This is not farfetched, and it adds to the tension. There are elements that touch in science fiction, but they are written in a way that makes them possible, as they would have been had the events been real. The enclosed spacecraft focuses the story as suspicions are raised both there and on the ground. The start of the book is a historic thriller, but in space it really opens up. Hadfield has done some great research and it all feels very authentic, but this is a work of fiction.Īlongside the science and engineering is a crime thriller that places the book into the alternative history genre and squarely into the wheelhouse. Apollo is a love letter to the 60s and 70s space race and fans of the workings of NASA and the Russian equivalent will get a real buzz from the book.

Hadfield brings to the table an almost unbeatable understanding of what it is to go to space as he has done it himself. Hadfield will be a name familiar to many, not just as an author, but renowned astronaut. It seems that they have a secret weapon in space and the US needs some astronauts to investigate. When one of the astronauts dies weeks before launch, suspicions are raised, but the mission must go on as the Soviets are starting to catch up. Now his role is as a flight controller helping to keep the US part in the space race on track. Kazimieras 'Kaz' Zemeckis was on track to be one of the few people to venture into space, as a test pilot he had the skills and the knowledge, but a crash lost him an eye and his place on any future Apollo missions.

In The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield this is exactly what happens and in space no one can hear you scream blue murder. Therefore, if a murder occurs it puts the entire space program in jeopardy.

Geniuses, brave men and women, who have to trust one another implicitly. The technology onboard is simpler than the type of things you would get in a child’s electronic watch. All that separates you from the vacuum of space is a few sheets of glass and metal. The sense of adventure and bravery that someone needed to explore space in the 60s and 70s is beyond me.

The apollo murders paperback