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Mr. Monk #8
Mr. Monk and the Dirty Cop
Captain Leland Stottlemeyer relies on Adrian Monk to solve his most baffling cases, but when the captain is faced with budget cuts, Monk's fees are one of the expenses he trims. Monk is too compulsive to stop investigating; he resorts to calling in tips under assumed names, infuriating the captain.
But when Stottlemeyer is arrested for murder, he turns to the only detective who can prove his innocence. That is, if Monk can overcome some potentially crippling obstacles along the way?
But when Stottlemeyer is arrested for murder, he turns to the only detective who can prove his innocence. That is, if Monk can overcome some potentially crippling obstacles along the way?
265 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 17, 2009
About the author
Lee Goldberg
166 books2,288 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 221 reviews
December 21, 2019
Mr Monk really likes order and a murder really upsets him.
He has just got to set the balance right.
Just how OCD is Mr Monk and why
To him a mystery is a form of chaos, a mess that has to be cleaned up or an imbalance that has to be corrected. It’s his uncontrollable need to literally straighten up, to put things back where they belong, that enables him to see the little details everyone else misses and solve the crimes that boggle everybody else.
Justice isn’t a philosophical, moral, or ethical ideal for him. It’s a balance that must be maintained. In a way, he became an inspector of weights and measures.
There’s absolutely no doubt that Adrian Monk was meant to be a detective. It is the natural extension of his personality, his talents, and his psychological disorder.
A picturesque crime scene
The crime scene was a jogging path located between a small lake and a densely wooded section of Golden Gate Park, which was once a thousand acres of sandy, windswept wasteland before it was transformed in the late 1800s into a lushly landscaped oasis.
With dense groves of pine and eucalyptus trees, several lakes, thousands of flowers, and wide, grassy fields, it’s a terrific place to get away from the pressures of urban life, to take long walks, play games, ride bikes, make love, enjoy picnics, and kill people.
I will confess to doing all but one of those activities in Golden Gate Park myself at one time or another.
More than just a manicure and a facial
“JoAnne’s is the place to go for the latest beauty treatments,” Danielle said. “All the socialites, heiresses, and debutantes go there, as well as every actress and model north of LA, south of Seattle, and west of Santa Fe.”
“It’s that good?” I asked.
“That’s what all the magazines say,” Danielle replied. “I wish I could afford it. Geisha facials start at two hundred and fifty dollars and garra rufa pedicures can cost as much as two hundred.”
Thank God for Slade’s credit card.
“I suddenly feel the need to beautify myself,” I said. “How about you, Mr. Monk?”
“I just washed my hands, brushed my teeth, irrigated my nasal passages, cleaned my ears, and flushed my eyes,” Monk said. “I don’t see how you could improve on that without being hosed down and decontaminated by a certified hazardous materials team.”
“You’re about to find out,” I said.
Mr Monk and Ms Natalie Teeger are given a company car, company credit card and a personal assistant from a dirty ex cop.
He hired them to unknowingly cover up his former crime. But he didn't count on Mr Monk to find the truth.
Enjoy!
He has just got to set the balance right.
Just how OCD is Mr Monk and why
To him a mystery is a form of chaos, a mess that has to be cleaned up or an imbalance that has to be corrected. It’s his uncontrollable need to literally straighten up, to put things back where they belong, that enables him to see the little details everyone else misses and solve the crimes that boggle everybody else.
Justice isn’t a philosophical, moral, or ethical ideal for him. It’s a balance that must be maintained. In a way, he became an inspector of weights and measures.
There’s absolutely no doubt that Adrian Monk was meant to be a detective. It is the natural extension of his personality, his talents, and his psychological disorder.
A picturesque crime scene
The crime scene was a jogging path located between a small lake and a densely wooded section of Golden Gate Park, which was once a thousand acres of sandy, windswept wasteland before it was transformed in the late 1800s into a lushly landscaped oasis.
With dense groves of pine and eucalyptus trees, several lakes, thousands of flowers, and wide, grassy fields, it’s a terrific place to get away from the pressures of urban life, to take long walks, play games, ride bikes, make love, enjoy picnics, and kill people.
I will confess to doing all but one of those activities in Golden Gate Park myself at one time or another.
More than just a manicure and a facial
“JoAnne’s is the place to go for the latest beauty treatments,” Danielle said. “All the socialites, heiresses, and debutantes go there, as well as every actress and model north of LA, south of Seattle, and west of Santa Fe.”
“It’s that good?” I asked.
“That’s what all the magazines say,” Danielle replied. “I wish I could afford it. Geisha facials start at two hundred and fifty dollars and garra rufa pedicures can cost as much as two hundred.”
Thank God for Slade’s credit card.
“I suddenly feel the need to beautify myself,” I said. “How about you, Mr. Monk?”
“I just washed my hands, brushed my teeth, irrigated my nasal passages, cleaned my ears, and flushed my eyes,” Monk said. “I don’t see how you could improve on that without being hosed down and decontaminated by a certified hazardous materials team.”
