It was obvious in Sherlock. That show may have given a thriller-ish boost to Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, but the episodes were still, at heart, a love letter to the mastery of the iconic author and his creation.
Unusually for Gatiss, he is striking out on his own here. He is unmoored from any IP like Doctor Who or Dracula, and from any of his former collaborators like Steven Moffat or the League of Gentlemen.
At a time when TV is absolutely flooded with detective dramas, almost to the point of bursting, it's impressive how much Bookish manages to stand out, and how much it feels like a breath of fresh air.
The bookshop may be a useful tool for Book, as he searches through his archives to find clues, and it acts as a sort of home base for the series, but we're not here to watch the day-to-day work he does there. Instead, we're here to see him catch some killers.
Every two episodes follow one mystery, while the start of the series also sees the arrival of Jack (Connor Finch), a young man fresh out of prison who Book and his wife Trottie (Polly Walker) have a puzzling interest in, and hire to work in the shop.
We also learn early on a crucial detail surrounding Book and Trottie's marriage - they are best friends, but it's a lavender marriage, with Book being secretly homosexual at a time where to be so was illegal, and Trottie pursuing her own dalliances elsewhere.
This means we get into each of the mysteries quickly, allowing each of them to play out at pace across the two episodes which each one straddles.
Meanwhile, we actually get to know the characters in each mystery, and engage in their situations beyond the specifics of how they interacted with the victim(s).
This is particularly important given the time period. Gatiss is not just interested in unraveling puzzles, but he's specifically interested in examining the post-war era, and what it meant for British society. Each character and each setting adds to that examination.
This is perhaps only notable because what we are given is so strong. The storyline surrounding Jack and his involvement with the Books is intriguing, but feels like its on speed-run. Meanwhile, the details of Book's homosexuality and his relationship with Trottie add a real emotional depth to proceedings, but once again, a little more exploration would be welcome.
They're both fine actors, and it's a shame to admit that they do feel supremely wasted here, often functioning more as window-dressing to fill out the world, rather than character's with utility in their own right.
All that aside, there are a few clear reasons why Bookish works so well, but the most evident of them all is the tone.
No, this is nearer the end of the spectrum where murders are an interesting puzzle to be solved, with little emotional engagement in that aspect of the narrative. It isn't quite 'cosy crime' as we've come to know it - it more fits in the tradition of Agatha Christie. In fact, there's more than a bit of Poirot about it all.
It just tiptoes around that line perfectly, making sure each episode is full of humour, light and a bit of a wink to the audience, but without undermining the weight of some of the more serious, personal stories tackled.
As already mentioned, the character is no doubt eccentric. From his very affected pipe-chewing to his particular staccato manner of speaking, everything about this screams TV detective, but in a way which feels charming and dutifully referential, rather than cliché.
It's unclear whether the episodes were shot in order, but it does at times feel that way - as though Gatiss is also figuring out who Book is as he goes, and becoming more and more assured about each of his decisions.
Gatiss and the team have also assembled an impressive guest cast, with the likes of Joely Richardson, Daniel Mays and Paul McGann stepping into roles for each individual mystery. It's a calibre of guest star which really does help to elevate the entire series, particularly when you're putting it in comparison with other recent detective series.
That elevation is also helped along by the look of the show, with excellent production design making the whole thing deeply immersive.
In this, it absolutely succeeds. Bookish is supremely watchable and provides us with a brilliant new TV detective, some craftily constructed puzzles and a fascinating look at post-war London.
Here's hoping, should Gatiss be interested in the long haul, there will be many more seasons to come. This really does feel like a series that could run and run.
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