Final Orbit is book 3 in the Apollo Murders trilogy. I have not read the first two books and had no problem following this storyline. Set in 1975, this is a fictional account of the actual Apollo-Soyuz mission. The novel is filled with real people including President Gerald Ford and Astronaut Deke Slayton. The author is a former astronaut, and it shows in the descriptions, the conversations, and the technical lingo. He also is an excellent writer.

There’s a lot going on in this book. The main character is Kaz who is functioning as CapCom for the Apollo mission. Apollo is docking with a Soviet rocket in the middle of the Cold War, and President Ford is coming to the Space Center to talk to them. There is a malfunction and an assassin and a saboteur and a Chinese mission. It’s action packed from start to finish.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to lovers of action thrillers and Apollo 13.

Not family friendly due to profanity and violence associated with this genre.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Kaz is back and better than ever in this fast paced, high stakes thriller. We see a lot of the old crew including Svetlana.

After US/Russia space collaboration and training has ramped up, it’s time for a joint space mission that, in The Apollo Murders fashion goes horribly wrong. any book that gets SR-71 Blackbirds in the mix is a win in my opinion. We have all the usual intrigue that makes this entire series a riveting read.

I will say I liked this one better than book 2, even if the “twist” wasn’t that shocking. The detail Chris Hatfield brings to these books is incredible and some times you’re stuck trying to decipher fact from fiction.

Final Orbit is another gripping installment in Chris Hadfield’s Apollo Murders series, and it had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. As with the first two books, Hadfield’s mix of real people, dates, and events woven into an alternate timeline made me constantly pause to look things up—I couldn’t wait for his author’s notes at the end to see what was fact versus fiction.

While I highly recommend reading the entire Apollo Murders series to fully appreciate the world and characters, Final Orbit works well as a standalone for new readers. Kaz remains a standout protagonist, and I’m hopeful there will be more of his adventures to come.

This is a fantastic read for fans of historical fiction, science fiction, thrillers, and space-travel stories—an exhilarating blend of authenticity and imagination that makes turning each page irresistible.

Thank you to Chris Hadfield, Mulholland Books, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Apollo Murders, #3

This science-fiction Cold War-era story takes us back to 1975 during the joint Apollo-Soyuz mission but in his spin, Mr. Hadfield didn’t want things to go smoothly. A depressurization accident takes half the crew of the mission and kicks of a plot to the next level bringing China, a new player to join the space race…nothing like a geopolitics drama to spice a good story.

Although this is the third book in the series it works well as a stand-alone. Mr. Hadfield blends with ease real historical personages and events and gives them life with stormy action and along the way some historical backgrounds infused.

I love how this pulse-pounding adventure develops into a battle in space with critical errors killing two astronauts, one cosmonaut and destroying the Russian ship and forcing the remaining crew to Skylab an old abandoned station orbiting nearby…. but once there, company awaited them…. yes, confrontation involving guns and machete all kinds of brouhaha to keep us pinned on the action and invested till the remaining crew heads back to the joy of mission control and everyone on earth.

The narrative is inevitably peppered with an abundance of technical jargon, although the momentum is never lost by this, it keeps a steady pace and move along quite well. But why stay in space, few sub-plots on hearth bring more drama to the plate.

From start to finish this is a well-said and well-done story I enjoyed passing time with.

“Final Orbit,” by Chris Hadfield, is book number three of the Apollo Murders series. However, I read this book as a standalone and I think it was fine for others to do that too (maybe I would’ve gotten more out of reading the other books, but this held itself on its own). This book is written by a former Astronaut - and the science regarding things related to that seemed on point (from my limited space, rocket, and space mission knowledge). This book had a LOT going on in it - plenty for a movie thriller (yes, I sometimes read thriller books like movies) but keeping track of everything at times made for difficult reading especially when I put the book down at the end of a chapter. I think this book does a great job of entertainment, but Kaz (our main hero) is a guy who can do it all, which is necessary for an action hero, but man, he can do a lot for just a regular humble guy. Entertainment factor is high and the writing was engaging.

I enjoyed this historical space thriller quite a bit. Chris Hadfield is a wonderful storyteller but I did feel that the flow of this book was a little off at times. I didn't realize this was part of a series until I had already started but I think it does just fine as a standalone.