“You’re about to find out,” I said.
Mr Monk and Ms Natalie Teeger are given a company car, company credit card and a personal assistant from a dirty ex cop.
He hired them to unknowingly cover up his former crime. But he didn't count on Mr Monk to find the truth.
Enjoy!
February 4, 2016
Mr. Monk and the Dirty Cop was a fun read! I was a fan of the show, so I loved getting to "see" these characters again. Mr. Monk, as always, was eccentric and funny. I found several things humorous in this book and recommend it if you liked the show!
Update
Second time around and I still really enjoyed it! It was interesting how this book is the first with Monk's new therapist, so I can kind of figure out where in the series it takes place. It was crazy how the captain was suspected of murder, but I'm glad that it all worked out in the end. A good read.
Update
Second time around and I still really enjoyed it! It was interesting how this book is the first with Monk's new therapist, so I can kind of figure out where in the series it takes place. It was crazy how the captain was suspected of murder, but I'm glad that it all worked out in the end. A good read.
January 12, 2010
Lee Goldberg was the perfect author to do the Monk tie-ins, because he just plain gets it. By using Natalie as his viewpoint character, he gives us a perspective that's different enough from the show to make his books compelling, not jarring, and yet retains a genuine affection and respect for the source material.
In Mr. Monk and the Dirty Cop, murder's in the air (as always), and this time, Mr. Monk's entire world is on the line. The book is longer than a normal episode, and able to get deeper, sillier, more serious, and more tightly-plotted because of that extra length. I highly recommend it to mystery fans, fans of Monk, and people who enjoy a good story, tightly-told.
In Mr. Monk and the Dirty Cop, murder's in the air (as always), and this time, Mr. Monk's entire world is on the line. The book is longer than a normal episode, and able to get deeper, sillier, more serious, and more tightly-plotted because of that extra length. I highly recommend it to mystery fans, fans of Monk, and people who enjoy a good story, tightly-told.
August 17, 2026
Is it really a 4 🌟 book? I don’t think so but I did like it more than the previous books
March 20, 2021
Another excellent installment!
April 20, 2021
Not gonna lie. I was hoping the cop was actually dirty. Because Monk working with an unclean cop would be so much funnier than what this was.
Not that this wasn't funny, because it was, but not as good as some of the others.
I am a tad bitter that Stottlemayer had the audacity to 'let Monk go' due to budget cuts. Considering that it was just brought to his attention, much to his ire, that Monk solves 120% of his assigned cases, I would think they would cut anything other than him.
Anyway, I think Stottlemayer got his karma in the form of the arrest for murder. Yeah, seems fair. lol
Of course, Monk is completely objective, and really still seems endeared to Stottlemayer. I mean, Monk was so disturbed that the poor guy had to wear a suit with three strips of Velcro THE HORROR! Also, I love that he never stopped sending in clues 'anonymously'.
My favorite bit, though, was his immense pride in being named King of the Nerds every year in high school. I can only imagine how he wore that crown with pride.
Not that this wasn't funny, because it was, but not as good as some of the others.
I am a tad bitter that Stottlemayer had the audacity to 'let Monk go' due to budget cuts. Considering that it was just brought to his attention, much to his ire, that Monk solves 120% of his assigned cases, I would think they would cut anything other than him.
Anyway, I think Stottlemayer got his karma in the form of the arrest for murder. Yeah, seems fair. lol
Of course, Monk is completely objective, and really still seems endeared to Stottlemayer. I mean, Monk was so disturbed that the poor guy had to wear a suit with three strips of Velcro THE HORROR! Also, I love that he never stopped sending in clues 'anonymously'.
My favorite bit, though, was his immense pride in being named King of the Nerds every year in high school. I can only imagine how he wore that crown with pride.
November 8, 2010
Not as good as other Monk novels. Like the TV shows, it was easy to figure out who did it. But, it was still humerous and a pleasant read.
February 12, 2017
One of the best Monk novels I've read so far. Natalie is more center stage in this one, including helping to solve the case. Just one question wasn't answered: Where can I get a Diaper Genie??
March 18, 2022
I’ve never watched the show and yet this is the second Monk book I’ve read. I love media tie in books and novelizations. My local thrift only had book 2 of The Star Trek Destiny series and book 3 of Star Trek’s Cold Equations. And three Monk books.
I think fans of the show would like this more than I did, but it kept me turning pages and I thought the story, which seemed kind of aimless in the beginning, turned out to be tightly constructed.
I think I’ll see if my library has some more (someone else nabbed the third Monk book from the thrift store).
I think fans of the show would like this more than I did, but it kept me turning pages and I thought the story, which seemed kind of aimless in the beginning, turned out to be tightly constructed.
I think I’ll see if my library has some more (someone else nabbed the third Monk book from the thrift store).
