The Defector (The Apollo Murders Series Book 2) By Chris Hadfield - A Russian Pilot Delivers A Gift Too Good To Be True

The Defector (Book 2 of the Apollo Murders Series) by Chris Hadfield

It has been nearly two years since I read Hadfield's first novel, The Apollo Murders, a book I thoroughly enjoyed. While scrolling through the Kindle store, The Defector showed up on the list of books I might also like. Outside of the book being written by Hadfield, I was attracted by the cover art.

I got into this story and found it to be a lightening paced tale of intrigue in a fascinating setting. It grabbed me from the opening and didn't let me down at all. Hadfield's writing style is like authors I enjoyed who wrote books during the 1970s and 1980s when I was deep into reading military Science Fiction. Set during the Cold War, a time when tensions were high between the world's superpowers, it feels plausible. It is written to be a believable idea with solid characters who the reader can care about. The backdrops used to paint pictures in the mind's eye provide completeness to the story, and I think this is a must read for those who enjoy stories of espionage and intrigue.

As Israel prepares for the Yom Kippur war of October 1973, a Russian pilot stationed in Syria climbs aboard his MiG 25 Foxbat on an apparent routine flight. Celebrated Soviet pilot, Alexander Vasilyevich Abramovich, known as Grief, flies his MiG to the Lod Airport (now known as the Ben Gurion International Airport) and lands creating quite a stir. To top that off, he pops the canopy and announces his desire to defect to the United States.

Former fighter pilot and astronaut candidate, Kazimieras (Kaz) Zimeckis of the US Navy is brought in to aid in discovering if Grief's claim to defect is legitimate When it is determined Grief is telling the truth, he and his aircraft are taken to Groom Lake, Nevada, which is also known as Area 51, as well as many other names.

There the plane is deconstructed and Grief shares secrets about his craft with the scientists and engineers. Grief also learns about other aircraft and happenings at the top-secret airbase and becomes friends with several personnel there.

It isn't long before things start to go a little sideways and problems arise. Discoveries are made, and not all of them are good.

There are two principal characters in this story.

First there is Kazimieras Zemeckis commonly known as Kaz. In Hadfield's first novel, The Apollo Murders, we met Kaz, a test pilot and astronaut candidate. In that story, Kaz lost sight in one eye when he struck a bird that came through his canopy. He continues working as a commander in the US Navy without flight status. He is a levelheaded man who likes to get to the bottom of problems. When he is assigned to keep an eye on the Soviet defector, he takes on the job with vigor. After all, there are numerous secrets to be learned from both the defector and his aircraft. One of Kaz's best qualities is to stay cool under fire and work problems until he finds solutions. This character reminds me a lot of Dirk Pitt, one of Clive Cussler's favorite characters, but Kaz is far more believable as a real human being.

The defector, Alexander Vasilyevich Abramovich is identified in the book going by his call sign, Grief. He is a Soviet top pilot, well respected by his peers in the service. It would seem unlikely he would be one to defect, but according to his story, he just wants to go to the United States and fly the best planes in the world. That's his story, but he has a much deeper story he isn't telling. 

The funny thing about Grief is, he is a likable guy, and he gets along well with the engineers at Groom Lake. But we also learn he has a stone-cold, ruthless side to him, and when that is revealed in the book, it's weird, but one might almost find themselves rooting for his success, but only to a point.

My favorite point of plot in this story is how the author uses the Yom Kippur War of 1973. It was a conflict in which a coalition of Arab states led by Syria and Egypt made it their goal to take back Israeli held lands on the border between Egypt and Israel on the Sinai Pennsula and the Golan Heights. In this story, the Israelis are monitoring troop buildups along their held territories and are planning their response. Things are thrown into chaos when Grief lands his MiG in a major airport on Israeli soil. I this story, we get a close look at the Prime Minister Golda Meir and her Minister of Defense, Moshe Dayan. I remember hearing those names in 1973 when I was much younger, still in my teens. There isn't a great deal about the war in the rest of the story, but for those who remember those days and the tensions in the world, it did well in setting the attitudes of the characters in the book.