A highly entertaining story. It sucks you into the action from the prologue and keeps it going through the entire book. I appreciate Hadfield's vast knowledge of space and the inner workings the US space program. He attempts to balance providing information about what's going on with the action of the story. He doesn't always get it right in terms of flow, but overall I was engaged the entire time.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Final Orbit: Rocket-Fueled Suspense from an Astronaut’s Pen

Chris Hadfield’s “Final Orbit” drops you right into the high-pressure world of 1970s space exploration, where every maneuver could spark disaster or global war. Drawing on his own time as an astronaut, Hadfield delivers a Cold War thriller that fuses historical fact with nail-biting fiction. The story tracks a joint Apollo-Soyuz mission meant to symbolize a new era of cooperation, but beneath the surface, both sides are hiding secrets. When the American and Russian crews finally meet in orbit, it’s anything but friendly. The tension ratchets up fast, with survival and political dominance hanging in the balance, especially when a shadowy Chinese scientist enters the mix.

Hadfield’s cast, astronauts, cosmonauts, and scientists feel authentic and deeply human. He doesn’t just use them to shuffle the plot along; instead, you get a front-row seat to their fears, hopes, and the sheer isolation of being untethered from Earth. Themes of trust and betrayal echo through every page, and the looming threat of espionage keeps things unpredictable.

What really sets this book apart is Hadfield’s writing. He knows his stuff, but he never lets technical detail bog things down. Instead, he utilizes his expertise to add realism and suspense, providing just enough science to make the stakes feel genuine. Every chapter tightens the screws, and even the quieter moments are laced with anxiety.

The plot moves fast, and Hadfield’s knack for weaving real history into his fiction makes the story hit harder. Sure, if you’re not into the nuts and bolts of spaceflight, some parts might get dense. And with so many characters, you might have to pay close attention. But if you stick with it, you’re rewarded with a thriller that’s both smart and gripping.

Bottom line: “Final Orbit” is more than just a space adventure; it’s a tense, meticulously crafted ride that brings the Cold War’s shadowy rivalries to life. If you love historical thrillers, space stories, or just want a page-turner with real-world bite, Hadfield delivers.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review of Final Orbit, by Chris Hadfield!

I didn't realize it was a series when I received the eARC but the plot didn't seem to lean too heavily on the previous books so I was able to follow along without issue. And besides, I was excited to read a book from a Canadian astronaut who is an excellent speaker so I was happy to read it regardless.

I think this book was a little outside my norm for me to personally rate it very highly (I'm primarily a fantasy and murder mystery person), but it was still an entertaining read and the ending neatly set up the possibility of another book!

Reading the details related to spaceflight itself, both on the ships and from Mission Control, was the most interesting for me - Chris's intimate knowledge of the processes made those aspects super easy to visualize.

This cold war thriller by an actual astronaut provides a fictional view of historical events dressed up with some fictional heroics to give readers a ring-side seat. It places a series hero at the controls at NASA as a historic meeting of Russian and American astronauts in space leads to a fatal crisis - all while a Chinese launch catches everyone by surprise.

The level of detail gives the story an unusual verisimilitude and, while the author can sometimes go a bit overboard (the physics of of a bullet being fired is described in one passage, which seems like a spillover from the intricate workings of space flight) it's likely to be particularly enjoyed by those who want to know more about how our space program has developed and who are fans of action thrillers. Personally, this isn't really my kind of book, and I was a little uncomfortable with having historical events and figures mixed in with make-believe, but those who like fictionalized history and are curious about space flight won't be bothered.

It’s 1975, and a joint US-Soviet manned space mission is underway where an Apollo craft will dock with a Soyuz craft. But when three of the astronauts die in an accident after docking and simultaneously China secretly launches its first manned space mission. the remaining crew members must work together in this Cold War era thriller. Final Orbit is full of tension and intrigue as the three superpowers vie for space supremacy. There are several plot points here, all increasing the suspense until they mesh together in this action packed story. The technical details are kept to a minimum as the focus is centered on the space missions and the support staff at Mission Control, with plenty of twists and shockers throughout. Loved this one! I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the ARC. I had read the author Chris Hadfield's two previous action-packed space thrillers in digital format and enjoyed them so much that I bought the hardcover editions.

