The Apollo Murders

Apollo Murders, Book 1

By: Chris Hadfield

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 15 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

An exceptional Cold War thriller from the dark heart of the Space Race, by astronaut and New York Times best-selling author Chris Hadfield.

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

As Russian and American crews sprint for a secret bounty hidden away on the lunar surface, old rivalries blossom and the political stakes are stretched to breaking point back on Earth. Houston flight controller Kazimieras 'Kaz' Zemeckis must do all he can to keep the NASA crew together, while staying one step ahead of his Soviet rivals. But not everyone on board Apollo 18 is quite who they appear to be.

Full of fascinating technical detail, twists and tension, The Apollo Murders puts you right there in the moment. Experience the dark majesty of space, the fierce G-forces of launch and the rush of holding on to the outside of a spacecraft travelling at 17,000 miles per hour, as told by a former commander of the International Space Station who has done all of those things in real life.

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

©2021 Chris Hadfield Inc (P)2021 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"An exciting journey into an alternate past." (Andy Weir, author of The Martian)

"Nail-biting." (James Cameron, writer and director of Avatar and Titanic)

"Not to be missed." (Frederick Forsyth, author of The Day of the Jackal)

Exhilarating story

Very well put together by a person who has seen it all. Highly recommended for enthusiasts regarding space and rockets. I also enjoyed some well put technical and physics details and short explainers inside the story.

Crime book that became much more interesting

This book has an odd title. Sounds like a crime book and in a way - it is, but is much more than that. This is like David Baldacci and Dean M. Cole in to one book. All events are very realistic and very interesting. I was constantly eager to take the phone and listen to this book until I finished it.. had troubles with my wife because of this. Excellent job Hadfield and Porter! I hope you guys can come with more books!

Exciting book. Suspense packed. Thrilling novel.

Great story, great reading performance. Couldn’t stop listening. Nice insights into world of astronauts and space travel.

Mission almost impossible

When I saw that Ray Porter was reading Chris’ book I was very excited. Thank you Chris Hadfield for making real space into a novel. I’m going to call it Faction not fiction. Great story and characters. If anyone is interested in space travel this a great book

Apollo Murders

Nice story, keeps you wondering all the time and the details of space flight are unparalleled. There where one or two bridging gaps but nothing that detracted from the story

A truly great story

"There is no way out for this story" you're thinking all the way through the book and then there is. One that is so believable because it has been conceived by a person who's really been there, done that.

A good listen but …

This was an easy listen. Okay story but really stereotypical characters. That’s also a bit of showing off about technical knowledge that wasn’t really necessary. I like the narrator but I keep on thinking Bobbiverse when I hear him.

Fantastic debut novel

I recently finished the reading of Chris Hadfield's debut novel, "The Apollo Murders," and it was an exhilarating experience. Hadfield's multifaceted talents, from being a fighter pilot to an astronaut and even a commander of the international space station, have evidently found yet another outlet in the realm of fiction.

The book was a breath of fresh air. It struck the perfect balance of intrigue, science, and the vivid portrayal of real-life characters. The intrigue kept me turning pages, the scientific details added a layer of authenticity, and the inclusion of real-life characters brought a sense of connection to the story. I particularly appreciated the technical depth woven into the narrative. The meticulous details not only showcased Hadfield's firsthand knowledge but also reminded me of the captivating nostalgic style reminiscent of Tom Clancy's works, especially those set in the Cold War era. It was a clever fusion of historical context with cutting-edge technology, ensuring an engaging story.

I now found myself eagerly anticipating the next instalment in the series, "The Defector." Hadfield has proven himself a captivating storyteller. I am confident that the next book will continue to deliver the same level of excitement and depth.

In conclusion, "The Apollo Murders" is a stellar debut that has left me eagerly awaiting the next chapter in Chris Hadfield's literary journey.

I set the narration to 1.1x speed, and Ray Porter was excellent. His voice suits the content excellently and he delivered the narration beautifully.