My takeaway from The Defector is to remember that a gift can sometimes be a Trojan Horse. A Soviet pilot gives his advanced fighter to the enemy and wants nothing more than to fly the US's most advanced aircraft in return. Well, as the story unfolds, Grief wants much more than the freedom to fly, he has been sent on a mission of espionage, and he has some support, but mostly has to rely on his own wits, which he seems to have in ample supply.

This was a great spy story written much like those I read in the 1970s by Cussler and others in the genre. The characters are realistic and there are relevant historical references to help shape them and their attitudes. The action in this book starts with the first page and continues through the entire book to the end. I read this in just a few days because I couldn't put it down. This story is intense on various levels, with many humorous moments, and there is also plenty of violent action. While I wouldn't call this a purely Science Fiction novel, there are numerous elements of science and advanced engineering. From the author, as a former astronaut, test pilot, and fighter pilot, we get a lot of factual perspective, but it is presented in a way that the technical aspects don't get in the way of the story.

This is the second book of The Apollo Murders Series, but it reads very well as a stand alone novel.

All in all, this story was a satisfying and fun read. I recommend The Defector to those who enjoy Military Sci-Fi as well as stories of espionage.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Chris Hadfield is one of the most seasoned and accomplished astronauts in the world. He was the top test pilot in both the US Air Force and the US Navy, and a Cold War fighter pilot intercepting armed Soviet bombers in Canadian air space. A veteran of three space flights, he served as capsule communicator - CAPCOM - for 25 shuttle missions, as NASA's director of operations in Russia, and as commander of the International Space Station. Hadfield's books, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, You Are Here, and The Darkest Dark have all been international bestsellers, and topped the charts for months in Canada. His debut novel, The Apollo Murders, became an instant #1 bestseller in his homeland.

The Age Of Heroes By Mikhail Gladkikh - Historical Sci-Fi Adventure To Stimulate The Imagination

The Age of Heroes by Mikhail Gladkikh

I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

After reading this author's first novel, Out of Time, I wanted more from him. I was thrilled when he contacted me, telling me about his new novel, The Age of Heroes. I was surprised to learn it is a sci-fi tale set in the late Bronze Age, a time when people explained events they didn't understand through mythology rather than science.

What I kind of expected was a retelling of the ancient stories of destruction retold for a more modern audience, i.e., the story from Homer's Iliad. Although the siege and sacking of Troy is included in the tale, it is not simply a retelling of Homer's epic. The Age of Heroes is a completely new story covering the strife in locations all around the Mediterranean. Constant conflict was the order of the day, including the sacking of cities, starvation, and the dispersion of large populations reduced to having to be hunter-gatherers, as in even more ancient times.

Out of this tale, heroes arise, but everyone seems to know that their age is coming to an end and will give way to a new age, and those not willing to embrace change will be condemned to oblivion.

I have always been fascinated with mythology and how people reasoned in ancient times. As stated in the Foreward, this book is not intended to be a retelling of history, nor is it intended to be an alternative to actual events. It is intended to be entertaining and thought provoking. It is a speculative story of imagination and adventure and a fun read.

What the populations of several city-states perceive as their gods is actually a group of aliens who are on a mission to survey and learn about the people of the earth. The gods, who are an alien race called Soarers, have made their presence known in numerous cultures and are worshipped and feared by the people. When the commander calls the group together to decide how to proceed with their relationships with Earth's population, an argument breaks out. Some see the humans as a growing society to be nurtured into the future, while others see humans as a dangerous race who, if allowed to grow and explore the stars, would bring death and destruction with them, maybe even causing the extinction of the Soarers themselves. The council splits and the commander of the alien crew loses control, and the gods start using their vast technology to cause even more mayhem among the already constantly warring population.

One aspect that stands out for me is the character development of the major players in this story.

There are numerous characters to keep track of, with many diverse cultural roots and beliefs who clash along the way. Some are quite compassionate, while others set themselves up as oppressors of their people and cause much strife for others.

The Soarers all have different jobs in the crew and have different ideas about what to do. Whether to actively interfere or stand back and observe the lively happenings among the humans. Their leader, known to the Greeks as Zeus, is a kind of sad figure who wants the mission to succeed. He is powerful, but so are his fellow crew members. They all have vastly advanced technology at their command. I felt sad for Commander as he worked to keep his group in order, but ran into failure at every turn.

