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Evidence of Love

A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs

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Evidence of Love

By: John Bloom, Jim Atkinson
Narrated by: Charles Constant
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Candy Montgomery and Betty Gore had a lot in common: They sang together in the Methodist church choir, their daughters were best friends, and their husbands had good jobs working for technology companies in the North Dallas suburbs known as Silicon Prairie. But beneath the placid surface of their seemingly perfect lives, both women simmered with unspoken frustrations and unanswered desires.   

On a hot summer day in 1980, the secret passions and jealousies that linked Candy and Betty exploded into murderous rage. What happened next is usually the stuff of fiction. But the bizarre and terrible act of violence that occurred in Betty's utility room that morning was all too real.   

Based on exclusive interviews with the Montgomery and Gore families, Evidence of Love is the riveting account of a gruesome tragedy and the trial that made national headlines when the defendant entered the most unexpected of pleas: not guilty by reason of self-defense (Fort Worth Star-Telegram).   

Adapted into the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning television movie A Killing in a Small Town, this chilling tale of sin and savagery will "fascinate true crime aficionados" (Kirkus Reviews).

©1983 John Bloom and James R. Atkinson (P)2019 Tantor Crime Murder Social Sciences True Crime Violence in Society Exciting Marriage
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Critic reviews

"An extraordinary book.... As compelling as the best fiction and as thorough as the best history." (Dallas Times Herald)
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Book is fact based, so doesn’t show a bias in how the crime is explained.
Given the brutality of the murder, this might be a difficult listen for anyone sensitive or squeamish.
The story is very well narrated too.

Incredibly Well Researched Account of The Murder

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I saw the tv show love and death, staring elizabeth olsen who is my favourite actor and seeing her play this role was amazing. And knowing she read this boom to get an insight into candy, and the show using the book for references was interesting. It was great to hear things the show didn't talk about and get an extention to this story.

Greater insight after seeing love and death with Elizabeth Olsen

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This is an amazingly well documented account, including back stories on all principle characters. While precisely what transpired is still being debated, this account is as close as any of us will get to a fly on the wall account. Excellent reading.

The definitive account

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An easy listen and an interesting account. I would recommend. A good twist at the end.

The characters are really brought to life.

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… don’t google it beforehand, as the final reveal of the murder during the courtroom denouement is electrifying.

This is a long, detailed and forensically researched account of a shockingly violent and bloody killing within a quiet, suburban churchgoing community in late 1970s Texas. The authors do a great job of grounding and giving life to the case - both in a wider sociological context, and in the deeply personal profiles of the protagonists.

The depth of the examination can make some passages feel a bit too drawn out, but it all serves a purpose as the case moves towards its conclusion.

The final analysis is absorbing, but since the book was written so long ago, this 2019 audio version might have benefited from an addendum giving more information about what happened to those involved in the intervening years.

The male narrator is excellent - one of the few I’ve heard who is able to subtly suggest character, including those of the opposite sex, without resorting to ‘doing voices’. Easy to listen to and spot on with pronunciation (surprisingly rare in audiobooks!). Great job.

For fans of true crime, highly recommended.

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