Based on the USA Network Emmy winning weekly television show, Monk, this tie in novel goes far beyond the series in fleshing out the characters and situations while retaining the hilarity, complexity and poignancy that made the series so popular.
In this installment, Captain Stottlemeyer asks Monk to go to an almost deserted town which buzzed with life and greed soon after gold was discovered in California. One of the captain's friends, an ex cop who had retired to the town of Trouble to work security at the town's museum has been murdered.
Once there, Monk discovers there are other mysteries in Trouble. Over fifty years ago the train carrying a large amount of gold and cash was robbed en route to Trouble and the money never recovered.
Meanwhile Natalie makes a fascinating discovery of her own. There is a perfectly square house which was owned by another Monk over 150 years ago. Artemis Monk, was Trouble's only assayer. This Monk was respected, if not understood, for his skill at analyzing rock, his honesty and his skill at solving crimes. He had so much influence, in fact, that under his direction, all streets were given even numbered names, it was illegal to spit tobacco, and riders were required to clean up their horses leavings. Could this man be one of her boss's ancestors?
Natalie and Monk are very busy and in great danger as they investigate crimes present and past, and Natalie works to find a connection between the Monks then and now.
Enjoy the other funny and often poignant books as brilliant Mr. Monk, with Natalie's help, solves baffling crimes dodging germs, dirt, debris, odd numbers, and more. You can find all of the books in this series as of November, 2010, in the Bookshare collection. Look for #1 Mr. Monk Goes to the Firehouse, #2 Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii, #3 Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu, #4 Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants, #5 Mr. Monk in Outer Space, #6 Mr. Monk Goes to Germany, #7 Mr. Monk Is Miserable, #8 Mr. Monk and the Dirty Cop, and #10 Mr. Monk Is Cleaned Out.