Crime Reads » James T. Bartlett

The Darker Side of Burbank, California

The Darker Side of Burbank, California

In a new book, James T. Bartlett offers up a true crime history of the seemingly idyllic city.

By James T. Bartlett | August 19, 2026

A True Crime History of the Los Angeles Central Library

A True Crime History of the Los Angeles Central Library

Over its 100 years, L.A.'s historic library has been home to sinister encounters and unsolved mysteries.

By James T. Bartlett | March 6, 2026

The Strange History of Erle Stanley Gardner and the Las Vegas Private Eye

The Strange History of Erle Stanley Gardner and the Las Vegas Private Eye

How the lives of a famous author and a Vegas sleuth intersected in sensational fashion.

By James T. Bartlett | December 17, 2025

The Christmas Tree King Love Triangle Murder

The Christmas Tree King Love Triangle Murder

In 1950, Harry A. Pozner was the Christmas Tree King of San Diego. He would soon get caught in a bloody mess.

By James T. Bartlett | December 20, 2024

Los Angeles's Dark, Strange History of Trick-Or-Treat Murders

Los Angeles's Dark, Strange History of Trick-Or-Treat Murders

A trip through L.A.'s archives reveals several gruesome killings tied to Halloween.

By James T. Bartlett | October 31, 2024

The Los Angeles Wine World's Enduring Murder Mystery

The Los Angeles Wine World's Enduring Murder Mystery

During Prohibition, wine production was booming, when one of the city's biggest wine makers went missing.

By James T. Bartlett | April 19, 2024

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Books of the Week

The Brief, Bloody Story of Los Angeles’s Own “Bonnie & Clyde”

By James T. Bartlett | October 12, 2023

A Snapshot of the Many and Various Criminals Aboard the Titanic

By James T. Bartlett | April 14, 2023

The Outsider Journalist: The Story Behind a 70 Year Old Cold Case Murder and the Push for Alaska's Statehood

By James T. Bartlett | July 27, 2022