CBS offers a murder mini-series

By BRAD WALTERS

Basic story: A group of mostly 20-something friends and family gathers on a small, secluded island near Seattle to celebrate the nuptials of real estate heiress Trish (Katie Cassidy) and her boyfriend of more modest means, Henry (Christopher Gorham). But before anyone’s said “I do,” various degrees of decapitation and dismemberment ensue among the island’s guests and longtime residents. The murders continue, one per episode, and everyone who’s still alive is considered a suspect. “Harper’s Island” is billed as a murder mystery but feels just as much like a prime-time CW soap opera — think “Scream” meets “One Tree Hill.”

What it faces: The series, which replaces the on-hiatus “Eleventh Hour,” is up against fellow newcomer “Southland” on NBC and “Private Practice” on ABC.

What you’ll love: “Harper’s Island” only lasts 13 episodes (get it? 13!), so commitment-phobes will find it manageable. And those who’ve missed Gorham as prime-time’s brawniest brainiac in “Ugly Betty” will be glad to see him return. (He’s still a Henry, even!)

What you won’t: You’ll need to sketch out a friends-and-family tree to keep up with the more than two dozen characters, one of whom includes the obligatory creepy child whose throaty intonations imply that she knows more than the adults. Will she see dead people, too? (And don’t bother asking why the wedding party doesn’t high-tail it back to the mainland after the first murder.)

Bottom line: Thumbs up for a unique concept, but after watching the pilot, you might just want to tune in July 2, when you can find out whodunit without having to witness all the grisly offings.