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The Proving Ground

The Brand New Blockbuster Lincoln Lawyer Thriller

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The Proving Ground

By: Michael Connelly
Narrated by: Peter Giles
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Summary

 Mickey Haller - The Lincoln Lawyer - leaves criminal court behind for his first civil lawsuit. But to him, this is still a murder trial.

An AI company's chatbot encouraged a sixteen-year-old boy to kill his ex-girlfriend. Can Haller prove the company knew the dangers of its own creation?

To do so, he turns to Jack McEvoy - a journalist who knows how powerful the coming wave will be - and together they soon uncover a whistleblower in hiding.

As the tech titans try to buy or bully their way out, the scale of their courtroom battle before them becomes clear. Because billions are at stake - along with countless lives - in an all or nothing case, which could change everything...

From the author of the books behind the #1 Netflix show The Lincoln Lawyer, and #1 Amazon Prime series Bosch and Ballard.

*****

PRAISE FOR MICHAEL CONNELLY & THE LINCOLN LAYWER THRILLERS:

'An incredible writer' RICHARD OSMAN

'The Lincoln Lawyer series keeps getting better' WASHINGTON POST

'A superb natural storyteller' LEE CHILD

'The pre-eminent detective novelist of his generation' IAN RANKIN

'Mickey Haller is a worthy colleague of Atticus Finch' LOS ANGELES TIMES

'A master of the genre' STEPHEN KING

'A terrific writer' THE TIMES

'A powerhouse, an unstoppable force in crime fiction' MICK HERRON

'Crime thriller writing of the highest order' GUARDIAN

'Nobody writes a better modern thriller' EVENING STANDARD

'One of the world's greatest crime writers' DAILY MAIL

'The master of modern crime fiction' EXPRESS©2025 Hieronymus, Inc. Crime Thrillers International Mystery & Crime Mystery Police Procedurals Thriller & Suspense Crime Abraham Lincoln Murder

Critic Reviews

Another edge-of-your-seat thriller from a master writer
It's the electrifying legal thriller of the year
Connelly proves once again why he's the master of the modern legal thriller. The Proving Ground is razor-sharp, timely, and utterly compelling - a courtroom drama that grapples with technology, accountability, and the human cost of progress
A must-read
This tale smoulders away as assuredly as Connelly's fan could want
Ferocious storytelling
All stars
Most relevant
Exciting, interesting, relevant (and how) consideration around the latest threat to our kids. Love a good courtroom scene. This book delivers plenty.

Fantastic Lincoln Lawyer Case

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Loved the story and the way in which Mickey Haller as usual got under everyone’s skin. Love Michael Connellys books and can’t wait for the next one.

Mickey Haller Rides Again

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The usual literate Connelly story with enjoyable details, which bring Los Angeles alive. This is an up to the minute story which includes Covid and artificial intelligence. It even includes realistic descriptions of the recent Californian bushfires and their aftermath.
It’s great to have a fictionalized account of the possible threats of AI. Long live the Lincoln, lawyer and his crew. This audiobook was well read and gripping.

On the money

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Not bad yarn though not one of his best but the narrator really annoyed me when he was reading what the characters said. It spoiled the story

The poor rendition of voices other than the plain narration

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A brilliant listen. These novels are great and eye opening. I just hate waiting for the next one.

Always great

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