Alan Cranis at Bookgasm really liked MR. MONK AND THE DIRTY COP. In his lengthy review today, he says in part:
After seven previous tie-in novels, it’s safe (if not fairy obvious) to say that nobody knows the world of obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk better than novelist Lee Goldberg. But that doesn’t mean he’s become lazy or complacent. As MR. MONK AND THE DIRTY COP shows, Goldberg is willing to take chances with the firmly established characters, and is still able to provide plenty of laughs and well-crafted entertainment.
[…]Once again, the story is told from Natalie’s first-person perspective, and her personal doubts about her identity and career provide an unexpected depth and pathos to the telling. But she maintains her hard-forged sense of humor and innate sarcasm, even in the face of her suddenly uncertain future. How else can she put up with a boss who, for all his detecting genius, feels that the inventor of the Diaper Genie deserves a Nobel Peace Prize?
[…] Authors like Goldberg — and Max Allan Collins, most notably — completely disprove the notion that tie-in novels are inferior wastes of time. Truth is, you’d be hard-pressed to find another recent work that provides so many hip and humorous moments, along with its believable plot twists. MONK series fans — and that means both the TV show and these novels — have another winner here to enjoy. And for those who haven’t experienced Monk in print, this new book is a fine place to start.
Thanks, Alan!
Quote:
“Authors like Goldberg — and Max Allan Collins, most notably — completely disprove the notion that tie-in novels are inferior wastes of time. Truth is, you’d be hard-pressed to find another recent work that provides so many hip and humorous moments, along with its believable plot twists.”
I’ve probably got over half a dozen beloved television shows — “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Frasier,” “Becker,” “Doctor Who” (really ;-)), the first few seasons of “Buffy” — but “Monk” is my all-time favorite. And I’ve reflected, on more than one occasion, how lucky I (and all the other “Monk” diehards) have been, getting a series of books featuring our favorite characters that are of the highest quality.
Because we _did_ luck out, we really did. The Doctor and Buffy cannot boast such good novels (the new “Doctor Who” line is quite horrid, actually). And getting a decent series of “Monk” books was a particular challenge, I feel, because of two obvious, possible pitfalls: most authors would either write the books as 100% Wacky Highjinks, composed of pure fluff and adventure with no deeper themes or character development (the “Doctor Who” books fit this category, alas); or, go the other way and write such dreary, funless mysteries that the lighthearted charm of the characters and original show is lost.
The beauty of the “Monk” television series is that we get hilarious fun and serious stakes at the same time, and the characters — not to mention the audience — infinitely benefit for it. To have the same delicate balance present in the books, however, is more awesome than I can say. I think it makes the series more than “just” tie-in novelizations, and shows how a series of books based on television or film characters can stand quite definitively on their own merit as good reading. Because, like any type of novel, tie-in novelizations aren’t good or bad by merit of what they are — their quality depends entirely on what the author does within their pages. And the “Monk” books contain some damn fine — and funny — writing.
So thank you, Mr. Goldberg, for a job superbly done! Keep it up! 🙂