Lincoln Lawyer, Book 8
From the publisher:
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.“Connelly works in extensive (and never tedious) background on the perils of AI by having an investigative writer join forces with Haller. As always, it’s fun to watch Haller argue, manipulate, and wheedle his way from pre-trial through the explosive trial itself. One of the best yet from best-selling author Connelly.” – Booklist, starred review
“Bestseller Connelly crafts a riveting eighth case for attorney Mickey Haller . . . Connelly effectively dips his toe into topical waters here, touching on adolescent male loneliness and the dangers of AI without skimping on the propulsive plotting he’s known for. Newcomers and series fans alike will find this fast-paced legal procedural intensely satisfying.” – Publishers Weekly
Few authors match the remarkable consistency of Michael Connelly. Whether he’s writing about Bosch, Haller, Ballard, or crafting a standalone, his ability to deliver two exceptional novels a year is nothing short of astonishing.
This latest book is no exception—gripping, immersive, and impossible to put down. Mickey Haller shifts from criminal defense to civil litigation, venturing into the complex realm of artificial intelligence. After years of watching him navigate criminal cases from the backseat of his Lincolns (now reduced to just one), seeing him tackle a case focused not on guilt or innocence but on corporate accountability in our tech-driven age proves surprisingly captivating.
Each of Connelly’s protagonists brings something distinct: Mickey Haller transforms courtrooms into theater with his charm and sharp wit; Harry Bosch remains the embodiment of relentless justice, while Renee Ballard, Connelly’s newest series lead, continues to push against a resistant system. In this novel, Haller channels all three—commanding the spotlight while relying on meticulous research and strategy to challenge a billion-dollar corporation with everything to lose. Watching him penetrate the corporate veil designed to bury secrets and execute high-stakes courtroom gambits perfectly captures why this character continues to resonate.
What elevates this book beyond a typical legal thriller is its relevance. The central lawsuit—exploring the role of AI in a young man’s tragic decision to kill the girl who broke his heart—doesn’t feel far-fetched but more like a headline waiting to happen. The ethical questions it raises are urgent and unsettling: when chatbots influence vulnerable users toward dangerous behavior, who bears the responsibility? This dilemma drives the narrative, even as the courtroom drama keeps the tension high.
Bringing back Jack McEvoy (from The Poet) reinforces that justice doesn’t begin and end in courtrooms—investigative journalism often exposes the truths that eventually land there. Connelly also weaves in the broader landscape of Los Angeles, with wildfires serving as a haunting metaphor for the internal and external battles his characters face, adding a layer of darkness that extends beyond legal proceedings.
Ultimately, Connelly delivers a timely legal thriller that is entertaining yet thought-provoking, deeply personal yet universally resonant. Mickey Haller may be known as the Lincoln Lawyer, but here, he becomes something greater: a champion of truth in a world where truth itself is under siege.
10/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE PROVING GROUND by Michael Connelly. Little, Brown and Company. ( October 21, 2025). ISBN: 978-0316563826. 400p.
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