New Book Reveals Untold Story of American Cyclists Murdered by ISIS

In 2018, the world was horrified when American cyclists Lauren Geoghegan and Jay Austin were brutally murdered by ISIS radicals while biking through Tajikistan on the remote Pamir Highway, a tragedy that symbolized the collision between youthful idealism and violent extremism. Now, bestselling author William Elliott Hazelgrove reveals the complete, untold story in his upcoming book "Evil on the Roof of the World," scheduled for publication by Bloomsbury Academic in November 2025. Drawing extensively from the couple's personal journals, blog posts, and interviews with their friends and families, Hazelgrove takes readers beyond the sensational headlines to explore who Lauren and Jay truly were—what motivated them to leave their comfortable lives in Washington, D.C. to embark on a global cycling adventure, and how their journey of wonder and discovery ended in tragedy on what locals call the "roof of the world."

The book has already garnered significant critical acclaim, with Booklist describing it as "a story of searching humanity" that captures "a couple in search of something bigger than the everyday, who became victims of an ideological war." Reviewer Jeff Connelly notes that fans of Jon Krakauer's "Into the Wild" will appreciate this compelling narrative of human exploration and tragedy. Publishers Weekly praises Hazelgrove's "chilling true crime tale" and his "utilitarian prose" that allows the facts to drive the narrative forward, concluding that "readers will be aghast" at the story's powerful impact. The review highlights Hazelgrove's ability to illuminate both the beauty and peril of the couple's global journey, from memorable encounters with elephants in Africa to facing suspicion and hardship across Europe and Central Asia. Hazelgrove, known for his previous works including "Hemingway's Attic" and "Madam President: The Secret Presidency of Edith Wilson," brings his signature narrative depth to this story that captivated international attention, finally revealing the complete truth behind this tragic event. More information about the author and his work can be found at www.williamhazelgrove.com.