#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

“The action is hot and realistic and you can smell the grease on the guns. It’s that tinge of realism that makes Hadfield’s thrillers so enticing. Action is the name of Hadfield’s game and he delivers.” —The Globe and Mail

"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

“As a writer, [Hadfield’s] strength is his ability to draw on his specialist knowledge to add verisimilitude . . . while his high-octane depiction of aerial dogfights stirs memories of Top Gun and Craig Thomas's Firefox. Afterburners on!” —The Times (UK)

"Continuous action, Mach-speed mayhem, sharp intrigue, and well-rounded characters—what more could you want from a thriller? Oh, the author is a former astronaut who knows what he’s talking about and a lot of what’s in the story actually happened. Perfect." ―Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author

"A complex and potentially deadly Cold War drama . . . Before Hadfield was an astronaut, he was a test pilot, and this novel draws heavily on his experiences. The characters are based on real people, and the technology is historically accurate. Hadfield’s writing is superb. He is a gifted storyteller, able to take his real-world experiences and turn them into a gripping and intensely realistic fictional story. Fans of The Apollo Murders will seek out this one, but because it works as a stand-alone, newcomers will also thoroughly enjoy it." ―Booklist

"Packed with the kind of insider knowledge you simply don’t get in thrillers these days, The Defector is not just an intelligent book, it’s an exciting book. Expertly paced with breathtaking set pieces, I raced through it in a couple of sittings. It reminded me of Frederick Forsyth in his pomp—highly recommended." ―M. W. Craven, author of Fearless

“[Hadfield] controls the story with a fighter pilot's verve and confidence, bringing real insider expertise to a fast-paced cold war tale.” —Financial Times

“With this nail-bitingly exciting follow-up [to The Apollo Murders], which effortlessly combines cutting-edge technology with heart-poundingly exciting action, [Chris Hadfield] is clearly destined to inherit the late Tom Clancy’s mantle as master of the techno-thriller genre.” ―Irish Independent

"Tom Clancy-style fighter jets and a sprinkling of reality from Hadfield's time as a test pilot . . . It is a thriller in every sense." ―New Scientist

"Chris Hadfield uses his experiences to great effect in this thrilling story about a defecting Russian pilot . . . [The Defector] moves at great speed and contains mesmerizing descriptions of flying under supreme pressure." ―Literary Review (UK)

"Real-life figures collide with fictional espionage in former astronaut Hadfield's gripping sequel to The Apollo Murders . . . Hadfield keeps the suspense steady before delivering a knockout air battle that brings everything to a white-knuckle close. Kaz's adventures continue to electrify." ―Publishers Weekly