MR. MONK AND THE BLUE FLU

This tie-in to the popular TV series has the San Francisco police force out with the "blue flu" because of a labor dispute and Monk called in to serve as interim police captain. Monk's obsessive-compulsive behavior, as usual, gets in the way of his effectiveness. His female assistant tells the story, and while her voice is persuasive, it’s odd that Angela Brazil chose not to give Mr. Monk a unique and male voice. Often it’s difficult to tell whether it’s he speaking or his assistant. Further, the writing is weak, with some insipid dialogue. These weaknesses combined with a narration that is of mixed quality result in a disappointing listening experience. S.S.R. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2010]