Hy Conrad, Mr. Monk Gets on Board

The Monk books tend to offer readers some combination of three elements: pathos, usually related to revelations about the depth of Monk and Natalie's relationship; humor, usually proceeding from the dialogue between Monk and Natalie; and storyline. In this latest installment I'd say that humor and pathos are all but lacking, while the storyline is quite good. The book is certainly a good read, but I do hope that the author makes with the funny next time. (I note that I found Hy Conrad's first installment in the series lacking in humor and pathos as well, so this is a disturbing trend.)