Cyclists' Idealistic Journey Ends in ISIS Terror in New Book

Bestselling author William Elliott Hazelgrove returns with a powerful new work of narrative nonfiction, "Evil on the Roof of the World: A Cycling Trip That Ended in Terror," published by Rowman & Littlefield on November 13, 2025. The book reconstructs the tragic story of two young American idealists, Lauren Geoghegan and Jay Austin, who embarked on a global cycling journey in 2018 to document their belief in human goodness. Their inspiring odyssey through multiple continents ended horrifically in the mountains of Tajikistan when members of ISIS deliberately ran them down and murdered them, creating a collision between idealism and violent extremism that forms the core of Hazelgrove's investigation.

Hazelgrove meticulously pieces together their journey through diaries, blogs, and extensive global reporting, creating what Publishers Weekly describes as "meticulously researched" and "haunting" work that blends travel writing, moral inquiry, and investigative journalism. The author explores the fundamental question of whether innocence can survive in a world that still harbors evil, tracing Geoghegan and Austin's path through the Caucasus, Europe, and Central Asia while examining the enduring tension between hope and cruelty. Early reviewers have praised the book as "a powerful meditation on belief and violence," with Hazelgrove's utilitarian prose letting the stark facts carry the narrative forward to create what Publishers Weekly calls an "unsettling air" that leaves readers "aghast."

The acclaimed author, whose work has been featured on NPR, CBS, NBC, Inside Edition, and The New York Times, brings his considerable narrative skills to this profound exploration of modern idealism. Hazelgrove explains his motivation: "I wanted to understand what happens when pure belief in the world meets evil head-on. It's a story about courage, but also about our faith in humanity." As a National Bestselling author of ten novels and twelve nonfiction titles with numerous literary awards and distinctions, including being the Ernest Hemingway Writer in Residence, Hazelgrove brings significant credibility to this important work. More information about the author and his extensive body of work can be found at www.williamhazelgrove.com, where readers can explore his previous acclaimed titles and upcoming projects.