The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly (2025)

I enjoyed the The Lincoln Lawyer adaptation, and my wife read the entire series, so I decided to start here. I am glad I did. The book is excellent.

Connelly's writing is sharper and more engaging than many legal thrillers. I enjoy John Grisham, but Connelly's characters feel richer and more complex. The story quickly pulled me into the drama. I cared about the people involved, and I was eager to discover the next twist in the case. The courtroom strategy, investigation, and personal stakes all work together to create genuine tension.

The plot centers on a legal battle that emerges from the collision of artificial intelligence, intellectual property, corporate power, and the enormous sums of money flowing into the current AI boom. The story feels remarkably timely because many of the underlying questions already dominate business headlines. Who owns AI-generated work? Who benefits from the technology? How much power should a handful of companies control? Connelly uses those questions as the foundation for a compelling legal thriller rather than a technology lecture, which keeps the story relevant without becoming preachy.

The strongest aspect of the novel is its cast. The hero and his team are competent, determined, and easy to root for. Their relationships feel authentic, and their victories feel earned. My only criticism is that the moral landscape can be a little too simple. The heroes are almost too admirable, while the villains are almost too greedy and corrupt. A few more shades of gray would have made the conflict even stronger.

That criticism is minor. The story is engrossing, the characters are memorable, and the pacing rarely lets up. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and expect to read more of the series. 5/5 stars.