Bookish

Bookish #1

by Matthew Sweet

Adapted from the major television series created by Mark Gatiss - out now!

'A delicious read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ READER REVIEW

London, 1946. Gabriel Book is an erudite and unconventional London bookseller married to Trottie, the owner of the wallpaper shop next door. He is also a sleuth who uses the chaotic riches of his stock to crack the puzzling cases that come his way.

He does not work alone. Book's shop is a magnet for waifs and strays - some of whom bring mysteries of their own to his door. There's Nora, sometime bookseller and true crime enthusiast; Dog, connoisseur of ginger biscuits and then Jack, whose arrival at the shop forces Book to confront a loose end from his own past.

Clever, endearing and entertaining, Bookish is a warm-hearted and unexpected mystery, about books, murder and the secrets we all keep.

*ORDER THE NEXT VOLUME OF BOOKISH, OUT THIS SUMMER!*

Readers are loving Bookish

'Spellbinding' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'If you love a whodunnit, you'll love this' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Charming and entertaining' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Books About Books, Audiobook

377 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 17, 2025

About the author

Matthew Sweet is an English journalist, broadcaster, author, and cultural historian. A graduate of the University of Oxford, where he earned a doctorate on Wilkie Collins, he has contributed to The Oxford Companion to English Literature and served as a film and television critic for The Independent on Sunday.
Sweet has written extensively on British cinema, most notably in Shepperton Babylon: The Lost Worlds of British Cinema (2005), a history of Shepperton Studios and the early British film industry, which was later adapted into a television documentary. His other books include Inventing the Victorians (2001), which challenges common misconceptions about the Victorian era, and The West End Front (2011), a history of London’s grand hotels during World War II. He has also explored Cold War intrigue in Operation Chaos (2018).
A prominent broadcaster, Sweet has presented numerous BBC television and radio programmes, including Silent Britain, Checking into History, and British Film Forever. He is the host of BBC Radio 3’s Sound of Cinema, which examines film scores and composers, and has been a regular presenter on Free Thinking (formerly Night Waves). His BBC Radio 4 series The Philosopher's Arms explores philosophical themes before a live audience.
A lifelong Doctor Who fan, Sweet has written several audio dramas and short stories set in the Doctor Who universe and has presented numerous documentaries on the series, including Me, You and Doctor Who for the 50th anniversary. He has also conducted in-depth interviews with key figures from the show for its DVD and Blu-ray releases.

Reviews

[K.J. Charles]

I bought this assuming it was the basis for the TV show rather than a novelisation. But Also I like Matthew Sweet's non fic a lot, so.

I didn't love this. The point of view bounces around in rather a TVish way, and I feel like the author has leaned in to people having rather loaded noun surnames a bit obviously, and mostly it's three separate cases rather than a coherent whole. Might feel completely differently if I'd watched the TV show, perhaps, but as it is I didn't quite feel it worked as a novel, though the historical background is great. I also wish Mark Gatiss would do like one positive happy non-doomed queer relationship in any art form, that would be nice.

[Tyler Phillip Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If this book/show wasn’t made for me I don’t know what is! A bookshop owner that solves murders?!

Mr Book is a very smart, sarcastic and quirky man who owns an antiquarian bookshop called “Book’s”. He also helps to solve crimes, such as murder… With a few secrets himself… Oh and a special letter from Churchill. He has become one of my favourite book/show characters ever! @themarkgatiss has created such an incredible character that he brought to life on screen.

This book is split into 3 different stories (“Slightly Foxed” , “Deadly Nitrate” and “Such Devoted Sisters”) that span over 6 + months. Each with its own equally as interesting twits and turns. As well as some interesting, compelling, complex and sometimes odd characters.

The overall story is fantastic. It being set just after World War 2 in London was really fun. And made things a bit more eerie. I loved the development for all the characters were great! I had fun reading and watching these quirky characters. Mr and Mrs Book are an interesting couple to say the least! But they are so amazing together. They kinda gave Ed and Lorraine Warren vibes. (Mostly because of the show and they both would wear the same colour as part of their outfit) I especially loved the development and bound between Book and Jack, I’m excited to see what happens with them in season 2/a 2nd book… Hopefully. The murders were great, all felt completely different from each other. “Slightly Foxed” was my personal favourite.

Matthew has done incredible job bringing the characters from the show into the book. Added some little details that I really enjoyed! Him and Mark have done an amazing job with the show. I highly recommend it, as well as the book… Obviously!

