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Mickey Haller, called “The Lincoln Lawyer” because of his longstanding practice of conducting business from the back seat of a Lincoln Town Car, takes a sharp U-turn. After his searing experiences in the preceding novel, Resurrection Walk (2023), Haller has moved from criminal defense work to civil defense. What the reader will encounter here is every bit as terrifying as in any previous Lincoln Lawyer thriller, made more terrifying by the contemporary threat of AI. Haller defends the mother of a high-school girl who was slain at school by her boyfriend. The mother’s suit against an enormous tech company claims that one of their inventions, a chatbot, went rogue and urged a young man to murder her daughter. As is customary with Connelly thrillers, danger expands, this time with the surveillance powers of the tech company, and its minions, threatening key witnesses and experts. Connelly works in extensive (and never tedious) background on the perils of AI by having an investigative writer join forces with Haller. As always, it’s fun to watch Haller argue, manipulate, and wheedle his way from pre-trial through the explosive trial itself. One of the best yet from best-selling author Connelly.

Publishers Weekly
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Bestseller Connelly crafts a riveting eighth case for attorney Mickey Haller (after Resurrection Walk). Now focused on civil litigation after building his reputation in criminal defense, Haller takes on a high-stakes negligence suit against Tidalwaiv Technologies, a tech company whose AI chatbot companion for teens, Clair, allegedly encouraged high schooler Aaron Colton to murder his 16-year-old girlfriend Rebecca Randolph after she broke up with him. In the weeks before Rebecca’s death, Aaron’s growing connection with the misogynistic chatbot created a rift in the pair’s relationship. As Haller investigates, he learns that Tidalwaiv launched Clair despite failing to train the generative AI model for a young, vulnerable audience, ignoring safeguards and ethical concerns from within the company. Meanwhile, Tidalwaiv’s founder, Victor Wendt, promises stockholders the case will go away quietly, and grows determined to settle and avoid a possible merger-killing verdict, regardless of the cost. Connelly effectively dips his toe into topical waters here, touching on adolescent male loneliness and the dangers of AI without skimping on the propulsive plotting he’s known for. Newcomers and series fans alike will find this fast-paced legal procedural intensely satisfying. Agent: Heather Rizzo, Rizzo Literary. (Oct.)

Library Journal
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The Lincoln Lawyer returns for his eighth high-stakes courtroom drama (after Resurrection Walk). Mickey has left criminal litigation and now takes on civil cases. In his first case, he represents a grieving mother whose teenage daughter was shot and killed by her 16-year-old ex-boyfriend. The boy had become obsessed with an AI chatbot called Wren, which told him that it was okay to eliminate anyone who hurt him. Mickey argues that the AI company, Tidalwaiv Technologies, is responsible for unleashing an unrestricted chatbot that encouraged a vulnerable teen to kill the girl who hurt him. Haller's client demands that Tidalwaiv take responsibility and apologize for the killing, in addition to installing guardrails on their chatbot in order to protect vulnerable children and teens. Narrator Giles ably captures the tense courtroom drama and the verbal battle between Mickey, the judge, and the twin attorneys representing Tidalwaiv. VERDICT Connelly delivers a gripping courtroom drama that explores topics that are all too relevant in today's digital world, and he doesn't miss a beat.—Ilka Gordon