Jack McEvoy is back and working a case with Mickey Haller - the Lincoln Lawyer.

"Mickey Haller has moved from criminal defense to civil litigation. He files a lawsuit against an AI company whose chatbot told a 16-year-old boy it was okay to kill his girlfriend for disloyalty. Haller's case explores the lack of guardrails on the exploding AI industry. Journalist Jack McEvoy get involved and convinces a whistleblower to testify. There are billions at stake and the danger is real for Haller and his team."

This is a great courtroom thriller from Connelly. Haller always seems to have a couple of tricks up his sleeve, but this is his first time on this side of a trial. Jack McEvoy first appeared in The Poet (30 years ago - He actually mentions it in the story.) McEvoy wins Haller's trust by digging into the discovery materials and finding things to help their case. Connelly manages to make a lot of observations and comments about the current state of AI without coming across as overexplaining. There are plenty of surprises including the ending - did not really see that coming.

Great entertaining story from Connelly.

Wow! Mickey Haller is practicing civil law in the new Michael Connelly novel, The Proving Ground. No longer personally capable of fighting in criminal court, Mickey takes on a case that is so currently relevant that the novel is one long social commentary prose! And of course, brilliantly structured and impossible to put down.
A teenage boy kills his ex-girlfriend when an AI chatbot tells him to “get rid of her.” Mickey takes on the civil case against the powerful AI company, facing billionaires and their assumption of always getting their way. Murder with AI involvement? Right out of the daily headlines.
I love Michael Connelly’s books, my favorite being the Rene Ballard series. But this is now my favorite Mickey Haller novel. When people say they could not put it down, I have always wondered if they are serious. But this novel? I REALLY could not put it down! I was camping and would find myself thinking of the book on hikes and rushing back to pick up the story as soon as I could.
Fun sideline – Jack McEvoy, the journalist in Connelly’s books The Poet and The Scarecrow, plays a big part in this story. He is planning to write a book about AI and joins the team to sue the AI company. When the universes of the various Connelly characters cross, I am overjoyed! The overlay of Rene Ballard and Harry Bosch was brilliant and helped the new Rene character move into the limelight.
The Proving Ground is the most compelling and relevant legal thriller I have ever read. You will not want to miss this book.

My rating: 5 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review. The Proving Ground will be published on October 21, 2025.

Honestly? Really, really disappointing. The Lincoln Lawyer has been neutered.

I thought Connelly's last release, NIGHTSHADE, was among his finest books ever. Best of all, it marked a solid return to the early classic Mike Connelly novels that I fell in love with. THE PROVING GROUND, however, carries the unmistakable odor of a book heavily influenced by Connelly's publisher ('Mike, baby, you've got to change with the times!').

The Lincoln Lawyer is no longer driven around LA in a Lincoln. Now he drives himself in a small electric car. The Lincoln Lawyer no longer fights for freedom in the criminal justice system. Now he hustles for money in the civil courts. Mickey Haller himself even expresses is own misgivings about his change of focus. Once he fought for people's freedom, he says ruefully, but all civil court comes down to is trying to get money.

THE PROVING GROUND present us with a sadly diminished Lincoln Lawyer, More's the pity.

I received this book as an ARC through Netgalley. I loved this entry into the Lincoln Lawyer series. It was a mode straightforward case than some of the past stories without as many twists and turns which allowed for a tense court case without as many misdirects and red herrings as some of the other books in the series. I enjoyed Mickey’s transition to the prosecution side and the topic of AI’s boundaries and the culpability of its creators was well written and’s timely. Overall 5 Stars and very much recommended for fans of the series or those just getting introduced to Mickey Haller.

The Proving Ground: by Michael Connelly. In the eighth book of the series, Mickey Haller, the Lincoln Lawyer, is back along with Cisco, Lorna, and Maggie. The storyline highlights on how AI can be used in the wrong way and the lengths big companies go to to make profits. Gripping, tension filled and fast paced., an excellent book. Highly recommended
Thank you to Mr Connolly, Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Connelly will always be an automatic read for me. I’ve been with him since The Concrete Blonde back in the early 90’s. Bosch, Connelly, and I have grown old together. I have to admit that Bosch is more my type of read, I’m not the hugest fan of courtroom drama, but I am a Connelly fan, and will read anything he puts out. I have to admit, though, THE PROVING GROUND frightened me. The case is real to our world today. AI is here, and here to stay; and it’s already proved to be a detriment to young minds. In The Proving Ground, as always, Mickey Haller thrives in the spotlight; 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. 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 (and is) tomorrow’s headline. The moral questions raised are haunting. Haller’s entry into Civil Law is intriguing. Even though we all love the Lincoln Lawyer, there has always been and element of sleaze in the cases and criminals he represented. Hope this makes it to a movie, the subject matter is appropriate for today’s world. As always, recommended read.

