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Saudade: A Novel
A former Special Forces operator on the brink of losing his vision harbours a beautiful fugitive from the private defence contractor he works for, only to learn that what he's let into his home is more weapon than human.
Mason Rudolph is a Combat Engineer with 19th Special Forces Group. When his reenlistment is denied following a retina detachment suffered in a training accident, he returns to his hometown of Westwood, California to wait out his impending loss of sight. He soon becomes employed at Langdon McCarthy Defence, a private defence contractor with a well-established history of giving life-saving treatment to veterans who have lost limbs in the line of duty.
With hopes of having his vision restored on the horizon, Mason returns home one morning following a night shift to find a mysterious girl in the trunk of his car. She is introduced to Mason as Lena McDaniel, an escaped test subject from Langdon McCarthy Defence, who tells him her life is in danger. Knowing she is as good as dead if he doesn’t help her, Mason and his parents, John and Cindy, agree to harbour her in their home. Soon after, parts of Lena’s identity become suspicious. Aside from having no known identity, social security number, or birth certificate, Lena lacks social skills even among an outcast like Mason. This causes concern from Mason’s parents, as he and Lena begin to develop romantic feelings for one another.
Mason Rudolph is a Combat Engineer with 19th Special Forces Group. When his reenlistment is denied following a retina detachment suffered in a training accident, he returns to his hometown of Westwood, California to wait out his impending loss of sight. He soon becomes employed at Langdon McCarthy Defence, a private defence contractor with a well-established history of giving life-saving treatment to veterans who have lost limbs in the line of duty.
With hopes of having his vision restored on the horizon, Mason returns home one morning following a night shift to find a mysterious girl in the trunk of his car. She is introduced to Mason as Lena McDaniel, an escaped test subject from Langdon McCarthy Defence, who tells him her life is in danger. Knowing she is as good as dead if he doesn’t help her, Mason and his parents, John and Cindy, agree to harbour her in their home. Soon after, parts of Lena’s identity become suspicious. Aside from having no known identity, social security number, or birth certificate, Lena lacks social skills even among an outcast like Mason. This causes concern from Mason’s parents, as he and Lena begin to develop romantic feelings for one another.
154 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 22, 2026
About the author
Evan J. Pearson
2 books5 followersEvan J. Pearson is the international award-winning author of several works of fiction, most notably his debut novel, Iscariot. He previously worked in film and television as an optioned screenwriter, script supervisor, and script consultant for the British Film Institute. Evan is based in Edinburgh and writes short stories for his monthly mailing list subscribers.
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Review of advance copy received from Author
A stramash in the goalmouth of literature. Laddie kens what he’s daein!
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