The Young of Other Animals

A Novel

By: Chris Cander

Narrated by: Amy Hutchins

Shocking family secrets have the power to destroy—or unite—an estranged mother and daughter in an emotional and gripping novel by the author of A Gracious Neighbor.

Mayree and Paula are a mother and daughter drifting apart, separated by grief and more, after the death of Mayree’s husband.

Mayree faces a future with no income, career, or social life. Even ties with her best friend have been severed. Paula, feeling abandoned by the father she loved, is left with only a bitter mother. When Paula reveals that she narrowly escaped a violent assault, Mayree’s initial reaction is dismissal and disbelief. But as details unfold, it’s clear that it was real and not just one random night gone horribly wrong—someone is out to destroy their lives.

With each new threat from Paula’s assailant, harrowing family secrets reemerge that force the mother and daughter to confront the shared traumas of their pasts. Drawing on courage and hope, they must save the relationship they never realized they’d lost.

Reflective, suspenseful, and moving, The Young of Other Animals explores the psychic intergenerational damages that can alter relationships with loved ones forever.

©2024 by Chris Cander. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Unfolding from both women’s perspectives, this slow-burn relationship drama gradually ups the stakes with the help of narrator Hutchins, whose subtle accent changes tones and evocatively captures both characters’ struggles. Her Mayree is a standout, a slow Southern drawl conveying a complicated woman whose picture-perfect worldview has been shattered. Listeners who enjoy redemptive stories of unlikeable women will want to check this out.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Suggest to readers…who appreciate a mother’s redemption arc.”—Library Journal

“An absolute 'must read” pick for fans of mother/daughter domestic thriller/suspense novels, The Young of Other Animals by author Chris Cander's a deftly crafted, narrative driven, and entertaining read from cover to cover.”—Midwest Book Review

Very touching story

This is such a beautiful and twisted story of how complex mother-daughter relationships can be. It really makes you feel and think as if you were a part of the story and was gripping from the first chapter. The narrators performance really captured the essence of the characters personalitiesand drew you in further to the story. Overall, an amazing beautiful story.

2 stars

The Young of Other Animals by Chris Cander is very slow and boring. I didn't like the setting (1989) nor cared for any of the characters. I will not try another book by this author. 2 stars, and only because I was able to finish it.

Amy Hutchins is okay. For some reason, Mayree's name is very grating to hear. I've never hated a fictional name more.