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Mr. Monk #3
Mr. Monk and The Blue Flu
Monk is horrified when he learns there's going to be a blue flu in San Francisco-until Capt. Stottlemeyer explains that it just means the police plan to call in "sick" until they get a better contract.The good news is the labor dispute will give Monk a chance to get back on the force.The bad news is it means he'll be a "scab"-and he doesn't like the sound of that either.
But before he knows it, Monk has his badge back, and his own squad to command. Unfortunately, some of the squad members make Monk look like a paragon of mental health. But despite the challenges, they'll have to pull together to catch an astrologer's killer, solve a series of mysterious fatal assaults, and most importantly, clean up their desks.
But before he knows it, Monk has his badge back, and his own squad to command. Unfortunately, some of the squad members make Monk look like a paragon of mental health. But despite the challenges, they'll have to pull together to catch an astrologer's killer, solve a series of mysterious fatal assaults, and most importantly, clean up their desks.
286 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
108 people are currently reading
976 people want to read
About the author
Lee Goldberg
159 books2,129 followersLee Goldberg is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over forty novels, including Malibu Burning, Calico, Lost Hills (the first novel in his acclaimed "Eve Ronin" series), 15 "Monk" mysteries, five "Fox & O'Hare" adventures (co-written with Janet Evanovich), and the new thriller Ashes Never Lie, the second in his "Sharpe & Walker" series.. He's written and/or produced many TV shows, including Diagnosis Murder, SeaQuest, and Monk and he co-created the Hallmark movie series Mystery 101.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
December 1, 2019
Serial stranglers and left foot shoes give Mr Monk a most curious puzzle.
Mr Monk likes everything to match and be in perfect order. A murder is dis-organized and it's up to Mr Monk to tidy up all the details and catch the bad guy.
Just how observant can he be?
She’s from Russia, probably the Republic of Georgia, where she was active in the United National Movement, which favors closer ties with the European Union. So did she. She married a Jewish man from Eastern Europe.”
Stottlemeyer and Disher shared a stunned look. I was pretty stunned, too.
“Is that all?” Stottlemeyer asked dryly.
“Her shoes are new,” Monk said.
Disher glanced down at the body. “How do you know that?”
“The soles aren’t worn down and the leather isn’t creased yet,” Monk said. “The only dirt on the laces is the red dust from the track.”
“That’s very observant,” Stottlemeyer said, “but I think Randy meant how did you know the other stuff?”
“One of her teeth is capped with steel, which you see a lot in Soviet dentistry.”
“I don’t see much Soviet dentistry,” Stottlemeyer said. “I guess I need to get out more.”
“The tattoo on her back is the five crosses, adopted as the symbol of resistance by the Georgian nationalist movement in 1991. It became part of the Georgian flag in 2004,” Monk said. “She’s wearing a gold wedding ring on her right hand, which is a common practice in Eastern European countries, particularly among the Jewish faith. You’ll notice the ring has a slight reddish tint because Russian gold has a higher copper content than Western gold.”
“You saw all that from up there?” Stottlemeyer asked.
“I had these.” Monk held up his binoculars.
Three at once. How to spot the shop-lifting ring.
“It’s an act,” Monk said. “The gauge has been at zero for at least five minutes, and you saw him wrestling with me over the tank. If he really had emphysema, his skin would be blue by now.”
The old man was having spasms, writhing and choking on the floor. A crowd of horrified shoppers was beginning to gather. Wilton broke out in a sweat.
“I think he’s dying,” the other security guy said.
Monk ignored him. “The tank is full of stolen merchandise. The lining of the tank jams the security tags, allowing him to go in and out of the store without setting off the sensors.”
The old man gurgled. His legs twitched. Even Wilton wasn’t buying the performance now.
Wilton unlatched the top of the tank. It was stuffed to the rim with designer clothing.
The old man stopped flopping and sighed with resignation. “Oh, hell,” he said.
“Your days of villainy are over,” Monk said.
“Thank you, sir,” Wilton said to Monk. “We appreciate the assist. I think we’ve got it covered now.”
“Then you know about the pregnant lady,” Monk said.
“What pregnant lady?”
Monk motioned to the woman in the café, who was standing up at her table and heading out. “The one who isn’t pregnant.”
She glanced at us and must have seen something on our faces she didn’t like. She bolted. Without even thinking, I charged after her. It was no contest. I took her down with a flying tackle, a skill I learned from my brother.
We hit the ground hard. Her tummy pack burst open like a piñata, spilling clothes and toiletries all over the floor. The woman snarled at me, and I snarled right back. I grabbed the blouse she’d taken from me and I held it up in my fist victoriously.
You don’t want to get between a mother, her daughter, and a Juicy blouse at 80 percent off the regular price.
Monk and Wilton rushed over. Wilton restrained the woman and called for more backup on his radio. I got to my feet.
“Nice tackle,” Monk said.
“How did you know she wasn’t pregnant?” I asked.
“She walked straight and didn’t waddle. And when she dropped her purse, she bent at the waist to pick it up.”
I didn’t notice that, and I was standing right behind her at the time. I guess I was blinded by righteous shopper indignation.
Wilton looked back at Monk. “Anybody else we should know about?”
“The nun in the café,” Monk said.
She was still sitting at the table, pretending not to notice us, toying with her cross.
“She’s wearing a habit from the order of Saint Martha of Bethany, but she’s got a crucifix around her neck with a figure of Jesus on it,” Monk said. “The nuns of that order wear a simple gold cross. She’s the ringleader and the lookout.”
