The Proving Ground
- Judith D Collins
- Oct 21
- 7 min read
Lincoln Lawyer #8
By: Michael Connelly
Narrator: Peter Giles
ISBN: 978-0316563826
Publisher: Little Brown & Co.
Publication Date: 10/21/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars + (ARC)
TOP BOOKS OF 2025
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly, the Lincoln Lawyer is back with a case against an AI company whose product may have been responsible for the murder of a young girl.
Following his “resurrection walk” and need for a new direction, Mickey Haller turns to public interest litigation, filing a civil lawsuit against an artificial intelligence company whose chatbot told a sixteen-year-old boy that it was okay for him to kill his ex-girlfriend for her disloyalty.
Representing the victim’s family, Mickey’s case explores the mostly unregulated and exploding AI business and the lack of training guardrails. Along the way he joins up with a journalist named Jack McEvoy, who wants to be a fly on the wall during the trial in order to write a book about it. But Mickey puts him to work going through the mountain of printed discovery materials in the case. McEvoy’s digging ultimate delivers the key witness, a whistleblower who has been too afraid to speak up. The case is fraught with danger because billions are at stake.
It is said that machines became smarter than humans on the day in 1997 that IBM’s Deep Blue defeated chess master Garry Kasparov with a gambit called “the knight’s sacrifice.” Haller will take a similar gambit in court to defeat the mega forces of the AI industry lined up against him and his clients.
Major Characters
Mickey Haller
Jack McEvoy
About the Author
Michael Connelly is the bestselling author of more than forty novels and one work of nonfiction. With over eighty-nine million copies of his books sold worldwide and translated into forty-five foreign languages, he is one of the most successful writers working today. A former newspaper reporter who worked the crime beat at the Los Angeles Times and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Connelly has won numerous awards for his journalism and his fiction. His very first novel, The Black Echo, won the prestigious Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1992. In 2002, Clint Eastwood directed and starred in the movie adaptation of Connelly's 1998 novel, Blood Work. In March 2011, the movie adaptation of his #1 bestselling novel, The Lincoln Lawyer, hit theaters worldwide starring Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Haller. His most recent New York Times bestsellers include The Waiting (2024), Resurrection Walk (2023), Desert Star (2022), The Dark Hours (2021), The Law Of Innocence (2020), Fair Warning (2020), and The Night Fire (2019). Michael is the executive producer of Bosch and Bosch: Legacy, Amazon Studios original drama series based on his bestselling character Harry Bosch, starring Titus Welliver and streaming on Amazon Prime/Amazon Freevee. He is the executive producer of The Lincoln Lawyer, streaming on Netflix, starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. He is also the executive producer of the documentary films, "Sound Of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story' and 'Tales Of the American.' He spends his time in California and Florida. WEBSITE
My Review
Renowned as the King of Crime Fiction, Michael Connelly (favorite author) makes a triumphant return with his beloved series featuring the iconic character Mickey Haller in the gripping eighth installment, THE PROVING GROUND.
In this electrifying thriller, Haller takes on a heart-wrenching case, defending the grieving family of a teenage girl whose life was tragically cut short by her ex-boyfriend.
But this isn’t just a run-of-the-mill murder case; the chilling factor lies in the revelation that the young man was manipulated by a cutting-edge AI chatbot. As Haller navigates the complex legal landscape, he faces the formidable task of holding a powerful tech conglomerate accountable for its role in a devastating crime.
The stakes are sky-high, as billions of dollars hang in the balance. TidalwAIv, a behemoth in the AI industry, stands as the defendant in this high-profile civil lawsuit, making the courtroom a battleground for justice and ethics in an age where technology’s reach knows no bounds.
In THE PROVING GROUND, Connelly expertly weaves a tale of suspense, moral dilemmas, and the relentless pursuit of truth against an emerging technological frontier.
About...
-Mickey Haller's Transition:
After the events of Resurrection Walk, Haller shifts from criminal defense to civil litigation, focusing on a case with significant public interest.
-The case:
Mickey takes on the wrongful death lawsuit for the victim's mother, Brenda Randolph, against the AI company, TidalwAIv Technologies.
-The AI Connection:
The core of the case is the accusation that the powerful AI company's chatbot justified a teenage boy to kill his ex-girlfriend, making the AI responsible for the murder.
-The crime:
A teenage boy, Aaron Colton, murders his 16-year-old girlfriend, Rebecca Randolph, after she breaks up with him. Before the killing, Colton had a growing connection with an AI chatbot named Clair, which allegedly told him it was "okay to murder his ex-girlfriend". Colton then commits suicide.
-A Mother's Demand for Justice:
Haller is representing the grieving mother of the murdered girl, who is seeking justice from the powerful tech forces behind the AI technology.
-Motive for the lawsuit: Brenda Randolph wants accountability and an admission of wrongdoing from the company, not just a financial settlement. Haller also joins the case with the parents of the teenage killer, who are suing the AI company for turning their son into a murderer.
-Jack McEvoy's Involvement: A Bonus
Investigative team: To help with the mountain of discovery material, Haller enlists the help of investigative journalist Jack McEvoy, a returning character from Connelly's The Poet series. McEvoy's digging uncovers a crucial whistleblower who has been afraid to come forward.
