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

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 2018 ISIS-led ambush that killed American cyclists Lauren Geoghegan and Jay Austin. The book has already received a stellar review from Publishers Weekly, which notes "readers will be aghast" at the chilling account of the couple's two-year journey that ended in tragedy in Central Asia's Pamir Mountains.

Hazelgrove, a National Bestselling author of ten novels and twelve nonfiction titles, meticulously reconstructs the cyclists' journey that began in South Africa and took them through Europe before their brutal ambush in Tajikistan. Drawing from the couple's personal blogs and interviews with family and friends, the author vividly portrays their adventures facing charging elephants and malaria in Africa to dealing with suspicious officials in Europe.

The book's significance lies in its deep research and direct prose style, which Publishers Weekly states "pays off, lending the account an unsettling air" that captures the harrowing reality of terrorist threats against Western travelers in remote regions. 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 tragedy highlights ongoing security concerns for adventure travelers in Central Asia and serves as a sobering reminder of the persistent threat posed by ISIS affiliates in the region. The book's November release comes as geopolitical tensions in Central Asia continue to evolve, making this account particularly relevant for understanding the risks Western travelers face in remote border regions where terrorist groups maintain presence.