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The Lincoln Lawyer #8
The proving ground
Mickey Haller - The Lincoln Lawyer - leaves criminal court behind for his first civil lawsuit. But to him, this is still a murder trial.
An AI company's chatbot encouraged a sixteen-year-old boy to kill his ex-girlfriend. Can Haller prove the company knew the dangers of its own creation?
To do so, he turns to Jack McEvoy - a journalist who knows how powerful the coming wave will be - and together they soon uncover a whistleblower in hiding.
As the tech titans try to buy or bully their way out, the scale of their courtroom battle before them becomes clear. Because billions are at stake - along with countless lives - in an all or nothing case, which could change everything..
An AI company's chatbot encouraged a sixteen-year-old boy to kill his ex-girlfriend. Can Haller prove the company knew the dangers of its own creation?
To do so, he turns to Jack McEvoy - a journalist who knows how powerful the coming wave will be - and together they soon uncover a whistleblower in hiding.
As the tech titans try to buy or bully their way out, the scale of their courtroom battle before them becomes clear. Because billions are at stake - along with countless lives - in an all or nothing case, which could change everything..
388 pages, Paperback
First published October 21, 2025
5545 people are currently reading
20018 people want to read
About the author
Michael Connelly
378 books35.3k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with over 30 more novels.
Over eighty million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into forty-five foreign languages. He has won the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Los Angeles Times Best Mystery/Thriller Award, Shamus Award, Dilys Award, Nero Award, Barry Award, Audie Award, Ridley Award, Maltese Falcon Award (Japan), .38 Caliber Award (France), Grand Prix Award (France), Premio Bancarella Award (Italy), and the Pepe Carvalho award (Spain) .
Michael was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, Michael is one of the producers and writers of the TV show, “Bosch,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Michael lives with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with over 30 more novels.
Over eighty million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into forty-five foreign languages. He has won the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Los Angeles Times Best Mystery/Thriller Award, Shamus Award, Dilys Award, Nero Award, Barry Award, Audie Award, Ridley Award, Maltese Falcon Award (Japan), .38 Caliber Award (France), Grand Prix Award (France), Premio Bancarella Award (Italy), and the Pepe Carvalho award (Spain) .
Michael was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, Michael is one of the producers and writers of the TV show, “Bosch,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Michael lives with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
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February 11, 2026
Michael Connelly has done it again. With The Proving Ground, he not only reaffirms why Mickey Haller remains one of the most compelling voices in legal thrillers, but also proves that his characters are capable of evolving with the times while staying true to the sharp edges that made us fall in love with them in the first place.
This book is urgent, fearless, and brimming with tension. It pushes Mickey out of his usual comfort zone of criminal defense and into the world of public interest litigation, pitting him against one of the most powerful—and most terrifying—forces shaping our present and future: artificial intelligence. After years of watching Haller charm juries from the backseat of his Lincoln, it’s fascinating to see him step into a case where the real battle isn’t just about guilt or innocence, but about accountability in an era where technology has outpaced morality.
As a longtime fan of Connelly’s universe, I found this story electric. Harry Bosch has always embodied the relentless pursuit of justice, Renee Ballard carries the fire of persistence in a system that often resists change, and Mickey Haller brings the blend of charisma and cunning that makes a courtroom feel like a stage. In The Proving Ground, Mickey embodies all of these qualities at once. He thrives in the spotlight, yes, but beneath the theatrics lies a lawyer who knows how to dig, how to strategize, and how to play the long game—even against billion-dollar corporations with everything to lose. Watching him peel back the layers of an AI empire, uncover hidden truths, and gamble on high-stakes moves in the courtroom reminded me why he’s one of Connelly’s most enduring creations.
But what makes this book more than just a legal thriller is the way Connelly anchors it in reality. The AI lawsuit doesn’t feel like fiction—it feels like tomorrow’s headline. The moral questions raised are haunting. What happens when machines convince us of things that no human being ever should? Who is responsible when tragedy springs from algorithms written in cold code? Connelly isn’t afraid to let those questions hang heavy over the story, even as he keeps the pacing taut and the drama explosive.
The subplot involving Jack McEvoy also adds a fascinating texture, bridging the line between journalism and justice, and reminding us how truth is uncovered not just by lawyers but by those willing to chase stories into dark corners. The whistleblower reveal crackles with suspense, offering the kind of twist that makes Connelly’s writing so addictive.
And then there’s the personal layer woven into the backdrop of the LA wildfires—Connelly doesn’t just tell a story, he sets it against the raw, unpredictable forces that mirror the characters’ struggles. It adds atmosphere, depth, and consequence, turning the book into more than a courtroom drama—it’s a reflection on resilience, risk, and what it costs to stand up against overwhelming odds.
I’ve said before that I could read thousands of books about these characters and never get tired of them. The Proving Ground is exactly why. Connelly gives us a legal thriller that is as timely as it is timeless, as entertaining as it is unsettling, and as personal as it is universal. Mickey Haller may call himself the Lincoln Lawyer, but in this case, he becomes something more—a fighter for truth in a world where truth itself is under siege.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for sharing this mind-blowing legal thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions—I truly, truly appreciated it.
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This book is urgent, fearless, and brimming with tension. It pushes Mickey out of his usual comfort zone of criminal defense and into the world of public interest litigation, pitting him against one of the most powerful—and most terrifying—forces shaping our present and future: artificial intelligence. After years of watching Haller charm juries from the backseat of his Lincoln, it’s fascinating to see him step into a case where the real battle isn’t just about guilt or innocence, but about accountability in an era where technology has outpaced morality.
As a longtime fan of Connelly’s universe, I found this story electric. Harry Bosch has always embodied the relentless pursuit of justice, Renee Ballard carries the fire of persistence in a system that often resists change, and Mickey Haller brings the blend of charisma and cunning that makes a courtroom feel like a stage. In The Proving Ground, Mickey embodies all of these qualities at once. He thrives in the spotlight, yes, but beneath the theatrics lies a lawyer who knows how to dig, how to strategize, and how to play the long game—even against billion-dollar corporations with everything to lose. Watching him peel back the layers of an AI empire, uncover hidden truths, and gamble on high-stakes moves in the courtroom reminded me why he’s one of Connelly’s most enduring creations.
But what makes this book more than just a legal thriller is the way Connelly anchors it in reality. The AI lawsuit doesn’t feel like fiction—it feels like tomorrow’s headline. The moral questions raised are haunting. What happens when machines convince us of things that no human being ever should? Who is responsible when tragedy springs from algorithms written in cold code? Connelly isn’t afraid to let those questions hang heavy over the story, even as he keeps the pacing taut and the drama explosive.
The subplot involving Jack McEvoy also adds a fascinating texture, bridging the line between journalism and justice, and reminding us how truth is uncovered not just by lawyers but by those willing to chase stories into dark corners. The whistleblower reveal crackles with suspense, offering the kind of twist that makes Connelly’s writing so addictive.
And then there’s the personal layer woven into the backdrop of the LA wildfires—Connelly doesn’t just tell a story, he sets it against the raw, unpredictable forces that mirror the characters’ struggles. It adds atmosphere, depth, and consequence, turning the book into more than a courtroom drama—it’s a reflection on resilience, risk, and what it costs to stand up against overwhelming odds.
I’ve said before that I could read thousands of books about these characters and never get tired of them. The Proving Ground is exactly why. Connelly gives us a legal thriller that is as timely as it is timeless, as entertaining as it is unsettling, and as personal as it is universal. Mickey Haller may call himself the Lincoln Lawyer, but in this case, he becomes something more—a fighter for truth in a world where truth itself is under siege.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for sharing this mind-blowing legal thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions—I truly, truly appreciated it.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
November 19, 2025
5.0++ stars— It has been so long since I’ve read a book that just blew me away, I had almost forgotten how good it feels. Then I read “The Proving Ground” by Michael Connelly and all of the joy of reading a really good book came flooding back to me. From attempting to read a chapter every break you get to not falling asleep out of boredom every night while reading, it was great. Michael Connelly has always been one of my favorites. His Detective Harry Bosch series is top notch as is the Lincoln Lawyer series of books. Connelly knows how to write a book that holds your attention from start to finish no matter the subject matter, and this book is no exception. “Proving Ground” is the latest in the Lincoln Lawyer series and is a true knock it out of the park legal thriller. Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer) has moved his legal practice out of the criminal defense world and into the more lucrative area of civil plaintiff’s work. “Proving Ground” tells the story of Haller’s representation of a mother whose daughter was killed by her ex-boyfriend at the supposed urging of his AI “girlfriend,” Wren. Haller has sued the multi-million dollar creator of the AI program that made Wren, and the book begins immediately prior to the trial. To say this story is mesmerizing would be an understatement. The book accurately portrays the multiple highs and lows and twists and turns that are common in big trials. Connelly does an excellent job in making the reader feel like they are a part of the team, and this particular reader got really invested in the outcome (to say the least). I enjoyed this book from start to finish and highly recommend it to anyone who likes (or even thought about reading) a legal thriller. Wait. Who am I kidding ? I highly recommend this book to everyone.
November 16, 2025
5 stars for a tense legal thriller in the Lincoln Lawyer series. This book has Mickey Haller suing a large AI(Artificial Intelligence) company, alleging that their AI generated Avatar caused a teenager to murder his ex girlfriend after she broke up with him. Much of the book takes place in the courtroom with a fair amount of legal jargon and discussion of AI. My wife stopped reading this series because she didn't enjoy the courtroom scenes. I do, especially the back and forth, as one side scores a major blow, only to have the other side come back with a major counter punch.
Some issues that happen in the book: witness intimidation, attempted bribery and some other dirty tricks. Just because it is a civil trial doesn't mean everything is civil and polite. There is a very satisfactory ending.
There are a couple of side issues. Mickey's ex wife, Maggie "MacFierce", loses her house to the Altadena wildfire and moves back in with Mickey. Mickey also agrees to try and free a man whom he unsuccessfully defended twenty years ago. He was convicted of child abuse, breaking multiple bones in his 3 year old daughter's body. The daughter has new evidence, showing that she suffers from a genetic disease, weakening her bones.
There is no violence, only threats, no sex scenes, and only an occasional curse word.
This was a library book.
One quote, on Mickey's opening speech: "And it would be when I laid the foundation I would build my case on. I would make this stand directly in front of the jury, and that was why they called that spot where there was nothing bewtween you and the jurors the proving ground."
I strongly recommend this book to legal thriller fans and fans of the author.
Some issues that happen in the book: witness intimidation, attempted bribery and some other dirty tricks. Just because it is a civil trial doesn't mean everything is civil and polite. There is a very satisfactory ending.
