The Defector by Chris Hadfield ~ Book Review

In 1973, a Soviet fighter plane along with it's pilot disappears over Tel Aviv during the Yom Kippur war. Kaz Zemeckis, NASA Flight Controller and former test pilot, on holiday with his girlfriend sees the plane racing by and finds himself very quickly in the middle the mystery.  As it becomes apparent that the Soviet pilot faked the crash and is wanting to defect, the military leaders are split in their opinion. The Russian pilot is very willing to give up the highly guarded secrets to the supersonic jet in order to get his freedom.  Some see it as a victory and others are wary and suspicious.  It is up to Kaz and a handful of others to determine which it is.  

Like the first book in the series, The Apollo Murders, this book is filled with lots of action and suspense.  The first book was set in space while this one deals with the military and test pilot world and the setting is the Cold War rather than space race of the 60's but it carries through with the same main character/hero.  There is just enough references and details from the first to make the story flow if you haven't read the first one.   Chris Hadfield's background as a test pilot himself comes through in his descriptions of aircraft and the military world.  I myself find that interesting but those sections can probably be skimmed if the reader is just there for the thrill ride of the story itself.  The story holds plenty of tension throughout as the layers reveal themselves.  The only thing I feel I must mention to those sensitive to it is an instance of what I would define as animal abuse.  It is easily picked up in the story as a whole chapter is written in the perspective of the animal.  I found it very unsettling and it bothered me for some time afterwards and I question whether it was necessary to carry the story forward.  Skip that chapter is you are sensitive to animals suffering.  Because of that I didn't give it top rating even though it is a great story with edge of your seat action beginning to end.  I can see these being made into movies or tv series at some point.

Rating:  9/10