The greatest hero of the story was Echelaos, the Achaean Prince of Pylos, who goes on a quest. He is driven to be reunited with his beloved Helen, who, while betrothed to him, is also promised to the prince of Troy. It is a journey he pursues through the entire tale and illustrates how heroism often comes with a lot of pain and suffering.

My favorite point of plot in The Age of Heroes is the colorful descriptions of the places we get to visit. I also found the characters remarkable in how well we get to know them early in the story. They are human in every way, quite vulnerable, and have to rely on their wits to keep going, especially Echelaos.

There are numerous scenes of battle that capture the brutality of the age. Those are also well described and can be disturbing to readers sensitive to descriptions of battle, destruction, and death.

For me, my takeaway was in the theme of how hubris can play both a positive, but more often a negative, role in the affairs of humans. Commander is surrounded by beings who have been manipulating people with great success for so long, they begin to believe in their human-given roles as gods. Even with their immense power, they think themselves beyond what they really are and sometimes overstep their bounds. Many become corrupted by the self-perceived power leading to the downfall of them all.

This makes The Age of Heroes worth reading if for no other reason.

I give high recommendations for The Age of Heroes. As a fan of mythology and sci-fi, it is an excellent story that will provide fodder for thought. It is a fascinating tale of speculation on a period of history we are still exploring and learning about. There are great characters in a story that moves along at a good pace and is loaded with vivid descriptions of people, places, and events that will trigger the imagination. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About Mikhail...

I'm a technologist and a science fiction author.

My professional career provides me with a unique perspective on the technologies of the future. I am working at the forefront of the 4th Industrial Revolution, advancing 3D Printing, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Supply Chain, and Energy Transition. You can read my fiction and connect with me at my website, mikhailgladkikh.com.

Join me in my quest to imagine the future world!

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Teslanauts by Matthew Donald - Great Young Adult Sci-Fi In A Steampunk Setting

Teslanauts by Matthew Donald

I received an advance review copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Please note: This book is due for release on August 16, 2022 - ISBN: 9798986024806 - Preorders Available Soon.

Teslanauts is a story worthy of the word genius. Set in 1922 after WWI, it is a historical, young adult sci-fi story where the bulk of the action occurs in western Europe. It is written so well with amazing characters who perform amazing feats. We get to meet Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse as they direct a small army of mostly kids called the Teslanauts.

I enjoyed this story immensely and was amazed at the author's imagination and the research he must have done to bring it to life. I was hooked from the first sentence and it did not let me go until the last word of the text. Teslanauts spans an entire spectrum of palpable emotions and will keep readers on the edge of their seats. It is a young adult story, but adult readers shouldn't let that get in the way of enjoying this electrifying tale of a boy's adventure as he goes on a journey of discovery.

Much of what is in this saga is fiction, but when one thinks about the visionary, Nikola Tesla, maybe what is in this story isn't so farfetched.

Young Raymond Calvert, aged seventeen, lives in New York with his mother, who is doing the best she can to raise him. He is not a typical kid of his age. When he was younger, his dad went missing and Raymond spends his spare time searching for clues among his father's papers. When he thinks he has found something, he is whisked away by two agents of the Electrocracy and is introduced to a group of agents known as the Teslanauts, under the direct command of Nikola Tesla himself. Raymond learns how much his father meant to Tesla and the organization as a whole. Raymond makes it his mission to use the vast technology, including things that allow him to move over long distances in the blink of an eye, to find and, if necessary, rescue his father.

But there are other forces at work in the world, and they are not satisfied with the outcome of the War to End All Wars and are hellbent on restarting and winning the next conflict that will be fought with futuristic technology. If they are allowed to bring their plan to fruition, the fate of the planet and history as we know it will be changed, and not for the better.

Raymond is a good kid but is a troubled kid. He knows his father is out there somewhere and he wants desperately to find and bring him home. It is his main focus, and he uses the Teslanauts to try to achieve his goal. But along the way, he meets others who are willing to sacrifice everything to stop the re-sparking of WWI. Raymond isn't the brightest student, barely making it into the organization, but what he lacks in knowledge, he certainly makes up for it with his tenacity. He is a likable character, and it is hard for the reader not to want him to win his personal battle as a son, but also to contribute to his team to stop the evil that would have their way should the Electrocracy fail.

