Evil Beside Her: The True Story of a Texas Woman's Marriage to a Dangerous Psychopath

This was a detailed account of life with James Bergstrom, a voyeuristic deviant who liked bondage and raping women. The viewpoint is primarily that of his wife, Linda, who appears to be a simpleton, but who was the only one who seemed to know her husband for what he was. Her cries and complaints about him to law enforcement fell on seemingly deaf ears for some time. No one was able to stop him til he had attacked numerous women.No one comes out smelling like a rose in the author's account: not his wife, nor his family, nor local law enforcement authorities. All were complicit in allowing James Bergstrom to continue his spree with wild abandonment, though his wife did make some futile efforts to get him to cease and desist, succeeding only after many years. To her credit, she cooperated with the authorities, when he was finally arrested.Though the book was quite detailed, and it is clear that the author did her homework, I found it to be a bit tedious and repetitious. The fact that I thought the wife to be repellent in her ignorance and stupidity did not enhance the story. I found myself largely unsympathetic towards her. Still, devotees of the true crime genre should find some enjoyment in the author's account of the life and crimes of this deviant.

This is the first book that I have read by Kathryn Casey, and wow what a book it is.It takes place in Washington State and Texas, mostly Texas.As a woman, I often ask myself when you hear of domestic abuse etc. why a woman would stay with her abuser.Well.. folks.. read this book and you will find out why.This is the TRUE story of a serial rapist married to a wife who repeatedly tells the police about her husband being a rapist and NOTHING is done about it.This gives you the inside look at how a serial rapist mind works, and how it affects everyone around him.Be sure to read this and as a woman, you will never leave your doors and windows open again.Good Book.. but very sad that there are monsters out there, and so much that the law cannot do to protect us.

Boring.... Although I realize in an abusive relationship there is a learned helplessness a woman goes through, some of the action she took was just plain dumb. Had I been his wife if I had learned he was a sexual predator, there is no way in hell I could have stayed, and the mere fact she had a baby with this monster then had to worry if he had done something to the child infuriated me. It was way past the time to leave. I'm sorry if I'm judging her, and even though I have this same background, him being a sexual predator and keeping my child safe is a guarantee, I'm gone.This man is a man who could never take up for himself, a wimp, as a result, he took all his hate, anger, and rage out on women. As much is the case they fear men. I'm so glad she got married again, I'm still not able to trust men.

Very well written, page turner! The author really made you 'feel' what these people were feeling - I felt like I really got to know the characters - especially Linda....I was thinking about her even when I wasn't reading so it was something that the author was able to etch into my brain....I know - weird, right? Most books don't affect me this way - but I think it was the author's style.

In some parts of the world, characters like the sick and twisted protagonist of this story, would probably get killed before he causes more harm, but in the story Evil Beside Her: The True Story of a Texas woman's marriage to a dangerous psychopath, it seems he is allowed to carry on with no problems. The able Kathryn Casey know how to write True Crime, and this story is no exception. The part that baffled me was that the wife of this perverted, abusive excuse for a human being, did not get any type of assistance, and thanks to her persistent will power, she finally was able to put closure to what must have been, without a doubt, a very stressful and dangerous existence, at the hands of this psychopath.For the money the book was a nice value for those who favored the hard to believe world of True Crime. Law enforcement has a way sometimes, to let characters like these, slip through the cracks, allowing them plenty of opportunities to do what their sick minds love best. Too many rights for the accused, and very few for the victims, makes this story one more example of how these type of individuals keep going on and on.Not one thing to like about this person, but plenty of things to like of his wife, that at firs could not even comprehend how horrendous his husband behavior was, and when she did, she unfailingly did not give up the fight to liberate herself from his presence. 4 Stars.

