National bestselling author William Elliott Hazelgrove will release 'Evil on the Roof of the World' on November 13, 2025, chronicling the 2018 murders of four cyclists in Tajikistan by ISIS terrorists. The book follows the journey of Americans Lauren Geoghegan and Jay Austin, Georgetown University graduates who embarked on a global cycling trip seeking an alternative American Dream before their lives ended violently on a high mountain highway known as 'the roof of the world.'
Hazelgrove's narrative nonfiction work draws comparisons to Jon Krakauer's 'Into the Wild' in its exploration of youthful idealism confronting harsh realities. Where Krakauer examined a young man testing himself against nature, Hazelgrove investigates what drives young people to test themselves against the world itself, and what dangers await in that search for truth and connection. Doug Kari, author of 'The Berman Murders,' describes Hazelgrove's account as 'gripping' and reminiscent of Krakauer's landmark work.
The book's importance lies in its examination of how hope and human connection can collide with extremist violence in unexpected places. Hazelgrove reconstructs the cyclists' journey and final days with meticulous research, bringing readers face to face with the fragility of idealism in a fractured world. The story raises questions about freedom, risk, and the pursuit of meaning that resonate beyond this specific tragedy.
For the publishing industry, the book represents another significant narrative nonfiction work from an established author with a track record of commercial and critical success. Hazelgrove has written fourteen narrative nonfiction titles and ten novels, including 'Dead Air: The Night That Orson Welles Terrified America' and 'Greed in the Gilded Age: The Brilliant Con of Cassie Chadwick,' both published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2024. His work has received starred reviews in Publisher Weekly, Kirkus, and Booklist, and has been featured by major media outlets including The New York Times, NPR's All Things Considered, and USA Today.
The story's implications extend to readers considering international travel, humanitarian work, or cultural exchange in regions where political instability and extremist groups operate. It serves as a sobering reminder that the search for human connection and understanding can sometimes lead to unexpected dangers. More information about the author can be found at https://www.williamhazelgrove.com.
Hazelgrove, who served as the Ernest Hemingway Writer in Residence, brings both literary skill and journalistic rigor to this tragic story. His previous works have been selected by Book of the Month, the ALA Editor's Choice Awards, and the History Book Club, and have been optioned for film adaptations. 'Evil on the Roof of the World' continues his exploration of American stories that reveal broader truths about society, risk, and human nature.
