The hit detective series, Bookish, is back on our screens with its anticipated second season – and it’s perfect for fans of classic murder mysteries and Agatha Christie stories.
Created by and starring Mark Gattis, the series follows Gabriel Book, an antiquarian bookshop owner in post-war London who helps the police solve mysterious crimes.
The series holds a 100 per cent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is hardly surprising given it’s created by the mastermind behind the BBC‘s acclaimed detective series, Sherlock. Mark, a longtime lover of murder mysteries, writes the series with his husband, Ian Hallard, whom the actor describes as a “huge Agatha Christie fan”.
If you love stylish, period whodunnits, it’s worth checking out Bookish. Keep reading to find out more.
© UKTV / Guillaume Van LaethemWhat is Bookish about?
The series follows Gabriel Book, a literary enthusiast and bookshop owner who helps the police solve puzzling crimes in 1940s London. Set in 1946, during a time when homosexuality was illegal, the drama also follows Gabriel’s lavender marriage with his best friend, Trottie (Polly Walker).
In season two, Book investigates the world of spiritualism when he’s asked to help solve the mysterious case involving medium, Harold Sneed (Jason Watkins).
© Nicolas Velter, UKTVThe synopsis continues: “Off Savile Row, Bliss asks Book to help in a puzzling murder at a gentleman’s outfitters – the elderly tailor Maxie Kleinmann (Allan Corduner) is keen to confess to the murder, but the evidence doesn’t quite stack up and points to something much more complex and sinister.
“And Book and Jack are sent to the seemingly charming German village of Würl by the mysterious ‘E’ (Simon Callow) to thwart a thieving Duchess (Miranda Richardson) at Christmas time. However, festivities take a deadly turn when Book and Jack uncover secrets of their own, past and present, in an ominous castle brimming with plausible murder suspects.”
© Nicolas Velter, UKTVWhat was the inspiration for Bookish?
Speaking to HELLO! ahead of season two, Mark Gatiss revealed that he has always been a big fan of detective stories. “Before the current vogue, I would always try to find a forgotten murder mystery to watch. Along with horror films, they’re my favourite things,” he explained. “I had this idea for a bookshop. I played my own detective, what would it be? Then it just popped into my head. Bookish.”
What have viewers said about Bookish?
The series has been hailed as “excellent” and a “must-watch” by viewers.
© UKTV / Guillaume Van LaethemTaking to social media, one person wrote: “Very enjoyable – good fun with a dark and sinister undercurrent. Cosy crime with a twist,” while another added: “Excellent acting, excellent storylines. Definitely a must-watch.”
Bookish is available to stream on U.
More cosy crime dramas to stream now
- The Marlow Murder Club: Based on the novels by Death in Paradise creator Robert Thorogood, this popular crime series follows retired archaeologist and amateur sleuth Judith Potts (Samantha Bond), who teams up with dog walker Suzie Harris (Jo Martin) and vicar’s wife Becks Starling (Cara Horgan) to solve a string of intriguing crimes in the picturesque town of Marlow. Watch on U.
- Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators – A brilliant blend of comedy and crime stars Jo Joyner and Mark Benton as an unlikely duo: warm-hearted ex-hairdresser Lu Shakespeare and hardboiled ex-cop Frank Hathaway, as they solve crimes and murders in Stratford-upon-Avon. Watch on BBC iPlayer.
- Death Valley: This charming BBC series follows an unlikely crime-solving duo – retired actor John Chapel (Timothy Spall) and eager Welsh detective Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth) – as they solve crimes in a bucolic Welsh village. Watch on BBC iPlayer.
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