Bookish

What it’s about

Gabriel Book runs an antiquarian bookshop in post-war London, where crime flourishes amid the rubble. His thousands of volumes are shelved in an order only he understands, and he draws on them to help the police solve baffling cases. His wife Trottie runs the wallpaper shop next door—an energetic adventuress whose optimism pulls Gabriel forward when an investigation stalls. Around them gathers a group of lovable but troubled individuals whom Gabriel informally protects and guides.

What hooks you

Mark Gatiss plays Gabriel Book, with Polly Walker as Trottie. The first season was largely shot in Belgium rather than London, lending a distinctive visual texture to the period setting.

Who it’s for

It is worth a look for anyone who likes period mysteries with a literary bent, where clues hide in old books and the atmosphere is thick with post-war gloom. It will also suit those drawn to eccentric characters and gentle ensemble dynamics rather than hard-boiled action.