Dave Bartell

Dave Bartell writes fast-moving thrillers that blend archaeology, history, and high-stakes adventure. He calls them “airplane books”—stories that lift off the moment you sit down and carry you someplace unexpected.

His love of exploration began early, as he climbed Mount Whitney at the age of ten and backpacked fifty-mile trails by thirteen. A set of carved bone beads he found on a rocky peak sparked a lifelong fascination with the mysteries of the past and the people who left them behind.

Dave studied biochemistry and practiced Zen meditation with the Jesuits, bringing a mix of curiosity, discipline, and inner focus to every story he writes. His characters face danger, uncover hidden truths, and confront the moral weight of the choices before them.

He lives in Los Gatos, California, where he hikes the hills behind his home—still chasing the sense of wonder that fuels his work.