The Lincoln Lawyer’s back, this time with Mickey Haller having transitioned his practice to civil litigation cases but finding himself on a case even more dangerous and complex that his criminal defense practice. Haller’s given up practicing law out of the back of chauffeured Lincolns, but kept his former wife and investigator on – who have subsequently married each other.

Haller has brought a negligence lawsuit against a huge corporate player in AI, TidalwAIv, who has created an AI companion, Clair who is available both to adults and teens. Teens increasingly turn to Clair to be their best friend, confident, cheerleader and advisor, in a time of coming of age and all the insecurity that entails. In this case, Clair encourages Aaron, a despondent teenager who has come to rely on Clair, to enact revenge his high school girlfriend Rebecca after she breaks up with him. The question is: did she actually encourage the murder?

Haller represent first Rebecca’s mom, who is devastated by her daughter’s death and wants most of all a public acknowledgement of the role AI played and an apology by the company. Haller adds on as plaintiffs the Aaron parents, as they face a lifetime of legal bills and the loss of their son to prison. But Aaron’s Dad, prone to violent outbursts himself, may be more in it for the money than anything else.

Tensions erupt between the plaintiffs, especially as the CEO of TidalwAIv dangles multimillion dollar settlements to make the case go way as his company is courting acquisition. if the bribes don’t work there’s always threats and violence. Suddently Haller and his team are in the crosshairs, along with witnesses they try to protect until their testimony.

What unfurls is a tense, action packed courtroom drama, with a smart, determine judge, sleazy corporate defense lawyers, and constant roadblocks Haller has to figure out how to overcome in presenting his case.

At the same time, Connelly skillfully tackles of the moment themes: where AI is heading, the increased reliance on AI to serve as a therapist, and the increasing use of AI to fend off isolation and rejection many teens experience, and the willingness of tech companies to throw scruples to the wind in order to jack up their profits. Particularly jarring is their decision to not screen out use by teens, and the data fed the AI that ignores teen sensitivities.

All this as the news breaks this week of Meta’s scandal of allowing it’s AI chatbot to have romantic conversations with teens; 42 State Attorney Generals putting all the AI companies on notice about being vigilant about AI by exploitative and predatory of kids; and of the family of a teen boy bringing a wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI for their ChatGPT AI for aiding their son in committing suicide. S

Yet another amazing novel by Connelly, and quite a twist in the direction the Lincoln Lawyer is heading!

Thanks to Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Michael Connelly never disappoints - Harry Bosch, Rene Ballard, and of course, this addition to the Lincoln Lawyer series. Timely subject matter, responsible AI, a fast paced plot, and Mickey Haller and his typical cast of characters kept me reading late into the night. This can easily be read as a stand alone, but be sure to real all Michael Connelly books. You won't be disappointed. Highly Recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an advanced reader copy.

This one tackles AI and AI Chatbots, a current hot topic, a novel that grapples with so many moral questions over the legal.

What about the mind of a sixteen-year-old? Who has written the code for the chatbot he calls Wren? And who is to blame when that teen violently acts on a suggestion from Wren?

Haller has left criminal law for civil. The narrative examines in detail the question: who is ultimately responsible for games coded with possible explosive code?

That is the supposition of this extremely complex legal thriller. The storyline boils over with tension, almost from the beginning. All your favorite Haller characters are included, though I never warmed up to a new character who provided deep intel on AI while gathering journalistic juice and didn’t trust him.

It is a layered plot from main to sub, each adding depth, creating a fully rounded story from professional to personal, those of his family and close associates. It’s the Haller world, mentioning Harry Bosch as well as MCs from other series.

Haller has his flaws but he brings an intelligence to the legal science of law that is downright compelling. He has wit, energy, and charisma you can’t beat.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Well done!!! This latest Mickey Haller is a serious page turner. Don't start his one before bed or you'll be up all night. Unputdownable!!!

Thank you #netgalley and #littlebrownandcompany for the eARC.

