After his “resurrection walk”, Mickey Haller turns to…checks notes…civil law. Yes, the Lincoln Lawyer is practicing civil law. He files a civil lawsuit against an AI company whose chatbot told a teenage boy that it was okay for him to kill his ex-girlfriend. While Haller is practicing civil law, the gang is still investigating the case.

We have long established I love Michael Connelly, and look forward to his new books, and TV shows (please tell me you have watched Bosch, Lincoln Lawyer and Ballard). Since this story takes place in modern Los Angeles, the fires are minor part of the story. While a mystery & crime novel, I feel that Connelly wrote about a real-life issue we will be talking about more and more, AI and the ethics behind it.

Thank you NetGalley & Little, Brown and Company for an advanced reader copy. #TheProvingCompany #NetGalley

Lawyer Mickey Haller has taken the case that is going to be challenging. His client, a mother whose daughter was killed by her teenage boyfriend. Heartbreaking. The facts and his guilt are undeniable, but she blames Tidalwave Technologies, LLC for their AI creation that ran amok.
With so much money behind this company, Mickey has to dig deep to get the information he needs to prove that they were ultimately responsible. Honestly, I was not sure if he could do it, with all their resources. You will need to read The Proving Ground to see whether he is successful. Also, it is a hard and eye-opening look at some major concerns about AI. Thought provoking and a really good beach read.

Another winner from Michael Connelly!

The Proving Ground is part of the Lincoln Lawyer series, and includes (or mentions) all the familiar characters. Mickey Haller is taking on civil cases with the latest involving a teenage killing and AI. Haller is up to his usual tricks while trying his case (which at times left me questioning if I even like lawyers, ha!) but proving he will stop at nothing to win a case for his clients. Michael Connelly again immerses you with his story telling and I could picture myself right alongside each character during the good, the bad, and the ugly. I love how he includes real life recent events and describes even the smallest details of Los Angeles (as an LA native, it’s my favorite part of his books). A must read for any Michael Connelly fan!

Michael Connelly has outdone himself with The Proving Ground—a taut, urgent, and emotionally resonant thriller that might just be the best Lincoln Lawyer book to date. Mickey Haller has long been my favorite Connelly character, and in this installment, he’s at the top of his game—sharper, more reflective, and thrown into the kind of case that belongs to our present moment.

The Proving Ground
At its core, The Proving Ground is about truth and accountability in an age when technology can distort both. Connelly doesn’t just flirt with the issue of AI—he puts it squarely on trial. The book explores the dual edges of artificial intelligence: its powerful potential to serve justice and its equally potent capacity for manipulation. I’ve long believed in AI’s capacity for good, but Connelly reminds us that every tool has its shadow. Like The Social Dilemma, this book is a wake-up call—not just a cautionary tale, but a call to sober awareness. The narrative invites readers to ask: who is building the systems we now rely on, and what safeguards are missing?

Equally powerful is how the book weaves the recent LA wildfires into its fabric. Without tipping into spoilers, I’ll simply say this: the fires are not just backdrop or metaphor—they’re integral. They shape the story’s stakes, its characters, and the emotional undercurrents that drive the plot forward. In the wake of devastation, Connelly finds humanity and consequence. He doesn’t exploit tragedy for thrills; he lets it burn through the characters in believable, heartfelt ways.

I’d love to go into more detail on the story, but errr… It’s so damn good, it should just be read without spoilers. I hope Connelly continues this trend of weightier topics—and hopefully will get to see more of them play out on the Netflix screen soon.

The Proving Ground works on multiple levels—as a gripping legal thriller, a meditation on technology’s reach, and a deeply personal journey for its characters. It will resonate with longtime fans and new readers alike. Mickey Haller has never been more compelling, and the questions this book raises will linger long after the final page.

Michael Connelly has done it again! Hot off the heels of his latest release, Nightshade, comes The Proving Ground - a riveting page turner with Mickey Haller going up against a high profile tech company willing to do whatever it takes to protect their secrets.

Tackling the world of AI and its complexities feels of the moment, while Haller and his team face challenges both inside and outside of the courtroom. If you’re already a fan of the characters Connelly has created within the world of Bosch then you’ll feel right at home with this read. If this happens to be your first experience with Team Haller, then you’ve picked a great one to start your journey.