Bookish Season 1 Episode 1 cast and characters: Here's who brought the British crime drama to life

Well, I need not say it but if you happen to love old-timey shows and books, then Bookish is something you're going to have fun watching.

Especially if you perhaps happen to be an English Literature major? Man, have I got something for you that you should definitely watch.

The show is set in post–World War II London, roughly in the late 1940s. However, the most important setting for Bookish is inside a cozy London bookshop and the energy inside those four walls will rub off on you in a good way.

Season 1 Episode 1 of the show does two big things really well. Well, for starters, it introduces us to a strange little mystery and it introduces characters who feel dangerous and mysterious.

If you are wondering who brings this British crime drama to life, then we have characters who have curious minds and we also have stubborn cops. Episode 1 of the show gives us a strong first look at the faces of this British drama and in just one episode, you already know who you trust, who you question, and who you want to follow deeper into the story.

A dusty mystery, a curious death, and a bookshop that knows too much

In Episode 1 of Bookish we first meet Book's, a secondhand bookshop in London run by Gabriel Book. Apart from being a bookshop owner, Gabriel also helps the police solve cases, even when some officers clearly wish he would stay in his lane.

On this particular day, Gabriel brings in a young man named Jack, a man fresh out of jail and expecting factory work, not a life among shelves. Jack, however, settles in fast, especially after Gabriel and his wife Trottie offer him a room in the attic and a sense of safety he hasn’t felt in a while.

Outside the shop, a strange discovery pulls everyone into motion. At a nearby bomb site from the war, a former warden named Baseheart finds human bones while digging around. The details don’t add up.

The street had already been cleared before the bombing, and the bodies seemed far older than the raid itself. A coin that had been found from the year 1665 also brings on some more confusion, hinting at something much older and darker, possibly linked to plague-era burials.

At the same time, the police are dealing with what looks like a simple suicide. A chemist named George Harkup is found dead in his rooms by his cleaning lady, Mrs. Dredge. There is no note, and the scene feels odd. Inspector Bliss allows Gabriel to take a closer look, even though Sergeant Morris strongly hates his presence.

Gabriel’s memory and eye for detail start to poke holes in the suicide story. A missing jade figure replaced by a cheap chess piece, dust patterns that don’t match the cleaning schedule, a strange bump on the back of George’s head, and the choice of poison all feel wrong. Gabriel begins to believe this was murder, and not self-harm.

As Gabriel keeps digging into clues, he learns more about George’s messed-up relationship with his daughter Merula, her boyfriend Mickey, and the tensions over money and trust. Merula’s pregnancy also adds on to complicate the family story even further.

Meanwhile, back at the shop, Jack is asked to research the old coin as a small test of honesty. He’s joined by Nora, a teen from the Turkish restaurant across the street who loves crime stories a little too much. Their shared orphan pasts spark an easy bond.

Layered under all of this are secrets Gabriel and Trottie clearly keep from the people around them. They leave the shop at night, claiming they are headed to the opera, only to split ways with a careful warning to each other. Gabriel also meets a man with an eyepatch who hints at old favors and unfinished business.

By the end of the episode, George’s will surfaces, revealing that his daughter inherits nothing while Mrs. Dredge benefits financially and with this, the mystery now feels darker than when we first started.

Bookish Season 1 Episode 1 cast and characters: Here's who brought the British crime drama to life

1) Mark Gatiss as Gabriel Book:

Gabriel Book runs Book’s and has an almost magical memory that lets him remember facts and details from decades ago. In this episode, he hires Jack not just for help in the bookshop but because he believes in second chances.

His curiosity lights up his eyes with sparks when the chemist’s death does not sit right with him. He notices dust patterns, injuries that do not make sense, and the odd choice of poison.

Beyond the clever mind, there is also tension all around him. Late-night meetings, a man (it is later revealed that he is queer and is in a lavender marriage with Trottie) with an eyepatch asking for favors, and the way he slips out with Trottie hints that Gabriel’s past is far from simple in Episode 1 of Bookish.

