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It’s time to get those little grey cells working for the return of Bookish, one of the best TV whodunnits in ages.
The quintessentially British murder-mystery is back for a second series of crime and deceit set in post-war London.
British TV legend Mark Gatiss returns as the titular bibliophile sleuth, also penning the razor-sharp script and serving as producer.
This time, the drama goes continental with crimes that span from the mean streets of London to Germany’s medieval castles.
Here’s all you need to know about the second series of Bookish.
What is Bookish about?
Bookish follows the crime-solving adventures of bookseller Gabriel Book, with the first season including a Hollywood murder-mystery, assassination attempts on royalty and a murderous butcher.
The six-episode series is split into three standalone mysteries spanning two episodes each, with overarching storylines of post-war Britain adversity, sexuality and, of course, murder.
In the second series, the bookseller-turned-detective investigates the world of spiritualism with a sinister séance resulting in murder. Then, Book tries to find the measure of a Savile Row tailor who has confessed to murder, but the evidence doesn’t add up.
In the final two episodes, Book and his protégé Jack are shipped off to Germany to thwart a thieving duchess at Christmas time, but festive celebrations turn deadly and the pair of sleuths must confront their own personal secrets.
Bookish season 2 filming locations
Locations for the second season of Bookish spanned the continent, with filming taking place in the UK, Belgium and Germany.
Several London landmarks feature in the series
Whilst in the first season most of the London locations were actually shot in Belgium, this time there were several scenes filmed in Dear Old Blighty.
These included St. Pancras Station, Kensington Park, and Gordon Square, a park located just behind the British Museum and in the heart of Fitzrovia.
Filming also took place outside the Royal Albert Hall, with scenes shot by Kensington Gore throughway, and the Albert Memorial, opened by Queen Victoria in 1872 in memory of her late husband.
Book and Jack head to Germany for the series finale
The series reaches a dramatic climax when the final two episodes involve a mystery that sends Book and his protégé Jack to post-war Germany in 1946.
It’s a two-episode arc packed with spoilers, but relates to the truth behind Jack’s ancestry and Book’s past romance in Nazi Germany.
Scenes filmed at the grand family home where murder casts a dark shadow were filmed at the Chateau De Leignon in Ciney, Belgium.
The wider location of these episodes is the fictional German town of Würl, with exterior shots filmed at Monschau, Germany, with its historic gothic streets giving a picturesque backdrop to the sinister events.
Bookish season 1 filming locations
Filming of the first season largely took place in Belgium, with the country doubling up as post-war London.
Namur, a city located in southern Belgium, featured prominently in the first season of Bookish, doubling up as Archangel Lane, a fictional London address where Gabriel Book runs his second-hand bookstore.
Other Belgium locations used in the first season included the country’s capital Brussels, La Louviére, Antwerp, Charleroi, the municipality of Londerzeel, and the village of Huizingen.
Who is in the cast?
Sherlock actor and screenwriter Mark Gatiss takes top billing as bookseller-turned-detective Gabriel Book, with Polly Walker (Bridgerton) as his wife Trottie.
Connor Finch (Everything I Know About Love) returns as Book’s protégé Jack, with The Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison back as Sergeant Morris.
Season 2 also sees a slew of newcomers, including Rupert Graves (Sherlock), Ruth Codd (How To Train Your Dragon), Miranda Richardson (Good Omens), and Claire Skinner (Outnumbered).
Where can I watch Bookish?
All episodes of Bookish are on U&alibi. The series is also available via the U app via Sky, Now and Virgin Media.
Bookish will return for a Christmas special episode later this year.
Take a look at the trailer below for a taste of the drama.