Teslanauts is a hero's journey and a tale of a young man learning to rise above himself and come of age in a complicated time in world history.

There are numerous diverse characters in this story and all of them are appealing. Everyone has a part to play, and they contribute according to their talents. Their leaders spur them on, but victory is not guaranteed. It takes everyone doing their part for them to even have a chance.

My favorite point of plot is the way the technology seems so plausible. Tesla was a visionary and a dreamer and wanted to make use of electricity is a much different way than we do today. Nearly all the gadgets in the story are things Tesla intended to make real. Had he been allowed to follow his work to its logical conclusion, who knows what modern technology might look like?

Another aspect I enjoyed was the way the characters interacted with each other. It felt so natural and authentic that the players in the story came alive. Each one had their story to tell, and we got enough background on all of them. The back-stories were presented as part of the tale itself and revealed over time as the people got to know their fellow Teslanauts. If there is one point that took me a smidgen out of the story, it was how the kids would speak in today's vernacular, but this only happened occasionally, and I chalked it up to being a young adult story and an attempt to relate to the target audience.

My final favorite plot point was how well the settings fit the story. I saw this story in my head in black and white with the period costumes. The descriptions of the places and things added to the feeling and transported be back in time. Along with the setings was the way the author included historical facts and how certain characters felt about their predicaments. This was some good stuff.

My takeaway from Teslanauts is how the author illustrates a dilemma faced by the principal character. He has his agenda, but yet is honor bound to fulfill his duty. This is something all young adults must face when their lives are no longer about going to school. There are many complicated decisions young people face, and some of those decisions speak directly to their character. Raymond makes a decision that may have spelled disaster for the entire world, but he was fortunate enough to still come through for his team. Some are not so fortunate, and decisions do sometimes lead to disaster.

Teslanauts is a well written, well thought out story told from the point of view of a seventeen-year-old. It was amazing how the author could put himself into that position and communicate it so well. It is an adventure story that hits the ground running and doesn't stop until the very end. When you read it, don't blink; you might miss something. The story is emotionally charged and has believable characters in a well-researched world. My highest recommendations for Teslanauts!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Matthew Donald has been an obnoxious snarker and dinosaur fanatic for all his life. After first winning a writing contest at age six, he made it his lifelong goal to write a bunch of books and release them upon the world.

He graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 2014 with a B.A. in English and Creative Writing and is currently working on three sequels to Megazoic among some other projects. He lives in Highlands Ranch, Colorado with his cockatiel, Lyra.

Well, there it is…

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Red Hail By Jamie Killen - The Past And The Future Collide In A Fascinating Way

Red Hail by Jamie Killen

I received an advance review copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I found this book while looking through selections on the BookSirens review site. The first thing that caught my eye was the opening to the blurb: "In 1960, the plagues came to Galina. Today, they came back for the survivors' descendants." I do enjoy a good historical sci-fi story, so I took the dive.

I found Red Hail a great story I enjoyed immensely. The characters were interesting and written well, and there were several I cared about. The interactions between characters was well written and believable. I felt as though I was in the places being described by the settings. There was nothing about this tale I didn't like. The story itself flowed very well and as it bounced between the two eras it covered, 1960 and 2020, I was always able to distinguish between the two.

There are some uncomfortable moments as it unfolds. Plot points include racism, sexism, religious conflict, and a few depictions of violence that may make some uncomfortable, but nothing was in any way gratuitous or sensationalized.

It's 1960 in the town of Galina, Arizona, located close to the border between the US and Mexico. A young woman goes to see a friend for help with a precarious situation. While they visit, there is a storm with red hail falling from the sky. Before long, many of the people of the town start showing strange, unexplainable behaviors. There doesn't seem to be anything medically wrong with those affected, but one group of people begin to blame the Hispanic population for the plague brought by the storm.