Mark Gatiss is also known for: The League of Gentlemen & Dracula.

2) Polly Walker as Trottie:

Trottie is Gabriel's wife and best friend and she welcomes Jack in like family, gives him space in the attic, and makes the place feel safe. At the same time, she is fully involved in Gabriel’s investigations.

The episode shows mystery around her character, especially when she and Gabriel head out supposedly for the opera but separate ways with a goodbye. Their shared history goes back to childhood in an institution, where she once saved a book for him from being destroyed. This shaped their bond and their pact to always have each other's backs no matter what.

Polly Walker is also known for: Patriot Games & Bridgerton.

3) Connor Finch as Jack:

Jack has been recently released from jail; he doesn’t share what landed him there, but he clearly wants to start fresh. He is also kind and is very curious. He expected to work in a factory, but instead got a job at Gabriel's bookstore and he fits in fast.

Jack takes pride in cleaning the bookshop and digs into the history of the old coin given to him by Gabriel. Jack’s role in Episode 1 gives the audience a glimpse into the world of Bookish.

Connor Finch is also known for: Capital of Pain & Everything I Know About Love.

4) Elliot Levey as Inspector Bliss:

Inspector Bliss represents the good side of law in Bookish. He respects Gabriel’s brilliance and allows him space to question witnesses and explore multiple theories.

While even Bliss first believes George’s death might be simple, he stays open to Gabriel’s theories and keeps the door open for further investigation. He acts as a bridge between rigid police procedure and Gabriel’s weird ways of thinking.

Elliot Levey is also known for: The Chamber & Martin's Close

Other supporting cast members for Episode 1 of Bookish Season 1 also include:

1) Rosie Cavaliero as Mrs. Dredge:

Mrs. Dredge is kind on the surface, but something feels off when she speaks. She claims to clean George’s place once a week, and yet Gabriel notices dust all over the place.

Mrs. Dredge shares stories about George and his daughter, stories that paint Merula as greedy, something that feels too convenient to go off of. She also admits she visited the day before to collect bandages for her injured son.

When George’s will surfaces and names her as a beneficiary, the strain around her character increases.

Rosie Cavaliero is also known for: Gentleman Jack & Hold the Sunset

2) Buket Kömür as Nora:

Nora works in her uncle’s Turkish restaurant across the street but spends most of her free time at Book’s because she prefers books and crime stories over waiting tables at the restaurant.

In Bookish, Nora wants to write detective stories and is fascinated by real-life mysteries. She has also lost both of her parents during an air raid and lives only because her mother carried her to safety. Her bond with Jack grows due to shared loss and due to both of their curiosity.

Buket Kömür is also known for: Our House & Roger Waters: Us + Them

3) Ella Bruccoleri as Merula Harkup

Merula is called in to identify her father’s body, a task no child should ever face. Her relationship with George was strained, mostly because of his disapproval of her boyfriend, Mickey.

Yet, Merula does not believe her father would take his own life. She also reveals that she is pregnant and had hoped the baby might have healed the family on Bookish.

Ella Bruccoleri is also known for: Down Cemetery Road & Paddington in Peru

4) Blake Harrison as Sergeant Morris

Sergeant Morris is the clear obstacle for Gabriel on Bookish. He dislikes when Gabriel meddles with police work and resents Gabriel’s involvement on cases. Even with letters of permission, Morris is rigid and defensive.

His creates tension in every scene of Bookish, reminding the audience that not everyone welcomes unconventional methods.

Blake Harrison is also known for: The Inbetweeners & Maigret

Episode 1 of Bookish is like a mystery novel and the cast adds tension and mystery to every side of the story. From Gabriel’s smart mind to Jack’s hope for a better life, from Trottie’s loyalty to Nora’s curiosity, every character adds something to the show.

Even the side characters seem like they have hidden motives. If this opening episode is any sign, Bookish is as enjoyable as wanting to solve a puzzle, no matter how hard it gets. And honestly, that’s worth sticking around for.

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