Actor and screenwriter Mark Gatiss has received a scathing one-star review from television critic Christopher Stevens for his new U&Albi drama series Bookish.
Stevens criticized the two-part murder mystery drama, in which Gatiss writes and stars as 1940s detective Gabriel Book, describing the main character as cold, tiresomely self-satisfied, and hostile toward spiritualism.
The review highlighted a stark contrast between Gatiss's previous work on BBC Christmas ghost stories and his aggressive portrayal of anti-spiritualist views in the new drama. In the show, detective Gabriel Book attacks psychics and mediums, calling them "filthy, crooked, mendacious, disgusting pigs."
Book also expresses strong disdain for conventional religion, stating, "If there is a God, He is a cruel and abhorrent thing." To challenge believers in the afterlife, the detective stages a fake seance, sneering, "It's extraordinary what tosh people believe."
Stevens noted that Gatiss's apparent loathing of spiritualism creates a strange contradiction for an actor renowned for his supernatural roles. Gatiss previously wrote and starred in a 2020 television adaptation of Dracula, drawing on audiences' natural attraction to paranormal themes.
Spiritualist murder mystery storyline
The drama centers on the murder of Mr Sneed, played by Jason Watkins, who is depicted as an unhappy medium, fake psychic, and blackmailer. Watkins performs the role wearing a black wig that Stevens noted slid off the back of his head like singer Ozzy Osbourne in a wind tunnel.
During a seance scene, the lights go out, and Sneed is discovered dead with a knife embedded in his heart. The murder weapon carries the fingerprints of a dead man, which Stevens praised as a clever plot element.
However, Stevens found the overall mystery predictable. The killer's identity becomes obvious when Sneed's assistant, played by Saffron Coomber, is revealed to be a former circus artiste after she flicks a stick of chalk at Book's assistant Jack, played by Connor Finch, using a distinctive wrist twist.
Character dynamics and supporting cast
Much of the dialogue features Gabriel Book pontificating to minor characters, including his wife Mrs Book, played by Polly Walker. Stevens observed that Mrs Book's primary role appears to be standing in open-mouthed awe while her husband quotes authors Charles Dickens and Moliere.
The show attempts to explain why police allow Book to investigate crimes by citing his friendship with Inspector Bliss, played by Elliot Levey. Stevens argued that this arrangement fails to convince viewers, pointing out that when Book asks after Bliss's wife, it becomes clear the two men barely know each other.
The critic compared the dynamic unfavorably to the close bond between the amateur detective and professional officer seen in the drama series Grantchester. Stevens added that Book's facial expressions in rare silent moments resemble entertainer Larry Grayson sucking a lemon drop.
Cameo performance by Simon Callow
Despite his criticism of the main narrative, Stevens praised actor Simon Callow for lifting the two-and-a-half-hour production during a brief cameo appearance. Callow portrays an eyepatch-wearing spymaster who brings intrigue to the screen.
Stevens described Callow's performance as effortlessly compelling, comparing his appearance to a character from a John le Carre spy novel popping up in the detective series Midsomer Murders.