I decided to watch the TV show before reading the book and I think it helped with visualisation of 1946’s London. And especially the characters. With how they act, talk like, etc. (for example when Book figures something out in the show you hear a little bell ring, that I could just still hear that in my head while reading)

[Igenlode Wordsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently this is a novelisation of a TV series I've never seen.
I enjoyed it as a standalone novel, probably more than I would have liked it as TV - though I had the feeling there must have been more episodes than the three covered here, because the ongoing background storyline felt rather unresolved...

Very good evocation of the period; the charm is in the detail.

[Tereza · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Perhaps there was no correct approach. Perhaps she just had to choose her own way of getting it wrong.” Page 341

Not a summary, just a quote from the Bookish book of Book’s I liked.

[Maine Colonial · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novelization of the TV series, the plotting is entirely faithful to the TV episodes, but still worth reading because the writing is vivid and evocative. It’s a bonus that the narration is by Mark Gatiss, who created the series and plays Book.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bookish is the book version produced from an adaptation of a TV series created by Mark Gatiss but although the book is written by Matthew Sweet it is Mark Gatiss that I can hear on every page. This is an incredibly well written and emotionally engaging read which by the end I absolutely loved.

Gabriel Book is a bookseller who owns a bookshop on Archangel Lane in London in 1946. He's clearly an eccentric character when we meet him through the eyes of Jack Blunt. Jack has just left prison and has no where to go, but he is given an introduction to Book's and he heads that way finding both accommodation with Book and his wife, Tottie, and a job in the bookshop. Jack quickly discovers there is more to Book than meets the eye as he becomes involved in an investigation of a mass grave close by Archangel Lane underneath a row of bombed houses.

There are three such investigations that Book and Jack become involved in during the course of the book, all quite different but needing to be read in order. While each case is complete in itself these are not intended as short or long short stories, as through them more is revealed about Book and his unusual, if not precarious, position, and the reason why Jack has been favoured with the good fortune of a home and employment.

There is a lot more to these stories than just "whodunnit", indeed as each story reveals more about the main characters the mysteries almost seem secondary to the lives that are being displayed before us and the complexity of those relationships, for although happily married to Tottie, Book is gay and this makes him very vulnerable at that time particularly working so closely with the police. But Book isn't the only person in the story with a "secret" and as the reader progresses through the 3 investigations we see the pain of all the people involved all trying to live their best life in a society where people are forced to conform or at least have a veneer of conformity. We see the pain that causes, the repercussions of that forced secrecy and the beauty of lives and loves overcoming those prejudices and still having a level of happiness and fulfillment. In Bookish we see British society at the dawn of changing times and as readers in 2025 know that those attitudes also change, but Book doesn't know that in 1946 which adds to the pathos of this book and my heart went out to all off those people in Archangel Lane.

[Celia Haupt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narration and story gripped me from beginning to end. I didn't want to leave the book when it finished, so I started again. I am glad I did, because the prologue and epilogue fit neatly together like the two ends of a necklace coming together in the clasp. I had forgotten about the prologue. Not sure why. In between, there are three relatively independent whodunnit murder stories. I say "relatively " independent because the main characters evolve through the stories, and we learn much more about their lives and their relationships. I enjoyed the historical setting, just as WWII ended. There was witty humour to balance the murder and mayhem. And the narration! Wow.

[Jamie Bowen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gabriel Book is a bookseller, but he’s also a crime solving sleuth with many of the mysteries that come through his door.

I haven’t seen the TV series and I don’t know if it would have helped with my enjoyment of this book. Essentially this book is comprised of three short stories, which I’ve read and didn’t really engage with them. I had no empathy for the main characters, the writing didn’t help me imagine what they looked like or what their motivations are. Sorry, this book didn’t work for me.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed this so much, war crime has me hooked.

[Louise Bath · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

[Alexandra (Ally) Francis Jakobsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

I was really excited to pick this up based on the description, but the writing style just didn’t click for me. Even though it’s written in third person, the narrative jumps perspectives and scenes so frequently that I never found a comfortable reading rhythm. The constant switching kept pulling me out of the story instead of drawing me in, and I struggled to stay engaged.

That said, I think this one will work better for readers who enjoy a faster, jump-cut style of storytelling. If you already have a connection to the TV series or enjoy that format—quick transitions, multiple viewpoints, and shorter scene-to-scene pacing—you may end up liking this one much more than I did. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the right fit for me, so I decided to DNF.

