We talk The Proving Ground with Michael Connelly
- Allen & Unwin
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
We chat with Michael Connelly about his latest novel The Proving Ground.
A&U: Hi Michael! Thank you so much for speaking with us. First up, would you mind telling us a bit about The Proving Ground?
MC: In this book, Mickey Haller, the Lincoln Lawyer, pivots and moves into civil court where he files a lawsuit against an AI company and there are billions of dollars at stake. So, it’s a David and Goliath story, which is where I think Mickey operates the best. When the odds are against him, when it seems like he's surrounded by giants and has little chance, that's what he relishes! I think the book is also about Mickey rejuvenating himself as a lawyer and as a man… we'll see where he goes from there.
A&U: What was the inspiration for the story in The Proving Ground?
MC: You can't read a newspaper these days without some story about AI running amuck in some way and that was the inspiration for me. There was a lawsuit filed in Florida against an AI company where a young boy committed suicide and was encouraged to do so by his chatbot. That was the moment I said I'm going to write something like this and bring Mickey into it.
A&U: What does the title mean?
MC: The proving ground is the space in front of the jury box where the lawyer stands by himself and speaks to the jury, whether it's in an opening argument or a closing argument, where he performs. It's where you pretty much prove yourself to the jury. Mickey is definitely a performer when he's in front of a jury and the proving ground is where he feels at home.
A&U: How has Mickey evolved over your 20 years of writing about him?
MC: I've been fortunate that I've been able to write stories and develop the character of the Lincoln Lawyer for 20 years. It's quite a gift to any kind of writer. I’ve paid a lot of attention to his evolution as a lawyer and I think we've seen him go from a guy who's in the trenches of the courts, to a guy who's gotten some pretty big cases and some notoriety.
The last time I wrote about him was in Resurrection Walk when he came to the conclusion that he needed to change the direction of his life. So, in The Proving Ground he has left criminal defense behind and is now a public interest lawyer which really  tests him because the rules are different in civil litigation and the odds are stacked against him.
The Proving Ground
by Michael Connelly
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.