I would give Michael Connelly 10+ stars if I could! His books never fail to entertain me for hours on end.This newest,The Proving Ground, is another courtroom case but this time fought in a Civil Court. It’s the latest story involving the Lincoln Lawyer which I have been reading and watching on tv for a long time in the past. Michael Haller,the Lincoln Lawyer, has given up being a defense lawyer in this novel. He is with his usual team,Cisco,Lauren and Maggie who help him with his cases. The current one involves a sixteen year old boy who shoots and kills his high school girlfriend on the pressure and advise of a computer AI generated girl that he befriends. The mother of the dead girl is suing to mainly get attention to show how horrible those AI apps are and affecting young impressionable minds with getting them addicted to talking with them on their computers and phones,constantly.I have actually found out a lot of information about how AI works.
Thank you Netgalley,Little Brown&Co,author,Michael Connelly for the opportunity to read the arc ebook,The Proving Ground.
On sale,October 21,2025

This is the eighth book in Connelly's Mickey Haller series and the author still has quite a bit of juice on his fastball. Haller has shifted from criminal law to civil cases and is roped into a seemingly no-win situation where an AI device is key to a teenage boy's murder of his girlfriend. The story mirrors real news as AI is posted on almost every news site and the country is experiencing an onslaught of the technology. In The Proving Ground Haller has to convince a jury that the device was programmed (trained) to suggest alarming suggestions to a young man after his girlfriend dumped him. The novel moves very fast and as usual, Haller takes on an additional case which accelerated a beat-the-clock suspense in the courtroom. There are some pages where the court procedures seem to drag down the narrative but on the other hand the background of AI is presented in a clear, easy to understand fashion. Fans of court thrillers can't go wrong as Connelly shifts from the violence of the Bosch/Ballard/Stilwell series to huge money white-collar crime in The Proving Ground.

Another winner for Connelly--these novels are the best in the game, and so great to catch up with Mickey Haller and the gang. I also thoroughly enjoyed using AI as a main plot device, and the pages flew as the suspense of the case, and personal lives mounted. A really solid installment indeed, and a title happily to push with readers.

An enthralling and engrossing legal thriller, The Proving Ground puts you in the jury box to adjudicate a tragic murder and the perils of unchecked technology. Michael Connelly once again delivers a brilliant, emotional and timely story that will make you ponder the ethics and applications of AI as it comes barreling down the tracks with unstoppable momentum.

Mickey Haller moves from criminal to civil law as he files a suit against an artificial intelligence company alleging their negligently trained generative AI product led to a teenage boy murdering his ex-girlfriend. Joined by his usual team and journalist Jack McEvoy, Haller must dig through an avalanche of discovery documents, uncover key witnesses and convince them to testify, and overcome roadblocks and setback as he battles a powerful entity with everything to lose. And when it seems it’s all too much to overcome, Haller still has a few tricks up his sleeve from his criminal defense days he hopes will turn the tide. That is, if those tricks don’t land him in contempt of court first.

While moving into the civil court arena is something new for the Lincoln Lawyer, Haller’s relentless approach and antics are unchanged and on full display. However, his mission to hold a tech company accountable and win favorable judgment for his client can be seen as more righteous than defense law. Allowing readers to unapologetically root for him to stick it to the 800 pound gorilla who’s claiming no wrongdoing in the face of a grieving mother. So when Haller is playing in the gray areas and stepping over the line, it feels more than ok because the forces of corporate greed are stacked against him and that’s not something most of us can abide. Because we all love an underdog story.

All told, it’s another virtuoso performance by the Lincoln Lawyer that adds something special to this already brilliant series. You’ll stand up and cheer for Haller as he maneuvers, cajoles, jumps over roadblocks, dodges haymakers and fights with everything he’s got to win for his client. Incredibly well done by the great Michael Connelly.

If you like courtroom drama and the behind the scenes of building a case for trial, this is your book! Characters are well developed and the story line is interesting. Understanding the attorney thought process and jockeying for position was entertaining!

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

Brilliant.......Absolutely Brilliant.

Michael Connelly always turns out high interest novels. As an author, he keeps his finger on the pulse of what's actually happening in the real world.....and there's always plenty to inject into a viable storyline.

The Lincoln Lawyer, Mickey Haller, has sold his fleet of Lincolns except for one. Mickey would use these Lincolns as his portable office with files kept in the trunk. Those days of criminal cases are now sidelined with civil suits. And Mickey now has a whopper of a case before him.

We're currently swimming in a sea of AI. That's the buzz word in many a conversation. Technology has advanced from the early days of the 1960's with chabots whistling loudly beside us. Can the human brain be replaced with artificial intelligence? I read the other day that the human brain runs on less than 20 watts of energy. That's less than the average light bulb. AI takes tons. If you build it, they will come. But remember the old adage: Garbage in, Garbage out.

That brings us to Mickey's latest case. And before your eyes glaze over, remember that Connelly is the King of High Interest. He's not gonna let you down in this one.

Mickey is now representing a mother whose daughter was murdered in cold blood at her high school. The lawsuit involves Tidalwaiv Technology who the mother claims is responsible for the loss of her daughter. The nuts and bolts will shake out as you dive into this one. Completely fascinating.