There are a couple of side issues. Mickey's ex wife, Maggie "MacFierce", loses her house to the Altadena wildfire and moves back in with Mickey. Mickey also agrees to try and free a man whom he unsuccessfully defended twenty years ago. He was convicted of child abuse, breaking multiple bones in his 3 year old daughter's body. The daughter has new evidence, showing that she suffers from a genetic disease, weakening her bones.
There is no violence, only threats, no sex scenes, and only an occasional curse word.
This was a library book.
One quote, on Mickey's opening speech: "And it would be when I laid the foundation I would build my case on. I would make this stand directly in front of the jury, and that was why they called that spot where there was nothing bewtween you and the jurors the proving ground."
I strongly recommend this book to legal thriller fans and fans of the author.
January 25, 2026
This case…It’s about changing the world for the better and making it safe for these kids.”
Leave it to Michael Connelly to get readers riled—deeply, uncomfortably, and intentionally. This novel doesn’t just tell a story; it provokes, challenges, and lingers long after the final page.
It feels impossible to escape the reality of senseless gun violence. Every turn of the news cycle confronts us with another horrific act—schools, houses of worship, public spaces—here and across the world. (See recent news report below.) We argue about gun control, accountability, and prevention, yet the violence continues. Connelly drops readers squarely into this grim reality and then asks a far more unsettling question:
What if responsibility doesn’t end with the person holding the gun?
This is not a story about defending a school shooter. That case exists, but it is not the heart of this novel. Instead, Connelly introduces Mickey Haller in a role that immediately reframes expectations. Haller, once a criminal defense attorney, is now representing Brenda Randolph, a grieving mother whose daughter was murdered. The shooter is being prosecuted elsewhere. Haller’s case is something entirely different—and far more provocative.
Early on, Haller defines the courtroom in words that set the tone for everything that follows:
“To me it’s the Octagon, where mixed martial arts are deployed in brutal combat. Two go in; one comes out the victor. No one is left unbloodied. No one is left unscarred.”
This fight, he tells us, is “for the future of everyone.”
Haller’s argument is chilling: the teenager who pulled the trigger may not bear sole responsibility. The deeper fault, he claims, lies with an artificial-intelligence chatbot that “jumped its guardrails” and encouraged violence—an AI product unleashed without sufficient safeguards on an impressionable mind.
That premise lands hard. And astonishingly, we are barely past page five.
Is AI capable of influencing human behavior to this degree? Can technology be complicit in murder? Is this the future—or is it already our present?
As the case unfolds, readers meet Jack McEvoy, investigative journalist and familiar face to longtime Connelly fans from “The Poet,” “The Scarecrow,” and “Fair Warning.” McEvoy joins forces with Haller, drawn by the technological implications and the larger truth at stake. Neither man is being paid by the defendant. What they stand to gain—or lose—goes far beyond money.
Is AI itself on trial here?
One passage captures the novel’s moral unease perfectly as well as a reason for the title of the book:
“I…stood in front of the empty jury box. It was the proving ground where I would make my final stand in the case. There was a time when I believed this was sacred ground. But now it seemed that nothing was sacred anymore. Not the rule of law, and not those who practiced it.”
With Connelly’s signature short chapters and razor-sharp courtroom drama, the book becomes a relentless, page-turning exploration of accountability, ethics, and power. Humans versus the creators of the tools they unleashed. Victims versus systems. Justice versus innovation without restraint.
What makes this novel especially striking is how closely it mirrors real-world debates about regulating artificial intelligence, protecting minors, and balancing innovation with public safety. The fictional story feels disturbingly plausible, blurring the line between imagined courtroom drama and headlines we’re already reading. (See article link below, if interested.)
Connelly isn’t offering easy answers. He’s challenging readers—to think, to question, and to sit with discomfort. Add in the ongoing reality of gun violence, and the result is a novel that feels urgent, timely, and necessary.
This is classic Connelly at his most daring. A gripping legal thriller, yes—but also a powerful conversation starter. Perfect for book discussions, and impossible to forget.
“Fair Warning” Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
“The Tribune” December 15, 2025 article addressing AI guardrails: https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/ca...
December 14, 2025 BBC report on Bondi shooting in Australia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCjcI...
Leave it to Michael Connelly to get readers riled—deeply, uncomfortably, and intentionally. This novel doesn’t just tell a story; it provokes, challenges, and lingers long after the final page.
It feels impossible to escape the reality of senseless gun violence. Every turn of the news cycle confronts us with another horrific act—schools, houses of worship, public spaces—here and across the world. (See recent news report below.) We argue about gun control, accountability, and prevention, yet the violence continues. Connelly drops readers squarely into this grim reality and then asks a far more unsettling question:
What if responsibility doesn’t end with the person holding the gun?
This is not a story about defending a school shooter. That case exists, but it is not the heart of this novel. Instead, Connelly introduces Mickey Haller in a role that immediately reframes expectations. Haller, once a criminal defense attorney, is now representing Brenda Randolph, a grieving mother whose daughter was murdered. The shooter is being prosecuted elsewhere. Haller’s case is something entirely different—and far more provocative.
Early on, Haller defines the courtroom in words that set the tone for everything that follows:
“To me it’s the Octagon, where mixed martial arts are deployed in brutal combat. Two go in; one comes out the victor. No one is left unbloodied. No one is left unscarred.”
This fight, he tells us, is “for the future of everyone.”
Haller’s argument is chilling: the teenager who pulled the trigger may not bear sole responsibility. The deeper fault, he claims, lies with an artificial-intelligence chatbot that “jumped its guardrails” and encouraged violence—an AI product unleashed without sufficient safeguards on an impressionable mind.
That premise lands hard. And astonishingly, we are barely past page five.
Is AI capable of influencing human behavior to this degree? Can technology be complicit in murder? Is this the future—or is it already our present?
As the case unfolds, readers meet Jack McEvoy, investigative journalist and familiar face to longtime Connelly fans from “The Poet,” “The Scarecrow,” and “Fair Warning.” McEvoy joins forces with Haller, drawn by the technological implications and the larger truth at stake. Neither man is being paid by the defendant. What they stand to gain—or lose—goes far beyond money.
Is AI itself on trial here?
One passage captures the novel’s moral unease perfectly as well as a reason for the title of the book:
“I…stood in front of the empty jury box. It was the proving ground where I would make my final stand in the case. There was a time when I believed this was sacred ground. But now it seemed that nothing was sacred anymore. Not the rule of law, and not those who practiced it.”
With Connelly’s signature short chapters and razor-sharp courtroom drama, the book becomes a relentless, page-turning exploration of accountability, ethics, and power. Humans versus the creators of the tools they unleashed. Victims versus systems. Justice versus innovation without restraint.
What makes this novel especially striking is how closely it mirrors real-world debates about regulating artificial intelligence, protecting minors, and balancing innovation with public safety. The fictional story feels disturbingly plausible, blurring the line between imagined courtroom drama and headlines we’re already reading. (See article link below, if interested.)
Connelly isn’t offering easy answers. He’s challenging readers—to think, to question, and to sit with discomfort. Add in the ongoing reality of gun violence, and the result is a novel that feels urgent, timely, and necessary.
This is classic Connelly at his most daring. A gripping legal thriller, yes—but also a powerful conversation starter. Perfect for book discussions, and impossible to forget.
“Fair Warning” Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
“The Tribune” December 15, 2025 article addressing AI guardrails: https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/ca...
December 14, 2025 BBC report on Bondi shooting in Australia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCjcI...
October 23, 2025
I might sound like a broken record, but every Michael Connelly book just hits it out of the park and then some. Yes, I am massive fan and have been forever, but this man can write amd if you haven’t read one of his book yet then you really are missing out on brilliance.
The Proving Ground is a Mickey Haller novel , the Lincoln Lawyer returns. An added bonus this time is that we have Jack McEvoy of The Poet fame working the case with Haller. I mean it is right in his wheelhouse, he knows his stuff and proves invaluable on this tricky case.
Mickey has moved from working criminal cases to becoming a lawyer in civil litigation. This is his first big case and it is it a big case. The mother of a murdered teenage girl is suing Tidalwaiv, the Artificial Intelligence company that created the Chatbot that convinced her daughter’s ex boyfriend to kill her of disloyalty. Woah! The case has so much attention from the media, and Tidalwaive are in the middle of a huge deal that could see them make millions. It is all on the line here,,and they will do anything to make this case go away. The mother just wants the company to admit that they made mistakes, to take accountability for their work and make changes so that a tragedy like this never happens again.
Oh Mickey! This reader was completely enthralled in this legal battle from the very beginning. The tension, the lies, the sabotage, the only being thrown around, the emotional turmoil that mother was feeling. This book has it all. The courtroom scenes as always were my favourites, I just loves to see Mickey show everyone who has the power. I love that he always stands up for the little guy, no matter how big and powerful the opposition is.
AI is such a big part of the world today and it is scary how easily we have come to embrace it. There are certainly so many things to be scared of with this technology and this book highlights just one of them. These companies have a huge responsibility to protect the public, to have safeguards around their programs and the regulations need to be enforced. The world is forever changing, and a big part of Michael Connelly's writing is to be in the present.
Not only is Mickey fighting for good, California is engulfed with wildfires that destroy everything for so many people. This is a big part of the setting of this novel, in a time when the locals are dealing with such massive loss.
There is no Harry Bosch in The Proving Ground, although he is talked about at times. Harry and Mickey are my favourites fictional characters and I just love to read about them both. This book made me think, it really did make me angry at what was happening in today’s society and how easily big corporations think they can pay people off for their mistakes.
A must read book that will open your eyes. A favourite book for 2025 and all time for me. Just brilliant in every way l
A massive thank you to Little,Brown and Company for the opportunity to read this book early and share my thoughts. Out on October 21st worldwide. It needs to be in your reading list immediately
The Proving Ground is a Mickey Haller novel , the Lincoln Lawyer returns. An added bonus this time is that we have Jack McEvoy of The Poet fame working the case with Haller. I mean it is right in his wheelhouse, he knows his stuff and proves invaluable on this tricky case.
Mickey has moved from working criminal cases to becoming a lawyer in civil litigation. This is his first big case and it is it a big case. The mother of a murdered teenage girl is suing Tidalwaiv, the Artificial Intelligence company that created the Chatbot that convinced her daughter’s ex boyfriend to kill her of disloyalty. Woah! The case has so much attention from the media, and Tidalwaive are in the middle of a huge deal that could see them make millions. It is all on the line here,,and they will do anything to make this case go away. The mother just wants the company to admit that they made mistakes, to take accountability for their work and make changes so that a tragedy like this never happens again.
Oh Mickey! This reader was completely enthralled in this legal battle from the very beginning. The tension, the lies, the sabotage, the only being thrown around, the emotional turmoil that mother was feeling. This book has it all. The courtroom scenes as always were my favourites, I just loves to see Mickey show everyone who has the power. I love that he always stands up for the little guy, no matter how big and powerful the opposition is.
