Review Mr. Monk Helps Himself by: Hy Conrad

Title: Mr. Monk Helps Himself
Author: Hy Conrad
Publisher: Penguin Group
Pages: 286
Series: Mr Monk
Format: Hardcover
Source: Edelweiss

Description:

Now that Monk and Natalie are both in San Francisco again, life is almost back to normal for the duo, with one exception: Natalie is studying for her PI license, the last step to becoming Monk’s full partner.

Before taking the plunge, Natalie sneaks off to Half Moon Bay for a retreat run by Miranda Bigley, charismatic leader of the Best Possible Me self-help program, whose philosophy has helped Natalie deal with her recent life changes. But her plans for a relaxing weekend away are disrupted when Monk tracks her down, determined to rescue her from the cult.” Their argument is cut short when Miranda, in full view of everyone, calmly walks to the edge of a cliff and jumps off.

Even though Miranda’s death looks like suicide—especially when it’s discovered that she was on the brink of financial disaster—Natalie is sure it is murder. But Monk brushes her off to help the SFPD solve the murder of a clown, despite his coulrophobia, or fear of clowns—number ninety-nine on his list of one hundred phobias.

As Natalie and Monk begin their separate investigations, they are quickly caught up in many precarious situations, but if they want to figure out whodunit, they will have to find a way to become true partners….

My Thoughts:

I felt like reading this book was going back to the television shows and reminded me so much of Adrian and Natalie's banter from television which I think is great when a writer can continue what was done on tv.  This one follows Natalie as she is trying to pass the P.I. test to become a licensed private investigator.  She goes off on a retreat at Half Moon Bay and not long into that her self help guru has committed suicide but Natalie doesn't buy it something doesn't add up.  Meanwhile Monk is dealing with a murder of his own when a Clown ends up dead, for Monk this is a huge deal as he has an OCD to Clowns.  

Like any Monk story this one has all the makings of a great story.  We get to see Leland the head of the police department and how he has to get Monk on board to deal with the clown death, and how no one is buying into Natalie's theories on the guru death. This one had all sorts of great ups and downs and very true to Monk fashion in the end we get the "this is how it happened" that everyone loves!  I am definitely going to check out all the Monk books as I am a huge fan of the tv show and miss it dearly!