5 crime drama shows similar to Love & Death that should definitely be on your watchlist

Love & Death is set in a small Texas town, and the story follows Candy Montgomery, a religious woman who is also a perfect wife and mother. She is bored with her life and begins an affair with her friend's husband, Allan Gore. Candy, with her relationship with Gore, hopes to fill the emotional emptiness in her marriage. However, this affair gets complicated as feelings deepen and secrets become harder to hide. Tensions rise between the two families, and everything explodes when Candy and Allan's wife confront each other.

The show is based on the 1980 killing of Betty Gore, who was found dead in her home after a violent axe attack. If you have enjoyed Love & Death and want to explore more gritty crime dramas, here is a list of 5 similar ones to watch.

Here are 5 crime drama shows similar to Love & Death that you should watch

Candy (2022)

This isn't the first time Candy's case has been adapted to a show. This also happened in 2022, and a mini series titled Candy explored the case, highlighting the psyche behind the affair. It featured a housewife having a secret affair with her husband's best friend, while this tension ended with the death of Betty Gore, Allan's wife.

Therefore, if you want to gain more insights into the same case, Candy could be a good choice.

Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)

This show is about the murder case of a young woman and her baby and showcases a Mormon detective investigating the case. She gets pulled into religious extremism within a seemingly devout and close-knit community.

The show is similar to Love & Death because it portrays a similar small-town facade beneath which hides intense emotional drama. The story is based on a true crime and, just like the HBO show, examines how hidden desires can destroy families.

The Staircase (2022)

This 2022 show opens with the murder of Kathleen Peterson. She was discovered dead at the bottom of the staircase, and what's shocking in the case is that her husband, Michael, eventually became the prime suspect. Viewers see the murder case unfold over the episodes. The authorities investigating the case, while the courtroom battles and interrogation of the husband reveal the motive behind the killing. This way, the fractured marriage of the seemingly happy couple comes to light.

Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story (2020)

Betty Broderick is shown to be a typical devoted wife and mother who discovers her husband's infidelity and manipulation, which eventually leads to their collapse. These years of resentment and emotional abuse compel her to execute a double murder.

A comparison can be drawn to Love and Death for the kinds of themes it covers, including infidelity, manipulation, and betrayal.

Landscapers (2021)

When the wife's parents are murdered, a British couple becomes the prime suspects. The body of the murdered parents is discovered in the backyard after many years. What's fresh in this show is the couple's fantasy-filled, co-dependent relationship. The show highlights how an entirely different world could be hidden beneath the ordinary lives of some people.