AI is such a big part of the world today and it is scary how easily we have come to embrace it. There are certainly so many things to be scared of with this technology and this book highlights just one of them. These companies have a huge responsibility to protect the public, to have safeguards around their programs and the regulations need to be enforced. The world is forever changing, and a big part of Michael Connelly's writing is to be in the present.
Not only is Mickey fighting for good, California is engulfed with wildfires that destroy everything for so many people. This is a big part of the setting of this novel, in a time when the locals are dealing with such massive loss.
There is no Harry Bosch in The Proving Ground, although he is talked about at times. Harry and Mickey are my favourites fictional characters and I just love to read about them both. This book made me think, it really did make me angry at what was happening in today’s society and how easily big corporations think they can pay people off for their mistakes.
A must read book that will open your eyes. A favourite book for 2025 and all time for me. Just brilliant in every way l
A massive thank you to Little,Brown and Company for the opportunity to read this book early and share my thoughts. Out on October 21st worldwide. It needs to be in your reading list immediately
November 27, 2025
3.5*
A case about how AI can be harmful to the society if not used with checks and balances. A very relevant subject in today's world where everyone wants a piece of this newest shining thing. I have spent so much time with Mickey Haller to know that he would survive this, too. I missed Harry here. It was time well spent.
A case about how AI can be harmful to the society if not used with checks and balances. A very relevant subject in today's world where everyone wants a piece of this newest shining thing. I have spent so much time with Mickey Haller to know that he would survive this, too. I missed Harry here. It was time well spent.
September 8, 2025
I'm not sure there is an author out there who delivers with the consistency of Michael Connelly. Whether it is Bosch, Haller, Ballard or a standalone, his ability to churn out book after book with such quality is mind-blowing.
In The Proving Ground, we are reunited with Mickey Haller aka The Lincoln Lawyer who has swapped criminal court for civil court. In this novel, Mickey is suing Tidalwaiv, an AI company who developed Clair - a realistic AI companion who Haller alleges compelled a teenage boy to kill his ex-girlfriend. Up against the might of Silicon Valley, Haller must contend with a number of challenges to try and deliver justice for the dead girl's family by holding the AI company responsible.
It was definitely different to follow Haller in civil court, watching him try to 'prosecute' rather than trying to defend his usual criminal clients. Given the growth of AI, and in particular AI companions, this novel, whilst thrilling, does also look at incel culture and to what extent are AI companies investing in ethics whilst growing the sector beyond anyone's imagination.
A really well-written novel that keeps the pages turning.
Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
In The Proving Ground, we are reunited with Mickey Haller aka The Lincoln Lawyer who has swapped criminal court for civil court. In this novel, Mickey is suing Tidalwaiv, an AI company who developed Clair - a realistic AI companion who Haller alleges compelled a teenage boy to kill his ex-girlfriend. Up against the might of Silicon Valley, Haller must contend with a number of challenges to try and deliver justice for the dead girl's family by holding the AI company responsible.
It was definitely different to follow Haller in civil court, watching him try to 'prosecute' rather than trying to defend his usual criminal clients. Given the growth of AI, and in particular AI companions, this novel, whilst thrilling, does also look at incel culture and to what extent are AI companies investing in ethics whilst growing the sector beyond anyone's imagination.
A really well-written novel that keeps the pages turning.
Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
February 7, 2026
Обещаващ и модерен сюжет предлага на читателите си, тази поредна част от серията за Мики Холър.
Но от средата ѝ нивото взе да пада и определено развръзката на романа не е по вкуса ми. Шаблонно, предвидимо и твърде опростено - липсва ми това, което прави повечето други книги на Конъли истински книжни приключения!
Надявам се на нещо по-добро в следващата история за "Адвокатът с Линкълна". Въпреки, че май вече не е удачно да го наричаме така!
Но от средата ѝ нивото взе да пада и определено развръзката на романа не е по вкуса ми. Шаблонно, предвидимо и твърде опростено - липсва ми това, което прави повечето други книги на Конъли истински книжни приключения!
Надявам се на нещо по-добро в следващата история за "Адвокатът с Линкълна". Въпреки, че май вече не е удачно да го наричаме така!
November 23, 2025
Once a thrilling voice in crime fiction, Connelly’s newest outing feels rushed, uninspired, and stripped of the courtroom tension that once defined the series.
A few years ago, I came across a TV show simply called “Bosch” that quickly became one of my favourites. At some point, I realised there were Bosch novels - and I was done for.
Michael Connelly had created a detective and an entire “Bosch Universe” that I came to love. Of course, I dived straight into anything in that universe and, by now, have read everything set in that universe - including the exploits of Mickey Haller, the “Lincoln Lawyer”.
So, when a new instalment was published, I rushed in excitedly - and found a shallow, bland, uninspired novel, trying hard to cash in on current worries about AI (artificial intelligence).
Don’t get me wrong: there is certainly reason to be at least concerned about AI because right now, the pace at which AI is being developed by far outpaces the ethical concerns around it. The scenario of “The Proving Ground” could, to some extent, play out today.
Unfortunately, said scenario - an unhinged teenager murders his ex-girlfriend - is something we’ve seen long before the AI hype. AI doesn’t really play any decisive role here, and the one bold and (relatively) original idea Connelly has remains unused.
Jack McEvoy, himself a protagonist in the Bosch Universe, makes an appearance, but is barely used and even when he’s around, his contributions are hardly meaningful. Sadly, the same applies to pretty much every other one of Mickey’s friends as well.
Worst of all, though, it all dies with a whimper. There would have been countless interesting, exciting, or even novel ways to end this rather short novel (it’s 20% shorter than the average of all other novels in the series), but Connelly goes for the easiest and most boring one.
Even the writing is not up to the author’s usual standards: stylistically, “Proving Ground” could itself have been written by an AI.
Compared to earlier novels in the “Lincoln Lawyer” series, this one lacks all the grit, the suspense, the courtroom drama, the subtlety of Mickey’s performances, and it’s even very repetitive at several points.
If you are a completionist like myself, go ahead, read it - you will be disappointed, but that’s not the point, eh?
If you are new to the series, just choose an earlier one and pretend this one doesn’t exist. A sentence from chapter 49 reflects my feelings perfectly:
»And yet there was something underwhelming about it.«
Generous three stars out of five.
Blog | Goodreads | Hardcover | Facebook | Twitter | Mastodon | Instagram | Threads | StoryGraph | LibraryThing | Medium | Matrix | Tumblr
Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
A few years ago, I came across a TV show simply called “Bosch” that quickly became one of my favourites. At some point, I realised there were Bosch novels - and I was done for.
Michael Connelly had created a detective and an entire “Bosch Universe” that I came to love. Of course, I dived straight into anything in that universe and, by now, have read everything set in that universe - including the exploits of Mickey Haller, the “Lincoln Lawyer”.
So, when a new instalment was published, I rushed in excitedly - and found a shallow, bland, uninspired novel, trying hard to cash in on current worries about AI (artificial intelligence).
Don’t get me wrong: there is certainly reason to be at least concerned about AI because right now, the pace at which AI is being developed by far outpaces the ethical concerns around it. The scenario of “The Proving Ground” could, to some extent, play out today.
Unfortunately, said scenario - an unhinged teenager murders his ex-girlfriend - is something we’ve seen long before the AI hype. AI doesn’t really play any decisive role here, and the one bold and (relatively) original idea Connelly has remains unused.
Jack McEvoy, himself a protagonist in the Bosch Universe, makes an appearance, but is barely used and even when he’s around, his contributions are hardly meaningful. Sadly, the same applies to pretty much every other one of Mickey’s friends as well.
Worst of all, though, it all dies with a whimper. There would have been countless interesting, exciting, or even novel ways to end this rather short novel (it’s 20% shorter than the average of all other novels in the series), but Connelly goes for the easiest and most boring one.
Even the writing is not up to the author’s usual standards: stylistically, “Proving Ground” could itself have been written by an AI.
Compared to earlier novels in the “Lincoln Lawyer” series, this one lacks all the grit, the suspense, the courtroom drama, the subtlety of Mickey’s performances, and it’s even very repetitive at several points.
If you are a completionist like myself, go ahead, read it - you will be disappointed, but that’s not the point, eh?
If you are new to the series, just choose an earlier one and pretend this one doesn’t exist. A sentence from chapter 49 reflects my feelings perfectly:
»And yet there was something underwhelming about it.«
Generous three stars out of five.
Blog | Goodreads | Hardcover | Facebook | Twitter | Mastodon | Instagram | Threads | StoryGraph | LibraryThing | Medium | Matrix | Tumblr
Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
![Profile Image for Terence M [Quot libros, quam breve tempus!].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1712357414i%2F6658001._UY200_CR4%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
October 29, 2025
29 October, 2025:
A full 4-Stars for The Proving Ground - I Really Liked it!🤩
28 October, 2025:
Hmmm...
Did I "like It?", "Like It A Lot?", or "Really Like It?"
3-Stars ...? (3.5-Stars ...? ^ or v? ...) ... or 4-Stars?
Final rating to come (see above).
I certainly "Liked" this book, but I became disillusioned during the latter third of the twin stories. Also, both the endings felt rushed in some ways, and drawn out in others. This was disappointing overall, but to avoid possible spoilers, I will say no more.
Michael Connelly - Mickey Haller 08 - The Proving Ground - 2025
[Audible Direct]: 10:49 Hours - Narrator: Peter Giles
Commenced: 24 October, 2025
Finished: 28 October, 2025
A full 4-Stars for The Proving Ground - I Really Liked it!🤩
28 October, 2025:
Hmmm...
Did I "like It?", "Like It A Lot?", or "Really Like It?"
3-Stars ...? (3.5-Stars ...? ^ or v? ...) ... or 4-Stars?
Final rating to come (see above).
I certainly "Liked" this book, but I became disillusioned during the latter third of the twin stories. Also, both the endings felt rushed in some ways, and drawn out in others. This was disappointing overall, but to avoid possible spoilers, I will say no more.
Michael Connelly - Mickey Haller 08 - The Proving Ground - 2025
[Audible Direct]: 10:49 Hours - Narrator: Peter Giles
Commenced: 24 October, 2025
Finished: 28 October, 2025
January 29, 2026
It’s been twenty years since Connelly published his first Lincoln Lawyer story. This is the eighth novel in the series. In addition, a fourth series of the Netflix television series featuring Micky Haller will be released in the near future. Can there be any crime fiction fan who remains unaware of this combative Los Angeles based lawyer? For my part, I’ve always enjoyed these tales. MC writes a courtroom drama as well as anyone, and I’ve always found Haller to be an interestingly prickly character.
