The Proving Ground
By Michael Connelly
- Release Date: 2025-10-21
- Genre: Mysteries & Thrillers
Description
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.
Reviews
Connelly delivers as always
5By SharksFanKyI’ve been reading his books forever. Ever since I found a remaindered copy of TheConcrete Blonde at a discount bookstore decades ago. My favorite author, I love his characters and his stories are always compelling. Tackling AI as a subject was a great hook and the resulting story was great. As always I’m sorry to see the last page.The Proving Ground
4By brookseaOkay not great.Great Read
5By Weekly ColumnistGreat read! Revealed a lot of research into AI, especially about generative AI. I see how AI affects my college students every day. Weekly columnist.We’ve been warned!
5By Carrie Rockwell AmerindEnough said? Not really. Michael Connelly has been on my shelves and in my ebooks for at least twenty years. Never disappointed in the research and the way he expertly presents each case. AI is a huge topic in our household. We are artists and are affected by AI in many ways. The AI represented in “Proving Ground” is a whole other black hole. Kept me reading through till the final word. We have been warned about the dark side of AI and the humans that profit from insidious platforms. We’ve been put on notice too. How we perform as humans is equally important in combatting the fundamental darkness of humans and AI a like.Great Book
5By x'q,zzzOne of the author’s best.The Proving Ground
4By Halsterx4/5 stars Interesting story and subject matter…it makes a person think. Well written with a well thought out believable plot. I would recommend to family and friends. Hal R - Troy, MIFantastic!
5By nicknametaffyI founds myself saying “just 1 more chapter” each time I picked up this read ! It’s a roller coaster and very interesting too 🌻A tremendous read
5By Mirage FlyerThis book is riveting from start to finish. Its timeliness is uncanny with the rapid development of AI. This is a “must read” for Lincoln Lawyer fans.The Proving Ground
5By ShepjapAbsolutely outstanding. Great review of the challenges of AI.My review
5By LevittonianStarted out a bit slow but got to the point where I couldn’t put it down. As I was reading I kept running the movie version through my head. A great readGreat read
4By elderbob2Interesting and informative on the subject of AI and teensExcellent Read
5By GJLegalReaderFantastic book. Highly relevant in today’s world of AI technology.Almost ready! More room to grow!
4By Papa ColadaLearned a lot about AI; you will too if you read it.Thoroughly Enjoyed It
5By From the ShoreI loved the pace, difficult to put down, I would have like to see the trail to completion, but still loved it. Read every book he wrotePage turner!
5By Retta RouseMr. Connelly’s talent for story telling lives on! I couldn’t put this book down, and I think it is one of his best yet. If you are a fan of a good courtroom drama this is your next read. Can’t wait to see who’s starring in the movie that sure to come….Great book
5By Garandaddy LawyerAll of the Lincoln Lawyer books are excellent but this is the best.Fire!
5By MysteryjunkieI must have missed a Michael Haller book? I didn’t know Mickey quit criminal to go civil & thus ending the “ the Lincoln Lawyer” ? Loved this book, the story, Cisco & Lorna, and Jack McEvoy!. There was no skipping pages, or hurrying to get to the end. I totally savored it- making it last. It never got bogged down with legal, or tech jargon. I was surprised with the ending of both cases. Didn’t see it coming. Really hoping for another couple chapters! Can’t wait to see what’s next for Mickey Haller!Great Read
5By Famous659Captivating from the first page……Love this book
5By booksreviewer20244Great read.
