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Mr. Monk #14
Mr. Monk is a Mess
Obsessive. Compulsive. Detective. An all-new original mystery starring Adrian Monk, the brilliant investigator who always knows when something's out of place....
No one likes to come home to a mess--least of all Monk and Natalie. But when they return briefly to San Francisco from an extended stay working as cops in New Jersey, Natalie discovers somebody has been sleeping in her bed. But this Goldilocks is not asleep. She's dead.
If that's not bad enough, investigators find marked money from a Federal sting operation stuffed under Natalie's mattress. Now her life is a real mess and she needs Monk's help to clean it up.
But Monk has problems of his own. His brother Ambrose is desperate to find Yuki, his missing lover, but his agoraphobia prevents him from leaving the house. Ambrose needs a man on the outside--and that man is Monk, who is torn, because he's glad to see her go.
As the two investigations begin, and the body count rises, it quickly becomes clear to Monk that Yuki has a dangerous past...and that they are pursuing a ruthless, cold-blooded killer that nobody would ever want to mess with...
PRAISE FOR LEE GOLDBERG'S MONK NOVELS
""No one else could capture these characters and bring them to life on the page the way Lee Goldberg does!"-- King's River Life Magazine
"Goldberg makes Adrian Monk much more interesting than the TV version: the twitches are less obvious, the outcomes much less predictable. Even (or especially) the secondary characters are more interesting and have sharper dialogue."-- Chicago Tribune
""The only thing more fun than watching Monk is reading the adventures Lee Goldberg creates for him. The books set a high standard from the get-go." Crimespree Magazine
"Full of snippets of slapstick humor and Monk's special talents for observation," Library Journal
"This latest hilariously funny and devilishly clever novel about TV's obsessive-compulsive sleuth Adrian Monk is an impossible crime lover's delight! Very funny and inventively plotted," Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
">"Throughout the Mr. Monk series author Lee Goldberg has always kept a firm grasp on exactly who his characters are, and he is able to expertly play them against one another to the best dramatic and comic advantage," The Gumshoe Review
"You'd be hard-pressed to find another recent work that provides so many hip and humorous moments." Bookgasm
No one likes to come home to a mess--least of all Monk and Natalie. But when they return briefly to San Francisco from an extended stay working as cops in New Jersey, Natalie discovers somebody has been sleeping in her bed. But this Goldilocks is not asleep. She's dead.
If that's not bad enough, investigators find marked money from a Federal sting operation stuffed under Natalie's mattress. Now her life is a real mess and she needs Monk's help to clean it up.
But Monk has problems of his own. His brother Ambrose is desperate to find Yuki, his missing lover, but his agoraphobia prevents him from leaving the house. Ambrose needs a man on the outside--and that man is Monk, who is torn, because he's glad to see her go.
As the two investigations begin, and the body count rises, it quickly becomes clear to Monk that Yuki has a dangerous past...and that they are pursuing a ruthless, cold-blooded killer that nobody would ever want to mess with...
PRAISE FOR LEE GOLDBERG'S MONK NOVELS
""No one else could capture these characters and bring them to life on the page the way Lee Goldberg does!"-- King's River Life Magazine
"Goldberg makes Adrian Monk much more interesting than the TV version: the twitches are less obvious, the outcomes much less predictable. Even (or especially) the secondary characters are more interesting and have sharper dialogue."-- Chicago Tribune
""The only thing more fun than watching Monk is reading the adventures Lee Goldberg creates for him. The books set a high standard from the get-go." Crimespree Magazine
"Full of snippets of slapstick humor and Monk's special talents for observation," Library Journal
"This latest hilariously funny and devilishly clever novel about TV's obsessive-compulsive sleuth Adrian Monk is an impossible crime lover's delight! Very funny and inventively plotted," Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
">"Throughout the Mr. Monk series author Lee Goldberg has always kept a firm grasp on exactly who his characters are, and he is able to expertly play them against one another to the best dramatic and comic advantage," The Gumshoe Review
"You'd be hard-pressed to find another recent work that provides so many hip and humorous moments." Bookgasm
274 pages, Hardcover
First published June 5, 2012
45 people are currently reading
852 people want to read
About the author
Lee Goldberg
154 books2,082 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 114 reviews
February 18, 2020
Mr Monk a patrol car cop? Stranger things than this will happen.
Monk's philosophy
“Mr Monk listen to me, you can’t live in a sterile little bubble, unaffected by the troubles of the people you supposedly care about or the events in the world around you.”
“That’s my dream.”
Just a routine speed radar patrol with an invitation for a road race
“How fast was she going, Mr. Monk?”
“Fifty-four,” he said.
I glared at him. “So why did we pull her over? Was it so you could commend her for traveling at an even-numbered rate of speed or ticket her for driving too slow and impeding the nonexistent traffic?”
“Her car is splattered with mud,” Monk said. “And there’s a piece of a plastic bag caught on her trailer hitch.”
“That’s not a traffic violation,” I said.
“May I go now?” Turek asked, looking uncomfortable, like a child watching her parents arguing.
I handed her back her driver’s license and registration. I saw a white band of skin at the base of the ring finger on her left hand where she’d perhaps taken off a wedding ring. It made me think of the one that I’d once worn.
It was years after Mitch was shot down over Kosovo before I finally stopped wearing my ring. It took a surprisingly long time for that band of pale skin to tan and I was painfully sad when it did.
“Officer?” she prodded.
“Yes, I’m sorry,” I said. “You can go.”
“No, you can’t,” Monk said to her.
I sighed and turned back to Turek. “Forgive me for asking, but would you mind washing your car when you get back to Summit? My partner would really appreciate it.”
“Sure thing,” she said. “Whatever you want, Officer.”
“We can’t let her go and we certainly can’t let her wash her car,” Monk said.
“Why not?” I demanded.
“Because she could wash away important evidence.”
“Of what?” I said. “That her car was dirty?”
“That she murdered her husband,” Monk said.
That last word was barely out of his mouth when Turek floored it, the car speeding away, spraying us with loose dirt and gravel.
Law and Order (Monk style) at the supermarket
“We need to make an important announcement to your customers,” Monk said to the manager.
“No, we don’t,” I said.
But Monk was already reaching for the microphone and turning it on.
“Attention, shoppers. Would the owner of the brown Acura please move your car to the first open parking spot closest to the store? Thank you. For future reference, owners of Alfa Romeos, Audis, and Aston Martins may park in the first spot of any row if it is available. Otherwise, alphabetical order according to the make of your vehicle always applies. For instance, a Bentley or BMW may park in the next available spot, followed by a Chevrolet or Chrysler. And so forth and so on. This is true of our parking lot and any others that you may visit. Thank you for your attention and good citizenship.”
He clicked the mike off. The manager stared at him suspiciously.
“Are you any relation to Ambrose Monk?” he asked.
“Of course not,” I said, before Monk could answer. “Why would you think that? Thank you again for your help.”
I grabbed Monk by the arm and led him quickly out of the store before he could do more damage.
“Why did you lie to the manager about me and Ambrose?” he asked once we were outside.
“I didn’t want the manager to invalidate the password he gave me to view their surveillance footage or to ban you from the store forever.”
“Why would he do that?”
I knew Monk would never understand how irritating it was to the management for him to gather expired products or how outrageous it was to demand that people park their cars in alphabetical order according to their brands. So I came up with an explanation he could accept.
“Because he’s petty, vindictive, and small-minded. He’d want to get back at you, or worse, at Ambrose, for pointing out to him his intolerable mistakes and staggering incompetence.”
“Then you did the right thing,” Monk said. “Let’s hope he will now, too. Between poisoning his customers with expired food and letting his parking lot devolve into anarchy, it’s a wonder that store is still in business.”
“I’m sure he’ll remember this day as his epiphany,” I said and headed for the car.
For Monk the world is always out of order and it is his job to set things right - and by doing so he solves murders
Enjoy!
Monk's philosophy
“Mr Monk listen to me, you can’t live in a sterile little bubble, unaffected by the troubles of the people you supposedly care about or the events in the world around you.”
“That’s my dream.”
Just a routine speed radar patrol with an invitation for a road race
“How fast was she going, Mr. Monk?”
“Fifty-four,” he said.
I glared at him. “So why did we pull her over? Was it so you could commend her for traveling at an even-numbered rate of speed or ticket her for driving too slow and impeding the nonexistent traffic?”
“Her car is splattered with mud,” Monk said. “And there’s a piece of a plastic bag caught on her trailer hitch.”
“That’s not a traffic violation,” I said.
“May I go now?” Turek asked, looking uncomfortable, like a child watching her parents arguing.
I handed her back her driver’s license and registration. I saw a white band of skin at the base of the ring finger on her left hand where she’d perhaps taken off a wedding ring. It made me think of the one that I’d once worn.
It was years after Mitch was shot down over Kosovo before I finally stopped wearing my ring. It took a surprisingly long time for that band of pale skin to tan and I was painfully sad when it did.
“Officer?” she prodded.
“Yes, I’m sorry,” I said. “You can go.”
“No, you can’t,” Monk said to her.
I sighed and turned back to Turek. “Forgive me for asking, but would you mind washing your car when you get back to Summit? My partner would really appreciate it.”
“Sure thing,” she said. “Whatever you want, Officer.”
“We can’t let her go and we certainly can’t let her wash her car,” Monk said.
“Why not?” I demanded.
“Because she could wash away important evidence.”
“Of what?” I said. “That her car was dirty?”
“That she murdered her husband,” Monk said.
That last word was barely out of his mouth when Turek floored it, the car speeding away, spraying us with loose dirt and gravel.
Law and Order (Monk style) at the supermarket
“We need to make an important announcement to your customers,” Monk said to the manager.
“No, we don’t,” I said.
But Monk was already reaching for the microphone and turning it on.
“Attention, shoppers. Would the owner of the brown Acura please move your car to the first open parking spot closest to the store? Thank you. For future reference, owners of Alfa Romeos, Audis, and Aston Martins may park in the first spot of any row if it is available. Otherwise, alphabetical order according to the make of your vehicle always applies. For instance, a Bentley or BMW may park in the next available spot, followed by a Chevrolet or Chrysler. And so forth and so on. This is true of our parking lot and any others that you may visit. Thank you for your attention and good citizenship.”
He clicked the mike off. The manager stared at him suspiciously.
“Are you any relation to Ambrose Monk?” he asked.
“Of course not,” I said, before Monk could answer. “Why would you think that? Thank you again for your help.”
I grabbed Monk by the arm and led him quickly out of the store before he could do more damage.
“Why did you lie to the manager about me and Ambrose?” he asked once we were outside.
“I didn’t want the manager to invalidate the password he gave me to view their surveillance footage or to ban you from the store forever.”
“Why would he do that?”
I knew Monk would never understand how irritating it was to the management for him to gather expired products or how outrageous it was to demand that people park their cars in alphabetical order according to their brands. So I came up with an explanation he could accept.
“Because he’s petty, vindictive, and small-minded. He’d want to get back at you, or worse, at Ambrose, for pointing out to him his intolerable mistakes and staggering incompetence.”
“Then you did the right thing,” Monk said. “Let’s hope he will now, too. Between poisoning his customers with expired food and letting his parking lot devolve into anarchy, it’s a wonder that store is still in business.”
“I’m sure he’ll remember this day as his epiphany,” I said and headed for the car.
For Monk the world is always out of order and it is his job to set things right - and by doing so he solves murders
Enjoy!
December 20, 2012
Once again, Goldberg delivers a definitive response to anyone who disparages tie-in novels. The TV series, Monk, was great -- but what Goldberg's done with this series of novels -- particularly following the series finale.
What he's done with these characters -- Disher, Ambrose and especially Natalie (oh, yeah, and that OCD detective) is incredible. Almost got a little misty a couple of times here.
In addition to this great character development, we got a handful of great comic scenes, a couple of solid mysteries, and one of the most action-packed scenes in the Monk canon.
While I understand his need to move on with his career, really not liking the idea that there's only one more in this series from Goldberg. But I'm really looking forward to his swan song now.
What he's done with these characters -- Disher, Ambrose and especially Natalie (oh, yeah, and that OCD detective) is incredible. Almost got a little misty a couple of times here.
In addition to this great character development, we got a handful of great comic scenes, a couple of solid mysteries, and one of the most action-packed scenes in the Monk canon.
While I understand his need to move on with his career, really not liking the idea that there's only one more in this series from Goldberg. But I'm really looking forward to his swan song now.
Want to read
June 17, 2012This will be the last Monk book (at least by Lee Goldberg). I hate to see the series end...:(
Update - there will be one more Monk book by Lee Goldberg called Mr. Monk Gets Even coming out in January 2013.
Update - there will be one more Monk book by Lee Goldberg called Mr. Monk Gets Even coming out in January 2013.
June 14, 2013
This entry in the Monk series changes the status quo, completing the transformation followed in the last novel. While, the puzzles, were, for the most part, simple, there were several of them. Still, I quite liked it, and look forward to getting the next one.
June 20, 2012
Omg! i can't even put into words what I feel now that I have finished the books. I have been with these characters from the beginning - seen their struggles and growth. This book feels somewhat like a climax or an ending. Perhaps, Goldberg will continue the series but in a new direction. Oh, I am sooooooooooooooooo sad. Please, please, don't let this be the end of Monk. He's come too far.
July 12, 2018
To już nie jest ten sam Monk. Wyszło świetnie
November 10, 2012
As this is the expected good story with humorous characters and interesting twists, there is one added point of suspense...what does the future hold for the Mr. Monk novels?
If you follow this series (at least since the previous book, "Mr. Monk on Patrol), you will remember that Natalie and Adrian are supposedly only back in San Francisco for a short time in order to gather their belongings and put their affairs in order before moving back to New Jersey to join Randy's police force in Summit. Although it is not questioned outright, throughout the entire book, you are wondering, "what will happen by the end to change their minds, because surely they won't leave?"
Don't think you know the answer now, because chances are that you have no idea how this scenario will play out. Now, I didn't flag this review as a spoiler, because I have finished the book, and I don't know any more about this than you do now...take into account that there is another Monk book to be released on December 31, 2012 title "Mr. Monk Gets Even."
So far as this book is concerned, I won't give it much of a different review as I do most of the other books in the series. The storyline is commplex, but easy to follow. Ambrose makes a reprise role in a touching sub-plot with a surprising endgame. There are also the usual side cases solved on the fly, and chances are you will be guessing right up until the end.
Well, I will admit I had my suspicions, but with Adruab Monk, you never want to commit until he frames the scene and cocks his head.
If you follow this series (at least since the previous book, "Mr. Monk on Patrol), you will remember that Natalie and Adrian are supposedly only back in San Francisco for a short time in order to gather their belongings and put their affairs in order before moving back to New Jersey to join Randy's police force in Summit. Although it is not questioned outright, throughout the entire book, you are wondering, "what will happen by the end to change their minds, because surely they won't leave?"
Don't think you know the answer now, because chances are that you have no idea how this scenario will play out. Now, I didn't flag this review as a spoiler, because I have finished the book, and I don't know any more about this than you do now...take into account that there is another Monk book to be released on December 31, 2012 title "Mr. Monk Gets Even."
So far as this book is concerned, I won't give it much of a different review as I do most of the other books in the series. The storyline is commplex, but easy to follow. Ambrose makes a reprise role in a touching sub-plot with a surprising endgame. There are also the usual side cases solved on the fly, and chances are you will be guessing right up until the end.
Well, I will admit I had my suspicions, but with Adruab Monk, you never want to commit until he frames the scene and cocks his head.
February 10, 2014
I got into the TV series 'Monk' by accident and found myself loving the quirky OCD detective. My son bought me the first three seasons second hand and I'm hoping to get hold of the rest sometime.
So when I was shelving Large Print books at the library where I work and saw this title, I had to check it out.
I wasn't disappointed.
The book has all the charm and humour of the series.
I made it my bedtime reading, making the most of the large print for reading when my eyes were tired. Except I kept hating to put it down when it got too late to read any more. I can't do staying up all night to finish, no matter how much I want to. Instead, I made myself go to bed earlier to get more reading time in.
I loved this story so much that when I returned it to the library today I immediately requested every other Monk title available in the borough!
So when I was shelving Large Print books at the library where I work and saw this title, I had to check it out.
I wasn't disappointed.
The book has all the charm and humour of the series.
I made it my bedtime reading, making the most of the large print for reading when my eyes were tired. Except I kept hating to put it down when it got too late to read any more. I can't do staying up all night to finish, no matter how much I want to. Instead, I made myself go to bed earlier to get more reading time in.
I loved this story so much that when I returned it to the library today I immediately requested every other Monk title available in the borough!
July 26, 2012
A book series that is as good as the tv show. Enjoyed every Monk book. Sorry to hear there may only be one left in this series.
September 2, 2016
These books are such fun to read. I am so sad that I only have one left!
April 8, 2015
Good Ending.
Mr. Monk books kept me interested until the last sentence in the series. Funny, fun, and fascinating. Hmm. Now what do I read?
Mr. Monk books kept me interested until the last sentence in the series. Funny, fun, and fascinating. Hmm. Now what do I read?
July 21, 2017
I miss this show!!!!
November 13, 2023
Mr. Monk is a Mess was another good Monk story. After finishing the last one, I was eager to see what would happen next. I cannot believe the ending - the mystery was good and I enjoyed how everything was wrapped up.
September 24, 2023
This was a hilarious tie-in novel to the Monk TV characters. I enjoyed the quirky personalities of everyone involved. The mysteries were fun little puzzles. I was able to partially figure out one of the puzzles from a "Monk clue" so I was quite excited about that. This was a much needed brain break and was tons of fun to read.
June 17, 2012
Mr. Monk is a Mess is Lee Goldberg's penultimate "Monk" novel (his last, Mr. Monk Gets Even, is slated for release in January of 2013). Mr. Monk is a Mess picks up where Mr. Monk on Patrol leaves off, immediately resolving the cliffhanger (only to halfway unresolve it for most of the narrative).
Natalie returns to an unpleasant surprise in her San Francisco home: a dead woman in her bathtub. To make matters worse, $5000 in marked bills is in an envelope under Natalie's mattress. Another $5000 from the same FBI-marked batch is in the dead woman's purse. The FBI is building a theory that Monk and Natalie are in cahoots with mob boss Lucarelli, who has benefited from Monk's detecting skills in the past.
As if that weren't enough, Ambrose is frantic because Yuki, his live-in girlfriend, has disappeared. He is counting on Monk and Natalie to find her, and Natalie must convince Monk that her disappearance is NOT for the best.
Much of this novel is about Natalie coming into her own as an investigator, using the confidence she gained as an acting police officer in Summit. For Monk, there are lessons to be learned about accepting change and realizing that he has been adapting to changes all along.
The book did not end entirely as I'd anticipated, and although I have some mixed feelings about the way it did end, I also found the closing to be satisfying. I'll be curious to see what direction Goldberg takes in his final "Monk" novel, since he establishes a major change.
Goldberg has written that the series might continue with a different author. If it does, I hope the writer in question does not hit a big "reset" button and undo what Goldberg has accomplished in his last few novels in this series.
Natalie returns to an unpleasant surprise in her San Francisco home: a dead woman in her bathtub. To make matters worse, $5000 in marked bills is in an envelope under Natalie's mattress. Another $5000 from the same FBI-marked batch is in the dead woman's purse. The FBI is building a theory that Monk and Natalie are in cahoots with mob boss Lucarelli, who has benefited from Monk's detecting skills in the past.
As if that weren't enough, Ambrose is frantic because Yuki, his live-in girlfriend, has disappeared. He is counting on Monk and Natalie to find her, and Natalie must convince Monk that her disappearance is NOT for the best.
Much of this novel is about Natalie coming into her own as an investigator, using the confidence she gained as an acting police officer in Summit. For Monk, there are lessons to be learned about accepting change and realizing that he has been adapting to changes all along.
The book did not end entirely as I'd anticipated, and although I have some mixed feelings about the way it did end, I also found the closing to be satisfying. I'll be curious to see what direction Goldberg takes in his final "Monk" novel, since he establishes a major change.
Goldberg has written that the series might continue with a different author. If it does, I hope the writer in question does not hit a big "reset" button and undo what Goldberg has accomplished in his last few novels in this series.
May 28, 2014
I always enjoy reading one of the Mr. Monk books. It is not deep, heavy reading that requires concentration to keep all the characters straight. However, it is a funny and entertaining approach to solving the mysteries that Monk and Natalie get involved with, along with Capt. Stottlemeyer and the other cast of characters.
