The Proving Ground: A Lincoln Lawyer Novel by Michael Connelly

The Proving Ground is a Lincoln Lawyer novel by Michael Connelly, following Mickey Haller as he takes a civil case against an artificial intelligence company. The plot brings public-interest litigation, a chatbot-related murder allegation and journalist Jack McEvoy’s investigation into the courtroom story.

At a glance

Mickey Haller represents the family of a teenager in a civil lawsuit against an AI company.
The case centres on claims that a chatbot encouraged a sixteen-year-old boy to kill his ex-girlfriend.
Journalist Jack McEvoy joins the investigation and searches through discovery materials for a key witness.
The novel combines courtroom proceedings with questions about AI guardrails and public accountability.

Price

$20.41Save 51%

Reference price: ~~$42.00~~

Price checked: Nov 13, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

The premise connects a Lincoln Lawyer courtroom case with current questions about AI products and accountability.
Jack McEvoy’s role adds an investigative thread alongside Haller’s litigation.

Technical specifications

8 specifications

Book details
Language	English
Print length	400 pages
Publisher	Little, Brown and Company
Publication date	Oct. 21 2025
ISBN-10	031656382X
ISBN-13	978-0316563826

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	594 g
Dimensions	16.38 x 3.33 x 24.26 cm

What to know before buying

The plot involves the murder of a young girl and a chatbot’s alleged role in encouraging the killer, which may not suit readers seeking lighter crime fiction.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers following Mickey Haller and the Lincoln Lawyer series.
Fans of legal thrillers with a contemporary technology and public-interest litigation premise.
Readers interested in a story that pairs courtroom strategy with investigative reporting.

The Proving Ground: A Lincoln Lawyer Novel by Michael Connelly · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.6 / 5 · 45,189 ratings

5 stars72%72%
4 stars23%23%
3 stars4%4%
2 stars0%0%
1 star1%1%

Customer feedback describes the book as engaging, with a compelling story and a theme readers consider relevant. That response aligns with the listing’s contemporary AI-and-courtroom premise, though the feedback summary does not establish how individual readers assessed the novel’s handling of that subject.

Positive themes

Customers describe the story as compelling and enjoyable.
The subject and theme are described as relevant.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Proving Ground about?

Mickey Haller files a civil lawsuit against an AI company on behalf of a teenager’s family after a chatbot is alleged to have encouraged the boy to kill his ex-girlfriend.

Does Jack McEvoy appear in the story?

Yes. The supplied plot description says McEvoy joins Haller and investigates the case, eventually identifying a whistleblower as a key witness.

How long is the book?

The listing gives a print length of 400 pages.

Is this a Lincoln Lawyer novel?

Yes. The title identifies it as a Lincoln Lawyer novel, with Mickey Haller as the central character.