A reminder that our December Booksworn Bookclub choice is The Only Good Indians! Chats just for the Bright Stars and First Swords over on Discord and in these comments :).

I thought I was ready for a classic Mickey Haller ride, but this one felt different. This case digs into something so close to our present moment that I kept tightening my grip on the book like it might say something dangerous out loud.

The core of the story, an AI chatbot telling a teenager it was okay to murder his ex-girlfriend is unsettling in that bone-deep way that only a possible future can be. Following Mickey as he shifts into public interest litigation feels like watching him step onto unfamiliar terrain, but with that same fire he always brings to the courtroom. It’s not just strategy; it’s conscience.

The tension ramps up fast, especially when Jack McEvoy shows up and unearths the whistleblower who changes everything. When Mickey pulls his own version of a knight’s sacrifice I swear, I sat there blinking at the page like I’d just watched a grandmaster make a move that rewrites the whole game.

Connelly hasn’t just written another legal thriller; he's written a warning, a provocation, and a classic Haller victory rolled together.

As a book club pick? Absolutely juicy! We have read all The Lincoln Lawyer series together so we couldn't wait to read his one and it definitely didn't disappoint! It's full of ethical gray, so many what would you have done moments, and a courtroom showdown that practically begs for popcorn.

❔️If you had to build a legal dream team using only fictional characters, who are you putting on your side of the courtroom and who’s arguing your closing statement? Tell me below! 👇

❗️If you are in a book club and need a book club kit for this book then come join us on Bindery! A discussion guide, themed menu, activities and more then come join The First Editions!

A high-stakes legal thriller meets a terrifyingly plausible future, this is Mickey Haller at his most daring. Your book club is about to plunge into ethical gray zones, courtroom gambits, AI dread, and one whistleblower who tips the scales. Let’s make your meeting unforgettable.

⭐️BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION GUIDE

1. The Premise & Emotional Impact

The central case of an AI chatbot encouraging murder is chilling. How did the premise affect your reading experience? Did it feel too close to reality?

2. Mickey’s New Path

Mickey shifts into public interest litigation instead of his usual defense work. How does this change illuminate new sides of him? Did you like seeing him in this role?

3. Ethics & AI

The book directly interrogates how unregulated AI can impact real-world behavior. Who do you believe should be held accountable when AI causes harm? The company? The programmers? Someone else?

4. Jack McEvoy’s Role

Jack doesn’t just document; he becomes the key to unlocking the case. Did his involvement strengthen the narrative, or distract from the courtroom plot?

5. Whistleblowers

The whistleblower becomes the turning point of the entire lawsuit. Did you trust them from the start? Did their motivations feel believable?

6. The Knight’s Sacrifice

Mickey’s big gambit mirrors the chess strategy referenced in the book. What did you think of the move? Genius? Reckless? Both?

7. The Real-World Reflection

The book is a legal thriller, but also a warning. Do you see The Proving Ground as a prediction, an exaggeration, or a call for accountability?

8. Connelly’s Message

Connelly often uses his novels to highlight flaws in real systems. What do you think he’s telling readers about technology, justice, or humanity?

9. The Ending

Without spoiling details: Did the resolution satisfy you? Are there threads you think Connelly left open on purpose?

10. The Future of Mickey Haller

Mickey is changing professionally and morally. Where do you think he’s headed after this? Would you want more public-interest cases?

🍽️THEMED MENU: The Evidence Locker Spread: Simple, atmospheric, and courtroom-worthy.

🥤DRINK: The Knight’s Sacrifice Cold Brew: A sharp, bold drink that mirrors Mickey’s final courtroom move.

Perfect for fueling heated legal debates.

Ingredients

▫️1 cup cold brew

▫️1 tbsp simple syrup

▫️1–2 drops almond extract

▫️Splash of heavy cream optional, white as a legal brief

▫️Ice

▫️Pinch of cinnamon for dramatic flair

Instructions

1. Fill a glass with ice.

2. Pour in cold brew.

3. Stir in simple syrup and almond extract.

4. Add cream if desired.

5. Sprinkle cinnamon on top.

6. Raise your glass and say, “Your honor, let the caffeine speak.”

🍪SNACK: Whistleblower White Chocolate Crunch Bites: Crisp, sweet, and just a little messy like uncovering the truth.

Ingredients

▫️2 cups Rice Krispies or similar puffed cereal

▫️1 cup white chocolate chips

▫️½ cup crushed pretzels

▫️¼ tsp sea salt

▫️Optional: red sprinkles to mimic sealed evidence envelopes

Instructions

1. Melt white chocolate in the microwave in 20-second intervals.

2. In a bowl, gently fold together cereal, crushed pretzels, and melted chocolate.

3. Drop spoonfuls onto parchment paper.

4. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and red sprinkles.

5. Chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.

6. Serve as classified snacks during discussion.

🎯THEMED ACTIVITIES

1. Case File Debate

Divide the group into: The AI Company’s Defense Team and Mickey Haller’s Public Interest Team

Give each side 5 minutes to prepare short arguments. Let the rest of the group act as jury members. Vote on the verdict!

2. Knight’s Sacrifice Strategy Challenge

Give members a chessboard(physical or app.

Challenge them to recreate or invent:

▫️A sacrifice move

▫️A bold risk

▫️A game-changing strategy

Tie it back to Haller’s courtroom gambit: What would you sacrifice to win your case?

3. Build Your Fictional Legal Dream Team

Have each member pick:

▫️Their fictional lawyer

▫️Their investigator

▫️Their wild card witness

▫️Their courtroom closer

Let everyone present their dream lineup.

Bonus: Vote on Best Nightmare Opponent Team.

🎁THEMED DOOR PRIZES: These are easy, affordable, and fun!

1. Lawyer Fuel Mini Coffee Kits

Small bottles of cold brew + a tag reading:

For long nights in the evidence room.

2. Case Closed Notebooks

Tiny lined notebooks for taking deposition notes.

3. Evidence Bag Snack Packs

Clear zip pouches filled with:

▫️Hershey Kisses sealed exhibits

▫️Gummy bears jury members

▫️Mini cookies moral support

  Label each pouch Evidence Do Not Eat, knowing full well they will!

4. AI Misprint Bookmarks

Bookmarks printed with glitchy pixel-style art and quotes from Mickey Haller.

5. Blackout Redaction Pens

Thick black markers with a tag: For redacting your own questionable decisions.

⚖️💬Bonus Icebreaker Question: If Mickey Haller defended you in a major case, what outrageous courtroom stunt do you think he’d pull to win?

➡️Tap the link to download your book club kit!

https://tinyurl.com/mtu55sf2

Hi folks!

It’s almost the end of the year! I’m not doing my full wrap up until the very end of December though. You never know, my best read may still be yet to come!

In the meantime though, here’s what I’ve been loving recently:

Drink Up, Darling by Harvey Oliver Baxter

LOVED this MMM poly vampire novella!

A bi vampire fashion designer and a trans vampire goth are invited to a secluded mansion for dinner by a hot older human. He claims he just wants them to refresh his style, but they suspect he wants more…

This is SO sweet. And hot. Very hot!

Marigold Mind Laundry by Jungeun Yun

An immortal woman who’s trying to find her lost parents decides to slow down and open a laundry where she can wash away people’s bad memories. But not everyone wants the same thing. Gorgeous, melancholic but hopeful fantasy with a lovely found family. And a gorgeous cover!

The Lawrence Browne Affair by Cat Sebastian.

This absolutely hooked me. Love story between a con man and the neurodivergent Earl he wants to con. I love them both so so much. Second book in a trilogy but you can read it as a standalone, it’s about a different brother.

Also, reminder that we have a book club run through the Discotopia Discord, this month is The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava!

