New Book Reveals Untold Story Behind ISIS Murders of American Cyclists in Tajikistan

The 2018 murders of American cyclists Lauren Geoghegan and Jay Austin by ISIS radicals on Tajikistan's remote Pamir Highway shocked the international community, representing a brutal collision between youthful idealism and violent extremism. Now, bestselling author William Elliott Hazelgrove reveals the comprehensive, previously untold story in his forthcoming book Evil on the Roof of the World, scheduled for November 2025 publication by Bloomsbury Academic.

Drawing extensively from the couple's personal journals, blog posts, and interviews with their friends and families, Hazelgrove moves beyond the initial headlines to explore who Geoghegan and Austin truly were. The book examines what motivated them to leave their Washington, D.C. lives behind and embark on a global cycling adventure, tracing how their journey of discovery and wonder ended in tragedy on the fabled "roof of the world."

Booklist has praised the work as "a story of searching humanity," highlighting Hazelgrove's portrait of "a couple in search of something bigger than the everyday, who became victims of an ideological war." Reviewer Jeff Connelly noted that "fans of Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild will appreciate this story of searching humanity," drawing parallels to other narratives of adventurous spirits seeking meaning beyond conventional life.

Publishers Weekly describes Hazelgrove's account as a "chilling true crime tale" that employs "utilitarian prose...lets the facts of the case carry the narrative forward" and concludes that "Readers will be aghast." The review emphasizes Hazelgrove's ability to illuminate both the beauty and peril of the couple's global journey, from memorable encounters with elephants in Africa to experiences of suspicion and hardship across Europe and Central Asia.

Hazelgrove, a novelist and historian known for works including Hemingway's Attic and Madam President: The Secret Presidency of Edith Wilson, brings his signature narrative depth to a story that captivated global attention. The book promises to finally reveal the complete truth behind the tragedy that made international headlines and continues to resonate as a symbol of the ongoing tensions between exploration and security in an increasingly interconnected world.

The 296-page hardcover will be available for $27, with both print and eBook editions scheduled for release. More information about the author and his work can be found at https://www.williamhazelgrove.com.