The fatal flaw of "Nora Roberts' Carnal Innocence" was in the screenplay that included far too many characters. The result was a long parade a new faces with all of the roles underdeveloped.

The actors were stuck with trying invest cameos with some substance, and the result was often caricatures. For example, there are four new male characters whom we meet in a bar in the middle of the film. The men decide that they are going to beat or even kill a black laborer named Toby March. The abhorrent scene that follows almost appears like the parody of a lynching.

The main romantic relationship of Caroline Waverly and Tucker Longstreet was so far-fetched that the love connection was never made credible. Caroline was a virtuoso violinist who had played Carnegie Hall. Tucker was a lady's man with no understanding or appreciation of Bach's concerto "Largo ma non tanto." It was hardly believable that Caroline would ever give the time of day to the rube of Sweetwater, let alone put her career on hold for a fling.

With so many characters and plot strands, there was never a clear set of suspects for the serial murders. At some point, the audience needs to "care" about the characters and situations. But this Gothic romance set in the Deep South failed to elicit any empathy and never produced some much needed Southern Comfort.

A woman is found dead in the river near the small town of Innocence, Mississippi. Famed violinist Caroline Waverly (Gabrielle Anwar) returns to her late grandmother's home to escape problems. She hasn't been back since 9 years old. Tucker Longstreet (Colin Egglesfield) is the local playboy from the rich family in town. Josie (Jud Tylor) is his sister, Dwayne is his screw-up brother, and Della Duncan (Shirley Jones) is his longtime nanny. Edda Lou Hatinger believes Tucker is marrying her and she makes a scene at the diner when he rejects her. The killer lures her out to the river and kills her. Sheriff Burke investigates with newly arrived FBI Agent Matthew Burns. Both women were Tucker's exes and he's the prime suspect. Edda Lou's father Austin is arrested after shooting at Tucker.

Romance writer Nora Roberts moves towards the crime drama in this one. I'm not a fan and I couldn't claim to know her writing. As crime drama, this is not good. Caroline shows no sign that Tucker could possibly be the killer. In fact, it's the opposite and the tension is all gone. Why would Austin come after Caroline instead of Tucker? The characters don't always make sense. This is too desperate to make it a romance which only makes it a bad romance. The production is weaker TV level. The actors are mostly second tier. By the second half, the story and the killer's identity stops mattering.

Interesting, intriguing film dealing with a series of murders in a small Mississippi town. The town seems to be nicely integrated and with the exception of a black man being beaten up in one scene, all people seem to live in harmony. In fact, the head of the police is a black gentleman.

Shirley Jones, as Della, has a small role here. At the very end, she has a strong,emotional scene once the killer has been revealed. Ironically, one of the victims of the murderer is a woman who resembled Shirley so much in her Oscar winning role as Lulu Baines in 1960's "Elmer Gantry."

Our leading man, Colin Egglesfield, ought to change his name. He will be the object of every joke regarding eggs should his career evolve.

This story has everything going for it. You play a real guessing game in determining who the murderer is and I guarantee that you will not come up with the answer.

We've got lust, cheating on spouses, revenge, and so much more.