The Defector, Chris Hadfield
The Defector, Chris Hadfield
List: $27.99 | Sale: $19.59
Club: $13.99

The Defector
A Novel

Author: Chris Hadfield

Narrator: Ray Porter

Unabridged: 11 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/10/2023


Synopsis

From a New York Times bestselling author, astronaut, and fighter pilot comes a "full-throttle, adrenaline-laced espionage page-turner" (Jack Carr, New York Times bestselling author) and Cold War thriller perfect for fans of Top Gun and The Hunt for Red October.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

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

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

Reviews

Goodreads review by Matt on November 11, 2023

WOW THIS WAS PHENOMENAL. I’d say it definitely ranks above the Apollo Murders - the first book in the series. And since I’m a sucker for planes, it had my hooked from start to finish. Can’t wait to read whatever Chris Hadfield writes next!......more

Goodreads review by Jeremy on October 23, 2023

It's 1973. The Cold War is ramping up and the world is cuckoo for all things outer space. Everyone is trying to steal everyone else's secrets. When a Soviet Union pilot fakes a crash and defects in the Soviet's most technologically advanced fighter, the MiG-25., it's seen as a major win for the U.S,......more

Goodreads review by Jolene on December 10, 2023

2.5 ⭐ Overall, I felt similarly about this book as I did the first. Chris Hadfield's extensive research and knowledge about the topic were very evident, but he just went overboard with the details and descriptions. I ended up skimming through sections frequently. I will say I did really enjoy the en......more

Goodreads review by Luca on May 21, 2024

Well written and both interesting and intriguing, even though the plot was quite predictable further down the road......more

Goodreads review by Ronald on July 11, 2023

Take a seat and strap it to ya, this is going to be a wild ride. The Defector, by Chris Hadfield, starts off at Mach 3 and keeps giving from there. A Russian pilot has landed his supersonic Mig-25 in Israel and wants to defect to the United States. It’s Oct 1973, the U. S. has nothing currently to m......more


Quotes

“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