Monk Books

Mr. Monk and the Signings

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I started my day out at Mysteries to Die For in Thousand Oaks, where I signed copies of MR. MONK GOES TO HAWAII. I was joined by my old friends Terry Erdman & Paula Block, who were signing their book, MONK: THE OFFICIAL EPISODE GUIDE. A lot of friendly and enthusiastic folks showed up, including the shockingly bald Mark Baker, Monk Superfan-of-the-Week Tami and Monk Fun Page Mistress Teresa, who schlepped all the way down from San Francisco with her dashing boyfriend, photographer, driver, and nurse in tow. We talked about all the usual things — Monk, BREASTS, Diagnosis Murder,  bowel movements, publishing, bowel movements, TV production,  BREASTS, studio licensing  and mid-western cheerleaders (which is really just another way of saying BREASTS).

All the talk of BREASTS at the signing actually came up because of an
Amazon review. The reader was upset that BREASTS were mentioned in MR.
MONK GOES TO HAWAII. I think she may be the same reader who was upset
that BREASTS were mentioned in MR. MONK GOES TO THE FIREHOUSE, too.  I have a
feeling she’s really not going to like my next Monk book, MR. MONK AND
THE ENORMOUS BREASTS, where I am sure to mention BREASTS more than once. Maybe twice.

From there, we hurried across the valley and over the Sepulveda Pass to The Mystery Book Store in Westwood, where we did more of the same. We were hosted by Linda, Bobby, and Ken Levine’s lovely daughter Annie, all of whom, unlike the Naked Bookseller of Quartzsite, were clothed. However, I believe they are rethinking this policy and exploring the competitive possibilities of becoming LA’s first clothing-optional mystery bookstore.

Mr. Monk Goes to the Well

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Chris Well has given MR. MONK GOES TO THE FIREHOUSE a warm review. Here’s an excerpt:

Novelist (and TV writer) Lee Goldberg does a remarkable job of
capturing the wit and spark of the series, while exploring the
possibilities that come with a different medium. The story is told from
the point of view of Natalie, adding more layers to the narrative than
possible in a regular episode.

Thanks, Chris!

Mr. Monk Goes to Dinner

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My latest Natalie Blog is now up on the USA Network site.

The other night, just for the heck of it, I invited Monk out to dinner with Julie
and me. That meant, of course, that we had to stop by his apartment on
the way to pick-up a set of dishes and silverware that he could bring
with him to the restaurant in a special, padded picnic basket.

Mr. Monk and the Rave

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The folks over at The Monk Fun Page, the ultimate Monk fan site, have given my book MR. MONK GOES TO HAWAII a rave review.

Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii is filled with inspired goofiness, rich characterizations, an intricate mystery and a lot of fun. You probably won’t want to put it down until it’s over and that’s way too soon.

[…] This one is also told from the perspective of Monk’s assistant Natalie
Teeger. In fact the author has settled so comfortably into her voice you almost
expect to see her name on the cover. This is the kinder, gentler Natalie she’s
grown to be on the show. This is the Natalie I’d like to spend more time with:
funny, strong, loving and vulnerable.

I was thrilled by the review, because I know how discriminating the folks at the Monk Fun Page are when it comes to anything "Monk."  So far, they only spotted one error…but what’s frustrating about it is that it’s a mistake that I know I corrected and yet it still, somehow, got through anyway. Oh well. 

If you’re a Monk fan, you really have to check out the Monk Fun Page...and I’m not just saying that because they’ve been so kind to me and my books. It’s filled with information, interviews, and background on all things Monk.

 

Monk Revealed

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There’s a detailed interview with my friends Terry Erdmann & Paula Block, authors of the terrific new book  MONK: THE OFFICIAL EPISODE GUIDE, over at the Monk Fun Page. The book is every bit as breezy and enjoyable as the show and is full of amusing and revealing anecdotes about the development and production of MONK. You can also watch a video interview with Terry and read Monk creator Andy Breckman’s Forward from the book over at the USA Network Monk site.

Mr. Monk and Mr. Bill

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Bill Crider made my day by praising my book MR. MONK GOES TO THE FIREHOUSE on his blog:

A lot of the book’s humor arises from Monk’s attempts to adjust to living away from his own environment, and
the whole plot is generated because Natalie’s young daughter is upset by the death of a firehouse dog. Monk declares he’ll find the killer, and the book is off to the races. I had a lot of fun reading this, and
if you’re in the mood for a couple of hours of pure entertainment, you probably would, too.

Thanks, Bill!

Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu

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Monk_and_blue_flu5_6
Here’s the cover for my third MONK novel, MR. MONK AND THE BLUE FLU, slated for publication in January. I think it’s the best MONK cover yet. Speaking of Monk, Tony Shalhoub talked briefly in the new issue of TV Guide about "Mr. Monk Can’t See a Thing," the episode that Bill Rabkin & I wrote, which is loosely based on my book MR. MONK GOES TO THE FIREHOUSE:

Monk will contend with temporary blindness. "He has solvent thrown in his eyes," Shalhoub says. "It becomes a really dark show" as Monk must rely on his other senses to solve the crime.