Move forward to 2020. Colin and his partner, Alonzo, have moved into their own place to live their lives together. A sociology Ph.D. candidate, Colin works on his dissertation on the Galina Plague. He does not know just how close he will get to his subject matter until Alonzo begins displaying symptoms sixty years after the event.

These two stories come together in a satisfying and fascinating way at the end of the tale. 

My favorite characters in Red Hail follow Esperanza Kearney (known to most as Anza) and a salty older woman named Dove McNally.

Anza lives with her father in Galina. At sixteen, she is an intelligent and hard-working young woman with a lot of potential. When she discovers she is pregnant, she seeks the help of Dove, a kind of expert on how to use plants for numerous things. Anza has ambitions for her future and isn't ready to have a family, and she is also petrified that her father would be more than a little upset at her situation. He also wishes to see Anza reach her full potential, and as a dedicated father, he will do just about anything to see his little girl be successful in life.

Dove has a lot of life experience and isn't afraid to use it. She is handy with cures and with a shotgun as well. She helps Anza as best she can through the story and is someone I would like to know. Dove is a truly fun character through the book as she helps those in need in whatever way she can.

My favorite point of plot in Red Hail is when the two stories come together. It had me laughing out loud, but not because it was funny, but because of how well the story was out together and how unexpectedly the plot twisted. It was worth the time to read to get to the end because of how neatly it was all wrapped up.

My takeaway from this tale is how one must be ever vigilant to watch out for superstition as an explanation for something that cannot be explained. Nothing can replace good, old-fashioned research and finding the empirical evidence. The beliefs of some of the town members turned Galina into a war zone for a time, and there was a lot of avoidable strife and loss of life.

Red Hail is a fun and entertaining story for any sci-fi fan looking for a good read. There is plenty of action and suspense, lots of interesting characters, and an out of this world ending.

I recommend this book for genre fans as well as those looking for a good story. It is on the light-side of science fiction and more character driven.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jamie Killen's introduction to the world of dark fiction came at the age of seven, when her well-meaning but perhaps overly enthusiastic dad decided that the works of Harlan Ellison made for some great bedtime stories. She's been avidly consuming science fiction, horror, and fantasy novels, movies, comic books, and podcasts ever since.

Jamie's short stories and flash fiction have appeared in dozens of anthologies and magazines. She is also a writer and director of several dark fiction podcasts.

Originally from Arizona, Jamie now lives in Texas with her longtime partner. When she isn't writing, she enjoys practicing her mixology skills by inventing new and exciting designer cocktails. She also likes craft beer, travel, and cuddling with her two adorable rescue mutts.

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A Coin for the Ferryman by Megan Edwards - A Fun Speculative Fiction Treatment About Meeting A Historical Figure

A Coin for the Ferryman by Megan Edwards

I received an advance review copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily. A Coin for the Ferryman is due for release March 2022 and is available for pre-order.

As I searched through the offerings on the BookSirens review site, the first thing that caught my attention to Ferryman was the cover. I have always been fascinated with ancient mythology and historical fiction, and this one promised to be a historical sci-fi story. The next thing that convinced me to download and read was the book’s blurb. Bringing a famous personality from history is not a new idea, but the treatment in this book is fun and fascinating, mostly because of some well-developed characters. The story itself is light on science fiction in that the method for bringing Caesar into the present is not explained to a large extent, which is okay because the story focuses more on characters and plot. Mostly, all we get for the science of the time travel is there is a place where there is a machine that can snatch someone from the past and bring them to the present.

If you had the means to bring a famous historical figure to the present day, who would you choose? How would you communicate? What questions would you ask? How much of the present would you let your choice see? Those are some questions facing an interdisciplinary team who build a time machine they plan to use in bringing Julius Caesar to the present.

Cassandra is one of the most important members of the team. Her job is to talk to the visitor in his own language and help him understand what is happening.

Caesar arrives just before his assassination and enters a world of modern wonders. The scientists have four days to return their charge to ancient Rome, so there isn't a minute to waste. If they cannot return him to his own time, there could be dire consequences.

While all the members of the team have signed a strict nondisclosure agreement, there are leaks and antagonists plot to kidnap Caesar for their own purposes. When the kidnapping comes to light, Cassandra takes it upon herself to protect the Roman ruler and takes him on a roller coaster ride through the modern world.

