The Defector by Chris Hadfield: Book Review

The second book in the Apollo Murder series, The Defector, by best-selling author Chris Hadfield was released on October 10, 2023. Readers are taken to the fall 1973, as Kaz is on vacation in Israel as sees what he believes to be a fighter plane be shot down. But did he really see what he thought he did?

I want to thank Mulholland Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Defector. All opinions presented here are solely mine.

CW/TW: war, death, murder, poisoning, animal cruelty

Synopsis from Goodreads

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 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.

My Opinions

Initially, the reason I wanted to read this book is because I know what the author did before writing. In Canada, Chris Hadfield is a household name and it has nothing to do with his ability to play hockey. Hadfield is a household name because he in an fighter pilot turned astronaut. When I requested the ARC of The Defector I was drawn in by the synopsis, and was unaware it was part of a series. So earlier this year, I read The Apollo Murders and became even more excited to read this installment in the series.

Kaz is a US Navy pilot who is no longer allowed to fly due to an injury he sustained on a training mission. Instead he finds himself on the technical side of things. His flight experience, the training he pursued post injury, his security clearance, and his knack for being in the right place at the right time, finds Kaz in the middle of some highly classified activities.

Overall, The Defector is a fully immersive read, one that you could easily spend hours reading without noticing the time pass! When you initially look at the number of chapters in the book (over 70), you may feel overwhelmed. But don’t be, as many of those chapters are only a few pages long.

While The Defector is the second book in a series, I feel as though you should be able to read this and understand what is happening without having read the first book. Yes there are references to the events of The Apollo Murders, they are not ones the reader has to know about to understand this book. That said, there are a few character interactions that may seem a bit strange without the knowledge of the prior book. But those interactions are not integral to this story line.

As someone who has never flown a jet, I found myself ignorant of the technical jargon surrounding such machines. The good thing is that Hadfield takes the time to explain the important details to the reader without telling you about it. Does that make sense? He uses the characters figuring things out to help readers understand. This is especially evident near the end of the book as Kaz finds himself flying a plane he is unfamiliar with.

If you, or someone you know, enjoys reading books about military espionage, you should read The Defector by Chris Hadfield! You won’t regret it.

Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.