September 9, 2023
3.25
This was fine. These are just a fun time, it’s nothing amazing or that serious. I know I’ve said this in another review for these book, but I do feel like they change Natalie’s political view(I could be remembering wrong, but that stuff sticks out to me). They did reference some of the tv episode plots which I enjoyed. The mystery is so easy to guess even without the title giving it away. Overall if you like the show and the past books I would recommend this, but if not then skip it.
This was fine. These are just a fun time, it’s nothing amazing or that serious. I know I’ve said this in another review for these book, but I do feel like they change Natalie’s political view(I could be remembering wrong, but that stuff sticks out to me). They did reference some of the tv episode plots which I enjoyed. The mystery is so easy to guess even without the title giving it away. Overall if you like the show and the past books I would recommend this, but if not then skip it.
May 30, 2012
Another fun mystery in the excellent series based on the "Monk" TV show. If you enjoy Adrian Monk on TV, don't miss out on these very entertaining books!
June 22, 2018
Read to my brother while he was bedridden, we both enjoyed it.
January 29, 2019
I really like this series! just fun to read!
April 6, 2018
zdecydowanie lepsza niz poprzednie dwie
April 9, 2021
Liked it.
January 9, 2019
As someone who loved the TV show this book was a nice surprise and a fun addition to the legend of Adrian Monk.
June 26, 2020
Monk's assistant, Natalie Teeger, tells the story of the time Monk was fired from his consulting job with the San Francisco Police Department. With the working relationship among Monk, Captain Stottlemeyer, and Detective Disher dissolved, each character has to find their own way through the baffling mystery that follows. Goldberg wrote this novel based on the television series. Like the TV series, the book is funny, entertaining, and not overly gritty.
January 10, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. I'm doing a swap on Swap-Bot.com where we have to read a book recommended by a librarian. So I went to my branch -Nanini Public Library - of the Pima County system and asked the first available librarian what her favorite genre was. I also asked her to recommend a book to me.
Cameron, the librarian, said she loves "mysteries!" and took me over to the paperback mystery displays. After browsing a bit (because I mentioned that I would prefer a book one, if possible), she pulled this one off the shelf. She described it as being a delightful story featuring an OCD detective (or words to that effect).
And after reading this story, I'd have to agree with Cameron. It was pretty delightful. I wasn't able to identify the killer until Natalie and Monk figured it out. :-)
This story was made more interesting by the fact that Monk solved more than just the one case. We saw him solve at least TWO separate and distinct murder sprees, as well as various other cases of lesser crimes. I really enjoyed it.
It was also fun reading a story that featured a mentally disabled protagonist, though he was not a point-of-view character (his assistant, Natalie, and Detective Disher were the POV characters). Monk suffers from OCD mixed with a few other things, I suspect.
And though my own mental disorders are very different, it was nice to see Monk going out into the world and being successful despite his mental disorders. Indeed, his diagnosis being OCD is a help to his profession as a detective.
And did I mention that I did not know who the killer was until Natalie and Monk figured it out? I will be very happy to tell Cameron that I enjoyed her pick for me. :-)
Also, I should probably mention that there were at least three lines or scenes in this book that made me smile. I never quite laughed out loud, but I came close a couple of times. (Sadly, I did not make notes on where these scenes were. I just remember that there were at least three of them.)
I would be interested in reading more of these "Mr. Monk and" stories, which says a lot for how much I enjoyed this one. But I'll potentially read more later, at some point in the future. For now, I have other books clamoring for my attention. :-)
As a final note, I am ashamed to admit that I did not get the librarian's name when she helped me by picking this book. I hope she'll be working when I go in this Thursday. If I can figure out who she is, I'll update this review to replace all (or most) of my mentions of "the librarian" with her name. I think I identified "the librarian"! She wasn't working on either of the days when I tried to return the book, but on my second visit I asked about her and was told that my description sounded like Cameron. (She's apparently there only part-time, very irregularly.) :-)
Cameron, the librarian, said she loves "mysteries!" and took me over to the paperback mystery displays. After browsing a bit (because I mentioned that I would prefer a book one, if possible), she pulled this one off the shelf. She described it as being a delightful story featuring an OCD detective (or words to that effect).
And after reading this story, I'd have to agree with Cameron. It was pretty delightful. I wasn't able to identify the killer until Natalie and Monk figured it out. :-)
This story was made more interesting by the fact that Monk solved more than just the one case. We saw him solve at least TWO separate and distinct murder sprees, as well as various other cases of lesser crimes. I really enjoyed it.
It was also fun reading a story that featured a mentally disabled protagonist, though he was not a point-of-view character (his assistant, Natalie, and Detective Disher were the POV characters). Monk suffers from OCD mixed with a few other things, I suspect.
And though my own mental disorders are very different, it was nice to see Monk going out into the world and being successful despite his mental disorders. Indeed, his diagnosis being OCD is a help to his profession as a detective.