These days, Mickey has moved away from criminal law cases and is instead focused on civil law cases – public interest litigation. Here, he is hired to represent the parents of their son, who was convicted of convincing his ex-girlfriend to commit suicide, his actions having seemingly been ‘sanctioned’ by his chatbot companion. This dive into the world of artificial intelligence is bang on point as it explores legal elements surrounding what many feel is an innovation that is dubiously regulated. The challenge is that, particularly given the velocity of change, what so-called guardrails should be instigated to protect against unforeseen and unwanted consequences? Along the way, Haller’s team is joined by investigative journalist Jack McEvoy (The Poet and other tales) who adds his particular skills and undertakes some of the background legwork.
There are obviously clear business advantages to be gained from the use of AI, such as improving efficiency, accuracy, and bringing cost savings. But what of the risks? There are concerns over security, loss of jobs, and privacy. This story introduces a further element of concern. Interestingly, I finished reading this book on the day Donald Trump landed in the UK for a second state visit. The news headlines focused on pledges from US firms for huge investments to aid the development of next-generation AI digital technology.
Connelly’s latest novel cleverly delivers a rousing legal thriller together with a lively and pertinate debate around how we control change that might just deliver more than we bargained for. Another top tale from the man who might just be the very best crime fiction writer out there today.
My thanks to Orion Publishing Group for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
These days, Mickey has moved away from criminal law cases and is instead focused on civil law cases – public interest litigation. Here, he is hired to represent the parents of their son, who was convicted of convincing his ex-girlfriend to commit suicide, his actions having seemingly been ‘sanctioned’ by his chatbot companion. This dive into the world of artificial intelligence is bang on point as it explores legal elements surrounding what many feel is an innovation that is dubiously regulated. The challenge is that, particularly given the velocity of change, what so-called guardrails should be instigated to protect against unforeseen and unwanted consequences? Along the way, Haller’s team is joined by investigative journalist Jack McEvoy (The Poet and other tales) who adds his particular skills and undertakes some of the background legwork.
There are obviously clear business advantages to be gained from the use of AI, such as improving efficiency, accuracy, and bringing cost savings. But what of the risks? There are concerns over security, loss of jobs, and privacy. This story introduces a further element of concern. Interestingly, I finished reading this book on the day Donald Trump landed in the UK for a second state visit. The news headlines focused on pledges from US firms for huge investments to aid the development of next-generation AI digital technology.
Connelly’s latest novel cleverly delivers a rousing legal thriller together with a lively and pertinate debate around how we control change that might just deliver more than we bargained for. Another top tale from the man who might just be the very best crime fiction writer out there today.
My thanks to Orion Publishing Group for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2025
“The Proving Ground” is Michael Connelly’s eighth outing with Mickey Haller as the primary lead. Mickey is the son of Michael Haller, a famous defense attorney in the Los Angeles area back in the sixties and seventies. Mickey himself has been a somewhat successful criminal defense attorney operating in Los Angeles County. Unlike his father, his office started out in a Lincoln Town Car, and his clients have been primarily drug dealers, gang members, and gangsters.
Mickey’s first ex-wife and first love, Margaret “McFierce” McPherson, has spent most of her professional career as a prosecuting attorney and the mother of his grown daughter, Hayley, recently finished law school herself. His second wife, Lorna Taylor, is his case manager and front-line defense to his clients. She is also married to Mickey’s private investigator, Cisco, who has the uncanny ability to hunt down anybody or anything.
On a nostalgic note, it has been 20 years since Michael Connelly published “The Lincoln Lawyer” which was introduced us to Mickey Haller, the younger half-brother of retired Detective Harry Bosch, Connelly’s long-running detective series. Eight books and two decades later, Mickey stands tall, having built his own legacy in the legal courtroom, his chosen field of battle. And having a very successful Netflix series certainly strengthens that legacy.
Life has certainly changed for Mickey in several ways since his last outing. When “The Proving Ground” begins he has followed his personal commitment to leave his defense practice behind and focus on helping those who need someone to fight for them. This time, he is fighting for Brenda Randolph, who’s teenage daughter was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend at school, but he’s not suing the boy’s parents. Instead, he’s filing a civil lawsuit against Tidalwaiv Technologies, an artificial company who’s unique chatbot (an app called “Clair”) told the boy that her disloyalty to him made it okay for him to kill her. The argument is that the AI app was not properly tested and lacks the proper guardrails needed to keep its users safe.
Their problem is that Tidalwaiv is worth billions and looking to get bought up by one of the large tech companies, especially one that starts with the letter “M”. However, a bad courtroom decision could destroy the investors chances of reaping the benefits of any potential sale, and the company’s leadership is not afraid to intimidate and scare-off ex-employees who could serve as witnesses against them, as well as destroy any incriminating evidence that would hinder their case.
This time Mickey’s fighting the future, but he’s also not alone. Jack McEvoy, a journalist with three published nonfiction books, and another one of Connelly’s lead characters from previous novels offers to assist Mickey with his case as long as he can write a book about it after the case has been decided in court. Mickey’s not sure about letting Jack join his legal team, even if only temporarily, but he lacks the necessary subject matter expertise involved with the world of AI, and Jack has the knowledge Mickey needs.
In addition, Mickey’s ex-wife and new District Attorney, Maggie McPherson, has come back into his life due to tragedy of her own. The Southern California wildfires took her home and all that she had, leaving her with just her car, her laptop, and the clothes she was wearing. She has currently moved in with Mickey, but she is suffering mentally and emotionally.
As Mickey tries to balance being there for her and preparing for his AI court battle, he gets a call from the daughter of a man he represented many years ago, but lost the case and the father’s been in prison ever since. The daughter insists on seeing him immediately because her father is dying of cancer and she has found the medical needed to potentially set him free.
Then things get even worse when Mickey’s prime witness, a whistleblower, has been scared off from testifying…
Connelly is not shy about taking on serious legal issues. He hinted at the unrestrained dangers of AI in his last Mickey Haller novel and then hits it head on in this one. The world of AI and business development feels a lot like the wild, wild west to many of us trying to understand and use this advanced technology in our work and home lives. This is not an easy subject to deal with, let alone deal with the legalities of such an unregulated industry. Without spoiling anything, I share my absolute appreciation for how he dealt with such a polarizing and cutting-edge subject matter. Kudos, Connelly.
I am sure that it won’t be a surprise to say that there were many things that I loved about this book. With all due respect and love for John Grisham (and I truly love his books), there is nothing better than experiencing Mickey’s courtroom battles – both inside the court and outside the court – with the judge and opposing attorneys. Their back and forth - actions and reactions – are so well delivered in tension packed dialog. As the old Priceline commercials promised – “priceless”.
Connelly moved back and forth from trial preparations, courtroom drama, and personal issues with Maggie in a seamless, smooth, and great storytelling manner. Even with Connelly using Tidalwaiv to represent the evil empire in this book, we still see the influence and impact of AI on the legal system in a very creative and provocative storytelling style that challenges your thinking. The buildup built to a crescendo climax that left you feeling drained, emotionally spent, and frustrated all at the same time. Way to deliver the drama as well as real-world outcomes, Mr. Connelly! Somehow, you seem to be several steps of the game on this one.
As I have described in previous reviews, my personal big three go-to writers for mystery and legal thrillers (in particular order) are David Baldacci, John Grisham, and Michael Connelly. But there’s just something so special about Connelly’s style and storytelling. To me, he’s a master storyteller. Period. End of story. Maybe it’s his many years as a newspaper crime beat writer. I’m sure that’s a big part of it. Either way, his insight into police procedural investigations, courtroom procedures and activities, and city/county government politics is second to none.
With 40 books under his belt, Connelly continues to consistently create strong tension, clever plotting, and well-delivered legal twists and turns. He is a master of characters, setting, and plotline. It’s that simple. Whether he is delivering a detective focused Harry Bosch novel, a Mickey Haller legal novel, or a Jack McEvoy investigative reporter thriller, doesn’t matter. They are all awesome reads. I find it interesting that every one of my Goodreads reviews of his books have been a score of 4 or 5 out of a total of 5 points. I have never scored him less than a 4. That is a pretty amazing mark of great consistency, especially an author with 40 books on his resume.
I am continually impressed with the strong quality that he applies to each one of his books. Connelly is a master narrator, never telling the same story twice, and constantly treating his readers with tight plotting, well-developed characters, and surprising twists that increase the tension and outcomes. I keep making the same statement after finishing each of his novels, and I am making it once more. Like a fine wine or whiskey, Mickey Haller just gets better and better with age. It’s that simple. He’s growing and developing as a character, which make his relationships stronger and even more important than ever. I don’t know how Connelly keeps raising the bar, but he consistently does. He’s just that good...
My only complaint of this book is that it was such a smooth and fast read that it was too dang short! Even at 384 pages, I read it in about 24 hours over the weekend. What was intended to be a slow, immersive read, turned into a suspenseful legal thriller that took my full attention, kept me late, and practically had me yelling at characters in the book! It certainly helps that he’s back to publishing two books a year in 2025 and 2026. I just can’t get enough to feed my fix…
Overall, having read all of Connelly’s books, from the beginning of their stories – Bosch, Haller, Maddie, and Ballard – through their careers, personal growth and development, their struggles and steps back, recoveries, and their natural aging that goes with it. Their lives have been told over 40 years of great storytelling by Connelly, with of course, Bosch’s story arc being the longest. Each character has such an inner-strength to persevere and right the wrongs of society. That’s what makes them so heroic. Their passion for serving justice.
The other thing is that we don’t know how much longer we’ll have the character of Harry Bosch in the book version. In the novels Bosch is aging, fighting cancer, and working hard to leave his make on justice before he leaves this world. It’s safe to say that Harry’s on the backside of his literary life.
I don’t say this to be mean. There may be three, four, or even more Bosch involved novels to come, but it also means they will most likely come to some kind of end for this enduring character who lives the mantra of “Everybody counts or nobody starts”. And even if Harry were to pass on, there will still be Mickey Haller, Renee Ballard, and Maddi Bosch to carry forward his legacy, but for me, that just means that I need to cherish his remaining days in every opportunity that Connelly gives us in future books.
Thank you, Mr. Connelly. “The Proving Ground” is another strong engaging 4.5-star (rounded up to 5) read that again demonstrates your mastery of the storytelling craft. Until next year, I will patiently await your next book…
Mickey’s first ex-wife and first love, Margaret “McFierce” McPherson, has spent most of her professional career as a prosecuting attorney and the mother of his grown daughter, Hayley, recently finished law school herself. His second wife, Lorna Taylor, is his case manager and front-line defense to his clients. She is also married to Mickey’s private investigator, Cisco, who has the uncanny ability to hunt down anybody or anything.
On a nostalgic note, it has been 20 years since Michael Connelly published “The Lincoln Lawyer” which was introduced us to Mickey Haller, the younger half-brother of retired Detective Harry Bosch, Connelly’s long-running detective series. Eight books and two decades later, Mickey stands tall, having built his own legacy in the legal courtroom, his chosen field of battle. And having a very successful Netflix series certainly strengthens that legacy.
Life has certainly changed for Mickey in several ways since his last outing. When “The Proving Ground” begins he has followed his personal commitment to leave his defense practice behind and focus on helping those who need someone to fight for them. This time, he is fighting for Brenda Randolph, who’s teenage daughter was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend at school, but he’s not suing the boy’s parents. Instead, he’s filing a civil lawsuit against Tidalwaiv Technologies, an artificial company who’s unique chatbot (an app called “Clair”) told the boy that her disloyalty to him made it okay for him to kill her. The argument is that the AI app was not properly tested and lacks the proper guardrails needed to keep its users safe.
Their problem is that Tidalwaiv is worth billions and looking to get bought up by one of the large tech companies, especially one that starts with the letter “M”. However, a bad courtroom decision could destroy the investors chances of reaping the benefits of any potential sale, and the company’s leadership is not afraid to intimidate and scare-off ex-employees who could serve as witnesses against them, as well as destroy any incriminating evidence that would hinder their case.
This time Mickey’s fighting the future, but he’s also not alone. Jack McEvoy, a journalist with three published nonfiction books, and another one of Connelly’s lead characters from previous novels offers to assist Mickey with his case as long as he can write a book about it after the case has been decided in court. Mickey’s not sure about letting Jack join his legal team, even if only temporarily, but he lacks the necessary subject matter expertise involved with the world of AI, and Jack has the knowledge Mickey needs.
In addition, Mickey’s ex-wife and new District Attorney, Maggie McPherson, has come back into his life due to tragedy of her own. The Southern California wildfires took her home and all that she had, leaving her with just her car, her laptop, and the clothes she was wearing. She has currently moved in with Mickey, but she is suffering mentally and emotionally.
As Mickey tries to balance being there for her and preparing for his AI court battle, he gets a call from the daughter of a man he represented many years ago, but lost the case and the father’s been in prison ever since. The daughter insists on seeing him immediately because her father is dying of cancer and she has found the medical needed to potentially set him free.
Then things get even worse when Mickey’s prime witness, a whistleblower, has been scared off from testifying…
Connelly is not shy about taking on serious legal issues. He hinted at the unrestrained dangers of AI in his last Mickey Haller novel and then hits it head on in this one. The world of AI and business development feels a lot like the wild, wild west to many of us trying to understand and use this advanced technology in our work and home lives. This is not an easy subject to deal with, let alone deal with the legalities of such an unregulated industry. Without spoiling anything, I share my absolute appreciation for how he dealt with such a polarizing and cutting-edge subject matter. Kudos, Connelly.
I am sure that it won’t be a surprise to say that there were many things that I loved about this book. With all due respect and love for John Grisham (and I truly love his books), there is nothing better than experiencing Mickey’s courtroom battles – both inside the court and outside the court – with the judge and opposing attorneys. Their back and forth - actions and reactions – are so well delivered in tension packed dialog. As the old Priceline commercials promised – “priceless”.
Connelly moved back and forth from trial preparations, courtroom drama, and personal issues with Maggie in a seamless, smooth, and great storytelling manner. Even with Connelly using Tidalwaiv to represent the evil empire in this book, we still see the influence and impact of AI on the legal system in a very creative and provocative storytelling style that challenges your thinking. The buildup built to a crescendo climax that left you feeling drained, emotionally spent, and frustrated all at the same time. Way to deliver the drama as well as real-world outcomes, Mr. Connelly! Somehow, you seem to be several steps of the game on this one.
As I have described in previous reviews, my personal big three go-to writers for mystery and legal thrillers (in particular order) are David Baldacci, John Grisham, and Michael Connelly. But there’s just something so special about Connelly’s style and storytelling. To me, he’s a master storyteller. Period. End of story. Maybe it’s his many years as a newspaper crime beat writer. I’m sure that’s a big part of it. Either way, his insight into police procedural investigations, courtroom procedures and activities, and city/county government politics is second to none.
With 40 books under his belt, Connelly continues to consistently create strong tension, clever plotting, and well-delivered legal twists and turns. He is a master of characters, setting, and plotline. It’s that simple. Whether he is delivering a detective focused Harry Bosch novel, a Mickey Haller legal novel, or a Jack McEvoy investigative reporter thriller, doesn’t matter. They are all awesome reads. I find it interesting that every one of my Goodreads reviews of his books have been a score of 4 or 5 out of a total of 5 points. I have never scored him less than a 4. That is a pretty amazing mark of great consistency, especially an author with 40 books on his resume.
I am continually impressed with the strong quality that he applies to each one of his books. Connelly is a master narrator, never telling the same story twice, and constantly treating his readers with tight plotting, well-developed characters, and surprising twists that increase the tension and outcomes. I keep making the same statement after finishing each of his novels, and I am making it once more. Like a fine wine or whiskey, Mickey Haller just gets better and better with age. It’s that simple. He’s growing and developing as a character, which make his relationships stronger and even more important than ever. I don’t know how Connelly keeps raising the bar, but he consistently does. He’s just that good...
My only complaint of this book is that it was such a smooth and fast read that it was too dang short! Even at 384 pages, I read it in about 24 hours over the weekend. What was intended to be a slow, immersive read, turned into a suspenseful legal thriller that took my full attention, kept me late, and practically had me yelling at characters in the book! It certainly helps that he’s back to publishing two books a year in 2025 and 2026. I just can’t get enough to feed my fix…
Overall, having read all of Connelly’s books, from the beginning of their stories – Bosch, Haller, Maddie, and Ballard – through their careers, personal growth and development, their struggles and steps back, recoveries, and their natural aging that goes with it. Their lives have been told over 40 years of great storytelling by Connelly, with of course, Bosch’s story arc being the longest. Each character has such an inner-strength to persevere and right the wrongs of society. That’s what makes them so heroic. Their passion for serving justice.
The other thing is that we don’t know how much longer we’ll have the character of Harry Bosch in the book version. In the novels Bosch is aging, fighting cancer, and working hard to leave his make on justice before he leaves this world. It’s safe to say that Harry’s on the backside of his literary life.
I don’t say this to be mean. There may be three, four, or even more Bosch involved novels to come, but it also means they will most likely come to some kind of end for this enduring character who lives the mantra of “Everybody counts or nobody starts”. And even if Harry were to pass on, there will still be Mickey Haller, Renee Ballard, and Maddi Bosch to carry forward his legacy, but for me, that just means that I need to cherish his remaining days in every opportunity that Connelly gives us in future books.
Thank you, Mr. Connelly. “The Proving Ground” is another strong engaging 4.5-star (rounded up to 5) read that again demonstrates your mastery of the storytelling craft. Until next year, I will patiently await your next book…
January 18, 2026
The Proving Ground
is the latest in the Lincoln Lawyer series by Michael Connelly. In this story Mickey Haller is in Civil Court representing a woman who is suing a large corporation for responsibility for the death of her daughter. The company has marketed an Artificial Intelligence app which she claims encouraged a young boy to shoot and kill her daughter. The main thrust of this story is about Artificial Intelligence.
The name of the company being sued is Tidalwaiv which is a derivative of the word tidal wave. As the CEO of the company tells Haller “This technology, Mr. Haller, will soon engulf our world like a total wave.” My understanding of Artificial Intelligence is very superficial, but in this story it becomes rather scary. There is a description of generative artificial intelligence. This is described as the Eliza effect, which is the tendency of people to attribute human thoughts and emotions to machines. This takes an especially dark turn when it comes to children. Children can become addicted to their digital existence on social media sites like TikTok and FaceBook. They seek acceptance in the Likes and Comments.
With its topical subject matter and all our favorite Lincoln Lawyer characters this was a very satisfying read. Jack McElvoy, a Los Angeles Times reporter who appears in several early Bosch books, also makes an appearance as a valuable addition to Mickey Haller’s team. The case argues the need for guardrails to prevent the Elon Musks, Mark Zuckerbergs and Bill Gates from creating AI products which are especially dangerous when aimed at vulnerable children.
The name of the company being sued is Tidalwaiv which is a derivative of the word tidal wave. As the CEO of the company tells Haller “This technology, Mr. Haller, will soon engulf our world like a total wave.” My understanding of Artificial Intelligence is very superficial, but in this story it becomes rather scary. There is a description of generative artificial intelligence. This is described as the Eliza effect, which is the tendency of people to attribute human thoughts and emotions to machines. This takes an especially dark turn when it comes to children. Children can become addicted to their digital existence on social media sites like TikTok and FaceBook. They seek acceptance in the Likes and Comments.
With its topical subject matter and all our favorite Lincoln Lawyer characters this was a very satisfying read. Jack McElvoy, a Los Angeles Times reporter who appears in several early Bosch books, also makes an appearance as a valuable addition to Mickey Haller’s team. The case argues the need for guardrails to prevent the Elon Musks, Mark Zuckerbergs and Bill Gates from creating AI products which are especially dangerous when aimed at vulnerable children.
October 16, 2025
THE PROVING GROUND is a five-star novel but, for me, it didn't catch fire until the halfway mark. The first few chapters were spent setting up the framework, and initially I thought it would be only a four-star book. Mickey Haller is not as nonchalant as he was twenty years ago when the Lincoln Lawyer series began. Admittedly he has been slowly changing as the series progressed—this is the eighth Lincoln Lawyer novel. But it is Mickey's first civil law case.
The criminal part of this story took place before THE PROVING GROUND began. A teenage boy, Aaron Colton, shot and killed his former girlfriend, Rebecca Randolph, and is now in custody. The police discovered that he did this to please his AI companion, whom he has named Wren. Haller has been hired by Rebecca's mother, Brenda Randolph, to sue Tidalwaiv, the company that created this AI companion. Brenda wants Tidalwaiv to issue a formal apology. She has been offered a substantial sum to settle the case but refuses to sign an NDA with Tidalwaiv.
So initially, the story contained a lot of arguments between Mickey and Tidalwaiv's lawyers, in front of the judge assigned to the case, regarding what was and was not allowable. Also, early in the book, Jack McEvoy, a writer, joins the team. McEvoy has appeared in some of Michael Connelly's other novels, but as the main protagonist. He writes about technological advances and consequently is interested in joining the Lincoln Lawyer's team on this case because it involves AI. In THE PROVING GROUND, McEvoy only has a supporting role. There are some interesting events that take place before the jury trial begins, including the fact that Aaron Colton's parents also join in the suit against Tidalwaiv, but I wasn't grabbed by the story until the trial actually starts (around the 50% mark).
