The Apollo Murders

By: Chris Hadfield

Narrated by: Ray Porter

From New York Times bestselling author and astronaut Chris Hadfield comes this exceptional thriller and "exciting journey" into the dark heart of the Cold War and the space race (Andy Weir, author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary).

1973: a final, top-secret mission to the Moon. Three astronauts in a tiny spaceship, a quarter million miles from home. A quarter million miles from help.

NASA is about to launch Apollo 18. While the mission has been billed as a scientific one, flight controller Kazimieras "Kaz" Zemeckis knows there is a darker objective. Intelligence has discovered a secret Soviet space station spying on America, and Apollo 18 may be the only chance to stop it.

But even as Kaz races to keep the NASA crew one step ahead of their Russian rivals, a deadly accident reveals that not everyone involved is quite who they were thought to be. With political stakes stretched to the breaking point, the White House and the Kremlin can only watch as their astronauts collide on the lunar surface, far beyond the reach of law or rescue.

Full of the fascinating technical detail that fans of The Martian loved, and reminiscent of the thrilling claustrophobia, twists, and tension of The Hunt for Red October, The Apollo Murders is a high-stakes thriller unlike any other. Chris Hadfield captures the fierce G-forces of launch, the frozen loneliness of space, and the fear of holding on to the outside of a spacecraft orbiting the Earth at 17,000 miles per hour as only someone who has experienced all of these things in real life can.

Strap in and count down for the ride of a lifetime.

"Packed with cosmic action… Featuring undercover spies, scheming Russians and psychopathic murderers, sometimes all at once, it teems with authoritative details." —The New York Times

“Nail-biting . . . I couldn’t put it down.” —James Cameron, writer and director of Avatar and Titanic

“Not to be missed.” —Frederick Forsyth, author of The Day of the Jackal

“An explosive thriller by a writer who has actually been to space . . . Strap in for the ride!” —Gregg Hurwitz, author of Orphan X

©2021 Chris Hadfield (P)2021 Mulholland Books

Critic reviews

"Commander Hadfield takes us on an exciting journey into an alternate past. And who better to write about astronauts than an astronaut himself!"—Andy Weir, New York Times bestselling author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary

“A nail-biting Cold War thriller set against the desperate Apollo mission that never really happened … or did it? It’s a very rare book that combines so many things I love, from taut suspense and highly realistic action, to the golden age of space exploration. I couldn't put it down.”—James Cameron, Academy Award-winning writer and director of Avatar and Titanic

"Not to be missed. Even in fiction there is authenticity. It is either there... or it is not. With Chris Hadfield it is, because everything he describes he has really seen."—Frederick Forsyth, New York Times bestselling author of The Day of the Jackal and The Fox

Fantastic Book With Amazing Historical Detail

Imagine, when Nixon canceled the last moon missions, he'd allowed one more...Apollo 18.

This is what might have happened.

There are historical Easter eggs I caught. But in an afterword, Hadfield lists all of them. It's shocking the detail he went into! There's even a sort of plot twist in the afterword that left me stunned. Don't read it first...but then you might want to read the book again!

The book is well written. There was one point where Hadfield went into some detail, and I thought "You're dragging out the suspense...it's cruel!"

Great reading, too. I personally didn't like the narrator's female voices as much as his other voices, but they all made it clear who was speaking.

I have to listen to the book again!

Robert's Review

this is a great action book. the narrative is Superv.
the story keeps you at the edge of your seat. this is a keeper.

Very enjoyable

Nobody should be allowed to be as multi talented as Hadfield. I knew he was obviously intelligent, skilled, and so on but to be a gifted storyteller as well makes him all the more impressive. I hope he continues to create and write.

Really fun read - ignore Wisconsin digs

I really enjoyed this book. Even though I read about the Apollo program, the information on the Russian programs was interesting and I learned a great deal. But, as a Wisconsinite, I disagreed with the characterization of the character from Wisconsin. Two of our finest astronauts, Jim Lovell and Deke Slayton, are from Wisconsin and Jim Lovell attended the derisively called "State University" (currently ranked by US News and World Reports as #41 in the World) before attending the Naval Academy and graduating first in test pilot school. So ignore all the statements about Wisconsin.

Excellent historical sci fi

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, one where I couldn't wait to get to the next chapter. This is one of the best space books I've listened to in a while and the plot is not exactly what I expected, but definitely a welcome surprise. I hope Chris Hadfield will write more fiction books, because his first is a great start. And Ray Porter always gives a great performance.

flight controller

as a former flight controller in MCC-H during the Apollo program , I enjoyed it

Engaging, almost to the end

This is an enjoyable book; lots of info for anyone interested in space missions and, until the end, good character development. BUT, almost at the end (no spoilers here), one of the main characters “exits left”, too abruptly and without much said about that person’s “thereafter”. After so much detail of said person’s inner and outer life, this makes no sense.

This man is a talented writer and astronaut

some true events some true people and some true technology make this science fiction book I true enjoyment.

great book

very well researched historical fiction, with well written action scenes, and even better political and scientific intrigue; this book will make a great movie

Incredibly enjoyable from beginning to end

Hadfield grabbed my interest from the beginning and the book never let off the rocket fuel. Appreciated the in depth, technical approach, but it rarely took the story or characters for granted. Highly recommended.