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Grieving Conversations
County Sheriff Brody Hayes is in the midst of a missing person's call - for a five-month-old baby. Deep in the mountains of his hometown, Bowie, Wyoming, Brody's desperate search for the helpless child through a worsening snowstorm leads him on an even greater journey - one through his memories of his childhood, his brother, his son and a life for himself that he thought was lost.
Audible Audio
Published January 21, 2021
5 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Chris Cander
12 books268 followersChris Cander is the author of the novels THE YOUNG OF OTHER ANIMALS, A GRACIOUS NEIGHBOR, THE WEIGHT OF A PIANO, WHISPER HOLLOW, and 11 STORIES, and the grade K-5 picture book THE WORD BURGLAR. Visit www.chriscander.com for more info.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
December 13, 2023
Story 4 stars**
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Neil Hellegers
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Neil Hellegers
September 13, 2022
Grieving Conversations is a short story included with the Audible library. Sheriff Brody Hayes is called to respond to a car wreck. When he arrives, he learns that a 5 month old boy is missing in the woods with a large snowstorm approaching. As he searches for this lost infant, his thoughts move to the tragedies of his childhood and the loss he has suffered in his adult life as well. It would have been 4 stars but I am actually rounding down due to the very abrupt ending which always leaves me a little dissatisfied, so 3 stars it is.
February 4, 2021
The story might have been fine, but I listened to the audiobook & the narrator drive me nuts. Not his fault, I imagine, but the producer couldn't be bothered to do their job. Every sentence ended with the narrator gaping for breath. So annoying I could not listen for more than ten minutes. Too bad, since it's an easy fix.
April 1, 2023
A story lasting less than an hour destroyed me.
For grief, and for love, we throw ourselves into our demons. Addiction, and selflessness, are both demons that howl in the minds of the bereaved.
As I sit here, having my grieving conversations all alone, apart from my family, my friends and my marriage in my mourning, those demons howl.
This audio novella is a scream into the void that we- the bereaved, the bereft- need in our moments of blind rage, desperate addiction, and hollowing sorrow.
For grief, and for love, we throw ourselves into our demons. Addiction, and selflessness, are both demons that howl in the minds of the bereaved.
As I sit here, having my grieving conversations all alone, apart from my family, my friends and my marriage in my mourning, those demons howl.
This audio novella is a scream into the void that we- the bereaved, the bereft- need in our moments of blind rage, desperate addiction, and hollowing sorrow.
February 1, 2022
Listened to this book while cleaning my car, I loved the narration and the suspense of the story.
May 20, 2022
I didn't think I'd enjoy this audiobook, due to current grief. I was WRONG !!! Great short story !! Narrator was Great !! Well written.
November 12, 2025
I was just describing this short story to my husband, because I want him to listen.
"It's Cormac McCarthyish without the hit of dopamine, and it's Jim Harrisony without being obsessed with the experience of itself. It's like Wind River without the garishness. It's Craig Johnson with warm disassociation instead of humor. It's very masculine, in all the best of ways, but it's written by a woman."
I convinced him!
"It's Cormac McCarthyish without the hit of dopamine, and it's Jim Harrisony without being obsessed with the experience of itself. It's like Wind River without the garishness. It's Craig Johnson with warm disassociation instead of humor. It's very masculine, in all the best of ways, but it's written by a woman."
I convinced him!
February 27, 2021
讲述了一个警官在暴风雪中寻找一个车祸后失踪的孩子，途中回忆自己的母亲，哥哥，女友的故事。
真的不喜欢这个narrator，整个故事听完没有任何感触。。。
真的不喜欢这个narrator，整个故事听完没有任何感触。。。
October 26, 2022
I've become a fan of Audible Originals, especially the short stories. They let me slip into something intense and self-contained for an hour or two and they let me sample the work of authors that I'm unfamiliar with.
'Grieving Conversations' by Chris Cander is a great example. I went into it blind and came out fifty-five minutes later with a new author to add to my TBR list.
In this beautifully crafted short story, Chris Cander kept me engaged in Sheriff Brody Hayes' race to find a baby abandoned in the woods before the child dies of hypothermia while also trawling the memories that the search triggers for Brody: of the brother he lost to grief, of his own search for the kind of love his brother found and had taken from him and of his own failure to make a life with the mother of his young son. The two stories, Hayes' frantic search for the baby and his re-examination of the choices in his own life, fit together seamlessly, each amplifying the other.
By the end of the story, I felt I knew as much about Brody Hayes as if I'd spent an entire novel in his company and I was invested in what he would decide to do next.
Neil Helligers' narration was excellent, catching every nuance of the emotions Hayes' actions and reflections were triggering while keeping a level of urgency into the story.
