Ep 7. Mr. Monk and the Employee of the Month

In Monk season 3 episode 7, titled "Mr. Monk and the Employee of the Month," Adrian Monk and his assistant Sharona are called to investigate a murder at a big-box store called Buy More. The victim is a store clerk, Larry, who had been named the Employee of the Month just the day before.

Initially, the police are convinced that the murderer is an ex-con who had recently been fired from the store, but Monk isn't so sure. He's intrigued by the fact that Larry had such a perfect attendance record that he had never even used any of his vacation days. This leads him to believe that there may have been more to Larry's life than just working at Buy More.

As Monk and Sharona dig deeper into Larry's personal life, they discover that he had a history of substance abuse and had recently been involved in a car accident. They also learn that Larry had been seeing a therapist, Dr. Wharton, who was also a customer at the store.

Although Monk is convinced that Dr. Wharton is involved in Larry's murder, he can't seem to find any solid evidence to support his theory. Meanwhile, Sharona is busy trying to fend off the advances of a smitten store clerk named Marci, who is convinced that Sharona is her guardian angel.

As the investigation continues, Monk and Sharona uncover more clues that hint at a wider conspiracy involving the Buy More store manager, the ex-con, and even Larry's own mother. But the true culprit remains elusive, and it's up to Monk to use his keen sense of observation and deductive reasoning to uncover the killer's identity before they strike again.

As always, Mr. Monk and the Employee of the Month is a masterful blend of suspense, humor, and character development. The episode showcases some of the best elements of the series, including Monk's obsessive-compulsive disorder, Sharona's tough-but-caring attitude, and the quirkiness of the various suspects. Overall, it's a must-see for fans of the show and anyone who loves a good murder mystery.