A half dozen other security personnel showed up, and Wilton sent two of them into the café to apprehend the non-nun.
“This was fun,” Monk said. “We should go shopping more often.”
I folded the blouse and headed toward the nearest cashier. I didn’t want to get arrested for shoplifting. “You’re very observant, Mr. Monk.”
“No,” Monk said with a satisfied smile. “I stare.”
You can never have too much disinfectant
After dinner, I rewarded Monk for cooking by letting him clean the dishes, and I decided to reward Julie for her great report card by giving her the presents I bought for her yesterday.
“But I don’t get my report card until next week,” Julie said.
“I have it on good authority that it’s going to be terrific,” I said as I brought the shopping bags to the table. “Besides, Mr. Monk helped me pick this stuff out for you, so he should get to enjoy seeing you open your gifts, too.”
“Mr. Monk helped you shop?” she said warily.
“Yes,” I said.
“I already have enough first-aid supplies and disinfectant to open my own hospital,” she said. “I really don’t need any more.”
“You know what they say,” Monk said. “You can never have too much disinfectant.”
“Who says that?” Julie said.
“The people without enough disinfectant,” Monk said. “Shortly before their miserable, drooling deaths.”
Mr Monk discovers crimes where ever he goes. All the clues are there in plain view, but we ordinary folk just don't see them.
Another humorous cozy mystery.
Enjoy!
Mr Monk likes everything to match and be in perfect order. A murder is dis-organized and it's up to Mr Monk to tidy up all the details and catch the bad guy.
Just how observant can he be?
She’s from Russia, probably the Republic of Georgia, where she was active in the United National Movement, which favors closer ties with the European Union. So did she. She married a Jewish man from Eastern Europe.”
Stottlemeyer and Disher shared a stunned look. I was pretty stunned, too.
“Is that all?” Stottlemeyer asked dryly.
“Her shoes are new,” Monk said.
Disher glanced down at the body. “How do you know that?”
“The soles aren’t worn down and the leather isn’t creased yet,” Monk said. “The only dirt on the laces is the red dust from the track.”
“That’s very observant,” Stottlemeyer said, “but I think Randy meant how did you know the other stuff?”
“One of her teeth is capped with steel, which you see a lot in Soviet dentistry.”
“I don’t see much Soviet dentistry,” Stottlemeyer said. “I guess I need to get out more.”
“The tattoo on her back is the five crosses, adopted as the symbol of resistance by the Georgian nationalist movement in 1991. It became part of the Georgian flag in 2004,” Monk said. “She’s wearing a gold wedding ring on her right hand, which is a common practice in Eastern European countries, particularly among the Jewish faith. You’ll notice the ring has a slight reddish tint because Russian gold has a higher copper content than Western gold.”
“You saw all that from up there?” Stottlemeyer asked.
“I had these.” Monk held up his binoculars.
Three at once. How to spot the shop-lifting ring.
“It’s an act,” Monk said. “The gauge has been at zero for at least five minutes, and you saw him wrestling with me over the tank. If he really had emphysema, his skin would be blue by now.”
The old man was having spasms, writhing and choking on the floor. A crowd of horrified shoppers was beginning to gather. Wilton broke out in a sweat.
“I think he’s dying,” the other security guy said.
Monk ignored him. “The tank is full of stolen merchandise. The lining of the tank jams the security tags, allowing him to go in and out of the store without setting off the sensors.”
The old man gurgled. His legs twitched. Even Wilton wasn’t buying the performance now.
Wilton unlatched the top of the tank. It was stuffed to the rim with designer clothing.
The old man stopped flopping and sighed with resignation. “Oh, hell,” he said.
“Your days of villainy are over,” Monk said.
“Thank you, sir,” Wilton said to Monk. “We appreciate the assist. I think we’ve got it covered now.”
“Then you know about the pregnant lady,” Monk said.
“What pregnant lady?”
Monk motioned to the woman in the café, who was standing up at her table and heading out. “The one who isn’t pregnant.”
She glanced at us and must have seen something on our faces she didn’t like. She bolted. Without even thinking, I charged after her. It was no contest. I took her down with a flying tackle, a skill I learned from my brother.
We hit the ground hard. Her tummy pack burst open like a piñata, spilling clothes and toiletries all over the floor. The woman snarled at me, and I snarled right back. I grabbed the blouse she’d taken from me and I held it up in my fist victoriously.
You don’t want to get between a mother, her daughter, and a Juicy blouse at 80 percent off the regular price.
Monk and Wilton rushed over. Wilton restrained the woman and called for more backup on his radio. I got to my feet.
“Nice tackle,” Monk said.
“How did you know she wasn’t pregnant?” I asked.
“She walked straight and didn’t waddle. And when she dropped her purse, she bent at the waist to pick it up.”
I didn’t notice that, and I was standing right behind her at the time. I guess I was blinded by righteous shopper indignation.
Wilton looked back at Monk. “Anybody else we should know about?”
“The nun in the café,” Monk said.
She was still sitting at the table, pretending not to notice us, toying with her cross.
“She’s wearing a habit from the order of Saint Martha of Bethany, but she’s got a crucifix around her neck with a figure of Jesus on it,” Monk said. “The nuns of that order wear a simple gold cross. She’s the ringleader and the lookout.”