January 11, 2026
2.5⭐️
For me, the story was lacking. The present-day narrative felt abrupt and underdeveloped, even though the moments where Brody looks back on his life, relationships, and grief were genuinely the strongest parts of the book. Those reflections had quiet beauty and hinted at emotional depth, but they never quite went far enough.
The tone throughout is calm and restrained, almost too much so. While that gentleness may work for some readers, it ultimately lacked the insight and emotional weight needed to create a lasting impact. There was no real sense of closure. The ending, in particular, felt abrupt; like being forced to inhale without ever being allowed to exhale, without seeing what the next, more hopeful breath might feel like.
The book attempts to explore grief from multiple angles, and the intention is clear. However, it falls short in truly delivering impactful emotion because we never get to know Brody deeply enough. Without that connection, the grief remains distant, discussed rather than fully felt.
In the end, it felt less like a story and more like a conversation about grief–one that doesn’t aim to offer resolution, guidance, or even deeper understanding, only to acknowledge that grief exists and that people experience it differently. And while that’s true… it also raises the question: isn’t that something most of us already know?
For me, the story was lacking. The present-day narrative felt abrupt and underdeveloped, even though the moments where Brody looks back on his life, relationships, and grief were genuinely the strongest parts of the book. Those reflections had quiet beauty and hinted at emotional depth, but they never quite went far enough.
The tone throughout is calm and restrained, almost too much so. While that gentleness may work for some readers, it ultimately lacked the insight and emotional weight needed to create a lasting impact. There was no real sense of closure. The ending, in particular, felt abrupt; like being forced to inhale without ever being allowed to exhale, without seeing what the next, more hopeful breath might feel like.
The book attempts to explore grief from multiple angles, and the intention is clear. However, it falls short in truly delivering impactful emotion because we never get to know Brody deeply enough. Without that connection, the grief remains distant, discussed rather than fully felt.
In the end, it felt less like a story and more like a conversation about grief–one that doesn’t aim to offer resolution, guidance, or even deeper understanding, only to acknowledge that grief exists and that people experience it differently. And while that’s true… it also raises the question: isn’t that something most of us already know?
December 22, 2023
#GrievingConversations #ChrisCander Book #99 of the year 2023
Audible suggested the book. I thought it was a weird choice when the yuletide spirit hits the western world.
It's a sad, sad tale about a policeman with integrity. A five month old child is missing as his doping father has "dropped" him, and can't remember exactly where. It's the snow season, and an infant alone in the snow, the thought is scary. So, Brody sets about finding the infant.
During his frantic search Brody thinks about his wife who has left him taking away their small son. He remembers his mother dying of cancer when he was a child himself. Then losing his about-to-be sister in law to a tragic accident. Then, his brother who tries to disappear into the world somewhere. Then his father dies of cancer. Finally, his brother takes his own life, never having recovered the death of his fiancee.
Brody, keeps searching for the baby, way past when everyone has stopped the search, gradually finding his blanket, teether, etc. He hears a sound, as if made by a Bob cat. But, at that time of the year, there are no bobcats! He finally finds the baby, thankfully still in the car seat, and runs to his car, carefully ensconcing the baby in his coat! Vowing to call and beg his wife to return.
Audible suggested the book. I thought it was a weird choice when the yuletide spirit hits the western world.
It's a sad, sad tale about a policeman with integrity. A five month old child is missing as his doping father has "dropped" him, and can't remember exactly where. It's the snow season, and an infant alone in the snow, the thought is scary. So, Brody sets about finding the infant.
During his frantic search Brody thinks about his wife who has left him taking away their small son. He remembers his mother dying of cancer when he was a child himself. Then losing his about-to-be sister in law to a tragic accident. Then, his brother who tries to disappear into the world somewhere. Then his father dies of cancer. Finally, his brother takes his own life, never having recovered the death of his fiancee.
Brody, keeps searching for the baby, way past when everyone has stopped the search, gradually finding his blanket, teether, etc. He hears a sound, as if made by a Bob cat. But, at that time of the year, there are no bobcats! He finally finds the baby, thankfully still in the car seat, and runs to his car, carefully ensconcing the baby in his coat! Vowing to call and beg his wife to return.
September 1, 2023
It's Hard to Care About Cops
CW: Drug Addiction, Harm/ Missing Baby
I wanted to like this more than I do, especially after how much another story by the author, Eddies, truly did a number on me. But there was the instantly alienating aspect of the protagonist being a 'good' cop... which, I don't want to read anything trying humanise the police. The only thing that could humanise a cop is them no longer being a cop. ACAB. Period.
Besides the hero cop protagonist, the story felt a little too melodramatic and misery porn in a way I never felt about Eddies. There's a lot of information and timelines and events and emotions and they are all so very big and important and awful or wonderful or awful. Honestly, it reads like a spec script for a police procedural pilot.
