelling. If you think you know cops, if you enjoy compelling true-crime stories, then you’ll love Danny R. Smith’s powerful narrative.
This discussion guide was shared and sponsored by Dartfrog Books
Book club questions for Nothing Left to Prove by Danny R. Smith
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
Has reading this very intimate portrayal of one cop’s career changed how you feel about law enforcement? If so, how? If not, why not?
The author found himself in a number of situations in which he had to make split-second, often life-and-death decisions. Give an example of one or two of these and discuss how you might have done in that situation, and why.
Different stories throughout this book resonate with different people. Which stories really spoke to you, and why?
What is the motivating factor that drives the author throughout his career?
What types of trauma do law enforcement officers suffer throughout their careers, either directly or indirectly?
What are the impacts of that trauma, and might you deal with those experiences?
Do you see this story as a movie or TV series? If so, who might you cast as the author? Why?
Nothing Left to Prove Book Club Questions PDF
Click here for a printable PDF of the Nothing Left to Prove discussion questions