And did I mention that I did not know who the killer was until Natalie and Monk figured it out? I will be very happy to tell Cameron that I enjoyed her pick for me. :-)
Also, I should probably mention that there were at least three lines or scenes in this book that made me smile. I never quite laughed out loud, but I came close a couple of times. (Sadly, I did not make notes on where these scenes were. I just remember that there were at least three of them.)
I would be interested in reading more of these "Mr. Monk and" stories, which says a lot for how much I enjoyed this one. But I'll potentially read more later, at some point in the future. For now, I have other books clamoring for my attention. :-)
August 30, 2026
Mr. Monk Gets Fired Yet Again
Yes, you read that rating correctly. A mere eight books into the series, I've finally found one of these Monk novels I'm willing to say, in Goodreads-ese, I "liked". Note that I'm speaking relatively here, as my usual issues with Lee Goldberg's work are still present. Natalie remains an uninteresting and strangely judgmental narrator, and Goldberg himself can't go more than a couple chapters without thinking about breasts, to name two (examples, not breasts). But this is the first time I can honestly say yes to the question I ask myself about each of these books: Do I feel like I know these characters slightly better than I did just by watching the TV series it's based on?
There are several plotlines (and dead guys) here, but they all ultimately revolve around Captain Stottlemeyer and his relationships with the other three leads. This was a pleasant surprise, after the previous seven books seemed to go out of their way to sideline him! Even more surprising is how Mr. Goldberg prods at certain aspects of Stottlemeyer's arrangement with Adrian Monk that the franchise usually tries to ignore. Like, how does it affect morale within the department to have one detective (a consultant no less!) with a near-perfect closure rate? Or, how does it look to other departments, who might see Stottlemeyer as a useless bum who needs his crime-solving robot to do all his work for him? Of course, this is a tie-in novel based on a show that was still running at the time, so it's not like Goldberg can do anything that would permanently upend its established relationships, but I'm still impressed that he went there at all.
As mentioned up top, this ultimately leads to Monk getting fired. Ostensibly for budgetary reasons, but could professional jealousy have played a part? We've seen this on the show before, but the big difference is that Monk quickly lands a cushy gig with a new detective agency. A high-tech detective agency called... Intertect. A little bit of digging tells me this is a reference to the show Mannix, of all things. Okay then. This makes sense as the sort of reference Lee Goldberg would make, but I'm confused by the implications within the story. Like, did the rich, suave supercop who founded this Intertect sit and ponder what name would convey his company's sophisticated, cutting-edge image, and then he's like, yes, it's gonna be a shout-out to a 70s detective show no one remembers? I could also question why he chose the name of an organization that's portrayed as shady and Orwellian (from what I can gather via Wikipedia), but maybe I shouldn't be surprised, given how real-world tech bros consistently opt for the most evil-sounding names they can think of.
Speaking of questionable names, we learn that the most popular social network in the Monk-iverse is called... InTouchSpace. If you ask me, you'd have to be pretty out of touch (space) to think that was a good name!
Getting back on track: There's also some interesting stuff with Randy Disher, as he finds himself having to arrest Stottlemeyer on suspicion of murder. (Is this a spoiler, I wonder? It's mentioned on the back cover, and in the summary here on Goodreads, but it doesn't actually happen until 200 pages in.) I can't say these bits are especially enlightening, but they're fun for another reason: My boy Randy gets to be the viewpoint character whenever Adrian and Natalie aren't around! The only weird thing is that Natalie still narrates these bits, giving a second-hand account of what Disher told her after the fact. It sure was nice of him to also tell her all of his potentially embarrassing inner thoughts so she could include those too! I had to wonder, why couldn't Disher take over narration duties for a chapter or two, in what I'd imagine would be an exaggerated hardboiled sort of style? We've previously established that he took a creative writing course and was putting those skills to use in his case reports (mentioned in both "Blue Flu" and "Two Assistants"), so it wouldn't even be too much of a stretch.
And then there's Stottlemeyer and Natalie. This is the least interesting of the three central dynamics, mostly because Natalie is the least interesting character to begin with. That being said, I do like how it's a recurring thing in the books for them to get coffee together and discuss how Monk is doing, as the two main grown-ups in his life. In a way, it reminds me of the scenes in the early days of the show where we'd often see Monk chatting with Dr. Kroger about his current investigation. These scenes serve the same purpose, as an oasis of quiet contemplation amidst a desert of wackiness.
I should also address the mystery, or rather mysteries, which are... actually sort of compelling for once? Look, I've long since accepted that these novels will never give me the bite-size howdunnit crunch I get from the best episodes of the show. That's just not Lee Goldberg's style. He's a by-the-book meat-and-potatoes cop show sort of guy (hence the Mannix reference), so it's no surprise that he seems most comfortable when he manages to cram the Monk formula into more of a procedural mold, with the department juggling multiple cases which may or may not be connected. Sure, there's nothing ingenious about the solution(s) from a mechanical standpoint, and The Guy is one of the most conspicuous human beings you've ever met, but I still enjoyed seeing Monk show his work as he disentangles all the plot threads. Or maybe I'm just happy there's less fluff this time, after two books that mostly focused on text-based sightseeing shenanigans? Yeah, that could be it too!
