Mickey Haller has really been put through the wringer over the years, even going to prison at one point. But as The Proving Ground opens it’s a more contemplative Mickey who is in the spotlight. He’s stepped away from the cut and thrust of criminal law and is now plying his trade in the civil courts. In some ways it’s a whole different ball game; in others, the same old same old.
But there are changes to be rung. Gone is the fleet of cars that gave the character his Lincoln Lawyer nickname. Only one remains now, and it is mainly kept under tarp. These days Mickey drives around Los Angeles in a Chevy Bolt, small and compact, and extremely uncomfortable for investigator Cisco when he’s riding shotgun.
Then there’s his relationship with Maggie ‘McFierce’ McPherson, his first wife and the mother to their daughter Hayley. It’s been volatile over the years, but when Maggie’s home is destroyed in the Los Angeles wildfires, she moves back in with her ex-husband. Will the sparks fly there, too?
But Mickey is best known for his prowess in the courtroom, and this time he is treading unfamiliar ground with a civil case that could change everything as far as artificial intelligence is concerned. This is a subject very close to Michael Connelly’s heart because he is among a collective of authors suing OpenAI for breaching copyright.
In Mickey’s case, a chatbot is blamed for encouraging a teenaged boy to murder his ex-girlfriend, also a teenager. The chatbot, called Clair, was created by Tidalwaiv, a tech company being courted for takeover by Meta, Microsoft and Elon Musk. It appears the company will go to any lengths to protect its name.
Although this is a civil matter, murder is still at the heart of it and the corporate skulduggery, when it happens, could leave Haller with a verdict that he can’t bear to contemplate. Never fear though! He may be a wee bit more pragmatic these days, but Haller fans will be happiest when the wily lawyer sails scarily close to the edge of legality – it’s what we’re used to, after all.
Mickey’s half-brother Harry Bosch gets a mere fleeting mention in The Proving Ground, and there’s also a passing namecheck for Harry’s daughter Maddie – and even The Lincoln Lawyer series on Netflix! Instead, Connelly shuffles another of his cards to the top of the pack – investigative journalist Jack McEvoy, of The Poet and Fair Warning fame, whose work in the background proves extremely useful to Haller as the case gets to court and the odds for a favourable verdict ebb and flow. However, he never becomes a major player, which is a pity, although in doing so Connelly leaves Mickey and his trial to take the spotlight.
There is much to like about The Proving Ground, set as it is in a city reeling from the fires that devastated so many of its residents – with Maggie embodying the sense of loss and despair that they have all experienced. The unimpeded growth of AI, and the dangers that could bring, is glaringly brought to life and is certainly food for thought for us all.
Where this story really comes into its own is in the courtroom, where Haller and his opponents, the Mason twins, duck and dive in the hope of scoring points off each other, with the judge as a feisty umpire. These are the scenes to relish, and where Connelly really uses his skills to full effect. But for me, there is a slight imbalance that takes the edge off and the introduction of a 20-year-old criminal case muddies the narrative waters somewhat. This leads to a cliffhanger that may open the doors for another Haller book in the future.
The Proving Ground probably isn’t the strongest book in the Mickey Haller canon, but still a very enjoyable read – it’s always a pleasure to enter the Connelly universe!
Michael Connelly introduced a new character earlier this year and here’s our review of Nightshade. Meet Detective Stilwell, based on Santa Catalina Island.
Orion
Print/iBook/Kindle
£12.99
CFL Rating: 3 Stars
