I was never, really, a Monk fan. I found the show incredibly boring, and the fact they were mixing brutal/morbid murder scenes, along with Monk's coworkers making jokes through each episode, I felt was kinda wrong, and I didn't, necessarily, personally, find funny etc. Well there were some moments of the show I did laugh at. lol.
But Adrian Monk does have atypical behaviors, and I hate using the word "savant", but he is a very distinguished man, and the fact he's like this timid nerdy/geeky man, but he's a cop, and he's very logical, and knows how to investigate crime scenes etc. I would have to agree with you OP, based on how his character acts. In addition to his OCD. So come to think of it, I do see what you mean OP, with Adrian Monk, and I agree.