Adrian Monk is the protagonist of the series. He is a former homicide detective working for the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD). He was discharged from his position after his wife, Trudy Monk, was tragically murdered, which led Monk to suffer a mental breakdown. The loss of his wife also severely worsened his obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He is employed as a consultant for the SFPD. He is famous throughout San Francisco for his detective skill and often regarded as a real-life Sherlock Holmes.