Let’s face it, everybody’s been there. You’re invited to a wedding that just so happens to be taking place on a sleepy little island. Then, one by one, the guests are murdered. Don’t you just hate it when that happens?

Welcome to the premise that is Harper’s Island. If you missed it when it aired on BBC3 (easily done considering both the channel and time slot), it’s well worth getting acquainted with.

It’s a weird hybrid of soap and horror – shorror, if you will - that works really well. Imagine a mass murderer set lose on the students of 90210... Okay, yes that would be a great show in itself, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Look at these faces. One of them is a killer, but who? Warm, getting warmer, warmer, oh chilly again...

Trish Wellington (Katie Cassidy) is set to marry Henry (Christopher Gorham) on Harper’s Island. As she comes from wealthy stock, it’s a bit of a do, with many of their friends and family invited for their special day. But even when the boat begins its departure to the island, one of the guests meets a grizzly end. The first of many.

On arrival, more guests bite the proverbial dust. It transpires that many of the killings resemble similar deaths caused by – wait for it – the island’s very own serial killer some years earlier. But he was killed by the sheriff and buried on the island, right? Well, wasn’t he? Regardless of who it is, they need to be stopped, because he’s killing at such a rate they’ll be no-one left on the island. The problem is, the killer is really, really good.

One of the really refreshing things about Harper’s Island is the fact that it’s a self-contained series of 13 episodes. You know from episode one that after the last episode, there won’t be a further 11 series before all the questions asked in the first are answered. So if you don’t want to invest half of your life into a series, this is perfect.

The show also pushes the limits a bit too. The story hurtles along at a pretty frantic pace, and many of the deaths are enjoyably gruesome for a TV show. In fact, the series itself puts a lot of so-called horror films to shame.

And the producers know what they’re doing; they’re fully aware that the audience is jumping back and forth from character to character, declaring them to be the killer, only for them to have some one-on-one time with the grim reaper. So really, it’s a great TV version of Cluedo, but without all the faff of moving pieces around a board.

The writing might not be as sharp as it could have been, but as the show doesn’t take itself that seriously, it’s not a deal breaker.

There’s also a B-movie feel to the acting too, but that only adds to the show’s overall charm. And although there are enough pretty young things, both male and female, to keep the eye candy brigade happy, there are plenty of rugged, real-life types to stop it descending into some kind of island fashion shoot.

Considering the amount and time and commitment that certain shows ask audiences to invest – often without any just rewards – Harper’s Island is a breath of fresh air. It’s fun, slightly-edgy TV that doesn’t take itself too seriously. You should definitely take a visit, just don’t get too close to any of the wedding party...