The game is afoot once more for Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss who stars in series 1 of the new U&Alibi mystery Bookish.

With a second series confirmed before the first has even aired, it doesn’t take a crack sleuth to deduce that the new Mark Gatiss crime drama will be one to watch.

Combining period puzzles with timely issues of sexuality and lifestyle, this new series transports viewers to a post-war London full of tricky-to-unpick crimes.

Thankfully, things don’t stay mysterious for long, thanks largely to part-time case cracker Gabriel Book. In addition to playing Gabriel, Mark Gatiss also co-wrote the series with author Matthew Sweet.

That’s the elevator pitch. So what else can we expect from this thrilling new crime series? Read on for everything we know so far about Bookish series 1.

Bookish series 1 release date – how can I watch?

Fans don’t have to wait long before they can dive into Gatiss’ new show. Bookish is set to arrive in July 2025.

Unfortunately, a concrete release date has yet to be confirmed. However, when it is, viewers will find it on U&Alibi. This channel is dedicated entirely to crime and mystery-based dramas. It’s available to UK and Ireland viewers on Sky and NOW TV.

How many episodes will it have?

Bookish series 1 will consist of six episodes of 70 minutes each. They’ll introduce us to three different head-scratching cases, each of which span two instalments.

The channel recently confirmed series 2 will have the same number of episodes. However, it’s unclear as to whether it’ll share the same case-to-instalment ratio.

What is the plot?

Set in 1946, Bookish series 1 takes place in a London still reeling from the after effects of World War 1. It’s here where we meet Gabriel, a scholarly bookshop owner who helps local police solve the city’s most unusual crimes.

His unique ability to out-think tough tactics helped him at war, And these skills come in equally useful during his new dual-pronged career back home.

However, as Gabriel helps the police solve the “strangest of crimes and the knottiest of murders” from his dusty shop in Archangel Lane, he also has his own secret issues.

Despite appearing to be happily married to his childhood sweetheart and shop neighbour Trottie, Gabriel Book is actually in a ‘lavender marriage’. This enables him to hide his true sexuality during a time when being gay was a crime.

Surrounded by a group of misfit friends and armed with lots of knowledge from his antique books, Gabriel’s policing efforts are thrown up in the air when he and Trottie take in a young man looking for a second chance.

Who is in the Bookish series 1 cast?

Mark Gatiss leads the way as Gabriel, the debonaire bookshop owner who uses his novel knowledge to help solve crimes. Audiences may know him best as part of the darkly funny comedy quartet The League of Gentlemen. The show debuted on the BBC in 1999, and quickly developed a cult following. Since then, he’s appeared in a range of projects from Doctor Who to Game of Thrones.

Line of Duty and Bridgerton’s Polly Walker plays his loyal wife Trottie. She owns a wallpaper shop next to his antiquarian bookstore and has been described as a “charismatic adventuress”.

Meanwhile, Connor Finch plays Jack. He’s a young jailbird looking for a second chance. Gabriel and Trottie welcome into their home, but Gabriel begins to suspect that Jack’s sudden arrival isn’t all it appears to be.

The Essex-born Finch has carved out a short but impressive resume, with most fans likely to recognise him from his role as Street Baxter in the BBC’s take on author Dolly Alderton’s Everything I Know About Love.

Who else will star?

Elliot Levey plays Gabriel Book’s police colleague Inspector Bliss in Bookish series 1. The two-time Olivier Award winner is known for playing David Briggs in ITV drama Quiz. In addition, Buket Kömür is playing Nora, a character who will be the focal point of author Matthew Sweet’s tie-in book. Kömür is famous for playing the lead in stark Keeley Hawes drama Honour, playing the murdered woman Banaz Mahmod.

Who guest stars?

Together, this core cast are joined by a variety of guest stars. Viewers can keep an eye out for The Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison as a serious looking authoritarian named Sergeant Morris. Line of Duty’s Daniel Mays portrays butcher Eric Wellbeloved.

Joely Richardson and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd will share the screen in an episode playing characters named Sandra Dare and Stewart Howard. Fans may know the former from movies like 1997’s cult horror Event Horizon. Meanwhile, Fortune-Lloyd recently gave Anya Taylor-Joy a run for her money on the chess board in The Queen’s Gambit.

Other names popping up include the eighth Doctor Who Paul McGann, one of the famous brothers. He’ll play the suave-looking Mr. Nice. Poldark actor Luke Norris is also in the show, as are Gentleman Jack star Rosie Cavaliero, Morbius actor Tom Forbes, and Ellis‘ Amanda Drew.

Call The Midwife’s Ella Bruccoleri, and My Lady Jane actor Michael Workéyè are also appearing.

Bookish series 1 filming locations

Despite being set in post-war London, the crew behind Bookish series 1 looked further afield to find sites that doubled for its period setting.

According to reports, Gatiss and his cast mates visited various spots in Belgium to find the perfect backdrop for their mystery series. Many locations were specifically chosen for their ability to double-up visually for post-war London.

Those familiar with the area can look out for places in Ghent, Charleroi, Sint-Niklaas and Namur, each of which were used as locations during production. Sequences in Ghent were staged quite close to the city centre along the north bank of the Verbindings canal.

Speaking to Radio 1, Bookish director Dries Vos explained his reasons for selecting these specific spots. “We looked for very specific locations that evoke the atmosphere of 1950s London,” he explained. “The premises where we will shoot in Ghent will represent old film studios in the series.

“We had to make a few minor adjustments, but the buildings evoke exactly the atmosphere we were looking for.”

Is there a Bookish series 2?

Yes, Bookish series 2 is on the way. Gatiss and Sweet’s show was renewed for a second series in early May 2025 – before its first batch of episodes had even made their U&Alibi debut!

While little is known about Gabriel’s newest cases, we do know that filming is currently underway and is set to last throughout summer 2025.

While we wait for more details, UKTV released a first-look clip of Gatiss in action to celebrate the show’s impending return (see below).

Read more: ITV confirms start date of Karen Pirie series 2 alongside ‘thrilling’ first look pictures

Bookish series 1 airs on U&Alibi in July 2025.