Mark Gatiss has written and will star in Bookish, a new period crime drama for Alibi.

The 6 x 70’ drama is set in London in 1946. Gatiss plays Gabriel Book, who runs an antiquarian bookshop while acting s a self-appointed consultant detective to the local police.

Polly Walker co-stars alongside cast regulars Connor Finch, Elliot Levey and Buket Kömür. Joely Richardson, Daniel Mays and Jonas Nay will make guest appearances.

Bookish is from Eagle Eye Drama and producer Christopher Arcache. The series is co-written with Matthew Sweet and directed by Carolina Giammetta. The executive producers for Eagle Eye Drama are Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino.

Gatiss said: “To misquote Goodfellas: “All my life I’ve wanted to be a detective!” I couldn’t be more excited to be bringing this series to the screen, and to plunge viewers into our intoxicating version of post-War London. It’s an under-examined time and an under-examined world and Bookish is the strange, funny and thrilling show that I’ve always wanted to make.”

The series is being produced in association with Happy Duck Films and is supported by the Belgian Tax Shelter.