A half dozen other security personnel showed up, and Wilton sent two of them into the café to apprehend the non-nun.
“This was fun,” Monk said. “We should go shopping more often.”
I folded the blouse and headed toward the nearest cashier. I didn’t want to get arrested for shoplifting. “You’re very observant, Mr. Monk.”
“No,” Monk said with a satisfied smile. “I stare.”
You can never have too much disinfectant
After dinner, I rewarded Monk for cooking by letting him clean the dishes, and I decided to reward Julie for her great report card by giving her the presents I bought for her yesterday.
“But I don’t get my report card until next week,” Julie said.
“I have it on good authority that it’s going to be terrific,” I said as I brought the shopping bags to the table. “Besides, Mr. Monk helped me pick this stuff out for you, so he should get to enjoy seeing you open your gifts, too.”
“Mr. Monk helped you shop?” she said warily.
“Yes,” I said.
“I already have enough first-aid supplies and disinfectant to open my own hospital,” she said. “I really don’t need any more.”
“You know what they say,” Monk said. “You can never have too much disinfectant.”
“Who says that?” Julie said.
“The people without enough disinfectant,” Monk said. “Shortly before their miserable, drooling deaths.”
Mr Monk discovers crimes where ever he goes. All the clues are there in plain view, but we ordinary folk just don't see them.
Another humorous cozy mystery.
Enjoy!
September 29, 2022
3.25
These are enjoyable but nothing can compare to the show. I just feel like they change the characters a lot. Also this has the tacking advantage of monk which makes me sad. I did laugh a lot though.
These are enjoyable but nothing can compare to the show. I just feel like they change the characters a lot. Also this has the tacking advantage of monk which makes me sad. I did laugh a lot though.
June 6, 2010
Fortunately for me just about all of our children have watched the Mr. Monk television series with us. I mention that because the novels written by Lee Goldberg (just as a side note, please go to Lee Goldberg’s website and read his bio, hilarious) are excellent novels for a few reasons. One, they are a great read on the beach or at poolside, two, even without the show they are an excellent read by themselves, and last but not least, there are now nine in the series and they are easy to share and pass around. A tenth novel drops on July 6th, Mr. Monk is Cleaned Out.
The nice part of the novels for me is that Goldberg allows us to get inside the mind of Natalie as she helps Monk through the crisis du jour. Stottlemeyer, Disher, Natalie, & Monk take us on adventure after adventure through the course of the book series. Monk has gone to such locations as Hawaii, France & Germany. I found those installments to be some of Goldberg’s best work with the characters. Monk rarely leaves San Francisco, so I enjoyed the situations the cast of characters endured as Monk was being Monk, going on planes, trains and staying in different hotels (even numbers are a must). I think that through his narrative, Goldberg not only continued the characters’ story lines for us, but enhanced it and made them more enjoyable, believable, likeable and endearing.
When I planned out the month of June and the possible posts schedule, I was really happy to give this a crack and reminisce at all the good conversations these books have spurred on in our family. I was bummed when they ended the show, but life goes on. We will find other novels of shows to share; I am glad to have gotten news of a new novel in the series. The novels are a nice light, quick read that can be shared by just about anybody in the family. As long as you find enjoyment from a good mystery, suspense or humor, these novels are worth putting in your bag for the beach or the pool. Give them a try.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter and visit us on Book Blogs. Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
The nice part of the novels for me is that Goldberg allows us to get inside the mind of Natalie as she helps Monk through the crisis du jour. Stottlemeyer, Disher, Natalie, & Monk take us on adventure after adventure through the course of the book series. Monk has gone to such locations as Hawaii, France & Germany. I found those installments to be some of Goldberg’s best work with the characters. Monk rarely leaves San Francisco, so I enjoyed the situations the cast of characters endured as Monk was being Monk, going on planes, trains and staying in different hotels (even numbers are a must). I think that through his narrative, Goldberg not only continued the characters’ story lines for us, but enhanced it and made them more enjoyable, believable, likeable and endearing.
When I planned out the month of June and the possible posts schedule, I was really happy to give this a crack and reminisce at all the good conversations these books have spurred on in our family. I was bummed when they ended the show, but life goes on. We will find other novels of shows to share; I am glad to have gotten news of a new novel in the series. The novels are a nice light, quick read that can be shared by just about anybody in the family. As long as you find enjoyment from a good mystery, suspense or humor, these novels are worth putting in your bag for the beach or the pool. Give them a try.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter and visit us on Book Blogs. Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
May 18, 2021
This had the potential to be very political but dodged that bullet- unlike the victim. haha...ha yeah, okay.
So, they all used Monk this time. Like really used him. They gave him hope. That he may actually become a cop again, but then, no. Nope. Sorry. Can't do it. So irritating.
This is the first Monk book I've read so far where he sounds genuinely sad that he sees things differently than other people. He's said before that it was a curse, but not that it ruins good days for him.
I really enjoyed the group of misfits he put together. They solved what the 'real' police couldn't and I hate that they didn't get the respect they should have for it.
Either way, I was really hoping that after acting as Captain, Monk could at least be a police officer again, but instead, the mayor, police force, everyone just disappointed him again.
I did enjoy the little scene at traffic school at the end. Of course, he would enjoy it. lol
So, they all used Monk this time. Like really used him. They gave him hope. That he may actually become a cop again, but then, no. Nope. Sorry. Can't do it. So irritating.