Cassandra is a brilliant young woman whose passion is ancient languages, particularly Latin. In order to fund her schooling, she works in Las Vegas as a call girl, barely making ends meet. A wealthy client learns of her interests, he became fascinated with her and rather than taking advantage of her as a call girl, gives her an all-expense paid endowment to finish her education. Cassandra takes full advantage of this opportunity and is chosen to be Caesar's interpreter when he arrives.

Cassandra is a level-headed, strong female character who has strengths she isn't even aware of. The circumstances of the story force her into rising above herself to improvise a plan to keep Caesar safe.

Julius Caesar is known for many things but getting to meet him in this story is a fun romp. At first, he is aloof, but as he warms to Cassandra, we get to see the modern works through his eyes which is my favorite point of plot in this tome.

So what would someone who lived two-thousand years ago think about the modern world? Especially the modern world of Las Vegas? One would think that Caesar would be overwhelmed, but in this story, I loved the way he just took everything in stride and fit in as best he could. The parts of the story dealing with the Roman ruler were amazing, imaginative, and a lot of fun.

Picture Caesar in sweatpants, t-shirt, tennis shoes, and topped off with a baseball cap. I had to laugh as I read some of his thoughts on fashion, both for men and women.

One of the funniest things was Caesar's fascination with television. He took to channel surfing like a pro. The story wasn't intended to be a comedy, but the lighter elements of the story for me were one of the things that kept me reading.

I have to say the author, Edwards, nailed this plot element, creating an enjoyable speculation of how Caesar might behave if brought into our time.

I recommend A Coin for the Ferryman as a well-written twist on an old idea that doesn't overwhelm the reader with a lot of technical writing to impede the story. This speculative/science fiction story is an enjoyable romp with some intense moments along with some lighter themes. The principal characters are captivating and convincing as real people. Even Caesar came to life for me through the imaginative writing.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author: 

I live and write in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada. I never dreamed I'd call Sin City home, but when I arrived at the end of 1999 to do a little research for a book, I fell in love with the city beyond the neon and never left. Actually, I love the neon, too. I'm crazy about the whole place - quirks, warts, super-hot summers, and all!

I write about “real life in the shadow of the Strip,” but what I like best is crafting fiction set here. I have two mysteries set in Las Vegas: Getting Off on Frank Sinatra, and Full Service Blonde. Both feature aspiring journalist Cooper Black. There’s a third Cooper Black mystery in the works, but before that is released, the book I came here to write in 1999 finally has a publication date.

A Coin for the Ferryman will come out on the Ides of March 2022. It’s the perfect release date, because one of the main characters is Julius Caesar.

Well, there it is...

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The Apollo Murders By Chris Hadfield - It's Quite A Ride!

The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield

The Apollo Murders is a historical speculative science fiction story set in the Apollo era of American space flight. 

As a former NASA astronaut, Hadfield is intimately familiar with the workings of the space agency and this story is chock full of references to operations in both the US and Soviet space programs. While some may find these references a little distracting and even think those references are unnecessary to the story itself. I found the book well written and highly entertaining and am happy to say it is one of the best crafted stories I've ever read. The principal characters are fictitious and are fascinating, but one of the things I really appreciated were references to many real-life personalities that lived and worked in the space program during the 1970s. Names such as Chris Kraft, Gene Kranz, and Alan Shepard play major parts in Apollo Murders and they add authenticity and credibility to the tale.

It is the height of the Cold War, and the end of the Apollo program. Funding for the US exploration of the moon is going to move to other projects after the last moon landing. However, when US intelligence finds the Soviets have landed a rover on the moon and are planning to have a manned orbital spy platform, plans are made to fly Apollo 18, a military mission with two objectives. The first objective is to disable the spy platform in orbit before it is crewed, and the second is to land on the moon to learn what the Soviet rover has found or is looking for.

The prime crew is trained and ready to go a month before the mission, but a helicopter accident kills the mission commander, who is replaced by the backup. Further investigation finds the helicopter crash was not an accident. It was an extreme negligence of maintenance or sabotage.

As the mission moves forward, things go badly when a Soviet spy ship disguised as a fishing trawler notices the trajectory of the Saturn V launch vehicle is flying to the north of the normal path. The Soviets realize the Americans intend to rendezvous with their new space station. With that, the entire mission seems to off the rails.

The Soviets always seem to be a step ahead of the Americans. The question is, why? Or better yet, who is helping the Soviets win this chess game in space?

Hadfield includes a large cast of characters in this tale. Many of them are people we, who are familiar with the Apollo era, are familiar with. There are several characters who would appear 'behind the scenes' during coverage of a spaceflight during those times. One of the most prominent of those characters is Kazimieras Zemeckis, more commonly known to his friends as Kaz. He is a former test pilot who was on his way to becoming an astronaut until an accident cost him his left eye. In this story, Kaz becomes a consultant for NASA for the Apollo 18 flight. His persona is well developed and getting to know him is a pleasure. He is all business when on the job, but knows how to relax. Kaz is the main character the story follows from the ground during the flight.

When the story moves into space, the character that sets the tone is Chad Miller, the backup commander for the Apollo 18 mission after the prime commander was killed in a helicopter crash a month before launch. He is an interesting character who takes his responsibilities seriously. He, as any commander should, sets the tone for the flight, which differs from the original commander’s style. As the story unfolds, we learn Miller has more than a few skeletons in his closet. Miller is the character most responsible for adding intrigue and conflict to the story, making him the center of attention for all off-world activities.

While Kaz and Chad are the most central characters to the tale, there are others that add even more to the ill-fated mission that would be Apollo 18. Hadfield does a great job giving enough background information to make this an engaging story a real page-turner.

Spaceflight isn't easy. No matter how routine NASA made it look, there are always little things that can go wrong. On the Apollo 13 mission, it was the failure of a tiny capacitor that nearly doomed three astronauts to death on their way to the moon. In more modern times, the failure of a seal on a solid rocket booster, or even a piece of foam hitting the wing of a space shuttle have been causes of disaster. With The Apollo Murders, it is the failure of the human component serving as the main plot point.

It was also fun to go back in time and remember those glorious days of project Apollo. At least they were glorious to me as I watched men walk on the moon at the age of eleven. It was nostalgic for me, but for the modern reader, if you enjoy a good murder mystery that reaches from the Earth to the Moon, this is the book for you.

My takeaway from The Apollo Murders is how one overly ambitious character can put many people in harm's way. Chad Miller is a fictitious character who has divided loyalties and I'm sure he would never actually become a NASA astronaut for many reasons. He is not a team player. He is a loner with a shady background who would probably not have made it through the first round of astronaut selection in the real world. But he sure is an intriguing character in this story.

This book is a spectacular work of historical fiction. I enjoyed it in all aspects and highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys stories based on historical and scientific fact. There is some technical jargon to work through, but the author was kind enough to give brief explanations of the NASA language of science and engineering. I enjoyed this aspect because I felt it added to the authenticity of the adventure Hadfield takes the reader on. The Apollo Murders is a well written, well edited, fast-paced, and entertaining story that is not to be missed by fans of history, intrigue, and edge of the seat reading.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Colonel Chris Hadfield is one of the most seasoned and accomplished astronauts in the world. A multiple New York Times bestselling author, his books have sold over a million copies worldwide. He was the top test pilot in both the US Airforce and the US Navy, and a Cold War fighter pilot intercepting armed Soviet bombers in North American airspace. A veteran of three spaceflights, he crewed the US Space Shuttle twice, piloted the Russian Soyuz, helped build the space station Mir, conducted two space walks, and served as commander of the International Space Station. He was also NASA’s director of operations in Russia. Chris is the co-creator and host of the BBC series Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes? and helped create and host, along with actor Will Smith, the National Geographic Series One Strange Rock. Hadfield's zero-gravity version of David Bowie's Space Oddity - the first music video recorded in space - has more than 50 million views, and his Ted Talk on fear over 10 million. He advises SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and other space companies, chairs the board of the Open Lunar Foundation, leads the CDL-Space international tech incubator, and teaches a MasterClass on space exploration.

Well, there it is...

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