Return to White Catcliff

De: Inna Val Helm

Narrado por: Fred Filbrich

Return to White Catcliff is Inna Val Helm’s debut novel presented by an unforgettable cast of characters. Fantasy and reality merge amid elements of anthropomorphism, eternal life, and dimensional existence. It tells the story of 30-something Nick Taylor and his black Lab, BD, who stumble upon a convenience store robbery in a suburb of present day Chicago and are left for dead. They awaken to find themselves in the tranquil village of White Catcliff, where inhabitants faced certain death immediately prior to arrival.

The antagonist is VEIL (Volunteer Eleemosynary Institute and League), which presents as a humanitarian organization, but its true agenda is steeped in pillage and plunder. Nick’s mission is to stop its proliferation. This means he must not only leave his new home, but of greater consequence, he must travel alone, leaving his best friend behind.

Return to White Catcliff is a smartly crafted novel, humorous at times, dark at others, and always thought provoking.

©2018 Inna Val Helm (P)2019 Inna Val Helm

A Sophisticated Fantasy

They say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but that’s exactly what first got my attention. Even viewing the leading character from behind, one gets the distinct impression that he is either lost, confused or both. The dog’s body language is a match and conveys the same confusion.

“What’s going on here?” I wondered.

I began listening to the book and couldn’t stop. The author’s writing style is down to the point, interesting in and of itself. Simple everyday things, mundane and pedestrian, are brought to life, developing the detailed story one step at a time. The narrator’s performance kept an even pace, as it should, from beginning to end.

I recommend this book to all who enjoy a mild fantasy that mimics reality and steers clear of hard-core scenarios.
E Russell
United States

Enticing Story, Soothing Voice

I’m new to audio books. This was my first. Yes, I’m a literature dinosaur and freely admit to carrying print copies in my purse and still re-read my favorite old classics.

Someone in my reading group mentioned Return to White Catcliff on Kindle. I searched for and found the author’s website. After reading the first three chapters, I decided to purchase the audio version.

I found the narrator’s voice soothing and captivating. Perfect as I went about my day-to-day tasks.

The book details the life of thirty-something Nick who is mediocre in every way, but is destined for greatness.

Normally, I’m not a huge fan of the fantasy/science fiction genre and don’t much care for flying saucers and blood-sucking vampires.

If you have ever read Master and Margarita and appreciated its sophisticated style and subtle sense of humor, you will enjoy Return to White Catcliff.

Phebe Harris

Sharp and Witty

I enjoyed Helm’s writing style and sense of direction. The story is fresh and original, and the characters are endearing. I wasn’t familiar with the narrator, but I will definitely take a look at his other works. I hope Return To White Catcliff is the first in a series.

Well-Paced Escapism

I was pleased with the pacing of the story-telling for this audiobook. It didn’t linger too long at the various settings or drag on with the plot points. It had the right balance of science fiction, fantasy, and realism to keep me attentive and intrigued with the narration. The characters were likeable, had interesting backstories, and most were competently developed. The content and atmosphere of the story reminded me of a mixture of the “Andy Griffith Show”, “Alice in Wonderland”, Hallmark channel movies, and the manga “Drifters.” However, I would have preferred for an audiobook like this to use multiple voice actors for each character, instead of using a single narrator. Overall, I enjoyed the narration for “Return to White Catcliff.”

The Art of Storytelling

A friend recommended Return to White Catcliff. I purchased andread the eBook version, and as evidenced by my first review onAmazon, I thoroughly enjoyed everything about it.

The story delivers an immediate punch that captures the reader inthe first paragraph. Ensuing chapters then go on to describecharacters every bit as captivating. The fantastic yet convincingworld of White Catcliff places the reader squarely in the middle ofthe action amid both human and anthropomorphic personages.

I particularly enjoyed the courtroom scenes, which were superblydepicted in a non-hurried and realistic manner. Equally compellingare the historical occurrences and references to World War II,which are factual and set out in detail. The science behind timetravel and parallel worlds is nonchalantly described and madecredible by the efforts of renowned scientist, Alexa Novaly.

The manner in which the story unfolds is a distinct writing style inand of itself. Periods of dialogue are often balanced with narrativeresulting in a timely and cohesive exchange of ideas. There arethose who would find this style confusing, and it probably wouldbe in the hands of a lesser author.

I am new to the audio book experience and now realize what I wasmissing. The narrator, Fred Filbrich, did an incredible job bringingthe story to life. He gave each character its own twist. Filbrich hasthe talent of telling the story unobtrusively yet holding yourinterest to the very end