FormerpolicedetectiveAdrianMonk(TonyShalhoub),whosephotographicmemoryandamazingabilitytopiecetogethertinycluesmadehimalocallegend,hassufferedfromintensifiedobsessive-compulsivedisorderandavarietyofphobiassincetheunsolvedmurderofhiswife,Trudy,in1997.NowonpsychiatricleavefromtheSanFranciscoPoliceDepartmentandworkingasafreelancedetective/consultantondi fficultcases,Monkhopestoconvincehi sformerboss,CaptainLelandStottlemeyer(TedLevine),toallowhimtoreturntotheforce.Stottlemeyer,whowaveredbetweenadmirationforMonkandannoyanceathiseccentricitiesduringthefirstseason,isbecomingmoreofafriendtoMonkastheseriesdevelops,frequentlycallinghimintohelp,asmuchforMonk'sbenefitasforhisown.However,heknowsMonk'slimitationsaswellashi strengthsandmaystillharbordoubtsaboutthewisdomofallow ingMonktocarryagunorsubdueaperpetrator.Stottlemeyer'ssecond-in-command,LieutenantRandallDisher(JasonGray-Stanford),alsoseemstobedevelopingbothadmirationandcompassionforthemanheoncelabeled"thedefectivedetective."Despiteflawsandinadequaciesallaround,thethreearebecominganincreasinglyeffectiveteam,withadditionalhelpfromMonk 'spersonalassistant.Fromthedouble-episodepilotthroughthefirsthal fofseasonthree,Monkwasaidedbyhisnurse,SharonaFleming(BittySchram).Butinthetenthepisodeofthethirdseason,Sharonawasreplacedbyanewassistant,NatalieTeeger(TraylorHoward).LikeSharona,adivorceewithasonnamedBenjy,Natalieisasingleparent,awidowwithadaughternamedJulie(EmmyClarke).UnlikeSharona,Natalieisnotan ursebutaformerbartenderwithafreshperspectiveon"Mr.Monk,"asshestilladdresseshernewboss.