Mr. Monk in Outer Space [Mass Market Paperback]

Lee Goldberg (Author)

Book Description

Series: Monk | Publication Date: June 5, 2012

An all-new novel starring the obsessively beloved TV detective who has no patience for the crooked...

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lee Goldberg has written episodes for the Monk television series, as well as many other programs. He is a two-time Edgar Award nominee and the author of the acclaimed Diagnosis Murder novels, based on the TV series for which he was a writer and executive producer.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Signet (June 5, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451224353
• ISBN-13: 978-0451224354
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #296,736 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Monk Goes "Beyond Earth", November 19, 2007

By 

Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mr. Monk in Outer Space (Hardcover)

Everything about the case seems ordinary. The man was shot outside a hotel. In fact, the assassin was captured on four different security cameras. Yet Monk was still called in to help the San Francisco police department solve the case. Why? Because the victim was Conrad Stipe, creator of the cult 70's TV show Beyond Earth. And the assassin was dressed as one of the aliens from the show.

Because Stipe was shot right outside a fan convention for his show, Captain Stottlemeyer knows there are too many suspects. He's hoping Monk's attention to detail will help them find the one fan who did it.

However, Monk is unnerved by the costumes everyone is wearing. The alien costumes are elaborate and unnatural. Monk just can't see how anyone would willing become devoted to something so unnatural.

And then he finds out his brother Ambrose is a devoted fan of the series.

Who shot Conrad Stipe? What clues does the costume provide? And will Monk ever look at Ambrose the same way again?

The Monk novels have proved to be plenty of fun, and this is no exception. I must admit I had pieces of the plot figured out before Monk, but I think that is because I have gotten used to author Lee Goldberg's plotting. Still, I enjoyed finding out if I was right and how Monk would piece it all together. I felt at times Monk slipped into caricature in this book, a charge I've leveled at the TV show a time or two as well. Still, I laughed out loud plenty. Fans and TV executives get a gentle skewing over the course of the book. I especially enjoyed one producers proposal to change the Monk series.

This isn't the strongest entry in the Monk novel series, but it is still absolutely worth reading. Fans of the TV show are in for another treat.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Monk has new murders to solve, August 9, 2008

By 

Jerry Saperstein (Evanston, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mr. Monk in Outer Space (Mass Market Paperback)

Mr. Monk is an obsessive-compulsive - and also a great detective who consults for the San Francisco Police Department. They only call him in for the really tough cases, like the murder of Conrad Lorber, CEO of fast-food giant Burgerville. And then the murder of Conrad Stipe, creator of the cult television hit Beyond Earth. But the corpses don't stop piling up there. Mr. Monk's incredible skill is needed!

The story is told by Natalie, Adrian Monk's long suffering assistant. A single mother with a 12 year old daughter, Monk seems to be Natalie's second parental responsibility.

Monk has enough quirks, neuroses and phobias to get his own chapter, if not volume, in the DSM. But his unique skills are needed to solve all these murders which have an oddness of their own. Lorber, for example . . . well, I don't want spoil it for you. So I won't tell you much about Conrad Stipe's murderer except that he has an odd nose and ears.

Though Monk can't make it through a revolving door, won't go to odd-numbered floors, counts the parking meters on streets, is afraid of elevators and so much more, his powers of deduction are so great, that solving the most baffling of murders is child's play for him.

But this time, he needs not only Natalie's help, but that of his brother as well. Ambrose Monk is an agoraphobic (panic disorder in today's lexicon) who hasn't left his house in years. But Ambrose is a successful writer of all manner of things like installation manuals. He is also the author of the authoritative history of Beyond Earth and understands Drach, the entirely made up language of one of Beyond Earth's characters. (If you get the impression that Beyond Earth is a send up of Star Trek, you're absolutely right - and it is very funny.)

Adrian Monk, for once, has to acknowledge his brother's worth, which is mildly heartwarming.

All in all, Mr. Monk solves a bunch of murders in his inimitable way and everyone lives neurotically forever after.

Lee Goldberg has turned out another very humorous installment of the Mr. Monk saga.

Jerry

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Monk and the Cult Show, November 11, 2007

By 

Foggy Tewsday - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mr. Monk in Outer Space (Hardcover)

A small carpet stain in his apartment drives Monk to seek refuge at his brother Ambrose's house. This reunion with his brother has a beneficial side-effect: when a murder connected with cult television show `Beyond Earth' is committed, Monk discovers that Ambrose is a renowned expert on the show.

Having a sci-fi show as one of the backdrops to this novel gives the author plenty of scope for comedy. There's a wonderful scene at a `Beyond Earth' convention involving some priceless packets of thirty-year-old breakfast cereal. Monk also recoils at the sight of the attendees in their `Beyond Earth' regalia, particularly those dressed as Mr Snork, one of the show's lead characters complete with trunk-like snoot.

As ever, Monk's assistant and friend Natalie Teeger chronicles this adventure; the events are told in the first person from her point of view in easy-going, humorous prose. We share her exasperation at Monk's obsessiveness while at the same time marveling at his uniqueness.

One thing that has been missing from some of the previous novels in the series has been the lack of Captain Stottlemeyer and Lieutenant Disher in the stories. This is not the case with `Mr Monk in Outer Space', and, in my opinion, their presence in this story adds to the feeling that this could, and perhaps, should be turned into a television episode.

Lee Goldberg has really done the business with this latest Monk novel. Funny, clever and thoroughly compelling, this is the best in the series so far. Mind you, I think I might have said that about all the Monk novels.