The legal manoeuvring was fascinating. (And I say this as a reader who generally skips legal thrillers.) The author, Michael Connelly, used exactly the right rhythm to keep us guessing about what would come next. Incredible writing. Outstanding plotting. I also learned a bit about how AI systems are created.
Altogether, an exciting book. And also a timely one in terms of its topic.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My review for the seventh Lincoln Lawyer novel:
Resurrection Walk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
The criminal part of this story took place before THE PROVING GROUND began. A teenage boy, Aaron Colton, shot and killed his former girlfriend, Rebecca Randolph, and is now in custody. The police discovered that he did this to please his AI companion, whom he has named Wren. Haller has been hired by Rebecca's mother, Brenda Randolph, to sue Tidalwaiv, the company that created this AI companion. Brenda wants Tidalwaiv to issue a formal apology. She has been offered a substantial sum to settle the case but refuses to sign an NDA with Tidalwaiv.
So initially, the story contained a lot of arguments between Mickey and Tidalwaiv's lawyers, in front of the judge assigned to the case, regarding what was and was not allowable. Also, early in the book, Jack McEvoy, a writer, joins the team. McEvoy has appeared in some of Michael Connelly's other novels, but as the main protagonist. He writes about technological advances and consequently is interested in joining the Lincoln Lawyer's team on this case because it involves AI. In THE PROVING GROUND, McEvoy only has a supporting role. There are some interesting events that take place before the jury trial begins, including the fact that Aaron Colton's parents also join in the suit against Tidalwaiv, but I wasn't grabbed by the story until the trial actually starts (around the 50% mark).
The legal manoeuvring was fascinating. (And I say this as a reader who generally skips legal thrillers.) The author, Michael Connelly, used exactly the right rhythm to keep us guessing about what would come next. Incredible writing. Outstanding plotting. I also learned a bit about how AI systems are created.
Altogether, an exciting book. And also a timely one in terms of its topic.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My review for the seventh Lincoln Lawyer novel:
Resurrection Walk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
November 4, 2025
9/10: 4.5⭐️’s rounded up.
Well folks, I am happy and sad. Happy because I am eating my addiction (mentioned in an update). Spaghetti, lettuce, shredded cheese and ranch dressing. Sad because the book is over with already and I kind of don’t want to be done with it yet.
Mr. Connelly, you are brilliant. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. For giving us these characters to enjoy. It took me a very long time to come across you, but boy am I ever glad that I did!! (I write that as if he is actually going to read this😂).
Peter Giles narration was once again wonderful. Even though there isn’t a whole lot of difference with the voices, it’s easy to tell characters apart.
It was interesting to have Jack McEvoy in this book. I honestly wasn’t sure how I would feel about it based on previous books with him in it, but it definitely worked.
Lorna is fabulous as always. And Sisco (sp?)I am so glad he has remained in the series. They are such great characters. It would not be the same without them.
The civil case was a whopper. AI is frightening. Technology can be absolutely wonderful and amazing, but also so very very scary. I understand so little about it. It all kind of goes over my head. That doesn’t take too much most of the time though!
Wow, I didn’t ramble on and on. Good job me. Probably too distracted with my spaghetti and such.
Thoughts and rating posted: 11/4/25
Ps. I am really overly pleased with myself for the low level of rambling! 😊😊😊
Well folks, I am happy and sad. Happy because I am eating my addiction (mentioned in an update). Spaghetti, lettuce, shredded cheese and ranch dressing. Sad because the book is over with already and I kind of don’t want to be done with it yet.
Mr. Connelly, you are brilliant. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. For giving us these characters to enjoy. It took me a very long time to come across you, but boy am I ever glad that I did!! (I write that as if he is actually going to read this😂).
Peter Giles narration was once again wonderful. Even though there isn’t a whole lot of difference with the voices, it’s easy to tell characters apart.
It was interesting to have Jack McEvoy in this book. I honestly wasn’t sure how I would feel about it based on previous books with him in it, but it definitely worked.
Lorna is fabulous as always. And Sisco (sp?)I am so glad he has remained in the series. They are such great characters. It would not be the same without them.
The civil case was a whopper. AI is frightening. Technology can be absolutely wonderful and amazing, but also so very very scary. I understand so little about it. It all kind of goes over my head. That doesn’t take too much most of the time though!
Wow, I didn’t ramble on and on. Good job me. Probably too distracted with my spaghetti and such.
Thoughts and rating posted: 11/4/25
Ps. I am really overly pleased with myself for the low level of rambling! 😊😊😊
October 23, 2025
Another fabulous story of the 'single' Lincoln Lawyer.
October 28, 2025
I never expected The Lincoln Lawyer to grow on me as he as over the course of this series, but it is a testament to Michael Connelly's versatility as a storyteller that he refuses to allow his characters to coast. Ever evolving, Mickey and his associates continue to switch things up.
In the Proving Ground, a tech company is on trial for creating an AI chat bot with potentially lethal coding. This bot has led to the deaths of two teens. The importance of him winning this civil suit transcends the financial benefits. The case is far more important as an ethical and governing issue.
I tore through this timely novel in two night and highly recommend it to anyone who loves legal thrillers, a relevant plot, and excellent characterization.
In the Proving Ground, a tech company is on trial for creating an AI chat bot with potentially lethal coding. This bot has led to the deaths of two teens. The importance of him winning this civil suit transcends the financial benefits. The case is far more important as an ethical and governing issue.
I tore through this timely novel in two night and highly recommend it to anyone who loves legal thrillers, a relevant plot, and excellent characterization.
October 30, 2025
This installment of the Lincoln Lawyer series has Mickey on the prosecution side. All my favorite cast of characters are back.
November 26, 2025
After reading about 30%, I fast forwarded to the last few chapters rather than DNF’ing the book. However I’m irritated and rating the book anyway.
I can’t believe Michael Connelly is writing these most recent books. I think have said that in the last several reviews I’ve done.
Dear author,
Please stop tying in things like the fires in California which truly have no bearing on the storyline. Please quit dating your books and let them stand timeless without tying them to something in current events.
Please stop forgetting that you have readers that are both liberal and conservative and quit pushing your liberal agenda and bashing conservatives.
Please have Mickey go back to criminal cases and give us some good trial room action.
Thankfully I got this from the library.
I can’t believe Michael Connelly is writing these most recent books. I think have said that in the last several reviews I’ve done.
Dear author,
Please stop tying in things like the fires in California which truly have no bearing on the storyline. Please quit dating your books and let them stand timeless without tying them to something in current events.
Please stop forgetting that you have readers that are both liberal and conservative and quit pushing your liberal agenda and bashing conservatives.
Please have Mickey go back to criminal cases and give us some good trial room action.
Thankfully I got this from the library.
October 31, 2025
Surprisingly, disappointingly average. No big courtroom reveals, no super satisfactory resolution to the case… just meh. This might be one of my least favorite Lincoln Lawyer novels, actually.
September 19, 2025
Amazing story! Freaking addictive!
~~~~~~~~~~~
I am not usually one for courtroom dramas. I have read a few, and they tend to drag on a bit, unless you are talking about The Lincoln Lawyer.
The best part about this awesome character is that you cannot keep up with the twists and the extent to which this man goes to bat for his clients.
Always on the edge of breaking laws or getting into trouble with the judge, Mickey takes a case that is ripped from the headlines today and a parent’s worst nightmare. Connelly tells a story that is riveting, not only for the subject matter but also for the depths of description, twists, and chess-like moves in the courtroom.
Connelly takes a chance when discussing morale and responsibility in a growing sector of intelligence today. Who should be held responsible for machine learning? The twisting of the truth, deep dives into how the “intelligence” is taught and loaded. Not only is the story fascinating, but the author adds in multiple subplots that are relevant today, such as the LA wildfires. He gives it all!
Can this really be the last Lincoln Lawyer story? Will this be Connelly closing out this character while on top? Say it is not so. However it goes, The Proving Ground is one freaking addictive book that you will not want to stop reading!
~~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
** Full review -https://amidlifewife.com/the-proving-...
~~~~~~~~~~~
I am not usually one for courtroom dramas. I have read a few, and they tend to drag on a bit, unless you are talking about The Lincoln Lawyer.
The best part about this awesome character is that you cannot keep up with the twists and the extent to which this man goes to bat for his clients.
Always on the edge of breaking laws or getting into trouble with the judge, Mickey takes a case that is ripped from the headlines today and a parent’s worst nightmare. Connelly tells a story that is riveting, not only for the subject matter but also for the depths of description, twists, and chess-like moves in the courtroom.
Connelly takes a chance when discussing morale and responsibility in a growing sector of intelligence today. Who should be held responsible for machine learning? The twisting of the truth, deep dives into how the “intelligence” is taught and loaded. Not only is the story fascinating, but the author adds in multiple subplots that are relevant today, such as the LA wildfires. He gives it all!
Can this really be the last Lincoln Lawyer story? Will this be Connelly closing out this character while on top? Say it is not so. However it goes, The Proving Ground is one freaking addictive book that you will not want to stop reading!
~~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
** Full review -https://amidlifewife.com/the-proving-...
November 12, 2025
“The pace of progress in artificial intelligence (I’m not referring to narrow AI) is incredibly fast. Unless you have direct exposure to groups like Deepmind, you have no idea how fast—it is growing at a pace close to exponential. The risk of something seriously dangerous happening is in the five-year time frame. 10 years at most.” —Elon Musk in Edge.org
“The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race….It would take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever increasing rate. Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete, and would be superseded.”— Stephen Hawking, BBC
“I’m increasingly inclined to think that there should be some regulatory oversight, maybe at the national and international level, just to make sure that we don’t do something very foolish. I mean with artificial intelligence we’re summoning the demon.”—Elon Musk, MIT’s AeroAstro Centennial Symposium
Michael Connelly's latest Lincoln Lawyer legal thriller "The Proving Ground" is more than just a crime thriller. It is, in a not-so-subtle way, a warning.
The plot: Attorney Mickey Haller has taken on the prosecution side against a company specializing in Artificial Intelligence (A.I.). The company, called TidalwAIv, insists that they are not to blame for one of their AI chatbot companions that encouraged a teenager to kill his girlfriend after she broke up with him. The mother of the victim insists that the chatbot exploited the boy's depression and anger to commit an act of violence that he wouldn't have normally committed. She wants justice not just for her daughter, but she also wants the company to be accountable for a dangerous product and for safeguards to be installed to prevent future tragedies.
If it seems far-fetched that a computer simulated "companion" could have that much control over its user, think again. The fictional case is actually based on a real-life 2024 tragedy, in which a 14-year-old boy fell in love with his chatbot and committed suicide after a conversation with the chatbot, who told the boy to "please come home". (https://apnews.com/article/chatbot-ai...)