Final Orbit is set in 1975, when the Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft are scheduled to dock together, marking a new era of Soviet-American cooperation in space. It contains both science and fiction, but should not be considered SciFi. Instead, it is historical fiction based on actual astronauts, cosmonauts, politicians, diplomats, government officials, fighter pilots, and NASA flight controllers. It uses the names of real people in the roles to which they were assigned in this alternate past.

I had to wonder how real people named in the alternate version of their fictional past viewed how they were portrayed. Kaz Zemeckis is a recurring character in all three books. He works for NASA, monitoring space flights. He was training to be an astronaut but lost an eye in an accident and was subsequently assigned to a desk job. With a military background as a fighter pilot, he possesses the expertise to discern what is happening around him. He is becoming a supreme action hero. Even with broken ribs and a damaged hand, he dominates when faced with violence. He observed some suspicious activity involving Chinese at a nearby restaurant, which resulted in his kidnapping. He is developing romantic feelings towards Svetlenta, a Soviet cosmonaut.
I'm unsure how some of the real characters would feel about being portrayed as killed in the story.

There are several storylines, each fast-paced and riveting. Chaos reigns from the beginning. Mission Control is attacked with gunfire by domestic terrorists, and a bomb is set to explode. While this is happening, a depressurization accident occurs while Apollo is docking with Soyuz, and half the participants are killed. The three remaining are directed to dock with the abandoned research station, Sky Lab. They are to move a couple of the bodies there and to retrieve a highly classified weapon prototype.

To add to the turmoil, China is secretly launching its first astronaut, Fang Kai-chun. He is on a collision course with the three from the Apollo-Soyuz spacecraft, who are also approaching Skylab.
The plot is far-ranging, spanning from Mission Control and events in space to the White House, Area 51, China, and points in between. This exhilarating, pulse-pounding story contains international espionage, domestic terrorism, American and Chinese government orders, accidents, injury, deaths, intrigue, violence, kidnapping, and flight pilots under political orders.

The author Chris Hadfield moves the story along. He is a much-decorated Canadian astronaut, the experienced and accomplished Commander of the International Space Station. He served in both the American and Russian space programs and was the director of NASA in Star City. This book follows two bestsellers that incorporate realistic scientific and technical details while maintaining highly readable storylines. The science lends the story an added sense of authenticity without detracting from characterization or events. His extraordinary knowledge and experience infuse the story with credibility and atmosphere.
Highly recommended.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Chris Hadfield, and Mulholland Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always eager to explore the writing of Chris Hadfield, I gladly reached for this space-influenced thriller! There is something about Hadfield’s writing that always gets me excited, as it mixes the well-paced layout of a thriller with the scientific know-how of the author’s experience with space travel and its intricacies. When the latest Apollo mission launches from Houston in 1975, hopes are high for success. Apollo is set to dock with the Russian Soyuz for a joint mission. However, Kaz Zemeckis watches from Earth with a troubling feeling, exacerbated when an explosion rocks NASA’s Mission Control. The mission is important, but there is an unexpected actor pulling strings, both political and ideological, which could derail the mission and further divide the Cold War enemies on a level well away from solid ground. Chris Hadfield delivers a gripping story that has it all and keeps the reader enthralled.

In the summer of 1975, Houston is abuzz with action. The latest Apollo mission is set to launch with a new and exciting project. Apollo will head into orbit and dock alongside a Russian Soyuz, creating a team of three astronauts and three cosmonauts, working together to expand knowledge about space and its capabilities. The importance of these Cold War foes working together is lost on no one, but there is something else brewing alongside the American-Soviet cooperation. NASA Flight Controller Kaz Zemeckis keeps track of everything from his seat at Mission Control and has a bad feeling about it all.

It began with a sighting at a restaurant in a Houston suburb and has grown from there. Things culminate when there is an explosion at Mission Control that knocks out communications with Apollo and sends things into a frenzy. This is exacerbated by an accident at the docking station that has significant consequences, leaving both the Americans and Soviets in a panic.

All the while, unbeknownst to anyone, the Chinese have secretly launched their own manned spacecraft. The mission is to target Apollo and instil significant damage without taking responsibility. Kaz becomes aware of this as the political spin points at Soviet aggression. There is little time to ponder options, as Kaz has the Apollo crew on his mind and must bring them home safely, as geo-politics heats up around the world. A stunning depiction of history and thoroughly addictive thriller read that shows not only Chris Hadfield’s abilities, but also how unique perspectives can prove highly entertaining.

