I’ve just emailed the finished manuscript for the fourth Monk novel, MR. MONK AND THE TWO ASSISTANTS, to my editor in New York. The book will be published in hardcover in July 2007. Here’s what the cover copy says (yes, the cover was completed before the book):
Only a special kind of person can keep up with Monk’s
brilliant, if idiosyncratic, methods. One such person is his former assistant,
Sharona. And now that her ne’er-do-well husband has been arrested for
murder, she’s back in San Francisco, ready to reclaim her place in Monk’s
extremely well-ordered life.His current assistant, Natalie, is not at all pleased
with this turn of events. As little as her job pays, she’s grown fond of
Monk and would rather not get fired.While Monk tries to maintain a delicate balance between the
two women, he discovers a few unsettling snags in the case against
Sharona’s husband. With bestselling crime novelist Ian Ludlow nosing
around, and other cases taking his attention, Monk may be up against a killer
who not only understands him, but is one step ahead….
The appearance of Ian Ludlow is yet another cross-over between Earth-Diagnosis-Murder and Earth-Monk.
“Earth-Diagnosis Murder?” What the heck does the “earth” reference mean?
Yes, Ian Ludlow was mentioned in a DIAGNOSIS MURDER #2: THE DEATH MERCHANT. And, of course, I wrote under that name when I was in college…
Isn’t that a Superman reference? There’s Earth and Bizzaro Earth.
I love that you put a version of yourself in the Monk tie-in novels. That is the greatest inside joke of all time, and an extremely interesting concept.
Nothing like when Vonnegut walks into Breakfast of Champions (though he does the same thing as you with Trout). Or Stephen King in the Dark Tower series. At least you’re being modest about it.
Ian Ludlow isn’t me… for one thing, he’s a bestselling author!
Is this the first hardcover Monk?
Hardcover? Congrats!
Personally, I can’t wait for this book. I think it’s going to be lots of fun. And the mystery sounds good, too.
Mark
David,
Yes, it’s the first hardcover MONK… though the previous books have come out in hardcover Mystery Guild editions.
Lee
That’s great, Lee! Very few tie-ins come out in hardcover, so this is a promising sign that the publisher believes in the series.
Lee,
I’m surprised at you, giving Ludlow this kind of spotlight. I haven’t spoken to Ian since he tried to kill me in Juarez over a bottle of cough syrup. Congratulations on the hardback, though…
Scott
Okay, here’s the geeky explanation for the “earths” reference. In the ’60’s, DC Comics decided the 1940’s adventures of their heroes had taken place on a parallel earth, mis-named “Earth II.” Eventually, the parallel earths multiplied like reality shows. Every year, there’d be a crossover between worlds, and the story would always be called “Crisis on Earth __!” It eventually ended with the 1985 comics series aptly titled “Crisis on Infinite Earths.”
Hence, “Crisis on Earth-Monk!”
This isn’t really the right place to ask this, but it was here or the Beautiful Agony post.
What’s behind the B&W/color MONK episode thing? I don’t get it.
Keith,
I have no idea.
Lee
Is the Disher/Sharona thing gonna have a satisfactory conclusion? I just hated that she left, and nothing happened between them.
I am glad to read that you have written another Monk book. I have the first two and am looking forward to “Blue Flu” They tend to be a little slower to be published over here in England. The storyline sounds interesting.
Have you considered another story involving Ambrose?
Keep up the good work!
Judith
So far the covers of each book feature a photo of Monk. Will this one have a photo of Monk, Sharona & Natalie?
I think it should, but didn’t know if the actress who played Sharona would have to approve of this.
It would be cool.