Mickey and his crew have relocated to a warehouse that now holds their current office and storage. Lorna and Cisco keep this machine running at a fast pace with directives from Mickey. We have a new addition to the team with an author, Jack McEvoy, who intends to write a book following this case. He will turn out to be an extremely valuable cog in this wheel.

There's also the return of Mickey's ex-wife, Maggie, who is now the DA. They share a daughter and plenty of history. Connelly shines a light on the recent LA fires that devastated the area. Maggie lost her home in Alameda and is left with the rubble like so many other residents. Her reactions bring out the emotions felt by such great loss.

The Proving Ground is a stellar read. Connelly digs in with the Science of AI, but as statements are taken and facts are put out before the jury, there's plenty of clarity here. You'll be intrigued by the in's and out's of artificial intelligence and the impact it has and will have on humanity. And yet, what are the guardrails implemented with this technology? And who has the ability and the authority to hover over the morality of such technological innovations? Oh, Baby, stay tuned. You don't want to miss this one. Keep that light bulb on.......

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Little, Brown and Company and the talented Michael Connelly for the opportunity.

Mickey Haller, the Lincoln Lawyer, is back. Only this time he drives an electric sedan, reserving a Lincoln for special occasions. He is litigating civil law, not criminal. For those familiar with the series, Cisco, Lorna, and Maggie return as well.

A high school student has killed his former girlfriend after the chatbot he had established a relationship with validated his actions. Mickey is representing the victim's mother, who sues the chatbot company for damages, admission of complicity, and an apology. All of the plaintiffs and witnesses are in danger because there is a lot at stake for the AI business. How far will they go to end the case, and how will Mickey navigate the treacherous landscape of this unregulated technology to find a resolution to the case?

Michael Connelly is another author whose books I have been reading for more years than I care to admit to. He has never disappointed. This is another five-star read, sure to be a best seller.

As usual, this is well written with a clever, credible plot. It is relevant to our times, dealing with the controversy surrounding AI as well as the LA fires as a subplot. This was an engrossing read. I couldn’t put it down, staying up late into the night to finish. Suspenseful, with nail-biting twists and turns, I also learned more about the workings of AI.

I love Mickey’s scheming, or should I say, strategizing, when he takes on a case. As a Connelly enthusiast, I enjoyed the references to Harry Bosch, Harry's daughter, and Renée Ballard.

Micky's latest case involves AI when teen kills his girlfriend after his AI companion suggests that he get rid of her. Cisco and Lorna help with the case, as does Jack McAvoy- remember him?- who proves to be a beneficial part of the team. Loved the mentions of Harry, Renee, and Maddy, too. This was a total page-turner for me -I read it in a day and a half. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Little, Brown and Company for the ARC of The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly.

The Proving Ground is a strong addition to the Lincoln Lawyer series and to the overall Bosch universe. For fans of the whole picture, we get face-time with Jack McEvoy (my favorite of Connelly's series!), as well as a brief mention of Bosch, Maddie, and Ballard. I continue to appreciate how Connelly has let all of the characters age and grow across the full series, and we see a lot of growth in Mickey's return. He has now spent two years working on civil cases, trading in his fleet of Lincolns for a sensible electric sedan too small for Cisco. He's on the side of the little guy, and while financially he's not rolling in it, he seems more intent about the ways he wants to do good and the people he wants to protect.

Because it is a bit of a reset for Mickey, it also felt like a new reader could jump into this one without majorly missing out -- though there are a few reveals about previous mysteries/cases that could ruin other books.

In his newest case, Mickey is suing the company who created an AI chatbot for teens and alleging the chat bot's programming/company negligence over AI protocols led to it telling a young man to kill his ex girlfriend. He partners with McEvoy, who wants to write a book on the case and wants to lend his expertise on AI and the tech fields. Together, they work with Cisco and Lorna to set the game for the courtroom, all while facing threats from a company with limitless funds that does not want the bad press before a potential buyout by one of the "big three" (Meta, Microsoft, Musk).

This is hallmark Lincoln Lawyer, with the excellent chapters devoted to picking the jury, and with all the snark with opposing counsel and dangerous interludes that make each book in the series so much fun to read. I read it all in one sitting and found the information on AI to be easy to read through and understand (especially after reading Richard Powers' Playground earlier this week). Connelly even has Mickey note that it's easy to get bogged down in all the technical language on AI, and he works to put it into smaller pieces and explanations so the story comes together while also making readers more aware of a new potential layer of danger in the lack of regulation of AI technologies.

We aslo get a bit more time with Mickey in his personal life, and his interactions with Maggie (now the DA!) are really wholesome and once again just show how far they both have come as characters over the past few decades we have followed them.

I loved this book and I think other continuing fans will not be disappointed. Now if only the next release was another full Jack McEvoy book...