Mr. Monk Goes to Germany

This sixth `Monk' novel is a breeze of a read. It's very entertaining, the mystery elements are neatly handled and there's plenty of Monk madness to enjoy. And yet, for all that, I have to admit that I found this the least satisfying of the `Monk' novels so far published.

Monk is horrified when his psychiatrist, Dr. Kroger, suddenly announces that he is going to Germany for a week to attend a conference. How will Monk cope without his regular sessions with the good doctor? The answer to that soon becomes apparent when Dr. Kroger tries to pacify Monk by arranging for Dr. Jonah Sorenson, the one-armed psychiatrist who we first met in the television episode `Mr. Monk Gets a New Shrink'. Sorenson's lack of body symmetry has our obsessive compulsive detective in something of a cold sweat. Added to this is the fact that Monk's new neighbor only has one leg. Monk slips into a state of "tearless weeping" and "losing count of his blinking." He decides that the only course of action left open to him is to follow Dr. Kroger to Germany.

Monk's unease about people with physical anomalies is about to become even more pronounced because he suddenly notices a man who has six fingers on his right hand. This is especially significant to Monk because his wife's murderer was hired by an eleven-fingered man.

Where I have some difficulty with this novel is in some of the situations that Monk and Natalie get into and how they react to those situations. Obviously, with a television series as the basis for a novel, you can't help but refer back to the characters as they appear on screen. In the television episode, `Mr. Monk Takes His Medicine', as I remember it, when Monk is under the influence of the personality-altering drug, Dioxynl, his usefulness as a detective is non-existent. In this novel, Monk's detective skills are unimpaired after taking the drug. Also, Natalie's extreme reactions toward Dr. Kroger in this novel didn't ring true for me when compared to her screen persona, or even when compared to her ususal laid-back character in the novels.

When reading this novel, I kept asking myself why it was set in Germany as opposed to any other country. Why did the cast have to be transported out of San Francisco at all? There are even a couple of characters that mirror Stottlemeyer and Disher with similar sounding, if Germanic, names. All good comedy stuff, admittedly, but at times, things felt a little forced to me.

All this moaning is perhaps a bit harsh. I'd still recommend this novel to fans of the previous books in the series because it's a good, entertaining read. However, compared to the previous `Monk' novels, I do feel that this is the weakest entry in the series.

These books are so much fun, they almost make all my issues small by comparison. I have read all the books and anxiously look forward to the next one. If you are looking for pure escapism when you read, pick up these books. The characters are fun and believable (well, as believable as Monk can be), the stories are well written and you do not have to watch the series to enjoy them (I don't have cable and have only seen 1-2 episodes). If you want a fun read, read MONK!

I'm worried about Natalie. Maybe the job of taking care of Monk, the obsessive-compulsive detective, is getting to be too much for her. On call 24/7, wipes at the ready and always prepared to talk her boss down from the ledge of his mania for order, whether he's trying to get a street full of parked cars equally spaced, or, as in the latest edition of his adventures, putting the Berlin Wall back together, bit by rubbley bit.

In "Mr. Monk Goes to Germany," the sixth book based on the USA Network show, Monk's thrown into a panic when his psychologist takes the week off to attend a conference Germany. So, hopped up on Dioxynl, an experiment drug that suppresses his OCD and turns him into Goodtime Charlie, Monk takes to the skies, with Natalie at his beck and call. What he finds there, in addition to one very surprised and appalled doctor, is a confrontation with a six-fingered man who may be responsible for his wife's death.

Those who follow Lee Goldberg's life on his blog know that he spent time in Germany filming a TV show, so it's natural he'd set his next Monk book there. And he uses his experiences well, weaving in the details you'd pick up if you were a tourist. It's those little touches that give the story flavor, such as the description of an inn that was built in the 1400s, or describing the free magazines, including Playboy, that can be picked up at German airports.

As for the mystery, it is competently set up and sprung, but, really, the fun lies more in watching Monk at work, baffling his police partners and reacting to the chaos around him, whether its attempting to navigate the trails in the German forest or visiting an unusual resort for outcasts.

Which leads me back to Natalie. Maybe it was the travel. Maybe it was seeing Monk on the plane, high on Dioxynl, turning into a combination of a frat boy and lounge lizard, being asked to join the Mile High Club. But there were a couple of times here where she loses control on his behalf. Maybe she should see a shrink. I'm sure Monk could recommend a good one.

Things have been going well for Mr. Monk recently. He's finding a groove and solving cases faster than ever. But then a cannibal moves into Monk's building. While he's in the middle of dealing with that, Dr. Kroger announces that he is taking a week's vacation to attend a conference in Germany. Despite a half hearted attempt at staying, Monk falls apart and decides he needs to follow Dr. Kroger to Germany. After all, he hasn't missed an appointment yet.

Dragging Natalie along, he arrives in Lohr, Germany, only to realize just how foreign it is. His biggest concern seems to be a very angry Dr. Kroger who doesn't like having his vacation interrupted.

But things that an unexpected turn when Monk spots a sight across the town square that stops him cold. Suddenly, this vacation has turned into a very personal mystery for Monk. Can he contend with the difference and still find the truth?

As always, Mr. Goldberg has captured the characters perfectly. These could be the Monk, Natalie, and Dr. Kroger we know and love from the show. And that's what makes the second half of the book so moving. The book seems to have a bit too much set up getting Monk to Germany, and that part drags a little. Once he arrives, things take off and the story moves forward quickly. And there are plenty of laugh out loud moments scattered throughout the book. Do make sure you catch the author's note as it does mention how this book fits into series continuity.

For fans who are willing to forgive the difference between book and TV production schedules, this is another treat. So buy your tickets today and enjoy a trip to Europe.

I just loved this book...I just love Lee's books..I love that he takes everything from Natalie's POV. It is a fresh way of thinking. I was wondering how Monk would do with Dr Kroger?? Of course he is going to follow him but how was he going to handle the plane ride, the food, the fact that murder just follows him around. Oh poor Natalie..she really deserves a vacation..but Monk won't let that happen. I love the last part of the book how Natalie gets to lengthen her stay overseas...now that made me laugh so loud, I fell to the floor crying! This was the best read yet!

I continue to enjoy these books as Lee Goldberg puts them out. Looks like there is even another coming in Dec 08.

This book, like many of his others, was very good. A nice, quick read that, generally, holds true to the TV series. There are a few things I think Mr. Goldberg goes over the top on (some of Monk's disorders, for instance), but he does a good job.

I finally realized after reading this book that he indicates when the book takes place in relation to the tv show. Some of the books, for instance, Natalie talks about her 12 year old daughter, Julie. Yet, in the TV episodes currently airing, she's much older. It's nice to realize when the timeframe of the book is in comparison to the show. This was in the author's notes, BTW.

Overall, a good book. Monk does what he does best, and its fun to see how he does it in Germany. Maybe one of these days some of the books will turn into episodes.

This novel is very clever and wildly entertaining. It starts when Dr. Kroger informs Monk that he will be attending a psychiatric convention in Germany. So he refers him to a another doctor . To say that Monk goes off the deep end puts it mildly. So Natalie and Monk goes off to Germany to find Dr.Kroger and he finds the six-fingered man Do we find Trudy killer at last? You have to read to find out! This book won't disappointed a lot of suspense and intrigue. You have a hard time putting it down.

Mr Monk in these novels is the same Mr Monk from the popular tv series. The titles have the same pattern of "Mr Monk goes to ....", and even the chapters are written as "Mr Monk ....." . Thankfully, they also capture Mr Monk's compulsive behaviour and characterise his long suffering friends, Natalie, Sottlemeyer, Disher, authentically. I find the books almost compulsive reading.

This time, as the title suggests, Mr Monk, with Natalie in tow, goes to Germany so as not to miss his weekly sessions with his therapist Dr Kroger (who, in real life sadly passed away recently), who has gone to Germany to attend a Psychiatrist's convention.

Needless to say it's untidiness and asymmetrical mayhem everywhere he goes, which translates to great fun for me.

This novel differed slightly from the norm in two ways. Firstly, there were less murders for him to solve. I'd hate to think that this means Lee is running out of ideas for his book. That would be like Dr Kroger reducing his weekly sessions from thrice weekly to once weekly- totally unsatisfactory.

Secondly, this is the second time they have used the new super drug to induce the Mr Hyde persona. Let me first confess to being a stickler for canon, so my view may not be everyone else's, but I'm not comfortable with this. One of the things about the Monk Universe is the implied assumption that he doesnt get better, and part of the fun is actually watching his compulsive behaviour- yes, this is at his expense, but it's fiction, so it's ok. The use of this drug allows him to bypass some situations that he normally would be a huge ordeal for him. I find his Mr Hyde antics less humourous and well, it's like he's cheating in a way.

The Good:

- great murder scenarios, as usual.

- great charaterisation of the German police who work with Monk.

- Natalie finally gets a perk.

- Very interesting to read about the camp for the physically different concept.

The not so good:

- Should there be a wonder drug?

- bit short.

- Not enough insta-solve murders.

The really bad:

- None at all!

I received Mr. Monk Goes to Germany promptly and in good condition. I am very pleased with the service and products that I have received from Amazon. Thank you

Mary Mumea

have most of this series