Carnal Innocence

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.