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  • The Defector

  • Written by: Chris Hadfield
  • Narrated by: Ray Porter
  • Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (85 ratings)

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The Defector

Written by: Chris Hadfield
Narrated by: Ray Porter
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Publisher's Summary

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER

"A full throttle, adrenaline-laced espionage page-turner . . . Get ready to blast off and enjoy the ride!"—Jack Carr, former Navy SEAL Sniper and #1
New York Times bestselling author of the James Reece Terminal List series

"Continuous action, Mach-speed mayhem, sharp intrigue, and well-rounded characters—what more could you want from a thriller?"—Steve Berry,
New York Times bestselling author of The 9th Man and the Cotton Malone series

From the author of the #1 bestselling thriller
The Apollo Murders comes the supersonic hunt for a shadowy Soviet defector.

Israel, October 1973. As the Yom Kippur War flares into life, a state-of-the-art Soviet MiG fighter is racing at breakneck speed over the arid scrublands below . . . and promptly disappears.

NASA Flight Controller and former top US test pilot Kaz Zemeckis watches the scene from the ground—and is quickly pulled into a dizzying, high-stakes game of spies, lies and a possible high-level defection that plays out across three continents.

The prize is beyond value: the secrets of the Soviets’ mythical “Foxbat” MiG-25, the fastest, highest-flying fighter plane in the world and the key to Cold War air supremacy. But every defection is double-edged with risk, and Kaz needs to tread a careful line between trust and suspicion. Ultimately, he must invite the fox into the henhouse—bringing the defector into the heart of the United States’ most secret test site—and hope that, with skill and cunning, the game plays out his way.

For Chris Hadfield’s second heart-stopping thriller, we move from Space to another rich and exciting part of Chris’s CV: his time as a top test pilot in both the US Air Force and the US Navy, and as an RCAF fighter pilot intercepting armed Soviet bombers in North American airspace. Full of insider detail, excitement and political intrigue drawn from real events, The Defector brings us the nerve-shredding rush of aerial combat, as told by one of the world's top fighter pilots.

©2023 Chris Hadfield (P)2023 Random House Canada

What the critics say

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER

"A Cold War thriller unlike anything you have ever read! From fighter pilot and astronaut Chris Hadfield, The Defector is a full throttle, adrenaline-laced espionage page-turner spiked with history and intrigue that will leave you wondering if what you just read could have really happened. Get ready to blast off and enjoy the ride!" ―Jack Carr, former Navy SEAL Sniper and #1 New York Times bestselling author of the James Reece Terminal List series

"The Defector is an extraordinary novel that is sure to keep readers enthralled. Brimming with detail and realism and full of pulse-pounding action, it's a well-crafted thriller that I just couldn’t put down!" ―Mark Greaney, New York Times bestselling author of Burner, a Gray Man novel, as well as co-author of seven Tom Clancy novels

"Action-packed, cleverly plotted and rich with the kind of satisfyingly authentic detail and keen insights that only a writer with Hadfield’s extraordinary resume can provide, The Defector delivers on every level. Wondering what to do until Top Gun 3 arrives? Don't worry, Chris Hadfield’s got it covered." ―Rowland White, author of Harrier 809

What listeners say about The Defector

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Another great story from Hadfield!

Great historical fiction, I can’t wait for the next one!

I really hope he writes more books!

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Fantastic read!!!

Awesome plot and great detail. Well thought out events that parallel real history. Highly recommended.

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Great Quick Read

Chris’ technical knowledge shines in the detailed descriptions of the American and Soviet planes. A thrilling read with an excellent narrator!

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Excellent!

Fabulous follow up to The Apollo Murders! I highly recommend both books! I hope Colonel Chris Hadfield makes Kaz’s story a trilogy!

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Solid Political Thriller

The Apollo Murders was one of my favorite books that year, so it was a tough act to follow. I don't think this one had quite the same unique plot and constant tension, although it definitely picks up huge in the third act. Readers who are interested in more political type thrillers should enjoy this a lot however.

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Thriller through and through!

Outstanding thriller by Chris Hadfield. Definitely as good as the first book. Looking forward to his next.

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Superb sequel

This was another awesome thriller by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. Plus perfect narration by Ray Porter.

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Thrilling writing and stellar narration

Chris Hadfield's unique technical insight and first hand experience as a pilot is evident throughout The Defector, and makes for an engaging and grounded thriller.
Ray Porter continues to prove that he is one of the greatest narrators currently in audiobooks.

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Engineering Grade SciFi 👍🏻

On the heels of Astronaut Hadfields last tech rich novel comes Defector. His descriptions of contemporary 1970s tech is exceptional and thrilling. No casual listening allowed while your multitask.

Ray porter is edgy and conveys a seriousness to the events leading into the Yom Kippur War.

😃 Great job. CheGheil! Keep writing!

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Great sequel!

Wonderful follow up to the Apollo Murders, though I would have loved more space-faring adventure. Narrator awesome as always

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