To call this third book in the series exciting would be a significant understatement. Chris Hadfield delivers a story that mixes history and fiction with an area of science he knows best. Hadfield takes his narrative and concocts a story that the reader can enjoy, while never fully able to sit back and relax. The depictions in the book are full of tension, both political and scientific, but the reader is not left in the dark. All is explained well and the gaining momentum of the story pulls the reader into the middle. The characters of the book find their niche and enrich the reading experience. Hadfield develops his characters on all sides to flavour the story and make a point that resonates with the attentive reader. Plot points emerge to entertain and surprise the reader. The use of historical fact and fiction ensures that there is no clear idea of where things are headed or how Hadfield intends on getting there. This is surely a book not to be missed and series well worth the time of any curious reader!

Kudos, Mr. Hadfield, for a piece that is (literally) out of this world!

What a fast paced space thriller! Set in 1975, the author takes real events and people and creates a propulsive story with spies, espionage, kidnapping, and edge of your seat events. There really was an Apollo - Soyuz connection in space with astronauts and cosmonauts. After the docking, a tragic event occurs and the remaining crew must dock with Sky Lab before returning to Earth. As they are attempting to dock, a surprise Chinese space craft with the first Chinese astronaut also docks at Sky Lab. Chaos ensues between the two sides and Svetlana, cosmonaut on second trip in an Apollo craft, has to take control of the situation while her two crewmembers deal with medical issues. Back on land, things are going awry as well. Kaz, CAPCOM for mission control, notices some nefarious stuff going on and the Chinese don't like his investigating so they kidnap him in the middle of the Apollo-Soyuz mission.
I loved that the chapters were short but every page was full of action. There was so much going on in this book that I had a hard time putting it down-I read it in 3 days. Kaz Zemeckis, the recurring character from the previous two Apollo Murder books, is back in action in this book. I could see him becoming an action hero on the big screen. Kaz is more than just a NASA flight controller. His back story gives him depth and knowledge of what is going on behind the scenes with this story. The tension in the space capsule was palpable and I could feel the strength and desperation of the crew as they try to figure out how to safely return to Earth. Only an astronaut author could write this book as he shares his knowledge to create a memorable and page-turning thriller. Now I have to go back and read the first two books in the series.
If you are a fan of thrillers and space, you will love this book!!
#FinalOrbit #NetGalley
Thank you Little, Brown and Company and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

3 stars

He story, set in 1975, follows Kat Zemeckis who is working as NASA’s primary CAPCOM flight r the joint American/Russian Apollo-Soyuz mission. At the same time Chiba secretly launches its first manned spacecraft. Calamity ensues.

I love me some space stories, but I didn’t know this was part of a series of books. This one stands alone but perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the others? Anyway, there’s really far too much going on in this book with five major storylines which, naturally, can only be handled by one man.

And even though the book is set in 1975 I could have done without the misogyny - astronaut Deke Slayton speaking of the female cosmonaut, “So far she’d made no mistakes, but he fundamentally didn’t trust her. In a lifetime of flying in combat, as a test pilot and with NASA, he’d never flown with a woman.” There’s also a scene where the female gets food for the males, when she considers that they would feel more comfortable having her serve them. Ugh.

And although I enjoyed the sections set in space (well, for most of the book, one major plot point bordered on insanity, it was all just a bit too much. The author also begins the book by saying that a lot of the contents actually happened. I have to take issue with the “a lot;” a lot of real names were used, but really this is generally all fiction, and pretty far-fetched at that.

