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Over the Edge
He Called It A Tragic Accident.
On a May evening in 1998, the idyllic marriage of wealthy Lake Tahoe couple Peter and Rinette Bergna ended in a crush of metal as their truck plunged 800 feet down a Sierra-Nevada mountainside. Peter was thrown from the vehicle and lived. Rinette, strapped in her seat, died on impact. In time, the grieving widower would meet a new woman, and put the tragic past behind him. Two-and-a-half years later, his life took another fateful turn...
Authorities Called It A Crime.
Bergna, esteemed art appraiser and son of one of California's most prominent attorneys, was indicted for the murder of his wife. Was Rinette's death really an accident-or deliberate homicide to free a controlling killer from a financially and emotionally trying marriage? The contradictory twists and turns of the case resulted in a hung jury. But it was the second trial that would yield even more surprises as a divided community waited for the final stunning verdict.
On a May evening in 1998, the idyllic marriage of wealthy Lake Tahoe couple Peter and Rinette Bergna ended in a crush of metal as their truck plunged 800 feet down a Sierra-Nevada mountainside. Peter was thrown from the vehicle and lived. Rinette, strapped in her seat, died on impact. In time, the grieving widower would meet a new woman, and put the tragic past behind him. Two-and-a-half years later, his life took another fateful turn...
Authorities Called It A Crime.
Bergna, esteemed art appraiser and son of one of California's most prominent attorneys, was indicted for the murder of his wife. Was Rinette's death really an accident-or deliberate homicide to free a controlling killer from a financially and emotionally trying marriage? The contradictory twists and turns of the case resulted in a hung jury. But it was the second trial that would yield even more surprises as a divided community waited for the final stunning verdict.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 18, 2017
A truck carrying a husband and wife goes off the edge of a mountain near Lake Tahoe. The woman is killed while the man is 'thrown clear' and survives. Hmmm, was he really in the truck when it went over? There are LONG verbatim transcripts (the original 911 call, the police interrogation), but once Fleeman actually starts writing, the book improves--so hang in there.
April 27, 2024
Mainly boring for me. Narration is good but the majority instead of a story and timeline is police interviews, repetition, and then court. It seems a bit detached to me throughout.
August 16, 2021
First of all, I bought this book thinking it was about a different case altogether; I’d been watching an episode of Dateline about a husband who had murdered his wife while pushing her off a scenic overlook in Rocky Mountain National Park. The interview of the author on the Dateline episode was introduced as having written “Over the Edge,” THE book about the wife falling off an overlook I myself have hiked.
But no—this book is about a man who DRIVES his truck through a guardrail in the SIERRA NEVADAS, killing his wife who stays seatbelted inside the truck while he somehow is “thrown clear.”
Over the Edge is the most generic of true crime books, barely scratching the surface of the development of the murdering husband’s mindset, which is why I’m drAwn to true crime in the first place. And the court trail—another important element for me in these true crime books, is muddled and meandering and difficult to follow. You’re basically getting a grocery list of info to check off, and then the book is over.
According to the narrative, there is an existing Dateline episode devoted to this case as well. I would recommend watching that, and skipping this book
But no—this book is about a man who DRIVES his truck through a guardrail in the SIERRA NEVADAS, killing his wife who stays seatbelted inside the truck while he somehow is “thrown clear.”
Over the Edge is the most generic of true crime books, barely scratching the surface of the development of the murdering husband’s mindset, which is why I’m drAwn to true crime in the first place. And the court trail—another important element for me in these true crime books, is muddled and meandering and difficult to follow. You’re basically getting a grocery list of info to check off, and then the book is over.
According to the narrative, there is an existing Dateline episode devoted to this case as well. I would recommend watching that, and skipping this book
January 7, 2023
Just "OK"
This book told an interesting story but it was often repetitive. The entire book was about this one "accident" and the trial that followed. There was very little information about the characters and their lives together. It was just kind of boring. I don't think I would recommend it to someone who is a real true crime buff.
This book told an interesting story but it was often repetitive. The entire book was about this one "accident" and the trial that followed. There was very little information about the characters and their lives together. It was just kind of boring. I don't think I would recommend it to someone who is a real true crime buff.
September 14, 2020
Good writting
Another good book by this author. I like the way he summarizes the court room scenes,makes the story flow well.
Another good book by this author. I like the way he summarizes the court room scenes,makes the story flow well.
October 28, 2022
Not good
May 30, 2025
this did not live up to my true crime expectations. that is it. I person thought it was a chore to read this.....wears my allowance!?
December 26, 2019
Very well written. Author remained within the context of the crime, the suspect and the trial(s), rather than drifting off on unessential and extraneous “stories” about all the character’s backgrounds (as many authors tend to do). It is apparent Fleeman (the author) did his due diligence in compiling the facts, information and staying as close as possible to actual conversations between main characters. I should add, Peter Bergna was (is) a total idiot, thinking he could pull off the murder of his wife by trying to con the police with his incomprehensible ramblings as to how this "accident" occurred. This guy (Bergna) wins top awards for stupidity.
Personally I enjoy trial portions as long as the author maintains a sense of brevity and concentrates on just the most essential elements within the trial - the author did. The narrative flows smoothly and kept me interested from the first page to the last page. Give this book a five stars.
Personally I enjoy trial portions as long as the author maintains a sense of brevity and concentrates on just the most essential elements within the trial - the author did. The narrative flows smoothly and kept me interested from the first page to the last page. Give this book a five stars.
July 2, 2007
I really loved this book because it takes place in Lake Tahoe and I knew all the places where the murder took place. It is the story of a man who killed his wife by driving her over the edge of a cliff. He denied his guilt in the case and still does as he sits in jail today. This story was a major news event in Reno when we were moving up here and it is a fascinating tale of greed, selfishness, egotism and lying by a man who was a pillar of his community.
October 6, 2014
I would have to say I really didn't enjoy this book at all...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews