Bestselling Author William Elliott Hazelgrove to Release Definitive Account of 2018 ISIS Murder of American Cyclists

William Elliott Hazelgrove, the national bestselling author of over twenty books, will release the definitive account of the 2018 ISIS murder of American cyclists Jay Austin and Lauren Geoghegan in his forthcoming book 'Evil on the Roof of the World.' The book, to be published by Bloomsbury on November 13, 2025, represents the first comprehensive examination of the tragedy that captured international attention when the idealistic couple and two fellow cyclists were brutally murdered by ISIS terrorists on a remote highway in Tajikistan.

The 2018 attack made global headlines, receiving extensive coverage from major news organizations including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and BBC. The story resonated worldwide not only due to its brutality but also because of the couple's hopeful worldview and their journey of discovery. Austin and Geoghegan had left successful careers in Washington, D.C., to cycle the world in search of a different kind of American dream, making their tragic end particularly poignant.

Hazelgrove, known for blending investigative depth with novelistic storytelling in works such as 'Madam President' and 'The Pitcher,' conducted meticulous research to piece together the events that led the couple from Georgetown University classrooms to the fatal stretch of highway in Central Asia. The author states, 'This was one of the most widely covered murders of the decade, but no book has ever fully explored what happened, why it happened, and what it means. Their story is both heartbreaking and profoundly important.'

The book is already being compared to Jon Krakauer's 'Into the Wild' and is expected to resonate with readers of true crime, adventure, and international affairs. More information about the author and his work can be found at http://www.williamhazelgrove.com. 'Evil on the Roof of the World' provides not only a harrowing true-crime account but also serves as a meditation on risk, adventure, and the enduring clash between hope and hatred in the modern world.

As the only book to cover this highly publicized murder, Hazelgrove's work represents a landmark contribution to narrative nonfiction that examines the global reach of extremism and its impact on innocent lives. The timing of the release, nearly seven years after the tragedy, allows for reflection on how such events continue to shape international perceptions of safety, adventure tourism, and geopolitical tensions in Central Asia. The book will be available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook formats, making this important story accessible to a wide range of readers interested in understanding the complex dynamics of global terrorism and its human cost.