Although book covers crimes and trial set in the early 1990's the story is timeless. I gave book a 4 because I thought Linda's experiences following the trial could have been better developed. Author's post trial interview with perpetrator was previously addressed during and after trial. Since author included contact information to protest parole reviews I would like to make a few suggestions and provide information that may help in protests. DA and judge who covered the trial are notified in writing when inmate comes up for parole and are asked for recommendations. I personally recommend that letters be hand written as they stand out from typed documents in file. Don't wait until inmate comes up for review to protest. I recommend that protesters flood the Parole Board via victims services.would also recommend that letters are sent by individuals rather than one letter signed by numerous persons.

A very disturbing book about the vile crimes of James Bergstrom. Bergstrom's wife Linda knew for years that her husband was a rapist and peeping Tom but nobody would believe her. If they had, Bergstrom would have been stopped sooner. I read lots of crime books but every once in a while you read one that gets under your skin and this was one of them. Bergstrom actually thought his crimes weren't that bad because he wasn't beating his victims up. He thought he should get probation and help with his 'Problem' thankfully the jury didn't agree and he was jailed. Kathryn Casey went to visit him to interview him for this book and on her third visit she told him a few home truths. He was going to punch her. A truly disgusting man and for the women in America, I hope this thing is never let out of prison.

Another compelling read by Ms. Kathryn Casey.I only "encountered" Ms. Casey's books in March 2019 as I have avoided reading nonfiction novels....until last March!This is the fourth novel I have read from this author and as with the previous three novels the characters leap out of the pages.…..Ms. Casey is such an artist of her genre.As with "Die, My Love" I read this novel in two days, which is unusual for me.With the turn of every page I was "feeling" for Linda and hoping justice would prevail...at times I was moved to tears.Thank you Ms. Casey for a most important book to read regarding the subject matter. I realise the events in this book are almost 30 years old (27 years from the verdict) but I have this moment emailed the address at the back of the book (the Texas Judiciary) expressing my views, hoping Mr. Bergstrom is still imprisoned.Finally Ms. Casey, thank you for letting your readers know how Linda has progressed with her life....Barrie in Spain.

It's quite staggering to read this and learn just how difficult it was for Linda Bergstrom for years and years to get someone to take her seriously when she told them her husband was a dangerous rapist. His own family, the navy, medical personnel, the church, the police, the legal profession. Why on earth did they think she was informing them about him ?? Just amazing nobody took her at her word. No doubt when some of his latter victims got to read this book they were equally shocked and saddened too, since their own attacks should never have happened.The navy I thought behaved in an appalling manner. They knew what he was up to but as long as he agreed to take his "little problem" elsewhere they were more than happy to release him onto an unsuspecting civilian population with an honourable discharge, no less !!Their own medics said he'd never be cured but he was no longer their problem once he left their service.His own family too behaved terribly in covering up for him and the fault lies as much at their doorstep too along with the church. James professed to be a religious person and they also encouraged him in his crimes by never taking him to task over them even when they had been told what was going on !!I did wonder at Linda going ahead and marrying him as there were clues in their courtship as to what sort of person he was. However, I suppose we're all guilty of wearing rose-tinted specs at times.I was shocked that by law she wasn't able to testify against him. I know a spouse can't be compelled to do so but this read as it not being legal which I find strange. It was odd too that in one Texan city full of small towns and areas that they never communicated with each other. It seems if it was out of their own little jurisdiction they didn't give a toss !!Well done to Linda for persevering with getting him brought to justice at long last. Of course it also meant her own daughter was kept safe away from her own father which was the best thing that could have happened to her. I tried to learn what happened at his most recent parole hearing in June 2013 but couldn't find a more recent update online so I am hoping he's still in prison.I happened across the odd apostrophe error but that was all so that was good. I'll certainly read more of her books as once again she doesn't do the timeline hopping around that occurs so often in true murder accounts and can become confusing.

Justice seems to often be the prerogative of the perpetrator. I applaud the courage of the victims in this book and hope that the rapist remains behind bars in 2014 .this at least can give all those affected by his sickness some peace of mind.Thank you again Kathryn Casey for another good read.

Such a compelling case, so much to this story and such a shame of how Linda was treated by the police, I hope the scuba rots.