In this book, Monk and Natalie have returned to California from New Jersey, complete with IDs and badges proclaiming them police officers of Summit, New Jersey. This is supposed to be a short return to San Francisco in order to settle affairs there and return to start their new lives. But, events keep getting in their way. Like the dead woman that Natalie finds in her bathtub when she first enters her home. Investigators also want to know why they have found marked money from an FBI sting operation under her mattress.
Then Monk needs Natalie to help him help his brother Ambrose, the one who never leaves his house. His new girlfriend, Yuki, went to the grocery store and did not return. Ambrose is anxious, and needs their help to find her. The FBI is convinced that Natalie was involved with the theft of $500,000 from their locked evidence room, and now Natalie needs to solve that problem before both she and Monk land up behind federal prison bars.
In this book, Monk and Natalie have returned to California from New Jersey, complete with IDs and badges proclaiming them police officers of Summit, New Jersey. This is supposed to be a short return to San Francisco in order to settle affairs there and return to start their new lives. But, events keep getting in their way. Like the dead woman that Natalie finds in her bathtub when she first enters her home. Investigators also want to know why they have found marked money from an FBI sting operation under her mattress.
Then Monk needs Natalie to help him help his brother Ambrose, the one who never leaves his house. His new girlfriend, Yuki, went to the grocery store and did not return. Ambrose is anxious, and needs their help to find her. The FBI is convinced that Natalie was involved with the theft of $500,000 from their locked evidence room, and now Natalie needs to solve that problem before both she and Monk land up behind federal prison bars.
August 20, 2020
Re-read August 2020
Another fabulous Monk re-read. I love that Ambrose has such a strong presence in these books, and I loved seeing Sharona in the beginning.
ORIGINAL REVIEW FROM 2012:
I thought this was going to be the last Monk book, and I was so very sad when I finished it this morning. But lo and behold, looks like there will be one more out in January!
(That being said - there will be 15 books in this series? Not a nice even number like 16? Monk is having a conniption fit right now)
As always, I just love the Monk books. Lee Goldberg captures the characters perfectly, and I spend most of these books just smiling.
I'm still not sure how I feel about
Another fabulous Monk re-read. I love that Ambrose has such a strong presence in these books, and I loved seeing Sharona in the beginning.
ORIGINAL REVIEW FROM 2012:
I thought this was going to be the last Monk book, and I was so very sad when I finished it this morning. But lo and behold, looks like there will be one more out in January!
(That being said - there will be 15 books in this series? Not a nice even number like 16? Monk is having a conniption fit right now)
As always, I just love the Monk books. Lee Goldberg captures the characters perfectly, and I spend most of these books just smiling.
I'm still not sure how I feel about
January 17, 2017
Novels based upon television series are somewhat lame usually. (Think the CSI Las Vegas and Miami books). But Lee Goldberg's workups of the television show Monk are not bad. He captures the nuances of Mr. Monk's OCD issues and the care between him and his assistant, Natalie.
I've only seen a few of the actual television episodes … mainly the first season, so I am not versed in the ways of the Monk much via the screen. I've read a couple of Goldberg's books and have enjoyed them. They are light reading and a break from the norm of violence, gore, cursing and mayhem that often accompany the detective novels.
This, apparently, is one of the last in the series by Goldberg. It's written well enough to make me seek out the earlier ones and, between reading my fare of nonfiction, sports and mayhem novels, read them in order. Overall, a fun, light, decent way to spend a few days of reading.
I've only seen a few of the actual television episodes … mainly the first season, so I am not versed in the ways of the Monk much via the screen. I've read a couple of Goldberg's books and have enjoyed them. They are light reading and a break from the norm of violence, gore, cursing and mayhem that often accompany the detective novels.
This, apparently, is one of the last in the series by Goldberg. It's written well enough to make me seek out the earlier ones and, between reading my fare of nonfiction, sports and mayhem novels, read them in order. Overall, a fun, light, decent way to spend a few days of reading.
November 29, 2015
No one likes to come home to a mess--least of all Monk and Natalie. But when they return from an extended stay in New Jersey, Natalie discovers that somebody has been sleeping in her bed. But this Goldilocks isn't asleep. She's dead. And stuffed under the mattress, investigators find marked money from a Federal sting operation. Now Natalie's life is a real mess, and she needs Monk to help clean it up.