For all the things I've been relatively positive about, the typically juvenile sense of humor isn't one of them. Case in point: a subplot in which Monk discovers the Diaper Genie and becomes obsessed with its potential to revolutionize waste management. Sure, I'll concede that it's sort of funny when he gives one to Disher just as he's desperately trying to impress a lower-ranking officer, but I don't think that makes up for the sheer amount of time spent talking about the Diaper Genie, always mentioned by its real-life brand name. It reminded me of the TV episode "Mr. Monk and the Dog", which threw in a mention of the Sha-Poopie because it happened to be invented by Tony Shalhoub's brother, Dan. Do you suppose this is a similar sort of product placement? Is Lee Goldberg related to this device's inventor, Steven Diapergenie?
Finally, I must report that Mr. Goldberg continues to break what I think of as one of the golden rules of the franchise: Please don't make us think too hard about Adrian Monk's views on actual sociopolitical issues. There's the typical hysterical references to "hippies", which Monk seems to be mildly obsessed with in the books, but also asides like this one after Natalie offhandedly mentions that a theoretical male suspect wearing a dress wouldn't be that weird in San Francisco:
Yes, you read that rating correctly. A mere eight books into the series, I've finally found one of these Monk novels I'm willing to say, in Goodreads-ese, I "liked". Note that I'm speaking relatively here, as my usual issues with Lee Goldberg's work are still present. Natalie remains an uninteresting and strangely judgmental narrator, and Goldberg himself can't go more than a couple chapters without thinking about breasts, to name two (examples, not breasts). But this is the first time I can honestly say yes to the question I ask myself about each of these books: Do I feel like I know these characters slightly better than I did just by watching the TV series it's based on?
There are several plotlines (and dead guys) here, but they all ultimately revolve around Captain Stottlemeyer and his relationships with the other three leads. This was a pleasant surprise, after the previous seven books seemed to go out of their way to sideline him! Even more surprising is how Mr. Goldberg prods at certain aspects of Stottlemeyer's arrangement with Adrian Monk that the franchise usually tries to ignore. Like, how does it affect morale within the department to have one detective (a consultant no less!) with a near-perfect closure rate? Or, how does it look to other departments, who might see Stottlemeyer as a useless bum who needs his crime-solving robot to do all his work for him? Of course, this is a tie-in novel based on a show that was still running at the time, so it's not like Goldberg can do anything that would permanently upend its established relationships, but I'm still impressed that he went there at all.
As mentioned up top, this ultimately leads to Monk getting fired. Ostensibly for budgetary reasons, but could professional jealousy have played a part? We've seen this on the show before, but the big difference is that Monk quickly lands a cushy gig with a new detective agency. A high-tech detective agency called... Intertect. A little bit of digging tells me this is a reference to the show Mannix, of all things. Okay then. This makes sense as the sort of reference Lee Goldberg would make, but I'm confused by the implications within the story. Like, did the rich, suave supercop who founded this Intertect sit and ponder what name would convey his company's sophisticated, cutting-edge image, and then he's like, yes, it's gonna be a shout-out to a 70s detective show no one remembers? I could also question why he chose the name of an organization that's portrayed as shady and Orwellian (from what I can gather via Wikipedia), but maybe I shouldn't be surprised, given how real-world tech bros consistently opt for the most evil-sounding names they can think of.
Speaking of questionable names, we learn that the most popular social network in the Monk-iverse is called... InTouchSpace. If you ask me, you'd have to be pretty out of touch (space) to think that was a good name!
Getting back on track: There's also some interesting stuff with Randy Disher, as he finds himself having to arrest Stottlemeyer on suspicion of murder. (Is this a spoiler, I wonder? It's mentioned on the back cover, and in the summary here on Goodreads, but it doesn't actually happen until 200 pages in.) I can't say these bits are especially enlightening, but they're fun for another reason: My boy Randy gets to be the viewpoint character whenever Adrian and Natalie aren't around! The only weird thing is that Natalie still narrates these bits, giving a second-hand account of what Disher told her after the fact. It sure was nice of him to also tell her all of his potentially embarrassing inner thoughts so she could include those too! I had to wonder, why couldn't Disher take over narration duties for a chapter or two, in what I'd imagine would be an exaggerated hardboiled sort of style? We've previously established that he took a creative writing course and was putting those skills to use in his case reports (mentioned in both "Blue Flu" and "Two Assistants"), so it wouldn't even be too much of a stretch.