[Carol Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could have given 6* I would.
Enjoyed every page. Loved the characters, personal situations, the problems to be solved in every section, the detailed descriptions of the people and place.I was so involved with the whole Novel that I cried at the end.
I haven't seen the original screen version and it did give me a visual idea of the actual characters so I hope the film version doesn't let me and my imagination down. 

[Anschen Conradie]

#Bookish – Matthew Sweet
#Quercus

Modern man is battle weary. News bulletins reflect the reality of a society perpetually aware of violence. In the aftermath of World War I Agatha Christie’s cosy mysteries – although the term had not been coined at the time – were exactly what traumatized readers desired; mysteries entertaining armchair sleuths with lead characters that they could identify with, murderers that killed for the sake of greed, love, or revenge, not inherent evil, and crime scenes that were not graphically described and were devoid of excessive blood and gore.

In later years the small screen followed the trope with popular productions like Murder she wrote and Midsummer Murders, and, more recently, Bookish, created by Mark Gatiss. The latter is set in post-war London, 1946, and features a bookshop owner, aptly named Gabriel Book, an amateur sleuth, co-starring his partner in a lavender marriage, Trottie, the owner of the wallpaper shop next door, Nora, a true crime enthusiast, Jack, a former convict, and Dog, connoisseur of ginger snaps.

This novel is an adaptation of the television series and comprises three murder mysteries, sufficiently interlinked to qualify as a novel, rather than a trilogy of independent novellas. The opening and closing formats display an epistolary nature, introducing the reader to the main characters by means of correspondence dated 1962. The main body of the text is presented as a document created by Nora, who is, at the time of the correspondence a well-known author, narrating three murder cases that the characters became involved with during 1946.

The reader is introduced to post-war London from Jack’s perspective, who can compare the pre- and post-war settings due to his incarceration. When he is released, his observations are utilized to set the scene: “The teeth had been knocked out of the City. Once-elegant buildings leaned on wooden crutches.” (8-9) The same technique is applied to ensure the reader’s comprehension of the character’s state of mind: “For graduates of the blackout, the sudden appearance of a radiant yellow square brought a faint churn anxiety. Put that light out.” (41)

Book is an eccentric character, presented as the stereotypical English gentleman of the time. He is utterly dependant on tea, admitting “Without tea I am merely unreconstituted dust” (16), and follows his own system of book arranging, recoiling in horror to any thought of change, “He had read about a coven of French Satanists who stole consecrated communion wafers and fed them to the cats of Paris. Now, however, he understood the true meaning of sacrilege.” (88) Conversations with him tend to be grammatical minefields, with language errors regarded as disasters: “And it’s a split infinitive… Will the horrors never end?” (27)

The first murder mystery, titled Slightly foxed, centres around the murder of a local businessman, the second, Deadly nitrate, sees the arrival of a filming team, using the bookstore location as a temporary set, and the third, Such devoted sisters, includes princesses from the Royal House of Scutari. The recurring theme in the second and third mysteries is slightly disappointing. Both involve murder by poison, challenging the reader to determine not only the identity of the murderer, but also whether the deceased were indeed the intended victims.

Fans of cozy mysteries, especially those appreciating the subtleties of the English language and culture of bygone days, will enjoy Gabriel Book and friends.

#uitdieperdsebek

[Jenny Cooper · Rating 2 out of 5]

WW2 has just ended and Gabriel Book is living in London, running his bookshop and is married to the wallpaper vendor who lives next door. In his spare time he is also an amateur sleuth, often using clues found in his extensive collection of weird and wonderful books. Originally conceived and broadcast as a TV series, this book comprises three of the cases which he worked on.

I think the best thing that I can say about this book is that it had started to grow on me as it progressed. I also liked the quirkiness of the characters. Other than that, I’m afraid I struggled.