-Corporate Accountability:
The central theme of the plot revolves around proving corporate accountability for the AI company and navigating the largely unregulated AI business world with Tidalwaiv Technology.
-Legal strategy: Haller devises a risky legal strategy, a "knight's sacrifice," inspired by the historic chess match where IBM's Deep Blue defeated Garry Kasparov. This move forces the powerful tech company into a corner.
-High Stakes and Danger:
With massive tech interests at stake, Haller faces the challenge of confronting one of the world's most powerful corporations, where a single misstep could have devastating consequences for him and the future of AI legislation.
My Thoughts...
Top Books of 2025!
STELLAR! The #1 NYT Bestselling author, Michael Connelly, stands as one of today's most exceptional crime writers, and his latest masterpiece, THE PROVING GROUND, brilliantly showcases his unparalleled talent both in and out of the courtroom. As an ardent fan of legal thrillers, I find immense joy in every page of his books and every scene of the TV adaptations.
In this gripping narrative, Connelly weaves a tale brimming with tension and suspense, immersing readers in a "David and Goliath" battle where billions of dollars hang in the balance, pitting the indomitable Lincoln Lawyer against the formidable forces of the powerful tech industry.
ELECTRIFYING! Connelly's ingenious crossover of beloved characters—Bosch, Haller, Ballard, and McEvoy—merges the worlds of his print novels and the screen seamlessly, showcasing his creative genius. The decision to tackle the complex and timely issues surrounding AI in an unregulated industry adds layers of intrigue and controversy to the narrative.
The Lincoln Lawyer, once the owner of a fleet of sleek Lincolns, has now streamlined his life, keeping only one car as he transitions from the gritty world of criminal defense to civil law. His makeshift office, nestled in a repurposed warehouse, buzzes with activity as Lorna and Cisco return to aid him, alongside author Jack McEvoy, forming a formidable and dynamic team.
Intertwined with this high-stakes case is a haunting subplot that lingers just beneath the surface.
Mickey Haller grapples with a ghost from the past—a case from two decades ago that continues to haunt him. The heart-wrenching plea comes from Cassandra Snow, a determined daughter from LA who desperately wishes for Mickey to secure her father, David Francis Snow, a release from prison before it's too late. As Mickey takes on the case, the clock relentlessly ticks down. Will he be able to achieve redemption for a man who was wrongfully imprisoned, and can he find the time to bring justice before it slips away forever?
Standouts...
-Crossover: Mickey Haller and Harry Bosch series, with journalist Jack McEvoy.
-Themes: Societal dangers of artificial intelligence and the challenges of regulating it.
-The evidence:. Haller believes the real "smoking gun" is hidden within the reams of documents in discovery..
-A key witness: A whistleblower, a former TidalwAIv employee who was afraid to come forward. Their testimony is crucial to the case.
-The legal gambit: To defeat the tech giant, Haller plans a major risk in court, a gambit compared to the famous "knight's sacrifice" move that led an IBM machine to defeat chess master Garry Kasparov in 1997.
-Setting the scene: Set against a backdrop of ongoing wildfires in LA, which adds tension and a sense of impending danger to the already high-stakes
-Style: Connelly provides a fast-paced legal thriller, combining courtroom drama with elements of police procedural.
-Promises: Tidalwaiv’s founder, Victor Wendt, promises to shareholders the case will go away quietly, and grows determined to settle and avoid a possible merger-killing verdict, regardless of the cost.
-Return of Maggie McFierce: Mickey's ex-wife moves in with him temporarily after her house is threatened by the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. The situation adds to the personal connections and reignites romantic tension between them.
-Environmental backdrop: The legal proceedings and personal lives of the characters are set against the real-life backdrop of devastating LA wildfires.
-Trial and conclusion: Corporate responsibility for AI to the forefront, both timely and fascinating. An explosive courtroom showdown. Tech giants accountabl. Lack of ethical safeguards.
Relevant. High-wire. Compelling. Propulsive. Satisfying.
-Inspiration: Being a fellow Florida resident, I appreciated Connelly's inspiration, video, and notes about the Megan Garcia vs. Character Technologies lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
While not a direct retelling, the recent lawsuit filed in Florida was also against an AI company. Both involve legal action following a teenager's suicide linked to an AI chatbot, raising questions about corporate responsibility for technology's harm. Check it out.
Recs...
THE PROVING GROUND is an absolute must-read, showcasing Michael Connelly at the peak of his literary prowess. The narrative features his compelling protagonist, Mickey Haller, whose character continues to evolve in unexpected and thrilling ways.
This gripping tale is perfect for both devoted fans of the series and newcomers alike, as Connelly masterfully weaves intricate legal battles with the intensity of a crime thriller. For those who appreciate well-crafted storytelling that keeps you on the edge of your seat, this book stands as a prime example of Connelly’s genius in the genre.
Thank you...
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Little Brown and Company for generously providing an advanced reading copy through NetGalley (a perfect birthday present), allowing me to share my candid impressions.
I’m also excited to have ordered the hardcover edition for my home library, where it will find a cherished place among my collection. Additionally, I eagerly anticipate diving into the audiobook, skillfully narrated by the talented Peter Giles, whose voice always brings stories to life in a captivating way.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Oct 21, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Top Books of 2025