The writing quality is high and there is emotion there for sure, and the performance is pretty great. It just didn't come together effectively for me personally. I know my own predispositions played a part, but I don't think my overwhelm/ underwhelm response can be entirely blamed on that. Still want to read more of the author, but will go on forewarned and try to avoid anything that focuses on cops.
CW: Drug Addiction, Harm/ Missing Baby
I wanted to like this more than I do, especially after how much another story by the author, Eddies, truly did a number on me. But there was the instantly alienating aspect of the protagonist being a 'good' cop... which, I don't want to read anything trying humanise the police. The only thing that could humanise a cop is them no longer being a cop. ACAB. Period.
Besides the hero cop protagonist, the story felt a little too melodramatic and misery porn in a way I never felt about Eddies. There's a lot of information and timelines and events and emotions and they are all so very big and important and awful or wonderful or awful. Honestly, it reads like a spec script for a police procedural pilot.
The writing quality is high and there is emotion there for sure, and the performance is pretty great. It just didn't come together effectively for me personally. I know my own predispositions played a part, but I don't think my overwhelm/ underwhelm response can be entirely blamed on that. Still want to read more of the author, but will go on forewarned and try to avoid anything that focuses on cops.
February 13, 2021
The protagonist is an emotionally stunted cop who . Also, the story has some pretty backwards views on drug use and addiction; .
Also, the narrator's heavy breathing at the end of nearly every sentence was a serious distraction.
I only gave this book two stars instead of one because 1) it was free, and 2) because of the ending, which .
Also, the narrator's heavy breathing at the end of nearly every sentence was a serious distraction.
I only gave this book two stars instead of one because 1) it was free, and 2) because of the ending, which .
March 14, 2024
This was a sad story, but it was still more enjoyable than many other Audible originals.
Sheriff Brody is looking for a baby, because the babies' junkie parent left him on the side of the road.
SPOILERS AHEAD
While doing so, Brody remembers his own past; how he and his brother lost their mother, how his brother felt lost but he found the love of his life and waas healed, how the woman died and the brother was severely depressed, how he could never stop writing letter to a dead woman to have grieving conversations with her, how Brody himself looked for a love like this and for a time he thought he found it, but his wife was unhappy and took their child with her when she left Brody.
Despite dealing with rather heavy subjects, the story ends on a somewhat happier note, because the baby is found.
Sheriff Brody is looking for a baby, because the babies' junkie parent left him on the side of the road.
SPOILERS AHEAD
While doing so, Brody remembers his own past; how he and his brother lost their mother, how his brother felt lost but he found the love of his life and waas healed, how the woman died and the brother was severely depressed, how he could never stop writing letter to a dead woman to have grieving conversations with her, how Brody himself looked for a love like this and for a time he thought he found it, but his wife was unhappy and took their child with her when she left Brody.
Despite dealing with rather heavy subjects, the story ends on a somewhat happier note, because the baby is found.
February 8, 2024
Book 180 - Chris Cander - Grieving Conversations
A short novella, another freebie…
A child goes missing…the father turns up…high on meths and has no idea where he left the baby…the snow storm threatening the search and thus the child is closing in…
A local sheriff battling through a marriage spilt and a difficult upbringing tinged with death and sibling rivalry that teeters towards hatred…and that’s it…baby is found…we discover a little about the background…but no tension…no drama…and due to the brevity of the story no proper conclusion
Some good ideas were definitely floating around but none stick
Simply…sigh…
A short novella, another freebie…
A child goes missing…the father turns up…high on meths and has no idea where he left the baby…the snow storm threatening the search and thus the child is closing in…
A local sheriff battling through a marriage spilt and a difficult upbringing tinged with death and sibling rivalry that teeters towards hatred…and that’s it…baby is found…we discover a little about the background…but no tension…no drama…and due to the brevity of the story no proper conclusion
Some good ideas were definitely floating around but none stick
Simply…sigh…
March 21, 2022
For such a short audio, it was insanely good. It had me on the edge of my seat. Sheriff Brody is called in for a missing 5-month old baby. With an incoming snow storm and night fall just hours away, Brody takes off in hopes of finding the baby before it’s too late. But while on the search, memories from his own childhood come flooding back causing him to re-evaluate his feelings towards his own child and ex.
The things we convince ourselves of at the time always seem to be the right decision. It isn’t until later on that we see things for what they really were.
The things we convince ourselves of at the time always seem to be the right decision. It isn’t until later on that we see things for what they really were.