Meanwhile, Monk's brother Ambrose is desperate to find his missing girlfriend, Yuki--but his agoraphobia prevents him from leaving the house. With Monk forced to do double duty, the body count rises, and so do Monk's suspicions about Yuki's dangerous past...
This was a funny, good, well-written quick read! Monk his normal quirky behavior and Natalie is off finding her own life. Can’t believe how this series will continue but a GREAT READ!!! I loved how the book ended!
Meanwhile, Monk's brother Ambrose is desperate to find his missing girlfriend, Yuki--but his agoraphobia prevents him from leaving the house. With Monk forced to do double duty, the body count rises, and so do Monk's suspicions about Yuki's dangerous past...
This was a funny, good, well-written quick read! Monk his normal quirky behavior and Natalie is off finding her own life. Can’t believe how this series will continue but a GREAT READ!!! I loved how the book ended!
August 10, 2012
Mr. Monk and Natalie return from Summit, NJ to San Francisco and discover someone has been squatting in Natalie's house. There's also money that isn't hers, and a dead body in the bathtub. Just when it looks like things can't get any worse, Monk's brother Ambrose calls to get their help. His live-in girlfriend / assistant Yuki is missing.
There is so much character development in this book! The characters that I have loved in the tv series and throughout the books have made some really big choices in this book. It will be interesting to see where Mr. Monk gets Even goes from here.
Ps: Ambrose and Yuki <3 - so sweet.
There is so much character development in this book! The characters that I have loved in the tv series and throughout the books have made some really big choices in this book. It will be interesting to see where Mr. Monk gets Even goes from here.
Ps: Ambrose and Yuki <3 - so sweet.
August 21, 2016
Mr Monk and Natalie have been offered jobs as police officers in Summit, NJ. They came back to San Francisco to tie up lose ends and get ready to move. When Natalie gets home, she finds a dead body in her bathtub and the antics and escapades continue from there. Ambrose's girlfriend Yuki goes missing, Monk and Natalie are accused by the FBI of stealing marked money and someone is breaking into homes in Natalie's neighborhood. Along the way, Natalie gets to improve her detecting skills with Monk's help. This is another fun, madcap adventure for the duo and I enjoyed it!
May 27, 2018
Besides being funny and a mystery, this was a good stoy. In it Mr Monk and Natalie temporarily move back to San Francisco to prepare to move back permanently to Summit as police officers. But when Natalie gets back to he home, she sees signs tha someone had been living in her house. And then she find a dead red-headed woman in her bath tub. So her packing and moving back to Summit had to be put off for a while.
July 3, 2012
Awesome book. It is nice to see that both Monk and Natalie will be moving on with their lives. I have no idea whether or not Lee Goldberg plans to continue with this series since Natalie will be moving to the East. I miss Monk and the only way for me to be close to him is to read this series, so please Goldberg write more Monk books! MONK RULES!!!
June 18, 2012
Excellent!! Picks right where the previous book stopped with Monk and Natalie in Summit,New Jersey. After solving a murder in NJ they fly back to San Francisco to pack and Natalie comes home to a dead body in her bathtub, Ambrose's girlfriend, Yuki is missing and Monk is waffling about moving.
July 10, 2012
"Mr. Monk is a Mess" by Lee Goldberg was a delightful read. Mr. Goldberg was one of the script writers for the show and, as I turned the pages, I could "hear" Monk, Natalie and the other characters talking and I could "see" their mannerisms. Very vivid and very funny!
February 19, 2014
Mr. Monk is always fun to read. I enjoy how Lee Goldberg has captured the essence of Monk and has continued to keep Monk growing from the television series. The next book I will be reading will be the last of the series. :-(
August 9, 2013
I loved this book. It starts with Monk and Natalie in Summit, New Jersey. It ends with a smile. This story changes the relationships of everyone in it. Natalie really comes into her own as the story progresses.
November 16, 2021
I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I mean Monk is VERY monk in this one, but the ending. I guess I was hoping for... can't put my finger on it. I think the best way to sum it up is that: Yes, things change, but Monk remains the same?
June 22, 2012
im so sad this is the last book. it was so good.
October 4, 2012
I love these characters. I loved the changes in both Natalie and Monk in this book. They are both moving on and changing their lives for the better.
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