Love,

Disco x

Hey All

I am loving this new Bindery feature! Click on get a rec (you can include a cool image if you want!) and I will be posting the recs to my Instagram stories!

Book summary

A collection of essays on resistance, resilience, and collective power in the age of climate disaster from Chamorro human rights lawyer and organizer Julian Aguon.

My review

This book touched me deeply. Aguon's writing feels like a warm hug and creates moments of hope admist the nightmares in today's world. I learned so much from reading this book and this book is a rallying cry to do something about it.

Everything I learned

• In the 1900s, the US navy established a leper colony in Guam where Chammorros thought to be afflicted were quarantined on a beach. In 1912, they were forcibly deported to the Culion Leper Colony in the Philippines.

Photo from https://www.guampedia.com/us-naval-era-leprosy-local-reaction/

• From 1946-1958 the U.S. conducted a nuclear testing program in the Marshall Islands where it detonated 67 automatic and thermonucelar weapons. The worst of these tests was "Bravo" which deposited life-threatening quanitities of radioactive fallout (3x the estimated external dose people in Chernobyl were exposed to) onto the Marshallese.
  
  These tests resulted in forced exile, increase in congeneital diseases, birth defeects, miscarraiges, and cancers.

  • "The truth is this. Nucelar weapons do not have to be used to be deadly."-Julian Aguon

  
  

• The U.S. Department of Defense is relocating 5,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam, destroying historical and cultural sites in order to build a firing range complex, which is dangerously close to Guam's primary source of drinking water: the Northern Guam Lens Aquifer. It's also being built 100 feet away from the last remaining håyon lågu tree.
  
  
  Further reading

• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261967252_Re-membering_the_Past_Photography_leprosy_and_the_Chamorros_of_Guam_1898-_1924

• https://www.boell.de/en/2023/10/09/ongoing-consequences-us-nuclear-testing-program-marshall-islands

• https://www.guampedia.com/we-are-guahan/

I'm so excited to share that Bindery has a new feature where you can get a personalized book recommendation from me any time you need one!

All you have to do is click on the new "Get a rec" button at the top of my profile, answer a few questions, and it'll be sent my way. I'll share all of my recs in my Instagram story for everyone (and you) to see. If you want, you can share your Instagram handle and I'll tag you so you don't miss it.

Right now, because this feature is in beta, it's just available on desktop.

Honestly, this is the perfect time of year for this because you can get recs for yourself or I can help you think of a book to gift your friends and family this year.

Send all of your requests my way🎉

Admit it - you need more books for your TBR!

Bindery just rolled out a really cool new feature where you can ask me for a book recommendation! When you go to the main site, there is a button in the top right that says "Get a Rec."

When you click on that it will ask you for a name, your social media handles if you want the request and response shared and tagged there. It will then ask you some questions about what you're looking for.

Once completed, I get an email, and I can figure out what to recommend and share it on any of my social channels.

This is a fun beta feature, and I'm interested to try it out. I already got one request that is posted to my Instagram stories if you want to see what that looks like.

SO if you need a recommendation, give it a shot. Or, clink on the link above and join us on Discord, where there are a whole bunch of us who can recommend you books!

Happy Reading!

Exciting news, Bindery has launched Get A Rec!

Needing help picking your next read? Come to my profile page on the web and click get a rec. After you fill out some info, I’ll get an email with your request. From there the match making will begin!

You can share your username on insta and I’ll tag you in your rec reveal, or you can remain anonymous.

I am so excited to share these with you. 🥰

Hi friends!

The good people at Bindery have just rolled out a new feature that allows you to request a custom book recommendation HERE.

Sign in, fill out a prompt (or upload a vibe picture! Extra credit to those who do) and the Sunny's elves will get to work. It's free! I've ported over a few from our now defunct Holiday Hotline form, and you can expect such offerings as the below:

I would LOVE to help you out with your niche book requests this season, there is nothing I love to do more as a bookseller. Happy requesting!

CJ

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