Thanks to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy of Final Orbit in exchange for an honest review. As an admitted Apollo junkie I jumped at the chance. The novel is set in 1975 around the historic Apollo- Soyuz mission. Three American astronauts docked with three Russian cosmonauts, joining to celebrate a new dawn of Soviet-American cooperation. But Houston we have a problem. NASA Flight Controller Kaz Zemeckis communicates from Earth, as three of the six astronauts are killed in a depressurization accident. And at the same time a capsule secretly launches with China's very first astronaut aboard, purpose unknown . . . This is both a thriller and a work of historical fiction combining actual events with fictional ones and filled with a cast of characters featuring actual historic persons. The author, Chris Hadfield, is one the most seasoned and accomplished astronauts in the world. He was commander of the International Space Station, CAPCOM for 25 space shuttle flights and served as Director of NASA Operations in Star City, Russia. His knowledge and experience has enabled him to create a plot that is believable and filled with realistic technical details, while his ability as a writer make for a highly readable and exciting story. This one has everything from terrorists plots at home to international intrigue in space. It is Apollo 13 meets Jack Ryan. Highly recommended.

This is a phenomenal work of both thriller and historical fiction! Taking the Apollo-Soyuz mission, (which was real)and adding these thrilling fictional (and not so fictional) events to it while keeping many of the characters and the timeline real is brilliant. Chris Hadfield, as an astronaut himself, is able to create a believable plot that will keep you reading to the end. As a writer he is able to tell his story in such a way that the technical aspects of story are approachable and enjoyable to the reader. This is action filled , believable drama that flows. In the end you are left wondering where reality leaves off and fiction begins. Readers of science fiction thrillers by Isaac Asimov, Andy Weir and James Michener will enjoy the realism and honesty of this book. This book was an immensely enjoyable read!

How does an astronaut make the career transition to an author? By writing an edge of your seat cold war thriller set in space! His experience and credentials gives the book real life ambiance and a good amount of detail is spent covering orbital mechanics, pressure dynamics, and the psychological strain of space travel. But not too much science to take away from the action at hand. Similar to 'Atmosphere' and 'Project Hail Mary', this novel takes place in the mid 1970s, when the space race was in full swing.

A joint Apollo/Soyuz mission sets out to celebrate détente in space, with three NASA astronauts docking with three Soviet cosmonauts. But as the spacecraft orbits 270 miles above Earth, a catastrophic depressurization accident kills half the crew.

At the same time, from a remote base in East Asia, a Chinese capsule launches covertly, carrying the country’s first astronaut. His mission is shrouded in secrecy, positioning him as both a rival and a wildcard.

On the ground, Flight Controller Kaz Zemeckis, the sole link between Earth and orbit, must navigate the political and physical fallout, balancing survival with diplomacy and ever-shifting loyalties.

There was a great amount of interesting history, especially about how China first invented the rocket. The author does a good job entertaining you, while teaching you something about space, politics, and the ramafications of deliberate or accidental events. It really becomes a race against time to determine if the accident was espionage or something else. The fact that China is also in the mix makes it even more interesting.

This is part of a series of books but could be read standalone as well. At the end the author lists which characters were based on real people, so that was cool. A fun, exciting nail biter of a science thriller (if that is a thing).

Chris Hadfield’s writing has always captured me, right from “An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth” through to “The Apollo Murders”. I missed the second book in the trilogy before I received this one as an Arc from NetGalley, but “Final Orbit” didn’t rely too much on the events of the previous entry.

We return to Houston in this novel, with our plucky ex-fighter pilot and military CAPCOM at NASA, Kaz Zemeckis, preparing for the joint SOYUZ-APOLLO mission of 1975. This was a real mission, though a lot more goes wrong in this version of the story.

Hadfield writes like a classic spy novelist, with quick, exciting action scenes, and tense stakeouts and kidnappings. We see POV chapters from characters from all sides of the conflict, though at times a few too many characters. At one point we go back to China in 1279 for the invention of the rocket. While I love how Hadfield incorporates so much accurate and historical space science, I skimmed this chapter so I could get back to the action.

The pacing and storytelling is excellent, and I like the characters well enough, though they aren’t exactly deep pools of complexity. More like puddles of wit and heroism. There’s a couple good twists, and if you can suspend your disbelief that the main character, Kaz, has to personally save the day in every scene like he’s a rogue FBI agent, then you’ll enjoy this book. He is kind of working for the CIA. But for NASA. And he still has his own plane. He’s still just a humble regular guy, though. He promises.

I was recommended this book in an email and knew immediately i wanted to read it. I did not realize until 1/3 of the way through the book it was a part of a series already. However, Chris Hadfield makes this very approachable. This historical fiction book is suspenseful, drama filled and a fun read. I am now excited to read the previous 2 books in the series.

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.