Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield's next adventure will be set in the far-off world of space fiction.
Random House Canada announced on Tuesday that Hadfield's debut novel, "The Apollo Murders," is scheduled to hit shelves on Oct. 12.
In a statement, Hadfield says the thriller will be rooted in the "little-known reality" of the Cold War-era space race, and will feature characters both real and imagined.
Random House Canada says the story centres on a NASA crew racing against their Soviet rivals to reach the far side of the moon, but someone on-board the Apollo module has "murder on the mind."
The publisher says the plot's twists and turns will be enriched by Hadfield's real-life knowledge of the otherworldly thrills of terrors of space flight.
The former commander of the International Space Station already has a proven track record as a bestselling author, with previous titles including "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth," "You Are Here" and children's book "The Darkest Dark."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2021.
