Bookish

Gatiss really stepping out of his comfort zone here, portraying a gay, waspish and brilliant bookseller cum detective. I was resistant at first, seeing it as Gatiss's attempt to claim the role Cumberbatch got to before him, but I really warmed to it and I'm glad to see a second series has been greenlit.

The supporting cast are very stage school gorblimey, and there are one or two really bum notes like the diminutive Turkish girl who has, to put it kindly, an unusual acting style. Book's beard, cough, wife is a charming and attractive presence and their relationship is well drawn. The cases are unnecessarily convoluted, but who cares. This is slippers, tea and biscuits TV, and God bless it for that.

I must admit that I had been looking forward to this debuting from the moment I found out of its existence.

I was not disappointed.

I love the characters. Book and Trottie are a wonderful couple, tender and loving. But at the risk of divulging spoilers, I shall say no more on that.

At the time of writing I have only 'binged' four of the six episodes (why are there not more?!). The supporting cast are equally compelling, hinting at depths not yet explored.

The cinematography, direction, set and costume design are all superb.

The storylines are well thought out, with allusions of other famous whodunnits, but with spins on them that only bring them to light during the denouement.

Gatiss is a superb writer, like all of his works he knows his subject matter and he sprinkles Easter eggs and nods throughout whilst creating something truly original.

I am sad that only six episodes have been made. So far. The series, the characters, the mysteries, deserve many, many more outings. If there is any justice, we will see Book and co. Again.

10/10.

Having watched all six episodes in the first series I can vouch for its high entertainment value, but it requires a degree of wit and patience to keep on board with the intricate plotting. Mark Gatiss's script is witty, full of mischievous allusions and cryptic jokes, but this element is counterbalanced by the human story of Jack's relation to Gabriel Book, a story which will no doubt be further explored in the already commissioned second series. It is imaginatively filmed, well acted and strong on atmosphere. Nine stars out of ten because there were a few occasions when I found it difficult to make out what the actors were saying to each other.

I wanted to watch that series because of Gatiss as a Sherlock and Doctor Who fan.

But after 2 first episodes I'm bored and disappointed. Sucha a pity. Nice idea of a bookworm solving crimes in post war London.

Firstly the main character is a boring show off. His is constantly acting like "Look at me, I'm a genius". He likes to be in the center of the attention, not carrying about the others.

His wife is acting like some kind of overacting actress from the theatre. There's completely no chemistry between them. Like they just friends, pretending that they are in love, cos he's gay?

And what with that lisping girl from the neighbourhood, acting like 15 years old?!

She's grown up and acting like a schoolgirl.

Jack is completely bland and the series would be OK without him, he adds nothing in the script.

Ok, now the mistery. We have a few red herrings and of course a murderer is a person, which is showed earlier. People with strong motives are innocent like always. Murderer is punished.

But why they wasted 2 whole episodes to solve such an easy mistery?! Why not 1 episode with less dialogues?!

Little less conversation, a little more action! Like Elvis once said.

Believe me, they're better series that that one.

Now you can hate me, I don't care. That's my opinion, and I will keep it.

Bet you never thought you'd hear anyone say that about any programme, let alone a mystery penned by the usually very reliable Mark Gatiss. The premise is great: book shop owner with lavender marriage solves mysteries in post-war London, but everything is just so slow. The stories creep along at the pace of the encroaching London smog. And London is not London, so there's a fair bit of not very good AI making the streets look a little less Belgian, where it was actually filmed. On top of that, there are some very dodgy accents - the Turkish girl's comes straight out of 2020s Top Boy - and the while thing is filmed in a washed out, over exposed palette. It's a real shame as I was looking forward to this. In the battle of the afternoon TV Marks, it's a win for Mr. Williams.