New True Crime Book Details Harrowing ISIS Attack on American Cyclists in Tajikistan

Bloomsbury Publishing announced the November release of William Elliott Hazelgrove's true crime book Evil on the Roof of the World: A Cycling Trip That Ended in Terror, which has already received a stellar review from Publishers Weekly describing it as a chilling true crime tale that will leave readers aghast. The book meticulously reconstructs the harrowing fate of American cyclists Lauren Geoghegan and Jay Austin, whose two-year global journey ended tragically in a brutal ISIS-led ambush in Central Asia's Pamir Mountains.

Drawing from the couple's personal blogs and interviews with family and friends, Hazelgrove vividly portrays their extensive journey that began in South Africa and took them through Europe before reaching Tajikistan. The account details numerous challenges the cyclists faced throughout their adventure, including confronting charging elephants and battling malaria in Africa, as well as dealing with suspicious officials while traveling through Europe. The narrative builds toward the devastating conclusion in Tajikistan, where their dream adventure met a violent end.

Hazelgrove's direct and utilitarian prose style, noted by Publishers Weekly as lending the account an unsettling air, serves to heighten the emotional impact of this deeply researched true crime story. The author, a National Bestselling writer of ten novels and twelve nonfiction titles, brings significant literary credentials to this project, having previously written Dead Air The Night Orson Welles Terrified America and serving as the Ernest Hemingway Writer in Residence where he wrote in the attic of Hemingway's birthplace. His work has received starred reviews in major publications and has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered, with coverage in The New York Times, LA Times, and other prominent media outlets.

The importance of this publication lies in its detailed examination of the risks faced by adventure travelers in politically unstable regions, particularly the growing threat of terrorist attacks in Central Asia. The book serves as both a memorial to the victims and a cautionary tale about the dangers that can await even the most prepared travelers in conflict zones. More information about the author can be found at https://www.williamhazelgrove.com.