A delightful throwback to the great TV detective shows of the 1970s like Columbo, Monk has inspired a great deal of affection in our mystery-loving Rakish hearts. Quite simply, a very clever show, in terms of both the creatively offbeat, yet solvable crimes (like the skydiver who somehow drowns in midair), and the quirky nature of detective Adrian Monk. It’s dancing on a thin line to make your main character obsessive-compulsive and phobic, but thanks to smart writing and the Emmy-winning performance by Tony Shalhoub, what could have been a dreadful gimmick actually helps give the show its heart and soul. And at any rate, when it’s done well, the “defective detective” subgenre has worked over and over again in the crime-story biz; even Sherlock Holmes had more than a few quirks of his own. For Monk to follow that path is no crime. (Available June 15)
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