Created by Mark Gatiss (Sherlock) and co-written by Gatiss and Matthew Sweet (Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures), Bookish is a new series for U&Alibi which introduces a quirky new TV detective.
Set in 1946’s post-war London, Gabriel Book (played by Mark Gatiss), the series’ protagonist is the owner of Book’s Bookshop in Archangel Lane, London. Book has taken charge of his families long-standing business and is well versed in finding not only the book you’re looking for but also the book you didn’t even know you needed. Selling isn’t his main focus though, Gabriel is also a consultant detective for the police.
Gabriel is not working alone though; he has a team of amateur crime solvers backing him up. First up is his ‘lavender’ wife, Trottie (Polly Walker), who owns the wallpaper shop next door, has been his friend since childhood, and who is keeping Book safe in a time where homosexuality is still illegal.
The pair are also joined by ex-convict Jack (Connor Finch) and aspiring crime novelist Nora (Buket Kömür). Together the circle of sleuths unravel a series of crimes including a chemist found dead after an apparent poisoning.
“The post-war setting is one of my favourite periods and it’s rarely done,” Gatiss says. “Winning the peace, as it were, after all those years of war. It was austerity Britain, yes, but it was also the most radical government we ever had. People’s lives had been turned upside down. Incredible women who had won the war on the Home Front, taking men’s jobs, were then told to get back behind the stove. The streets were awash with guns from looted German corpses. As a setting it’s just bursting with fascinating stuff.”
All episodes will be available on demand in the UK from 16th July on U&Alibi. UKTV have even announced that Bookish has been re-commissioned for a second series ahead of the first series event premiering.
