Mark Gatiss has created and stars in Bookish, a new six-part cosy crime drama set in postwar London. The series, co-written by Gatiss and Matthew Sweet, follows Gabriel Book, a secondhand bookseller with a mysterious 'letter from Churchill' that allows him to assist in police investigations. Described as a 'legitimised semi-Sherlock', Book brings a unique charm to the genre.
The opening double bill, titled Slightly Foxed, centres on a plague pit uncovered at a bombsite, a chemist's apparent suicide by prussic acid, and a web of clues involving missing morphine and a bloodied head. Suspects include the chemist's daughter, a spiv boyfriend, and a charwoman named Mrs Dredge, adding Dickensian undertones to the mystery.
Beyond the plot, the series explores deeper themes of grief and melancholy, reflecting the struggles of 1946 England. Book's closeted homosexuality is gently unspooled, adding emotional heft, while his relationship with wife Trottie (Polly Walker) and their mysterious care for a young orphan, Jack (Connor Finch), hints at darker secrets. Critic Lucy Mangan praises the show for its spikiness and love for the genre, calling it 'a joy'. A second series has already been commissioned.
With meticulous pacing and period detail ranging from powdered egg to Georgette Heyer fandom, Bookish is a decidedly moreish addition to the cosy crime canon. While some plot points strain credulity, the series balances comfort with enough edge to keep viewers hooked.
