Bloomsbury to Release True Crime Account of American Cyclists' ISIS-Led Ambush in Tajikistan

Bloomsbury Publishing will release William Elliott Hazelgrove's true crime book "Evil on the Roof of the World: A Cycling Trip That Ended in Terror" in November, documenting the fatal 2018 ambush of American cyclists Lauren Geoghegan and Jay Austin by ISIS militants in Tajikistan's Pamir Mountains. The book has received a pre-publication review from Publishers Weekly describing it as a "chilling true crime tale" that will leave "readers aghast" at the harrowing account.

Hazelgrove, a National Bestselling author with ten novels and twelve nonfiction titles to his credit, meticulously reconstructs the couple's two-year cycling journey that began in South Africa and traversed Europe before ending tragically in Central Asia. The author draws from Geoghegan and Austin's personal blogs and interviews with family and friends to create a comprehensive narrative of their adventure, which included encounters with charging elephants, malaria scares in Africa, and suspicious officials throughout Europe.

The book's significance extends beyond the personal tragedy, highlighting the persistent threat of global terrorism and the vulnerabilities faced by adventure travelers in politically unstable regions. Hazelgrove's direct prose style, described by Publishers Weekly as "utilitarian" and lending "an unsettling air" to the account, serves to emphasize the brutal reality of the attack that cut short the cyclists' journey and lives.

For the travel industry and adventure tourism sector, the book serves as a sobering reminder of the security assessments required for remote destinations. The cycling community and prospective long-distance travelers may reconsider route planning and risk mitigation strategies when undertaking similar expeditions through regions with known security concerns.

Hazelgrove's previous works include "Dead Air: The Night Orson Welles Terrified America" and he has written for publications including USA Today and The Smithsonian Magazine. More information about the author can be found at https://www.williamhazelgrove.com. The book represents another significant contribution to true crime literature while memorializing the victims of a terrorist attack that shocked the international community.