This is the first Monk book I've read so far where he sounds genuinely sad that he sees things differently than other people. He's said before that it was a curse, but not that it ruins good days for him.
I really enjoyed the group of misfits he put together. They solved what the 'real' police couldn't and I hate that they didn't get the respect they should have for it.
Either way, I was really hoping that after acting as Captain, Monk could at least be a police officer again, but instead, the mayor, police force, everyone just disappointed him again.
I did enjoy the little scene at traffic school at the end. Of course, he would enjoy it. lol
September 19, 2012
I don't say this often, but the tv version was better... Tony Shaloub's panache is missing and focusing on Natalie's POV waters down the plot for me.
February 15, 2010
Let me start by saying I find Goldberg's Monk books to be a little like updated Agatha Christie's. They are quick, fun mysteries that are almost always readable in a day. They sweep you along, and while not too deep, they give you the clues you need to solve right along with Monk, Marple, Poirot, Tommy and Tuppence, etc.
This was no exception to the fun, but I found it familiar. While I'd like to feel good about solving the main mystery very early, I think it may have actually been a television episode. I am going to have to do a little research and be sure before I feel too accomplished regarding my "detective" skills.
I like that Goldberg uses Natalie Teeger as his narrator. She's very realistic as far as Monk and his "idiosyncracies" go, but at the same time, fiercely protective of him. As much as she tries to explain this protectiveness as "what she's being paid for", it's obvious she (and Julie) genuinely care for Monk. Because they've sufferred such similar loss they understand each other. It's sweet, but not in a sacharine way.
One complaint I have with these books is the editing. I realize these are not high-brow literature, but Signet prints them as hardbacks, as opposed to paperback, so they cost a pretty penny. If they are going to charge us that much for a glorified episode, they could pay just a bit more attention to the editing process. By page 150 I had counted 23 typos or grammatical errors. I stopped actually counting out of frustration, but they became more and more obvious. Having made that small complaint, I for one, really hope Goldberg continues to write these books for us Monk fans even though the series is over. I will really miss my favorite defective detective.
This was no exception to the fun, but I found it familiar. While I'd like to feel good about solving the main mystery very early, I think it may have actually been a television episode. I am going to have to do a little research and be sure before I feel too accomplished regarding my "detective" skills.
I like that Goldberg uses Natalie Teeger as his narrator. She's very realistic as far as Monk and his "idiosyncracies" go, but at the same time, fiercely protective of him. As much as she tries to explain this protectiveness as "what she's being paid for", it's obvious she (and Julie) genuinely care for Monk. Because they've sufferred such similar loss they understand each other. It's sweet, but not in a sacharine way.
One complaint I have with these books is the editing. I realize these are not high-brow literature, but Signet prints them as hardbacks, as opposed to paperback, so they cost a pretty penny. If they are going to charge us that much for a glorified episode, they could pay just a bit more attention to the editing process. By page 150 I had counted 23 typos or grammatical errors. I stopped actually counting out of frustration, but they became more and more obvious. Having made that small complaint, I for one, really hope Goldberg continues to write these books for us Monk fans even though the series is over. I will really miss my favorite defective detective.
April 8, 2011
Mr.Monk and the Blue Flu; by Lee Goldberg is a book about Monk. Monk has OCD. When the police force goes on strike Monk gets his job back. His team is a bunch of psycho, demented freaks. When stopping a serial killer and a string of murders is on the line. Can Monk pull his squad together and stop this madness. This book hooks you and keeps you guessing until the culprit is revealed.
I like this book because it gives you a thought and slowly reveals it giving you possible theories. It gives you a great hook with Monk getting his job back and keeps you wondering if he can handle it.
I like this book because it gives you a thought and slowly reveals it giving you possible theories. It gives you a great hook with Monk getting his job back and keeps you wondering if he can handle it.
March 4, 2019
Fun series! Loved the TV show and now I love the book series.
March 22, 2011
Currently, I'm up to Episode 10 of Season 7 of Monk on the Netflix Instant Watch, which means I'm pretty close to the end of the series. How do you get more Monk if eight years wasn't enough? One thing that occurred to me is reading the Monk novels by Lee Goldberg (or more to the point, listening to the book through Audible). While I could have started with the first Monk novel, Mr. Monk Goes to the Firehouse, I decided to skip that one as it was adapted to a Season 5 episode and opt for a novel that had a far more interesting plot, Monk and the Blue Flu.
The Plot: Police are not getting what they want in negotiations with the city. With a serial killer on the loose, detectives and senior officers phone in sick, staging a blue flu to put pressure on the city.
The Mayor of San Francisco offers to reinstate Monk and make him Captain of Homicide if he'll help out during the crisis. Monk jumps at the chance and takes command of a motley crew of discharged cops called back to duty including a senile detective, a paranoid schizophrenic detective, and a violent psychotic detective.
The Mystery: Goldberg crafted a fine mystery here, with multiple cases playing out in the novel. We've got nine separate murders (with a shoplifting ring thrown in for the heck of it) and three different killers.
One complaint with Monk in the later seasons was that the mystery element of the show seemed weak. No problem here. This is a fun ride with clever cases that really require some thought to solve.
The mystery is in the tradition of the cozy mystery, told without a whole lot of bloody details. In other elements of the story, Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu is about as clean or even more so than the TV version, with the notable exception of some pretty tacky flirting between two of the psychotic detectives' assistants.
