The Apollo Murders: High Tensions In Space

If you love space, extrapolative science fiction, and authors like Andy Weir, you will love The Apollo Murders by the former Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. Now, the book might not be for everyone; if you find technical lingo to be a bit too much, well, there is a lot of it in The Apollo Murders. However, it does not take away from the story and does not make it difficult to read. If you enjoyed reading The Martian or Artemis by Andy Weir, this will definitely be up your alley.

What Is The Plot Of The Apollo Murders?

The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield is a gripping science fiction thriller set in the middle of the Cold War and space race in 1973. In this captivating tale, flight controller Kazimieras “Kaz” Zemeckis finds himself in the middle of a spy mission in space. As tensions rise between the United States and the Soviet Union, Kaz uncovers a deadly plot that threatens the space race and American dominance in space and the world.

As the Apollo 18 mission launches, an incident reveals that not everyone on board is who they say they are. Hadfield’s expertise in space exploration and meticulous attention to detail is evident in The Apollo Murders, a thrilling narrative packed with suspense, intrigue, and unexpected twists. This murder mystery also weaves in elements of political intrigue, making it a must-read for fans of the science fiction genre.

The Apollo Murders Strengths

The strengths of this book are numerous. As a big science fiction fan, I loved the book’s pacing. It introduces one of the main characters with an impressive background and jumps into the action right away. Chris Hadfield does not dwell on one spot for too long either, the story jumps from one point of view to another, depending on which character we are following. This keeps the story interesting and always wanting more.

Additionally, and this is for the lovers of details, there is a ton of details and supplemental information provided, which I loved a lot! The author, being a former astronaut, applies and leverages his knowledge in all aspects of the book. This creates a much more developed story and rich background and context. Some might say that it is a bit too much and takes away from the story. I say that it adds that much more relevant information which makes it much more interesting to read.

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Looks like we’re headed to the Moon, but with bad comms and maybe a hatch problem. We still have Lunar Module extraction and S-IVB sepration to get through before we’ll have good two-way comminucation.

Finally, I loved the characters, their complexities, and the fact that some of those characters, such as Gene Kranz, actually existed.

Gene Kranz is a legend in the Apollo programs and for NASA space missions in general. He was a particular character and Chris was able to capture the essence of his being and translate it into an amazing character.

Every character has their own arc, their challenges, and intricacies as well as dilemmas. They are all very well fleshed out and you go through the motions of getting attached, and at times go from loving to hating a character, very easily. There are not too many main characters, which keeps the story less convoluted and easy to follow.

This book is reminiscent of Six Wakes, by Mur Lafferty, which is also a murder mystery in space, with fantastic characters and a good story. If you are into this science fiction subgenre, I definitely recommend reading it as well.

The Apollo Murders Weaknesses

Despite this science fiction book being pretty great in many aspects, there are a few points of weakness. One of the main characters, around whom the denouement of the story revolves, would have needed a lot more backstory. We are introduced to Chad Miller towards the start of the book. He is the perfect pilot and an outstanding member of the team.

~ Spoiler Alert ~

However, throughout the story, we learn that he is a defector and is working with the Russians. Yet, a lot of that is revealed through a bit of backstory of him having a brother in Berlin and Chad being adopted when he was a Russian orphan in Berlin. I personally do not think it was enough for this character, who grew up as a proper American, to have changed that much or to have caved to the Russian influence and pressure.

Chad’s character, and maybe a few other characters, would have needed a bit more backstory in order to solidify their presence in the story and justify their actions.

Finally, the ending seemed to be a bit rushed. There was a bit more that could have been done with it. The build-up in the final chapters was amazing and to have it diminished by a quick ending really throws you off.

Will There Be A Sequel To The Apollo Murders?

Speaking of the quick ending, Chris Hadfield has announced that yes, there will be a sequel to The Apollo Murders called The Defector. The Defector is set to be a sequel to his debut book and will follow the main character Kazimieras “Kaz” Zemeckis. It is slated to be released on October 10th, 2023.

Final Thoughts

As a fan of both thrillers and space exploration, The Apollo Murders captivated me from start to finish. Hadfield’s ability to blend historical facts with a thrilling narrative kept me engaged and eager to keep reading to find out what happens in the story. I really liked how well the characters were developed and the way in which the story progressed heightened the emotions and increased the stakes. It made me care deeply about the fate of the characters and the development of the story.

If you are a fan of space mysteries or the writing style of Andy Weir and alike, you are sure to enjoy The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield. Don’t forget to read his upcoming sequel The Defector releasing in late 2023.