Actor Mark Gatiss, known for his Christmas ghost stories, has been criticized for portraying his new literary detective, Gabriel Book, as surprisingly hostile to spiritualism. In the two-part murder mystery "Bookish," Gatiss, who also wrote the screenplay, depicts his character as dismissive of mediums and psychics, at one point calling them "filthy, crooked, mendacious, disgusting pigs."
Gatiss's character also expresses a bleak view of religion, with Book snarling, "If there is a God, He is a cruel and abhorrent thing." The detective even stages a fake séance to challenge the beliefs of those who believe in the afterlife, sneering, "It’s extraordinary what tosh people believe."
A Thematic Contradiction
Reviewer Christopher Stevens noted this intense loathing for spiritualism as a contradiction for a performer who has often drawn on the appeal of the supernatural, citing Gatiss's 2020 retelling of the Dracula story as an example. The review suggests that the plot of "Bookish" could have been more engaging if Gatiss had allowed elements of the paranormal to influence the narrative, particularly during séance scenes.
Character and Plot Critique
Much of the dialogue in "Bookish" is described as Book pontificating to supporting characters. The character of Mr. Sneed, the medium played by Jason Watkins, is presented as a fake and a blackmailer. However, the review points out that the identity of Sneed's killer becomes obvious early on, particularly after the psychic's assistant, a former circus artiste, demonstrates a distinct wrist flick when throwing chalk.
The primary issue, according to the review, is the character of Book himself, who is described as cold and tiresomely self-satisfied. The justification for Book's involvement in police investigations, his friendship with Inspector Bliss, is deemed unconvincing, as the two characters appear to have only a cursory acquaintance.
A Glimmer of Intrigue
A brief cameo by Simon Callow as a spymaster, complete with an eyepatch, was highlighted as a moment that lifted the show. Callow's performance was characterized as effortlessly intriguing, drawing a comparison to a Le Carré character appearing in "Midsomer Murders."