Sherlock creator Mark Gatiss’ new detective drama can only get better as it develops — and it has the potential to continue for a very long time. One of the UK’s most successful actors and writers working today, Mark Gatiss has lent his writing talents to several major internationally renowned shows, including the BBC’s Sherlock, Doctor Who, and Agatha Christie’s Poirot. As a self-professed life-long fan of the murder mystery genre, it was only a matter of time before Gatiss created his own prominent TV detective, and the resulting series has been undeniably successful.
In Bookish season 1, which aired on PBS in the US earlier this year, Gatiss plays Gabriel Book, an antiquarian bookshop owner and not-so-amateur detective who helps the London police solve murders in the aftermath of World War II. Armed with a letter from Winston Churchill, an incredible knowledge of classic literature, and a team of enthusiastic investigative sidekicks, Book hops around his relatively small corner of London’s sprawling cityscape, solving murders in his own street, on film sets, and in fancy hotels.
The series, which boasts a rare 100% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score and earned a season 2 renewal in the UK before season 1 had even premiered, is an excellent example of the enduring appeal of the murder mystery genre. The first season offers three stories set across six episodes, with each exploring a different narrative theme: jealousy, ageism, wealth inequality, politics, revenge, and more. Interestingly, though, Gatiss has confirmed that Bookish‘s second season will be more “ambitious,” as the show expands its scope beyond Book’s immediate London surroundings, heading to the famed Saville Row and even traveling to Germany in its third and final story.
This will give Bookish more room to explore the lingering horrors of World War II in different settings, fully utilizing its chosen time period. How the war affected society and people’s interpersonal relationships is an undeniably interesting topic, one that will continue to influence the show’s complex murder mysteries. That, combined with a stellar roster of guest stars — including a Sherlock reunion, as Rupert Graves, who played Inspector Lestrade in all four seasons of the BBC’s modern adaptation, will have a role in Bookish season 2 — will allow the new episodes of Gatiss’ series to build on everything that made the first season so compelling.
Bookish Season 2’s Biggest Mystery Won’t Be A New Murder Case
Interwoven throughout Book’s investigations are brief snapshots of his personal life. As a gay man living in the 1940s in London, Book’s relationship with the police is fraught with tension. At the time, homosexuality was illegal; every time he aids the police with their inquiries, he’s putting himself in jeopardy. One particularly moving yet tragic flashback in season 1 depicts Book after an arrest, only to be saved by his current wife, Trottie (Polly Walker), who tells the police that she’s Book’s fiancée.
Book’s sexuality is an important part of the character’s identity, as it also informs one of the show’s most intriguing, non-murder-related mysteries. In season 1, Book and Trottie hire ex-convict Jack (Connor Finch) to work in the bookstore. Obviously, Jack gets caught up in Book’s murder investigations, proving himself to be a smart if inexperienced sleuth. Soon, though, it becomes clear that Book and Jack have more in common than Jack might have thought, with Book having had a close personal relationship with someone close to him.
Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss returns to the small screen with a brand-new eccentric detective in Bookish, a six-part series premiering soon on PBS.
The official synopsis for Bookish season 2, which is set to be released this summer in the UK, teases that the upcoming Germany-set, holiday-themed story will not only feature a tantalizing Agatha Christie-esque murder case in an old castle but also drum up more questions for both Book and Jack about their shared connection, digging deeper into what Book experienced during the War, his time in Germany, and Jack’s mysterious familial history.
The best part of Bookish season 1 is the way each investigation affects Book personally and intellectually, revealing a little more about his character and his relationships, both platonic and romantic, along the way. It’s a formula that can last forever, and arguably deserves to. Book puts his life on the line every time he helps the police, and a bigger, more ambitious, and more intricate Bookish season 2 can finally show audiences why he’s so eager to do so.
- Release Date
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July 16, 2025
- Network
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U&Alibi
- Directors
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Carolina Giammetta