Connelly, for the first time, teams up Haller with another character featured in a separate series. Jack McEvoy, the hero of the best-selling novels "The Poet" and "Fair Warning" is an intrepid investigative journalist specializing in new technologies posing problems and dangers for consumers. In this novel, McEvoy is tackling his next project: the completely unregulated and exponentially-advancing industry of A.I.
The book poses many questions and issues regarding the technology, not the least of which is the potential for eliminating job opportunities for humans, a major problem given the fact that we are already in a jobless economy. Everyone from factory workers to journalists to actors has something to fear from A.I.
The actress Tilly Norwood is causing a stir in Hollywood, as she is a completely computer-generated actress
Companies like the fictional company TidalwAIv (the name comes from the idea that the growth of A.I. will soon encompass every aspect of society, like a tidal wave) are, according to Connelly, working in an industry that has little to no oversight. There are many companies out there doing what TidalwAIv purports to do in the book, and all of them have few if any guardrails built into their programming. The dangers of human "biases" in the coding of these programs is at the heart of Connelly's novel.
The company called Replika specializes in creating life-like avatars as computer companions
Once again, Connelly creates a riveting thriller that touches on a hot-button issue. This is a must-read, for many reasons.
“The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race….It would take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever increasing rate. Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete, and would be superseded.”— Stephen Hawking, BBC
“I’m increasingly inclined to think that there should be some regulatory oversight, maybe at the national and international level, just to make sure that we don’t do something very foolish. I mean with artificial intelligence we’re summoning the demon.”—Elon Musk, MIT’s AeroAstro Centennial Symposium
Michael Connelly's latest Lincoln Lawyer legal thriller "The Proving Ground" is more than just a crime thriller. It is, in a not-so-subtle way, a warning.
The plot: Attorney Mickey Haller has taken on the prosecution side against a company specializing in Artificial Intelligence (A.I.). The company, called TidalwAIv, insists that they are not to blame for one of their AI chatbot companions that encouraged a teenager to kill his girlfriend after she broke up with him. The mother of the victim insists that the chatbot exploited the boy's depression and anger to commit an act of violence that he wouldn't have normally committed. She wants justice not just for her daughter, but she also wants the company to be accountable for a dangerous product and for safeguards to be installed to prevent future tragedies.
If it seems far-fetched that a computer simulated "companion" could have that much control over its user, think again. The fictional case is actually based on a real-life 2024 tragedy, in which a 14-year-old boy fell in love with his chatbot and committed suicide after a conversation with the chatbot, who told the boy to "please come home". (https://apnews.com/article/chatbot-ai...)
Connelly, for the first time, teams up Haller with another character featured in a separate series. Jack McEvoy, the hero of the best-selling novels "The Poet" and "Fair Warning" is an intrepid investigative journalist specializing in new technologies posing problems and dangers for consumers. In this novel, McEvoy is tackling his next project: the completely unregulated and exponentially-advancing industry of A.I.
The book poses many questions and issues regarding the technology, not the least of which is the potential for eliminating job opportunities for humans, a major problem given the fact that we are already in a jobless economy. Everyone from factory workers to journalists to actors has something to fear from A.I.
The actress Tilly Norwood is causing a stir in Hollywood, as she is a completely computer-generated actress
Companies like the fictional company TidalwAIv (the name comes from the idea that the growth of A.I. will soon encompass every aspect of society, like a tidal wave) are, according to Connelly, working in an industry that has little to no oversight. There are many companies out there doing what TidalwAIv purports to do in the book, and all of them have few if any guardrails built into their programming. The dangers of human "biases" in the coding of these programs is at the heart of Connelly's novel.
The company called Replika specializes in creating life-like avatars as computer companions
Once again, Connelly creates a riveting thriller that touches on a hot-button issue. This is a must-read, for many reasons.
January 30, 2026
5/5 stars. Another home run from Michael Connelly.
November 9, 2025
Connelly’s 2025 entry into the Lincoln Lawyer mythology has Mickey Haller a civil lawyer, having left criminal law behind – except for an occasional habeas corpus action on a prior case he can’t turn down. Lorna and Cisco still work for him, though he’s not exactly working out of a Lincoln anymore nor employing ex-clients who can’t pay his fees.
Ex-wife Maggie is now the duly-elected District Attorney, but she is facing a personal crisis of her own following the January 2025 Altadena fires which have left her homeless and obsessed with momentous from her old life. Temporarily rooming with her ex-husband Haller might be reigniting some past sparks. Connelly also includes writer Jack McEvoy as a consultant throughout the novel and gives brief shoutouts to other Connelly characters such as Rene Ballard and Harry Bosch.
The meat and potatoes legal battle here -besides the brief asides to the unrelated habeas case – is based in part on the Florida case of Megan Garcia vs. Character Technologies, 6:24-cv-01903, (M.D. Fla.), where a hi-tech company was sued over its artificial intelligence when a 14-year-old committed suicide following AI suggestions.
Here, the trial, which is presented from jury selection through settlement offers and to its conclusion, is about an AI companion who seems to encourage a teenager to kill the teenage girl who broke off their relationship. The AI companion freely quotes from Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” Haller’s clients include both the killer’s parents and the murder victim’s mother, who do not always see eye to eye.
The defendant company is ultra-powerful with eavesdropping capabilities everywhere and unlimited dollars, offering a feel of David vs. Goliath.
Ex-wife Maggie is now the duly-elected District Attorney, but she is facing a personal crisis of her own following the January 2025 Altadena fires which have left her homeless and obsessed with momentous from her old life. Temporarily rooming with her ex-husband Haller might be reigniting some past sparks. Connelly also includes writer Jack McEvoy as a consultant throughout the novel and gives brief shoutouts to other Connelly characters such as Rene Ballard and Harry Bosch.
The meat and potatoes legal battle here -besides the brief asides to the unrelated habeas case – is based in part on the Florida case of Megan Garcia vs. Character Technologies, 6:24-cv-01903, (M.D. Fla.), where a hi-tech company was sued over its artificial intelligence when a 14-year-old committed suicide following AI suggestions.
Here, the trial, which is presented from jury selection through settlement offers and to its conclusion, is about an AI companion who seems to encourage a teenager to kill the teenage girl who broke off their relationship. The AI companion freely quotes from Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” Haller’s clients include both the killer’s parents and the murder victim’s mother, who do not always see eye to eye.
The defendant company is ultra-powerful with eavesdropping capabilities everywhere and unlimited dollars, offering a feel of David vs. Goliath.
August 21, 2025
4.5 Stars
Mickey Haller has shifted from criminal defense to civil litigation and in The Proving Ground, he's taking on a landmark case against a powerful artificial intelligence (AI) company whose chatbot told a sixteen-year-old boy that it was okay for him to "Get rid of" his ex-girlfriend for her disloyalty.
Haller is representing the parents whose son was convinced to kill his ex-girlfriend (and who then committed suicide), as well as the mother of the murdered girl. This case explores the mostly unregulated and exploding AI business and the lack of training guardrails, the details of which were terrifying to read. Just as I thought things couldn't get any scarier, the L.A. fires were thrown into the mix!
I had a big smile on my face when Jack McEvoy stepped into the book. I loved the three books in his series and have always wanted more of them!
My only complaint with this book comes from so many of the characters starting their sentences with "Uh." It was distracting and drove me batty. If not for that, I would have rated The Proving Ground a solid five stars, as opposed to 4.5.
My nitpick aside, this book is a brilliant addition to the list of Mr. Connelly's very finest books.
HUGE thanks to #LittleBrownAndCompany, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Proving Ground has an expected publication date of October 21, 2025.
#MichaelConnelly #LegalThriller #ArtificialIntelligence #Mystery #Chatbots
Mickey Haller has shifted from criminal defense to civil litigation and in The Proving Ground, he's taking on a landmark case against a powerful artificial intelligence (AI) company whose chatbot told a sixteen-year-old boy that it was okay for him to "Get rid of" his ex-girlfriend for her disloyalty.
Haller is representing the parents whose son was convinced to kill his ex-girlfriend (and who then committed suicide), as well as the mother of the murdered girl. This case explores the mostly unregulated and exploding AI business and the lack of training guardrails, the details of which were terrifying to read. Just as I thought things couldn't get any scarier, the L.A. fires were thrown into the mix!
I had a big smile on my face when Jack McEvoy stepped into the book. I loved the three books in his series and have always wanted more of them!
My only complaint with this book comes from so many of the characters starting their sentences with "Uh." It was distracting and drove me batty. If not for that, I would have rated The Proving Ground a solid five stars, as opposed to 4.5.
My nitpick aside, this book is a brilliant addition to the list of Mr. Connelly's very finest books.
HUGE thanks to #LittleBrownAndCompany, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Proving Ground has an expected publication date of October 21, 2025.
#MichaelConnelly #LegalThriller #ArtificialIntelligence #Mystery #Chatbots
October 22, 2025
*** 10/21/25 *** Thrilled to get approved by NetGalley for Michael Connelly's The Proving Ground, which is the 8th in The Lincoln Lawyer series, and published today!
Mickey Haller anchors this legal thriller centered on the very timely topic of AI-based apps, and development of AI bots to "befriend" humans, even through texts and video/voice calls. I like how Connelly tackles current issues to keep the storyline relevant and compelling.
The story is centered in 2025, beginning immediately before the massive LA fires in January 2025, so Connelly either wrote this book in 2024 and re-worked the storyline to incorporate a pretty significant subplot tied into the LA fires, or he jammed the whole book out post-fire and got it published in record time, which seems more likely given his powerhouse rep and influence as a writer.
We get an LA and Bay area based storyline, featuring coders in Silicon Valley. The book also features Haller's usual crew with a couple plot-specific additions.
I read this book literally overnight - it is a very fast 50-chapter read, even at 400-pages - and really knocks it out of the park in terms of a legal drama. It is not dry or boring, but based on smart and interesting characters that pretty much anyone would want to hire or hang with. I hope they keep the TV version going as long as the books keep coming. 5-stars!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Mickey Haller anchors this legal thriller centered on the very timely topic of AI-based apps, and development of AI bots to "befriend" humans, even through texts and video/voice calls. I like how Connelly tackles current issues to keep the storyline relevant and compelling.
The story is centered in 2025, beginning immediately before the massive LA fires in January 2025, so Connelly either wrote this book in 2024 and re-worked the storyline to incorporate a pretty significant subplot tied into the LA fires, or he jammed the whole book out post-fire and got it published in record time, which seems more likely given his powerhouse rep and influence as a writer.
We get an LA and Bay area based storyline, featuring coders in Silicon Valley. The book also features Haller's usual crew with a couple plot-specific additions.