January 27, 2021
This would have been a five star read... but it just ended unexpectedly with no wrap up. I wanted more and there could have been more... but it was just over. What story there was...was great and the narrator was awesome. Don’t chop a story just to make it a short story. If it has substance, roll with it. Make it two or three hours instead of one...something... don’t just end it with loose ends.
February 23, 2021
This was on the low side of mediocre. The uneven writing and flat characters did not create an ambience of engagement or investment for me.
I do think it did a good job of showing how trauma can impact a family for years and in different ways but the story just meandered and didn’t get any traction for me.
*DISCLAIMER* I try to review books on their own merit or against the author’s other works. I recognize that it is not equitable or useful to compare emerging authors against long-established authors.
I do think it did a good job of showing how trauma can impact a family for years and in different ways but the story just meandered and didn’t get any traction for me.
*DISCLAIMER* I try to review books on their own merit or against the author’s other works. I recognize that it is not equitable or useful to compare emerging authors against long-established authors.
March 21, 2021
I thought this was a relatively quick and decent listen. I didn’t actually mind the switching back-and-forth between the past and the present as the storyteller was telling about his brother and then his current predicament. However, for the length of the audiobook, I think only one path should’ve really been chosen.
The only real issue that I had with the story was the narrators huge gasps of breath in between some paragraphs. That was really annoying and quite bothersome.
The only real issue that I had with the story was the narrators huge gasps of breath in between some paragraphs. That was really annoying and quite bothersome.
March 30, 2023
While the premise of the book sounded promising, I found it to be lacking in substance and depth.
One issue I had with the book is that it felt too simplistic. The author's advice for having difficult conversations about grief often boiled down to just "listen" and "be present," which felt like common sense advice rather than anything particularly insightful. The narrator also sounded out of breath after every sentence which became quite grating.
One issue I had with the book is that it felt too simplistic. The author's advice for having difficult conversations about grief often boiled down to just "listen" and "be present," which felt like common sense advice rather than anything particularly insightful. The narrator also sounded out of breath after every sentence which became quite grating.
January 23, 2026
I admire how author Cander develops his several characters so deftly to fit so well into this short story. A sheriff, a brother, a wife, a son, addiction and loss all wrapped in tension as the sheriff looks desperately for a lost baby. Cander seamlessly weaves different times and places through the sheriff's consciousness. Very powerful. I want more - the mark of excellence in writing. Excellent narration by Neil Hellegers.
March 22, 2021
A great short story to hear and not my normal genre. The descriptions played out in my head like I was watching a film. Had my heart racing in a few different scenes they described. One annoyance with this is they use tired stereotypes of addicts/drug users to describe a few characters, lacking the depth and intricacies of drug users.
April 6, 2021
I enjoyed the short story. Normally I get irritated by back and forth with timeline. But with this story, it was useful and needed. The only thing I did not care for was the narrator. Neil Hellegers tends to suck in so much air when he reads. Then he stops and starts again. It almost felt like he was out of breath. What?! It was distracting.
January 7, 2026
*** 3.5 Stars *** Well, this one was difficult because I wasn’t sure how it was going to work out in the end. Several stories about losing loved ones are rushing through Sheriff Brody’s mind while he frantically searches for a five month old baby in the woods. Time is ticking for the infant as the elements are working against his survival.
January 26, 2021
I saw the ratings for this are pretty low 3.6 but i loved this one
it was great, in this short story the author succeeded in getting me emotionally evolved enough to care about the main character invested in the story and even tear up at the end
well done
it was great, in this short story the author succeeded in getting me emotionally evolved enough to care about the main character invested in the story and even tear up at the end
well done
January 30, 2021
The author tells an emotional story of searching for a child while flashing back to his own life with his brother and his life more currently. He tells it amazingly well. The narrator does a masterful job of bringing the listener into the story and caring about what is happening. This is so good.
March 27, 2021
Felt pretty meh about this one. I liked the familial backstory and the trauma that the main character carried from it into his own relationship later on. But the trauma seemed too heavy for a single-afternoon's epiphany. The audio production could've been smoother given the narrator did a fine job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2021
I loved this audible original. It contained everything story needs to contain: tension, character development, character Change, a satisfying ending that was not spoonfed. I assume this is sufficiently abstract that I’ve given nothing away.
April 27, 2021
Short story free from Audible. When one is randomly asked how important is a child’s life, I would dear to answer that each response would be ‘priceless’. In Grieving Conversations the reader becomes the observer to the thoughts and actions to how far one would go for a child.
June 3, 2021
A short story, but a powerful one. Deals with the grieving process but also shows that there are many things and many ways to grieve.
We grieve a loss to death, time, circumstances, distance, pain, guilt, and so much more.
Well written and powerful
We grieve a loss to death, time, circumstances, distance, pain, guilt, and so much more.
Well written and powerful
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews