Editor's note: This column contains spoilers for the documentary "Should I Marry a Murderer?" and descriptions of murder.

Picture this: A brilliant young Scottish forensic pathologist has just escaped an abusive relationship when she meets a charming outdoorsman living on a remote estate. Within weeks, the whirlwind romance leads to a surprise engagement.

What could go wrong? As it turns out, quite a lot.

That’s the premise of Netflix’s docuseries “Should I Marry a Murderer?” a true-crime tale of a naive, vulnerable woman and her cold-hearted fiancé. It’s easy to see why the series is now among the platform’s top 10 most-watched shows, but its popularity may not be for the reasons you’d expect.

'Should I Marry a Murderer?' is edge-of-your-seat true crime

“Should I Marry a Murderer?” has all the makings of a gripping true-crime drama wrapped inside a deeply toxic love story.

Dr. Caroline Muirhead, head over heels in love, learns that her fiancé, Alexander “Sandy” McKellar, was involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash with a cyclist years before they met. McKellar confesses that instead of calling police, he and his twin brother, Robert, buried the man on their farm, the Auch Estate. Later, McKellar reveals an even darker truth: The victim was still alive after the collision.

Muirhead soon discovers the man was Tony Parsons, a cancer survivor participating in a charity bike ride when he seemingly vanished without a trace. After weeks of agonizing, Muirhead contacts law enforcement.

Though the twins are initially arrested and released due to insufficient evidence, Scottish........

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