FormerpolicedetectiveAdrianMonkTonyShalhoub,whosephotographicmemoryandamazingabilitytopiecetogethertinycluesmadehimalocallegend,hassufferedfromintensifiedobsessivecompulsivedisorderandavarietyofphobiassincetheunsolvedmurderofhiswife,Trudy,in1997NowonpsychiatricleavefromtheSanFranciscoPoliceDepartmentandworkingasafreelancedetectiveconsultantondifficultcases,Monkhopestoconvincehisformerboss,CaptainLelandStottlemeyerTedLevine,toallowhimtoreturntotheforceStottlemeyer,whowaveredbetweenadmirationforMonkandannoyanceathiseccentricitiesduringthefirstseason,isbecomingmoreofafriendtoMonkastheseriesdevelops,frequentlycallinghimintohelp,asmuchforMonk'sbenefitasforhisownHowever,heknowsMonk'slimitationsaswellashisstrengthsandmaystillharbordoubtsaboutthewisdomofallowingMonktocarryagunorsubdueaperpetratorStottlemeyer'ssecondincommand,LieutenantRandallDisherJasonGrayStanford,alsoseemstobedevelopingbothadmirationandcompassionforthemanheoncelabeledthedefectivedetectiveDespiteflawsandinadequaciesallaround,thethreearebecominganincreasinglyeffectiveteam,withadditionalhelpfromMonk'spersonalassistantFromthedoubleepisodepilotthroughthefirsthalfofseasonthree,Monkwasaidedbyhisnurse,SharonaFlemingBittySchramButinthetenthepisodeofthethirdseason,Sharonawasreplacedbyanewassistant,NatalieTeegerTraylorHowardLikeSharona,adivorceewithasonnamedBenjy,Natalieisasingleparent,awidowwithadaughternamedJulieEmmyClarkeUnlikeSharona,NatalieisnotanursebutaformerbartenderwithafreshperspectiveonMrMonk,asshestilladdresseshernewboss