And then there's Stottlemeyer and Natalie. This is the least interesting of the three central dynamics, mostly because Natalie is the least interesting character to begin with. That being said, I do like how it's a recurring thing in the books for them to get coffee together and discuss how Monk is doing, as the two main grown-ups in his life. In a way, it reminds me of the scenes in the early days of the show where we'd often see Monk chatting with Dr. Kroger about his current investigation. These scenes serve the same purpose, as an oasis of quiet contemplation amidst a desert of wackiness.
I should also address the mystery, or rather mysteries, which are... actually sort of compelling for once? Look, I've long since accepted that these novels will never give me the bite-size howdunnit crunch I get from the best episodes of the show. That's just not Lee Goldberg's style. He's a by-the-book meat-and-potatoes cop show sort of guy (hence the Mannix reference), so it's no surprise that he seems most comfortable when he manages to cram the Monk formula into more of a procedural mold, with the department juggling multiple cases which may or may not be connected. Sure, there's nothing ingenious about the solution(s) from a mechanical standpoint, and The Guy is one of the most conspicuous human beings you've ever met, but I still enjoyed seeing Monk show his work as he disentangles all the plot threads. Or maybe I'm just happy there's less fluff this time, after two books that mostly focused on text-based sightseeing shenanigans? Yeah, that could be it too!
For all the things I've been relatively positive about, the typically juvenile sense of humor isn't one of them. Case in point: a subplot in which Monk discovers the Diaper Genie and becomes obsessed with its potential to revolutionize waste management. Sure, I'll concede that it's sort of funny when he gives one to Disher just as he's desperately trying to impress a lower-ranking officer, but I don't think that makes up for the sheer amount of time spent talking about the Diaper Genie, always mentioned by its real-life brand name. It reminded me of the TV episode "Mr. Monk and the Dog", which threw in a mention of the Sha-Poopie because it happened to be invented by Tony Shalhoub's brother, Dan. Do you suppose this is a similar sort of product placement? Is Lee Goldberg related to this device's inventor, Steven Diapergenie?
Finally, I must report that Mr. Goldberg continues to break what I think of as one of the golden rules of the franchise: Please don't make us think too hard about Adrian Monk's views on actual sociopolitical issues. There's the typical hysterical references to "hippies", which Monk seems to be mildly obsessed with in the books, but also asides like this one after Natalie offhandedly mentions that a theoretical male suspect wearing a dress wouldn't be that weird in San Francisco:
Monk shivered from head to toe. I don't think he's homophobic, per se. He's just phobic in general. His sense of order demands that if something is designed for a woman, or directly associated with femininity, then only a woman should use it.Well, that certainly has taken on some additional implications since this was originally published in 2009! Should I also mention the bit very near the end where he calls Homeland Security on a beauty salon in Chinatown and utters the phrase "Red Chinese poop terrorist"? Oh boy, now I'm starting to forget why I gave this three stars. I could really use a line from a more likable character that I can misinterpret as a nonsensical attempt to be supportive of non-binary folks like me!
"Them," Disher said, waving his hand in the air as if clearing smoke. "Those in the they. Not all of the they, but some of them. Those theys do."Ahhh, that's the stuff!
July 30, 2011
Although I like all of the books in this series so far, this one has an additional dimension which added to my enjoyment, Stottlemeyer in need of Monk's help after he has to fire him. Goldberg captures the essence of the show so completely that you can't help seeing the excellent actors who created these roles starring in these books. He also broadens and deepens Natalie's character so much by having her do the narration, that you almost wish she had done so on the show a well. Keep giving us these great reads, especially now that the show only exists as reruns.
I admit it, I really love these books. I loved the TV show and the books are such a perfect reflection of the show that it's like the show never ended. I want to encourage Lee Goldberg not to let the end o the series equal the end of these books. In this one, budget issues force Stottlemeyer to end Monks consulting contract and Monk and Natalie get an amazing offer to work for a high end detective agency, with numerous perks that make natalie believe she has walked into a dream existence. Monk is also in heaven, but is being worked to his limit solving cases for the agency. In the midst of all of this Natalie address the difficult question of who she wants to be when she grows up and Captain Stottlemeyer ends up behind bars, with Randy becoming Acting Captain Disher. There is so much good stuff in this little book that it just bursts at the seams. Any Monk fan will love this book! Get it, read it, savor it, and hope for more in this series.
I admit it, I really love these books. I loved the TV show and the books are such a perfect reflection of the show that it's like the show never ended. I want to encourage Lee Goldberg not to let the end o the series equal the end of these books. In this one, budget issues force Stottlemeyer to end Monks consulting contract and Monk and Natalie get an amazing offer to work for a high end detective agency, with numerous perks that make natalie believe she has walked into a dream existence. Monk is also in heaven, but is being worked to his limit solving cases for the agency. In the midst of all of this Natalie address the difficult question of who she wants to be when she grows up and Captain Stottlemeyer ends up behind bars, with Randy becoming Acting Captain Disher. There is so much good stuff in this little book that it just bursts at the seams. Any Monk fan will love this book! Get it, read it, savor it, and hope for more in this series.
