Evidence of Love

A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs

By: John Bloom, Jim Atkinson

Narrated by: Charles Constant

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

Critic reviews

"An extraordinary book.... As compelling as the best fiction and as thorough as the best history." (Dallas Times Herald)

Very interesting story

A true tragedy worth learning about. I think the best and worst thing about this book were all the details. It makes for impressive investigative journalism, but as a listener I found it to be a bit much at times. Still definitely worth the listen.

Good story

Just needed a better narrator maybe a mix of different voices from different people..but definitely a good story

True crime

I went looking for this book after seeing the advertisement for the show being released. This book was well executed, catching my attention from the start. The narrator was excellent

Detailed from pre-crime through jury deliberations.

It was a great analysis on the why behind Candy and Betty. What led up to the murder and how the legal system tried the case.

A good rendition of the story

At this point, many are familiar with the story either from the media of the two newer shows of from another version of the story. I liked this one a lot because of the background it gave on all the important players that you simply don’t have time for in a show or movie.

Knowing the legal background of Don, how Candy and Pat met, how Betty and Alan met, it really adds to why people function the way they do.