The downside had a lot to do with both the writing style and the character development (or lack of it). I have a feeling that both these things may hark back to the fact that it was adapted into book form from a TV series.
Firstly, the writing style was somewhat erratic – there were lots of short scenes with perspectives jumping all over the place. This is fine for a TV series, in fact it is probably the sign of a good TV series, but it doesn’t translate well onto the written page.
And secondly, I didn’t feel as though the characters were fully developed. By the time I had finished the book I didn’t have a clear picture in my head of a single person who featured in the book, not the way they looked, nor the way they “worked”. I should say here that I have never seen the TV series and I am not sure what the protocols are for this situation – it felt very much as though the book was relying on the fact that its readership were already familiar with the characters from having watched the TV version. Given that I was not in this position (and presumably I will not be the only reader not to have seen the TV series) I think the author needs to work extra hard to develop the characters more fully than is necessary for the screen-watching contingent. A direct transposition from screen to page is not going to do the trick. When a TV production is made, a lot of the information required by the viewer is relayed by visual and audio clues. The personality and mood of the character is given by the way they look, the intonation of their voice and the mannerisms and expressions which they use. When the work is translated to the written word, all these cues are missing and the author’s job is to provide them. In this instance I’m not at all sure that the author fully appreciated this aspect of a literary adaptation and it’s a shame as I think it could have been a really good book.
Finally, it wasn’t really a complete book as such, but more like three episodes of a TV drama. At least, this is the way that it came across. The main characters were the same in all three stories but the supporting cast was different each time depending on the particular murder which was being investigated. Much like Cabot Cove and St Mary Mead, Gabriel Book’s area of London is a dangerous place to live.

Would I recommend this book? I can’t honestly say that I would but I might suggest people watch the TV version as the book had all the ingredients of a very watchable series.

[Kate St · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Bookish and found it an entertaining and easy book to get into. There’s a lot to like about the story, it has an appealing premise and plenty to keep the story moving, and I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen next. My main criticism was the writing style. At times, it felt much more like I was watching a television programme than reading a novel. There is a strong sense of scenes being set up and dialogue moving the story along, which makes it very visual in one sense, but I sometimes felt that I was missing the descriptive detail that would have helped me properly picture what I was reading. I would have liked more description of the characters in particular. I found myself having to construct their appearances and mannerisms largely from the dialogue and actions, rather than being given enough detail to form a clear picture of them in my mind. For me, that made some of the characters feel slightly less rounded than they might otherwise have been.
Having said that, these are really personal preferences rather than reasons not to read it. I did enjoy the story, the premise kept me interested, and it was an enjoyable read overall. There were plenty of moments that worked well, and I finished it feeling that I'd had a good time with the book, even if I didn't completely connect with the writing style.
A solid, enjoyable read with an interesting premise. I just wish there had been a little more descriptive writing and character detail to bring the story fully to life for me.

[Hilary Tesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was attracted to this book because I’d seen the TV series advertised (not on Freeview)and knew Mark Gatiss was involved in the production as well as taking the part of Gabriel Book himself. I was therefore expecting something as complex and clever as Sherlock had been. This it was not, but it was still enjoyable. Set in post-war London in 1946, the book consists of three “episodes” in which Book, a bookshop owner in Archangel Lane, helps Inspector Bliss solve his cases. I found the development of each case more interesting than the solution because it introduces the other characters and their relationships with Book. Trottie is Book’s wife and owner of a wallpaper shop next door to the bookshop. Jack Blunt, newly released from prison, receives an invitation to take a job at Book’s - later, we learn why. Nora is introduced as a successful author in a letter written years later but in the story she’s still a teenager who spends a lot of her time at the bookshop. Each play their roles in the cases, of course. I’m glad I didn’t pay the full h/b price for the book but as a Kindle bargain, it was worth buying and reading. Maybe, 3.5*

[Curtis Wilkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like the TV programme as the premise seemed right up my alley but as soon as Mark Gatiss did his "mysterious" voice I couldn't be bothered with it as I find it annoying. That said, I went in knowing it was a TV adapatation so the thing other reviewers have mentioned about some bits seeming too TV-y I could put aside.

There was simultaneously too much and not enough LGBTQ+ representation.
I felt like the history of queer London in the post war years was interesting, and could have done with more fleshing out, with less wavering between coy hints and leering winks. Not every historical queer relationship has to end in sadness, too. Presumably there were threads left un-tied for the next series/sequel but it meant elements of the story felt unfinished and unsatisfying, too. I don't feel we knew much more about Jack's father on the last page than we did at the beginning.

[Oundle Crime · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't have access to Netflix so I was intrigued to find this – the book of a new Netflix crime series – on the library shelf. Turns out the book was written after the TV series, not before. Nonetheless it’s quite an entertaining read. Set in London, 1946, Gabriel Book is a bookshop owner with a sideline in sleuthing, and married to Trottie, the owner of a wallpaper shop next door. The book has three different mysteries, one after the other (probably each taking two episodes on the TV?). The plots are okay but it was the settings and characters which make this worthy of a recommendation. I'd describe it as a sort of classy cosy crime.
Review by: Cornish Eskimo, Oundle Crime

[Dragonlady Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not seen the serialisation; not sure I want to. Maybe.

