Mr. Monk And The Dirty Cop
By Lee Goldberg
Obsidian
ISBN: 978-0-451-22698-3

I have watched the Monk TV show since the very beginning and consider myself a huge fan. However, this is the first Monk book I have ever read and I would have to say that it did not disappoint. Being a writer for the show no doubt gives Lee Goldberg an edge in getting the voice right in this book-he is spot on with all of the characters.

In The Dirty Cop, Monk finds himself no longer working as a consultant for the police department due to budget cuts. Natalie suspects it’s also because Captain Stottlemeyer is tired of Monk making him look bad. Instead, he and Natalie are hired by a big name Private Investigating firm called Interect run by a former cop. At Interect they are treated to all the best life has to offer including a Lexus as a company car.

Monk of course solves all of Interect’s unsolved cases within a couple of days working with little sleep. He is then asked by Stottlemeyer to try and prove he didn’t kill another former cop-one who was embarrassing Stottlemeyer and he got into a fight with. All of the evidence is stacked again him but the Captain knows if anyone can find the truth its Monk. This book wouldn’t be complete without all of Monk’s little phobia’s and eccentricities which this time includes deciding a Diaper Genie is the greatest thing ever invented.

If you are a Monk fan, this is a can’t miss book. If you aren’t, well then you should be. The Monk mysteries are of the classic old-fashioned kind. They are funny, entertaining, and filled with just enough twists and turns. But best of all this book is filled with the delightful characters from the TV show, and they are truly what makes Monk worth watching and reading.

Review by LORIE HAM

©2009 Lorie Ham. All rights reserved.