By the book

A bookseller in 1940s London has a knack for solving crimes

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After playing Sherlock's brother Mycroft, Mark Gatiss steps further into detective territory in U&Alibi's intriguing new period crime drama, Bookish.

Mark's character Gabriel Book is a quick-witted, no-nonsense bookshop owner with a flair for mystery solving.

Set in London in 1946, Bookish is more noir than cosy crime, with a rich historical backdrop. "It's one of my favourite periods," Mark says. "There was austerity in Britain, but it was also the most radical government we ever had. There was interesting political stuff, but people's lives had been turned upside down. The streets were awash with guns from looted German corpses. There were people like [double murderer] Neville Heath roaming the streets."

Enter Gabriel Book, consultant to the police - and, occasionally, unwilling asset to the secret services.