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The Defector by Chris Hadfield

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The Defector

The Apollo Murders Series (Related to this series)

Narrator
Ray Porter
Publisher
Hachette Audio
Publish Date
10 October 2023
Run Time
11 hours 8 minutes
Format
Audiobook
$13.95

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What to expect

From a New York Times bestselling author, astronaut, and fighter pilot comes a Cold War thriller perfect for fans of Top Gun and The Hunt for Red October.

"A full-throttle, adrenaline-laced espionage page-turner" —Jack Carr, New York Times bestselling author of The Terminal List series

Israel, October 1973. As the Yom Kippur War flares into life, a state-of-the-art Soviet MiG fighter plane plummets to an unexpected landing. NASA Flight Controller and former US test pilot Kaz Zemeckis watches from the ground—unaware that its arrival will pull him into a high-stakes game of spies, lies, and secrets that hold the key to Cold War air and space supremacy.

For within that plane is a Soviet pilot pleading to defect, offering a prize beyond value: the workings of the Soviets' mythical "Foxbat" MiG-25, the fastest, highest-flying fighter plane in the world. But trusting him is risky, and Kaz must tread a careful line. As Kaz accompanies the defector into the United States, to the military’s most secret test site, he must hope that, with skill and cunning, the game plays out his way.

Rich with insider detail and political intrigue drawn from real events, The Defector is a propulsive thriller from a growing master of the genre, filled with the nerve-shredding rush of aerial combat as it could only be told by one of the world's best fighter pilots.

"Wondering what to do until Top Gun 3 arrives? Don't worry, Hadfield's got it covered.” —Rowland White

“Brimming with detail and realism and full of pulse-pounding action.” —Mark Greaney

"Hadfield’s writing is superb. Fans of The Apollo Murders will seek out this one, but newcomers will also thoroughly enjoy it.” —Booklist

Praise for The Apollo Murders

“A Cold War thriller packed with cosmic action.” —New York Times

“An exciting journey into an alternate past.” —Andy Weir, author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary

“Propulsive ... a space race thrill ride.” —Newsweek

“An intelligent and surprising nail-biter that Tom Clancy fans will relish.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Critics Review

  • “Continuous action, Mach-speed mayhem, sharp intrigue, and well rounded characters—what more could you want from a thriller? Oh, the author is a former astronaut who knows what he’s talking about and a lot of what’s in the story actually happened. Perfect."
     —Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author

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Details

Author
Chris Hadfield
Narrator
Ray Porter
Duration
11 hours 8 minutes
Release Date
10 October 2023
ISBN
9781668632529
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
Hachette Audio
Genre
Thriller / suspense fiction, Thriller / suspense fiction, Historical crime and mysteries, Crime and mystery: private investigator / amateur detectives, Adventure fiction, Technothriller

Synopsis

From a New York Times bestselling author, astronaut, and fighter pilot comes a Cold War thriller perfect for fans of Top Gun and The Hunt for Red October."A full-throttle, adrenaline-laced espionage page-turner" —Jack Carr, New York Times bestselling author of The Terminal List series Israel, October 1973. As the Yom Kippur War flares into life, a state-of-the-art Soviet MiG fighter plane plummets to an unexpected landing. NASA Flight Controller and former US test pilot Kaz Zemeckis watches from the ground—unaware that its arrival will pull him into a high-stakes game of spies, lies, and secrets that hold the key to Cold War air and space supremacy. For within that plane is a Soviet pilot pleading to defect, offering a prize beyond value: the workings of the Soviets' mythical "Foxbat" MiG-25, the fastest, highest-flying fighter plane in the world. But trusting him is risky, and Kaz must tread a careful line. As Kaz accompanies the defector into the United States, to the military’s most secret test site, he must hope that, with skill and cunning, the game plays out his way. Rich with insider detail and political intrigue drawn from real events, The Defector is a propulsive thriller from a growing master of the genre, filled with the nerve-shredding rush of aerial combat as it could only be told by one of the world's best fighter pilots. "Wondering what to do until Top Gun 3 arrives? Don't worry, Hadfield's got it covered.” —Rowland White “Brimming with detail and realism and full of pulse-pounding action.” —Mark Greaney "Hadfield’s writing is superb. Fans of The Apollo Murders will seek out this one, but newcomers will also thoroughly enjoy it.” —Booklist Praise for The Apollo Murders “A Cold War thriller packed with cosmic action.” —New York Times “An exciting journey into an alternate past.” —Andy Weir, author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary “Propulsive ... a space race thrill ride.” —Newsweek “An intelligent and surprising nail-biter that Tom Clancy fans will relish.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

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