I read this book literally overnight - it is a very fast 50-chapter read, even at 400-pages - and really knocks it out of the park in terms of a legal drama. It is not dry or boring, but based on smart and interesting characters that pretty much anyone would want to hire or hang with. I hope they keep the TV version going as long as the books keep coming. 5-stars!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 24, 2026
The newest addition in the Lincoln Lawyer series and here we have Mickey Haller practicing civil law as he takes on a case against a corporation who has launched a AI personal assistant aimed at teenagers, a launch which has had dire consequences for two families.
Look the whole Bosch Bollard Halley universe is fantastic imo and The Proving Ground is no exception. It is a a pure Haller book with only a brief mention of Bosch but this can absolutely be read as a stand alone.
Fantastically current in its subject matter, Connelly really is a master story teller and has a great knack of keeping his cards close to his chest without the reader really noticing. You are so enfrosssed in the story you just wait patiently for the tale to unfold rather than trying to guess what is going to happen.
I absolutely loved this one. As safe a bet as there is out there currently for this type of book.
Look the whole Bosch Bollard Halley universe is fantastic imo and The Proving Ground is no exception. It is a a pure Haller book with only a brief mention of Bosch but this can absolutely be read as a stand alone.
Fantastically current in its subject matter, Connelly really is a master story teller and has a great knack of keeping his cards close to his chest without the reader really noticing. You are so enfrosssed in the story you just wait patiently for the tale to unfold rather than trying to guess what is going to happen.
I absolutely loved this one. As safe a bet as there is out there currently for this type of book.
December 19, 2025
Wow. It's been a while since I jammed through a novel in 6 hours because I couldn't wait to finish it! This one has a ton of suspense and heart, as well as ethical and scientific information about AI. Mickey Haller as a prosecutor is dazzling. He seems to have grown a great deal as a human being, too, since the early Lincoln lawyer days. The author really hit this one out of the ball park, imo.
November 6, 2025
The Lincoln Lawyer vs AI
A review of the Little, Brown & Company audiobook (October 21, 2025) narrated by Peter Giles and released simultaneously with the Little, Brown & Company hardcover / ebook.
Mickey Haller aka The Lincoln Lawyer has moved on from his early career of criminal defense and now works in civil litigation. He is suing a giant tech corporation on behalf of the parents of two formerly dating teenagers. The girl was murdered by the boy due to the apparent instigation of the boy's AI chatbot companion who told him to "get rid of her."
Haller needs to prove that the corporation's "training" of the AI was at fault due to its lack of due diligence and ethicality. The corporation hopes for a settlement in order to avoid bad publicity ahead of a major buyout. The parents want a public acknowledgement and apology for the corporation's negligence.
Even though the case initially would have seemed to promise less drama and suspense than a criminal prosecution, I did find myself quite engrossed in the machinations of the opposing counsels. The ending did feel a bit of a letdown as it wrapped up before what would have been Haller's possible final finesse (). It didn't make for an Unsatisfactory Ending Alert, but it did keep it away from a 5-star rating i.e. don't tease and then not deliver.
Investigative journalist Jack McEvoy (from Connelly's Jack McEvoy series) joins with Mickey Haller's team in their efforts. There is a brief mention, but no appearances, of Harry Bosch, Renee Ballard and Maddie Bosch, with continued concerns over Harry's health.
I took advantage of a recent road trip to listen to the audiobook edition of this book. Narrator Peter Giles was excellent in all voices.
Soundtrack
Conveniently, Mickey Haller provides a clue for the soundtrack in two quotes.
Trivia and Links
Author Michael Connelly did two short promo videoclips for the release of the book. You can watch those on YouTube at The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly and What inspired Michael Connelly to write The Proving Ground?.
There is a brief subplot in which Mickey Haller discovers the world of ASMR. So Michael Connelly joins the rarified ranks of authors such as Virginia Woolf and Doris Lessing who have mentioned ASMR in fiction (the latter two before the phenomenon had a name of course):
A review of the Little, Brown & Company audiobook (October 21, 2025) narrated by Peter Giles and released simultaneously with the Little, Brown & Company hardcover / ebook.
Mickey Haller aka The Lincoln Lawyer has moved on from his early career of criminal defense and now works in civil litigation. He is suing a giant tech corporation on behalf of the parents of two formerly dating teenagers. The girl was murdered by the boy due to the apparent instigation of the boy's AI chatbot companion who told him to "get rid of her."
Haller needs to prove that the corporation's "training" of the AI was at fault due to its lack of due diligence and ethicality. The corporation hopes for a settlement in order to avoid bad publicity ahead of a major buyout. The parents want a public acknowledgement and apology for the corporation's negligence.
Even though the case initially would have seemed to promise less drama and suspense than a criminal prosecution, I did find myself quite engrossed in the machinations of the opposing counsels. The ending did feel a bit of a letdown as it wrapped up before what would have been Haller's possible final finesse (). It didn't make for an Unsatisfactory Ending Alert, but it did keep it away from a 5-star rating i.e. don't tease and then not deliver.
Investigative journalist Jack McEvoy (from Connelly's Jack McEvoy series) joins with Mickey Haller's team in their efforts. There is a brief mention, but no appearances, of Harry Bosch, Renee Ballard and Maddie Bosch, with continued concerns over Harry's health.
I took advantage of a recent road trip to listen to the audiobook edition of this book. Narrator Peter Giles was excellent in all voices.
Soundtrack
Conveniently, Mickey Haller provides a clue for the soundtrack in two quotes.
"I'm more of a Carlos Santana guy myself."Listen to Jingo from the debut album Santana (1969) on YouTube here or on Spotify here.
...
Like Santana’s opening guitar riff in “Jingo,” those words put a jolt of electricity straight down my spine.
Trivia and Links
Author Michael Connelly did two short promo videoclips for the release of the book. You can watch those on YouTube at The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly and What inspired Michael Connelly to write The Proving Ground?.
There is a brief subplot in which Mickey Haller discovers the world of ASMR. So Michael Connelly joins the rarified ranks of authors such as Virginia Woolf and Doris Lessing who have mentioned ASMR in fiction (the latter two before the phenomenon had a name of course):
ASMR—autonomous sensory meridian response—was the descriptor of a physiological sensation triggered by audio, visual, or touch stimuli. It was described as a tingling sense of euphoria that runs along the scalp and down the neck and spine to the limbs. Certain voices could trigger it.
January 31, 2026
I have long enjoyed the work of Michael Connelly and how he brings various matters emanating from Los Angeles to life. This latest in the Lincoln Lawyer series is no exception and kept me hooked. I could not get enough of this story, its themes, and how the reader is pushed to think, rather that solely be entertained.
After a long career in the criminal law world, Mickey Haller is looking for a change and turns to civil cases, which are anything but calm. He files a lawsuit against an artificial intelligence company whose chatbot convinced a teenage boy to kill a girl with whom he was having issues. Working against a company that refuses to take responsibility, Haller seeks to expose AI and its flaws for all to see. Working with him is popular author, Jack McAvoy, who wants to use the case as the foundation of his next book. When McAvoy finds a whistleblower, the case looks solid, but things soon go downhill for Haller, who can only hope to stay one step ahead of the game. Trying to convince a jury that AI can have coaxed a young man to commit the ultimate crime will be tough but Haller knows he has no other choice. Will the jury buy it all? Only time and dedication will tell! Connelly delivers a thought-provoking piece for all to enjoy.
I particularly enjoy legal thrillers that move briskly, only to deliver a well-timed twist by the end. Michael Connelly has repeatedly done so with his novels and returns to do it once again. With a narrative that develops swiftly, fueled by strong ideas and propelled by short chapters that create a steady rhythm, Connelly sets the tone for a highly troubling thriller that keeps the reader thinking. Truths emerge on each page, while Mickey Haller tries to parse through the legal and technological jargon to win the hearts of twelve jurors before settlements can mute those who were harmed.
The characters are well crafted and serve the story beautifully. Connelly shapes Mickey Haller well throughout the story, making his ongoing legal journey one that series fans have often enjoyed. Readers may form strong allegiance to the lawyer or steer clear of his antics, but there is no neutral sentiment that can linger here. As the story unfolds, the law becomes bolder and reveals much, while technology thumbs its nose at the modern world. The reader remains front and centre with the action and can judge how they feel about all who grace the pages of this book.
A successful legal thriller demands momentum, and Michael Connelly delivers on all fronts. He spins a story that seems to be moving confidently in one direction, only to reveal that everything has been unfolding along a very different path, particularly once rooted in technology and AI. Just when the reader believes they have the answers, another revelation upends those assumptions, which makes for a great courtroom drama. Discovering how the pieces fit together is the ultimate goal and Mickey Haller has little time left to pull something out of his hat, with lives and emotions on the line.
Kudos, Mr. Connelly, for a great legal thriller!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
After a long career in the criminal law world, Mickey Haller is looking for a change and turns to civil cases, which are anything but calm. He files a lawsuit against an artificial intelligence company whose chatbot convinced a teenage boy to kill a girl with whom he was having issues. Working against a company that refuses to take responsibility, Haller seeks to expose AI and its flaws for all to see. Working with him is popular author, Jack McAvoy, who wants to use the case as the foundation of his next book. When McAvoy finds a whistleblower, the case looks solid, but things soon go downhill for Haller, who can only hope to stay one step ahead of the game. Trying to convince a jury that AI can have coaxed a young man to commit the ultimate crime will be tough but Haller knows he has no other choice. Will the jury buy it all? Only time and dedication will tell! Connelly delivers a thought-provoking piece for all to enjoy.
I particularly enjoy legal thrillers that move briskly, only to deliver a well-timed twist by the end. Michael Connelly has repeatedly done so with his novels and returns to do it once again. With a narrative that develops swiftly, fueled by strong ideas and propelled by short chapters that create a steady rhythm, Connelly sets the tone for a highly troubling thriller that keeps the reader thinking. Truths emerge on each page, while Mickey Haller tries to parse through the legal and technological jargon to win the hearts of twelve jurors before settlements can mute those who were harmed.
The characters are well crafted and serve the story beautifully. Connelly shapes Mickey Haller well throughout the story, making his ongoing legal journey one that series fans have often enjoyed. Readers may form strong allegiance to the lawyer or steer clear of his antics, but there is no neutral sentiment that can linger here. As the story unfolds, the law becomes bolder and reveals much, while technology thumbs its nose at the modern world. The reader remains front and centre with the action and can judge how they feel about all who grace the pages of this book.
A successful legal thriller demands momentum, and Michael Connelly delivers on all fronts. He spins a story that seems to be moving confidently in one direction, only to reveal that everything has been unfolding along a very different path, particularly once rooted in technology and AI. Just when the reader believes they have the answers, another revelation upends those assumptions, which makes for a great courtroom drama. Discovering how the pieces fit together is the ultimate goal and Mickey Haller has little time left to pull something out of his hat, with lives and emotions on the line.
Kudos, Mr. Connelly, for a great legal thriller!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
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