DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

The Apollo Murders

Book 1 in the Apollo Murders Series

Chris Hadfield author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Quercus Publishing

Published:12th Oct '21

Should be back in stock very soon

The Apollo Murders cover

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

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

'An exciting journey to 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

'Explosive' Gregg Hurwitz, author of Orphan X

'Exciting, authentic' Linwood Barclay, author of Find You First

'[A] stellar thrill ride' Chris Holm, author of The Killing Kind

'Gripping' John Verdon, author of the Dave Gurney series

'Relentlessly exciting' Stephen Mack Jones, author of August Snow


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 mph, 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.

Soon to be a major TV series from Altitude and SS's Balboa Productions

This is such a terrifically confident, well-written thriller that to find it is the author's debut is unexpected * Sunday Times *
A terrific counterfactual thriller . . . an adroitly handled blend of twists and Cold War politics * The Times *
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, author of The Martian *
An explosive thriller from a writer who has actually been to Space and back. Strap in for the ride! * Gregg Hurwitz, New York Times bestselling author of the Orphan X novels *
A nail-biting cold war thriller . . . 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, writer and director of Avatar and Titanic *

There's maybe one person on Earth with the writing chops and the expertise
to write a to-the-Moon thriller this exciting, this authentic. Chris Hadfield is that guy

* Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author of Find You First *
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 *
A relentlessly exciting, deeply intriguing insider's look at the prime years of the Apollo space program, ingeniously weaving together three of the coldest, darkest things in existence - Cold War politics, space, and murder * Stephen Mack Jones, author of the August Snow series *
Hadfield's bona fides are unimpeachable - but it's his inventive action sequences and keen eye for illuminating details that propel THE APOLLO MURDERS ever skyward in this stellar thrill ride * Chris Holm, author of The Killing Kind *
Chris Hadfield has deftly combined fact and fiction in a gripping tale of high-stakes treachery [that] builds to an explosive and satisfying finale. * John Verdon, internationally bestselling author of the Dave Gurney series *
Hadfield uses historical and technical detail to drive a gripping mix of twists and Cold War politics * The Times *
His vast experience adds layers of fascinating detail about space travel without slowing the gripping action * The Sun *
This is a gripping and convincing thriller, as a spaceship makes a wonderfully claustrophobic crime scene * Mail on Sunday *
Hadfield's descriptions of space-shots and lunar modules are vivid and engaging * Mirror *
A spry action-adventure romp, crammed with technical detail, that sprinkles real-life figures amid the fictional characters. Since Hadfield has himself flown in a space shuttle and served aboard the International Space Station, he writes with authority but also with a surprisingly astute grasp of what makes a thriller work * Financial Times *
The real and genuine joy of The Apollo Murders is the insight Hadfield gives into life as an astronaut * Observer *
With a spectacular alternate history thriller . . . an intelligent and surprising nail-biter that Tom Clancy fans will relish * Publishers Weekly *
As someone who has actually been to space, Hadfield makes his techno-thiller jargon read true . . . an accomplished story from a first-time novelist * New Scientist *
Totally gripping from first page to last * Irish Independent *
Clever . . . gutsy . . . the book also features very well drawn characters, natural-sounding dialogue, and a story that leads the reader to expect a spectacular conclusion (and delivers it) * Booklist *
An exceptional Cold War thriller * Belfast Telegraph *
One of the most accomplished astronauts in the world, Chris Hadfield has drawn on his wealth of experience to produce a cold-war thriller riven with detail and authenticity * Living Magazine *
[A] sharp and tense read and a fresh take on the Cold War space race * Crime Fiction Lover *

A gripping novel

* Express *
The Apollo Murders is a superior space thriller that has so much tension and suspense you'll need to take a big, shaky breath when you reach the end * Culture Fly *
He keeps the tension high and the characters vivid * Choice magazine *
A treat of a thriller . . . a perfect combination of mystery and science fiction that will please aficionados of both genres * Crime Time *
Hadfield's first-hand understanding of space travel and cutting-edge flying machinery is pretty much unrivalled. As a result, you end up learning as you read ... a genuinely exciting trip * Sunday Business Post *
An original and insightful Cold War thriller that is entrancing from the first page * New Books *
This is a tale that will appeal to lovers of science fiction, science fact, murder, espionage, and thrillers. Highly recommended * Promoting Crime Fiction *

ISBN: 9781529406856

Dimensions: 236mm x 158mm x 44mm

Weight: 720g

480 pages