The concept is great - and feels so right for a quirky amateur detective. The post war period is beautifully, visually, atmospherically brought to life. The stories feel a bit Dorothy Sayers. I like the little band of characters that thread through the book.

What lets it down for me is the inconsistent style. Some of the phrasing is lyrical, wonderful, the touches of alliteration and assonance inspired - but the short sentences can lose punch and leave the reader blinking, looking for the rest of the words. Hence the 4 stars, and not 5.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have watched the tv show Bookish, this is the book of the three stories in season one. The writing style captures the characters and the mix of humor and seriousness of the show. These three tales are presented as written by Nora, after the events and sent to Gabriel Book many years later.
Set after the war in London where blitz ravaged streets and rationing is still in place and a book shop owner called Gabriel Book (hence the name of the shop Book's Books, and a much commented on apostrophe in the name) who has a letter from Churchill and a craving for mystery and helping out the police.
All in all a fun read. Can't wait for more.

[Meg Onthemove Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3.5

Very readable set of crime stories, though based on the TV show rather than the other way around. Book is no Sherlock Holmes, being concerned with small details (which the reader is often able to spot due to the way it is written) rather than leaps of logic .... so the crimes are not amazing in their complexity but some of the books/journals etc that Book uses to find answers seem very interesting.

It's more interesting in a way for its depiction of a happy lavender marriage and Trottie and Book's relationship.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though there were some interesting parts to this book that couldn't be done in the TV series, overall, this read like a screenplay. I enjoyed reading it, but I don't think I gained any great insight or more understanding of the series created by Mark Gatiss. There were some prose descriptions that were very well done. I especially liked the description of Jack leaving the prison. "He had no need to blink or shade his eyes. Someone had stolen the sun from England." I hope that there will be a season two to the series. I think there's more to the story of the Books, Jack, and Nora.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this although every now and again I found it hard to follow and thought I'd missed something - nope! Just a lack of clarity on occasion butbit could be entirely my error. I liked the characters - especially Nora. There were 3 murders in the one novel so the pace of each crime was quite swift. I would read a follow up should there be one and am looking forward to seeing the televised version which was scripted first. Love Mark Gatiss and it was his original idea I think.

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I discovered the TV series' a little while ago and binged them in short order. I'd hoped that there was a book series it was based on, mainly so I could find out what happened after the end of the 2nd series on TV.
Unfortunately, the book is almost taken word for word from the scripts.... which means I didn't gain anything in the reading. Having said that, I think if I hadn't seen the TV series, I would have enjoyed this much more.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this along watching the TV series from which this was adapted. I found both enjoyable. I'm not sure how well the book would stand up on it's own though. I found some parts of the text vague and plot details a little confused, only clarified by watching each episode. But the setting and characters were all very appealing. The storylines promise intrigue and for the most parts succeeded in capturing me. The ending hints at more to come.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got distracted and didn’t watch the series so I didn’t expect to line the book but I just fell right into this. It’s based on the series rather than the series being f based on the book and is structured along the same lines as the series. Book’s books is a refuge for a recently released prisoner who becomes embroiled in book’s sideline of murder investigation. It’s inspired me to try watching the series again.

[Dan Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, but some is a bit too twee or on the nose.

Didn't really need to be set in a bookshop, did it?

I ready 1/3 of the book which I realise now probably corresponds to one episode of the TV show (which I haven't watched).

Probably would have been 4 stars on its own, but it was a let down to realise that it's sold as one book but is episodic.

[A J HOOPER · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing set of 3 stories, dealing with a series of murders. Mr Book runs a shop in a war damaged part of Fleet Street in around 1946. It's called Book's. He is married to Mrs Book but they live separate lives although extremely fond of each other. He goes cottaging. The action is set in a hotel called the Walsingham which is dead ringer for the Savoy.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written in 3 parts. I really enjoyed the first part, but found the second 2 parts disjointed. The overarching themes of Jack's relationship to the Books and the Books' relationship to each other was never really resolved. I never thought I'd say this, but in this case the show may be better than the book. I also felt like I needed to research WWII to fully understand the plot.

[Neil Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

its a wonderful good old fashioned TV tie in novelisation. by Matthew moody Sweet himself. based on TV show by Mark Gatiss and Sweet. if you know the names, you'll know if you like it already.

I lived the extra bits of colour hidden on the set dressing on TV, but here providing a little more to the reader.

I loved it, best thing since Jago & Litfoot finished.