November 8, 2016
The main murder doesn't happen until halfway through. And though the title promises a dirty cop, you don't know who it is (and the story doesn't even tell you there is one) until the last 3 chapters.
With each book in the series, I hope the writing style will improve, but it never does. I don't know if he's just trying to take up 300 pages of story, but there's always so much unnecessary fluff. No one's impressed that Natalie can narrate the history of every neighborhood they visit, or describe the architecture for four pages, or repeatedly list 12 kinds of flowers in a bouquet or garden. Also, no one cares that she takes a quick shower and gets dressed in the morning, and again the next morning. Or if she reaches into her purse, pulls out her phone, and answers it every ten pages. (Just skip to saying who's calling!)
And why are all the characters so ridiculously insecure?
Worst of all, I often can't tell what the main case is until a long way in. One of the great things about the TV show is that half the episode is just the characters being themselves, at work and in their personal lives--but it always ties in to the murder case, and it's always clear what the case is. In these books however, there are sometimes multiple cases (sometimes several major ones) that end up not being at all related. In this one, the murder in the main case doesn't happen until halfway. You don't know who the "dirty cop" was (or that there is one) until the last 3 chapters.
With each book in the series, I hope the writing style will improve, but it never does. I don't know if he's just trying to take up 300 pages of story, but there's always so much unnecessary fluff. No one's impressed that Natalie can narrate the history of every neighborhood they visit, or describe the architecture for four pages, or repeatedly list 12 kinds of flowers in a bouquet or garden. Also, no one cares that she takes a quick shower and gets dressed in the morning, and again the next morning. Or if she reaches into her purse, pulls out her phone, and answers it every ten pages. (Just skip to saying who's calling!)
And why are all the characters so ridiculously insecure?
Worst of all, I often can't tell what the main case is until a long way in. One of the great things about the TV show is that half the episode is just the characters being themselves, at work and in their personal lives--but it always ties in to the murder case, and it's always clear what the case is. In these books however, there are sometimes multiple cases (sometimes several major ones) that end up not being at all related. In this one, the murder in the main case doesn't happen until halfway. You don't know who the "dirty cop" was (or that there is one) until the last 3 chapters.
February 28, 2018
"Mr. Monk and the Dirty Cop" is another entry into Lee Goldberg's delightful 'Monk' series. I loved the TV series and also the book series; one can not help but mentally picture Tony Shalhoub's Monk as you read this well written series. They are certainly not Nobel works of literature! However, these are entertaining stories -- light reading -- and simply enjoyable.
Due to budget cuts, Captain Stottlemeyer is forced to let Monk go as a consultant to the department. Monk is too compulsive (of course) to stop investigating; he resorts to calling in tips under assumed names, infuriating the captain. Later, Stottlemeyer is arrested for murder; meanwhile, Randy is promoted to temporary captain. Stottlemeyer turns to the only detective who he knows can prove his innocence.
If you liked the show, you WILL enjoy this book series. Natalie is more center stage in this one, initially trying to stop Monk from helping with cases for no pay. As the story progresses, she not only helps Monk get a new job, she helps solve the case. The book even reveals one of the most important inventions known to man (or at least, to Monk!) -- the Diaper Genie! (You'll have to read it, but it is all Monk!) This one is one of the better Monk books I have read.
Due to budget cuts, Captain Stottlemeyer is forced to let Monk go as a consultant to the department. Monk is too compulsive (of course) to stop investigating; he resorts to calling in tips under assumed names, infuriating the captain. Later, Stottlemeyer is arrested for murder; meanwhile, Randy is promoted to temporary captain. Stottlemeyer turns to the only detective who he knows can prove his innocence.
If you liked the show, you WILL enjoy this book series. Natalie is more center stage in this one, initially trying to stop Monk from helping with cases for no pay. As the story progresses, she not only helps Monk get a new job, she helps solve the case. The book even reveals one of the most important inventions known to man (or at least, to Monk!) -- the Diaper Genie! (You'll have to read it, but it is all Monk!) This one is one of the better Monk books I have read.
April 2, 2016
He skipped a lot of commas. Seriously, it's not hard. If you have two complete sentences and want to combine them into one, it's comma FANBOYS because if you just have a FANBOYS conjunction with no comma, it's a run on.
Which makes it weird that when he had a complex sentence that started with the independent clause he put a comma in front of the subordinate conjunction, which is totally unnecessary. Seriously, why put a comma in front of a subordinate conjunction that you aren't supposed to, and not the coordinating conjunction when it is required? How could someone enjoy a book when he is constantly confronted with this abomination of the comma rules.
And also, Monk's dialogue was unnatural, even for Adrian Monk.
And some of the elements of the plot felt like things that he suggested in the writers' meetings for the show, and they got struck down by everyone else for being so ridiculous, and then when he was writing his own book and no one could tell him no, he stuck them all in.
But man, the story was good.