Monkness:
Of course, a Monk story is more than just a mystery. The characters on Monk, particularly Monk himself add the comedy and drama that makes the show a winning combination even when we're let down by the mystery. Here, Goldberg falls short.
The book is told from the perspective of Monk's Assistant, Natalie Teager. This is a popular tactic for mystey writers to use when dealing with genius detectives (think Dr. Watson or Archie Goodwin.) It's difficult to see the world through the eyes of a super genius, and that goes double for Monk. However, in the book, using Natalie doesn't work well, as she doesn't quite ring true to the Natalie we know from the TV series.
Natalie's narration is filled with what's known in the writing business as "telling." We are repeatedly taken out of the story to get her opinions on everything from politics to shopping.
Her daughter, Julie doesn't ring true either as a somewhat shallow fashion diva, nor does Captain Stottlemeyer seem to be quite right. Even Monk is occassionally not himself, going way over the top, even for him.
In one scene early in the book, Captain Stottlemeyer steps in dog doo at a crime scene. Monk insists that Stottlemeyer remove a shoe and have it sent for hazardous waste destruction-and Stottlemeyer actually goes along with this. I didn't buy Monk going that far, nor Stottlemeyer humoring him to that degree. This also creates a strange inconsistency in the story when Monk has Natalie surrender a shoe, he insists that she remove both shoes for symmetrical reasons, but no such insistence was made with Stottlemeyer earlier.
While the characters were more expressive about emotions in this story than in a normal episode of Monk, the emotional scenes had less impact. On the TV show, the writers were experts at showing us things that evoked emotion. Here, we were more told how to feel about different scenes.
Of course, to be fair, Goldberg's task is a challenging one. While its difficult to adapt books as movies and television shows, it's even harder to adapt a television show to a book. While, we may have an idea of what a character is like from reading a book, when we've seen a character on a TV show, the actor's interpretation has given our imaginations a solid picture of who the character is, and we don't like deviations.
You also lose things in translation between the mediums. For example, Goldberg couldn't show us Monk during his therapy session with Dr. Kroger due to the limit of having the story told from Natalie's point of view .
The book did have its moments in several scenes when Monk acted like Monk. Randy Disher was well-done, although we didn't see enough of him in this story. I will say that while the looney detectives on Monk's replacement squad were a bit stereotypical, the idea of all of these psychosises coexisting within the same division was pretty funny.
It also continued the Monk tradition of providing hope for those with mental illness. The clear message was that they could overcome their difficulties to function in society, even if their approach to life is a little different. While I won't give away the exact conclusion, Goldberg did give Monk's colleagues in amicable ending.
If you read Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu, you can expect a pretty good mystery and a story that has its moments. However, don't expect to get an episode of Monk via audiobook or paperback.
The Plot: Police are not getting what they want in negotiations with the city. With a serial killer on the loose, detectives and senior officers phone in sick, staging a blue flu to put pressure on the city.
The Mayor of San Francisco offers to reinstate Monk and make him Captain of Homicide if he'll help out during the crisis. Monk jumps at the chance and takes command of a motley crew of discharged cops called back to duty including a senile detective, a paranoid schizophrenic detective, and a violent psychotic detective.
The Mystery: Goldberg crafted a fine mystery here, with multiple cases playing out in the novel. We've got nine separate murders (with a shoplifting ring thrown in for the heck of it) and three different killers.
One complaint with Monk in the later seasons was that the mystery element of the show seemed weak. No problem here. This is a fun ride with clever cases that really require some thought to solve.
The mystery is in the tradition of the cozy mystery, told without a whole lot of bloody details. In other elements of the story, Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu is about as clean or even more so than the TV version, with the notable exception of some pretty tacky flirting between two of the psychotic detectives' assistants.
Monkness:
Of course, a Monk story is more than just a mystery. The characters on Monk, particularly Monk himself add the comedy and drama that makes the show a winning combination even when we're let down by the mystery. Here, Goldberg falls short.
The book is told from the perspective of Monk's Assistant, Natalie Teager. This is a popular tactic for mystey writers to use when dealing with genius detectives (think Dr. Watson or Archie Goodwin.) It's difficult to see the world through the eyes of a super genius, and that goes double for Monk. However, in the book, using Natalie doesn't work well, as she doesn't quite ring true to the Natalie we know from the TV series.
Natalie's narration is filled with what's known in the writing business as "telling." We are repeatedly taken out of the story to get her opinions on everything from politics to shopping.
Her daughter, Julie doesn't ring true either as a somewhat shallow fashion diva, nor does Captain Stottlemeyer seem to be quite right. Even Monk is occassionally not himself, going way over the top, even for him.
In one scene early in the book, Captain Stottlemeyer steps in dog doo at a crime scene. Monk insists that Stottlemeyer remove a shoe and have it sent for hazardous waste destruction-and Stottlemeyer actually goes along with this. I didn't buy Monk going that far, nor Stottlemeyer humoring him to that degree. This also creates a strange inconsistency in the story when Monk has Natalie surrender a shoe, he insists that she remove both shoes for symmetrical reasons, but no such insistence was made with Stottlemeyer earlier.
While the characters were more expressive about emotions in this story than in a normal episode of Monk, the emotional scenes had less impact. On the TV show, the writers were experts at showing us things that evoked emotion. Here, we were more told how to feel about different scenes.
Of course, to be fair, Goldberg's task is a challenging one. While its difficult to adapt books as movies and television shows, it's even harder to adapt a television show to a book. While, we may have an idea of what a character is like from reading a book, when we've seen a character on a TV show, the actor's interpretation has given our imaginations a solid picture of who the character is, and we don't like deviations.
You also lose things in translation between the mediums. For example, Goldberg couldn't show us Monk during his therapy session with Dr. Kroger due to the limit of having the story told from Natalie's point of view .
The book did have its moments in several scenes when Monk acted like Monk. Randy Disher was well-done, although we didn't see enough of him in this story. I will say that while the looney detectives on Monk's replacement squad were a bit stereotypical, the idea of all of these psychosises coexisting within the same division was pretty funny.
It also continued the Monk tradition of providing hope for those with mental illness. The clear message was that they could overcome their difficulties to function in society, even if their approach to life is a little different. While I won't give away the exact conclusion, Goldberg did give Monk's colleagues in amicable ending.
If you read Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu, you can expect a pretty good mystery and a story that has its moments. However, don't expect to get an episode of Monk via audiobook or paperback.
September 4, 2017
Another great Mr. Monk book.
did-not-finish
February 9, 2018DNF
February 1, 2026
Imma be honest, I listened to the audio book and think I missed half the book
August 29, 2021
Avoid reading this book in public. I was listening to this book, while walking in the public garden and kept LOLing, which drew a few amused stares.
Monk is our quintessential detective, who can tell everything about the victim and perp just by looking at the crime scene. It's a shame he hasn't yet managed to solve the mystery of his wife's death.
He has his quirks too, which leads to hilarious situations.
When most of the police officers go on strike, the Mayor requests Monk to take charge as captain. Joining him are 3 other ex-detectives, who are equally quirky.
Monk and his new team (and their individual assistants) go on to solve a number of murder cases in a short time. It was a fun read.
One apt quote on teenagers "Julie was unbelievably brand-conscious. I could buy a pair of jeans for 10 $ at WalMart, slice them up with a knife, and run over them with my car, and they'd look just like the jeans she wanted that cost $150. But no, she had to have the same brand" 😆
Monk is our quintessential detective, who can tell everything about the victim and perp just by looking at the crime scene. It's a shame he hasn't yet managed to solve the mystery of his wife's death.
He has his quirks too, which leads to hilarious situations.
When most of the police officers go on strike, the Mayor requests Monk to take charge as captain. Joining him are 3 other ex-detectives, who are equally quirky.
Monk and his new team (and their individual assistants) go on to solve a number of murder cases in a short time. It was a fun read.
One apt quote on teenagers "Julie was unbelievably brand-conscious. I could buy a pair of jeans for 10 $ at WalMart, slice them up with a knife, and run over them with my car, and they'd look just like the jeans she wanted that cost $150. But no, she had to have the same brand" 😆
July 14, 2012
Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu is book three in Lee Goldberg's Monk series. In this book Monk is tasked with taking over homicide when the SFPD catch the Blue Flu when negotiations break down between the union and the city. A lot of officers call in "sick" in protest. So the mayor assembles a rag tag bunch of either ousted or retired cops lead by Monk to deal with homicides in San Francisco. This story is where Goldberg's comedy shines. The characters under Monk's command are quirky and really set this story apart from the first two books. There is a little bit of deja vu with a season 8 episode of the tv series but the book was written first. This continues the string of light good Monk books. 5 out of 5!
January 13, 2019
Kind of loving this series.. easy reading, funny.. like visiting old friends
August 22, 2019
Sewaktu zaman saya kuliah dan sering pinjam-meminjam DVD serial prosedural/detektif Barat, Monk inilah salah satu yang paling saya gandrungi. Misterinya mungkin tidak terlalu kompleks atau mendebarkan, tapi saya sering dibuat ngakak oleh tingkahnya si Monk: detektif pengidap OCD yang obsesinya bahwa segala sesuatu harus serba rapi dan teratur sering menyusahkan orang-orang di sekitarnya, terutama si asisten, Natalie.
Seri novelnya ternyata juga pernah diterbitkan di sini dan memuat kisah orisinil yang tidak ada di seri TV, walau tokoh-tokoh utamanya dan latar belakang hubungan mereka tetap sama. Komposisi ceritanya lumayan gembul: selain misteri-misteri yang harus dipecahkan Monk, ada satu konflik besar (mogoknya para polisi kota San Fransisco karena sengketa dengan pihak wali kota, alias ungkapan 'flu biru' yang jadi judul novel ini) plus berbagai hubungan antar karakter yang dinarasikan dari sudut pandang Natalie.
Saya bilang 'misteri-misteri' karena si Monk ini tipe karakter yang "jalan lima langkah langsung ketemu kasus baru". Jadi, walau sinopsisnya menyiratkan satu misteri besar berupa pembunuhan para wanita jogger, sebenarnya . Hebatnya, semua itu tetap enak dibaca dan tidak terkesan ruwet-ruwet amat.
Kasus-kasusnya cukup menarik, dan judul ini benar-benar terasa menggambarkan kota San Fransisco dengan berbagai keunikan di dalamnya secara apik. Namun, tidak seperti novel detektif favorit saya yang lainnya, bukan misterinya sendiri yang jadi daya tarik utama Monk. Ada kombinasi indah antara humor sableng bin koplak (walau kadang tersamarkan oleh alih bahasa yang kurang luwes) dengan bagian refleksi serius yang menyentuh. Monk memang tipikal detektif yang bisa memecahkan kasus secara kilat, tapi dia bukan tokoh sempurna yang membosankan (Gary Stu/Mary Sue) karena diimbangi oleh kekurangmampuannya berfungsi ala manusia normal... yang sering membuat saya ngakak sekaligus bersimpati. Tema itu kian terasa kuat karena adanya sub-plot di novel ini berupa satuan penyelidik baru pimpinan Monk, yang terdiri dari orang-orang buangan kepolisian dengan masalah mental (dan asisten pribadi) mereka masing-masing.
Sewaktu bahas seri kriminal lain, saya pernah menyinggung kalau saya biasanya tidak begitu suka saat porsi kehidupan pribadi tokoh detektifnya disorot terlalu banyak. Namun, Monk ini perkecualian, karena tokoh-tokoh utamanya tidak klise. Di balik kesablengan dialog dan interaksi mereka, semua tokoh penting di Monk memiliki masalah pribadi yang signifikan dan mengena, tanpa harus jadi drama sendiri yang berlarut-larut. Saya juga suka penegasan hubungan Monk dan Nat di sini, yang bukan bersifat asmara tapi bukan berarti mereka tidak saling membutuhkan satu sama lain.
Jadi, cerita tidak harus melulu super serius atau suram untuk mengangkat isu berat atau mengajak pembaca ikut merenung. Di komedi pun bisa, malah kadang jadi lebih efektif, seperti kata-kata Nat berikut yang benar-benar membuat saya tertegun:
"Menyemir sepatu, membersihkan dapur, apa pun itu... itu adalah hal-hal kecil, ritual biasa dan bentuk tanggung jawab dalam hidup. Hal-hal yang membuatmu bisa menjalani hal-hal terburuk dalam hidup....Kau tetap berguna bahkan saat kau merasa sebaliknya. Kurasa itu adalah bagian dari pemulihan. Dan suatu hari nanti, saat kau bangun di pagi hari, kau akan merasa kalau kesedihanmu tidak lagi seberat dulu dan garasimu jadi bersih. Itu jadi semacam bonus."
Seri novelnya ternyata juga pernah diterbitkan di sini dan memuat kisah orisinil yang tidak ada di seri TV, walau tokoh-tokoh utamanya dan latar belakang hubungan mereka tetap sama. Komposisi ceritanya lumayan gembul: selain misteri-misteri yang harus dipecahkan Monk, ada satu konflik besar (mogoknya para polisi kota San Fransisco karena sengketa dengan pihak wali kota, alias ungkapan 'flu biru' yang jadi judul novel ini) plus berbagai hubungan antar karakter yang dinarasikan dari sudut pandang Natalie.
Saya bilang 'misteri-misteri' karena si Monk ini tipe karakter yang "jalan lima langkah langsung ketemu kasus baru". Jadi, walau sinopsisnya menyiratkan satu misteri besar berupa pembunuhan para wanita jogger, sebenarnya . Hebatnya, semua itu tetap enak dibaca dan tidak terkesan ruwet-ruwet amat.
Kasus-kasusnya cukup menarik, dan judul ini benar-benar terasa menggambarkan kota San Fransisco dengan berbagai keunikan di dalamnya secara apik. Namun, tidak seperti novel detektif favorit saya yang lainnya, bukan misterinya sendiri yang jadi daya tarik utama Monk. Ada kombinasi indah antara humor sableng bin koplak (walau kadang tersamarkan oleh alih bahasa yang kurang luwes) dengan bagian refleksi serius yang menyentuh. Monk memang tipikal detektif yang bisa memecahkan kasus secara kilat, tapi dia bukan tokoh sempurna yang membosankan (Gary Stu/Mary Sue) karena diimbangi oleh kekurangmampuannya berfungsi ala manusia normal... yang sering membuat saya ngakak sekaligus bersimpati. Tema itu kian terasa kuat karena adanya sub-plot di novel ini berupa satuan penyelidik baru pimpinan Monk, yang terdiri dari orang-orang buangan kepolisian dengan masalah mental (dan asisten pribadi) mereka masing-masing.
Sewaktu bahas seri kriminal lain, saya pernah menyinggung kalau saya biasanya tidak begitu suka saat porsi kehidupan pribadi tokoh detektifnya disorot terlalu banyak. Namun, Monk ini perkecualian, karena tokoh-tokoh utamanya tidak klise. Di balik kesablengan dialog dan interaksi mereka, semua tokoh penting di Monk memiliki masalah pribadi yang signifikan dan mengena, tanpa harus jadi drama sendiri yang berlarut-larut. Saya juga suka penegasan hubungan Monk dan Nat di sini, yang bukan bersifat asmara tapi bukan berarti mereka tidak saling membutuhkan satu sama lain.
Jadi, cerita tidak harus melulu super serius atau suram untuk mengangkat isu berat atau mengajak pembaca ikut merenung. Di komedi pun bisa, malah kadang jadi lebih efektif, seperti kata-kata Nat berikut yang benar-benar membuat saya tertegun:
"Menyemir sepatu, membersihkan dapur, apa pun itu... itu adalah hal-hal kecil, ritual biasa dan bentuk tanggung jawab dalam hidup. Hal-hal yang membuatmu bisa menjalani hal-hal terburuk dalam hidup....Kau tetap berguna bahkan saat kau merasa sebaliknya. Kurasa itu adalah bagian dari pemulihan. Dan suatu hari nanti, saat kau bangun di pagi hari, kau akan merasa kalau kesedihanmu tidak lagi seberat dulu dan garasimu jadi bersih. Itu jadi semacam bonus."
