They could have called it "Sex and the CSI" or "Law and the City." In fact, the pitch for Women's Murder Club, the new ABC mystery series based on the books by James Patterson feels so see-through that it's part of the flaw. Instead of getting intrigued by the mystery, you start to pick out the inspirations from the Darren Star-esque banter between the women to the Bones-esque sexual chemistry between some of the characters investigating life and death situations. And then there's the title. Is it a riff on Babysitter's Club, that series of young adult books for girls? Who knows, but it's horrible, easily the worst title of the year. Women's Murder Club isn't the worst show of the year, however. There are too many talented people on-screen for that to happen (although the same holds true for Big Shots and that's one step up from physical torture). But it's definitely flawed and never quite justifies its existence. There are just too many shows doing almost the same thing but better. And that's the kiss of death in the world of TV. You need to stand out from the club.

Set in San Francisco, Women's Murder Club stars Angie Harmon (Law & Order) as Inspector Lindsay Boxer, the principal character on the series (or the leader of the club). Lindsay is friends with and works with Dr. Claire Washburn (Paula Newsome), A.D.A. Jill Bernhardt (Laura Harris), and, occasionally, crime reporter Cindy Thomas (Aubrey Dollar). Lindsay also has a partner played by Tyrees Allen and an ex-husband who now serves as her Lieutenant named Mr. Big, wait, sorry, Tom Hogan (Rob Estes). Using their different roles - cop, lawyer, doctor, and reporter - the four women solve different crimes every week, while a series arc killer lurks in the background. In the first two episodes, the women solved the murder of a famed reporter and a triple homicide inside a subway car. And they looked fabulous while they did it.

Women's Murder Club is the kind of show where the lead characters are talking about how one is moving in with her boyfriend one minute and standing over a body the next. It's a jarring mix of styles with dialogue that sounds ripped from Sex and the City one minute and CSI the next. The writers go from relationship talk about exit strategies to get out of a bad one jarringly to cliched cop-speak like "This guy's organized and precise." as they stand over a body. The scripts and the dialogue just don't work and it's a shame because Angie Harmon is her typically charming self and Laura Harris (Severance, 24) is the kind of actress who could easily become a household name if she found the right vehicle. She's charming and gorgeous and completely wasted in Women's Murder Club. It's the kind of writing that even makes you feel bad for Rob Estes. We like everyone involved, so we hate to wish the pain of cancellation on any of them, but at least then they'd be able to move on to bigger and better projects. Put this Club out of its misery.