Which makes it weird that when he had a complex sentence that started with the independent clause he put a comma in front of the subordinate conjunction, which is totally unnecessary. Seriously, why put a comma in front of a subordinate conjunction that you aren't supposed to, and not the coordinating conjunction when it is required? How could someone enjoy a book when he is constantly confronted with this abomination of the comma rules.
And also, Monk's dialogue was unnatural, even for Adrian Monk.
And some of the elements of the plot felt like things that he suggested in the writers' meetings for the show, and they got struck down by everyone else for being so ridiculous, and then when he was writing his own book and no one could tell him no, he stuck them all in.
But man, the story was good.
May 13, 2013
I really liked the mysteries and all the characters here especially Danielle. I had hope she will stay but things did not went my way. Nevertheless, she was an amazing character, if only minor. She had degree in psychology so that made her understanding of Monk's OCD. She was an efficient assistant to him and frankly, Natalie always chosen to believe the worst of her annoyed me. There was pattern in this series that I had noticed for quite a while now and it rather spoiled the whole plot if you know what I'm saying.
While I did not approved of the way the SFPD and Stottlemeyer's treatment of Monk, the ending made up for it. They were forced to eat their own words and had a new contract made for Monk. The character of Natalie and Monk in this one were noticeably more tolerable than in the previous installments.
While I did not approved of the way the SFPD and Stottlemeyer's treatment of Monk, the ending made up for it. They were forced to eat their own words and had a new contract made for Monk. The character of Natalie and Monk in this one were noticeably more tolerable than in the previous installments.
September 8, 2011
In this delightful addition to the Monk series of books, Monk is laid off from his consulting gig due to budget cuts. He and Natalie take jobs with a private detective firm that offers a much better salary and benefits including a company car. But this good offer seems too good to be true. Captain Stottlemeyer is framed for the murder of a fellow cop, and it's up to Randy Disher to make the arrest. All the supporting characters get some great moments in this - Disher taking over as acting captain is hilarious. Some great character growth for Natalie as she learns to trust her own detective skills, and for Mr. Monk as he gives her the space to do so. Recommended for Monk fans and mystery lovers everywhere.
October 9, 2013
I already fell in love with the Monk tv series, and this simply resounded my love for it. Lee Goldberg does an excellent job of capturing the character Monk. I was never bored with this book, it was a great mystery and I loved that it's not just dark, it's actually humorous. I loved the twists of it, but I doubt if I didn't know who the characters were that I would have liked it so much. The plot is excellent and mysterious, while being amusing. I love all the Monk books I've read, but this has to be my favorite. It's not as if it's an amazing piece of literature it's more of just entertainment to me, but it does a great job of it.
May 14, 2019
Due to SFPD budget cut, Monk and Natalie ended up working for Intertect - a private investigation firm - runs by Nick Slade, a former homicide detective. Monk begins to investigate a series of murders and things become complicated when Captain Stottlemeyer is arrested for murder.
As always, I enjoyed the book! The plot is more complex and Natalie is given more center stage this time. It is refreshing as we get to know her better. Any Monk fans will not be disappointed with this book and if you love the TV series, you will love this book! Still the same Monk with his quirks, eccentricities and jokes. And I really like the whole thing about Monk and Diaper Genie!
As always, I enjoyed the book! The plot is more complex and Natalie is given more center stage this time. It is refreshing as we get to know her better. Any Monk fans will not be disappointed with this book and if you love the TV series, you will love this book! Still the same Monk with his quirks, eccentricities and jokes. And I really like the whole thing about Monk and Diaper Genie!
April 23, 2011
I received as a gift five books of this series. The TV show is my favorite program, so I'm skeptical of the quality of writing. We'll see...
I just finished reading this one and I got good news for Monk fans: I read the bio on the author Lee Goldberg and he just happens to be the screenwriter for the Monk TV show, so the creative genius and cleverness is in the books as well.
This story is funny and fun to read. The author chose Monk's assistant, Natalie, to do the narration, and it worked. Monk fans rejoice!
I just finished reading this one and I got good news for Monk fans: I read the bio on the author Lee Goldberg and he just happens to be the screenwriter for the Monk TV show, so the creative genius and cleverness is in the books as well.
This story is funny and fun to read. The author chose Monk's assistant, Natalie, to do the narration, and it worked. Monk fans rejoice!
March 20, 2014
Monk is downsized when the SFPD is forced to cut their budget. But he lands on his feet at a private firm that is more than willing to pay him and Natalie handsomely. Will Monk still be able to solve a string of murders in the city? As always, Natalie and Monk's relationship is so rich in this book. The characters are great, the plot is strong, and the laughs are plentiful.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 21, 2023
I love this series and I laughed pretty hard. I had a good guess on who did it but of course I had no idea what the motive was or anything. I really enjoyed the characters in the situation. Monk gets himself into. I can almost always accurately guess how he will react to give her the situation, but I have to admit sometimes I underestimate exactly how upset he will get… Will you get to the part about the geisha facials….
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