February 1, 2020
Really quick non scary mystery (aka cozy mystery) that coincided with one of my favorite tv series! I loved the humor and the mystery, it was a nice break from all the other things I have been reading! Definitely want to read more of the “Monk” books! I am probably going to a book event for this author and am intrigued to try his more recent work!
June 11, 2023
Mr Monk and the Blue Flu was a fine read. I enjoyed seeing Monk as captain (while Stottlemeyer was out with the blue flu). The mystery was really good, but seemed familiar and I'm not sure why. I liked how Monk figured out what happened with the cop and it all made sense. The ending was funny with Monk thinking he knew the answers. 😂
December 5, 2017
Гилти плежър, нямам друго оправдание
Ето линк
https://chitanka.info/text/37856-g-n-...
Ето линк
https://chitanka.info/text/37856-g-n-...
Read
March 25, 2020Very fun, very clever read!!
May 26, 2024
great just like the tv series
May 29, 2024
Such a lovely, funny and fast mystery! If you’re a fan of the show Monk or not you will thoroughly enjoy this book!
August 11, 2024
A quick read, typical Mr. Monk, some mild language (Natalie isn't as innocent in the books as she was in the TV show).
July 22, 2024
Again fantastic! I really recommend for the Monk lovers.
So far this is my favorite.
So far this is my favorite.
June 1, 2025
Laugh out loud again
Just like the others, laugh out loud funny. Lee Goldberg really captures all aspects of Monk and makes it fun and easy to read.
Just like the others, laugh out loud funny. Lee Goldberg really captures all aspects of Monk and makes it fun and easy to read.
April 27, 2008
I love the Monk books as much as I love the TV show. Mr. Monk is a detective who the San Francisco police department call in when they have a very difficult case. In this book, just as they are starting to investigate a murder, the police department gets the "blue flu", because of contract negotiation are not going the way they want them to. The Mayor tells Monk he could get back on the force if he helps with the case.
There is a serial killer who strangles women while they are jogging and takes their left shoe. For Monk who is obsessive compulsive this is very frustrating. Because the police force on strike, Monk gets help with the case from some other temporary workers who he has to direct their efforts. This creates many funny situations, because Monk is a perfectionist who would rather do things himself. In the end, they figure out who did it.
Just like the other Monk books, there are times where you have to laugh at how silly Monk can be sometimes. I really enjoy both the mystery part of this book and how he puts the clues together as well as all the funny things he does. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants the interest of a mystery but likes funny books too. It was a fun read!
There is a serial killer who strangles women while they are jogging and takes their left shoe. For Monk who is obsessive compulsive this is very frustrating. Because the police force on strike, Monk gets help with the case from some other temporary workers who he has to direct their efforts. This creates many funny situations, because Monk is a perfectionist who would rather do things himself. In the end, they figure out who did it.
Just like the other Monk books, there are times where you have to laugh at how silly Monk can be sometimes. I really enjoy both the mystery part of this book and how he puts the clues together as well as all the funny things he does. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants the interest of a mystery but likes funny books too. It was a fun read!
May 26, 2011
When a 'blue flu' hits the San Fransisco police department during contract negotiations, Mr. Monk becomes acting chief of homicide. To make up for the lack of officers, some other folks who lost their badges are hired back on too. Monk winds up with a defective detective squad. There's a senile old man, a paranoid lady who wears a tin foil helmet, and a guy who just likes to shoot things a little too much. Best of all, they each have their own assistant! Natalie thinks they should form a support group. This motley crew has to solve a series of murders - and Monk has to deal with the pressures of command. There's also a lot of tension between him and Captain Stottlemeyer because (however temporarily) Monk is taking over his job, and with the regular police force who feels these officers are 'scabs' for taking over their jobs. It's the best of the Monk books I've read so far, because it had a bit of everything and Monk's squad of crazy detectives was so fun.
Recommended for those who like the Monk series, mystery fans, and anyone who wants a fun, quick read.
Recommended for those who like the Monk series, mystery fans, and anyone who wants a fun, quick read.
April 23, 2009
This was a funny book. Monk was asked to take over the detective squad as commander after the regular officers staged a blue flu in a plan for the officers to get a better contract with the city. The bad news is that makes Monk a scab, and he doesn't like the sound of that. But he has his badge back. So does "Mad Jack" a violent sociopath, paranoid schizophrenic, and a senile old man, all former offers who had also been asked to come back. So they pull together to catch an astrologers killer, clear a series of mysterious fatal assaults, and clean the squad room.
It was another funny and clever book.Goldberg is getting better as he writes more books in this series. Again, the story is told from Natalie's perspective and is well done.
It was another funny and clever book.Goldberg is getting better as he writes more books in this series. Again, the story is told from Natalie's perspective and is well done.
April 2, 2011
Oh I miss Monk... the TV series.. and the boyfriend loves the books and I didn't have anything to read so I read it. It was great! There's like 3 episodes in one book and I found myself laughing out loud and reading aloud parts to my boyfriend and he was laughing too! Moving on to the rest of the series. The only reason it took my so long to read it was because I only read it when I was at my boyfriend's house while he was on the computer. Overall an entertaining read with AHA! moments that come with all your mystery novels. Oh Monk... you are great. This was the third book in the series but I don't think it matters which book you read first... not really.
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