James Bartlett

Originally from London, James Bartlett has been living in Los Angeles since 2004. Before that he lived in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for almost five years.

In his 25-year career as a freelance journalist covering travel, lifestyle, entertainment, history, crime and obscure attractions, he has written for over 150 publications including the Los Angeles Times, National Geographic Traveler, SFGate, Westways, The Guardian, AARP, NPR, the BBC, and Atlas Obscura, among others.

He is the author of the Gourmet Ghosts alternative guides to LA, which led to his hosting walking tours in downtown Los Angeles, and appearing on television shows including Ghost Adventures and The UnXplained with William Shatner.

His book The Alaskan Blonde, a reexamination of an unsolved murder in Fairbanks, Alaska in 1953, was nominated for an Anthony Award, and his latest project, True Crime Burbank, is coming from Arcadia Publishing in 2026.

He graduated from Staffordshire University with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies, and like many British schoolchildren, his first international journey was a field trip to France. Travelling these days he prefers a window seat, preferably en route to Tasmania, or exploring the Alaska Highway.