Caretaker : The Goodpasture Chronicles (Book 1)

It's one thing to become attached to your perfect home. But what do you do when the home becomes attached to you?

A family in dire need of a fresh new start, a mysterious house tied to the past—its own, and theirs. As past emotional wounds are re-opened, the Keane family's once-idyllic new home takes a sinister turn, threatening to end their new beginning forever. With a cast of diversely-gifted characters, Caretaker is a supernatural tale about breaking generational curses to forge new bonds of hope. A book with soul inspired by the real-life journey of the authors.

When Ian and Lyana Keane decide to leave Boston behind and relocate their family to the sleepy New Hampshire town of Littleton, there is one property in particular that they feel inexplicably drawn towards. The house is perfect. Tucked away and hard to find, shrouded in mist and shadow, their new home comes complete with a rich history, extensive grounds, intriguing character, and a Caretaker.

As the Littleton locals mutter ominously about the newcomers "up at Farr Hill", the Keanes and their teenage children, Ariel and Zach, embark on a chapter of their lives that will shake and test the very limits of their realities. Where did these hidden rooms come from, and where have they gone? Where does the door in the woods lead? And why is Lyana acting so strangely? One by one the Keane family realize that dark forces - or something stronger - are afoot. And when Zach and Ariel stumble upon a tiny cottage in the grounds belonging to Marshall, the Caretaker who came with the house, things start to get much darker at Farr Hill.

Ian discovers a secret room which triggers his appalling childhood memories, Ariel and Zach share the same horrific dream, and Lyana's sanity seems to ebb away, sucked into the very walls of the house itself. Be it ancient curses, unseen hands, or just chilling coincidence, the Keane family are forced to rely on Marshall for help, but is he really as kind and cooperative as he seems? Marshall gradually seems to become so much more than just a Caretaker, as he helps them uncover and destroy the unnatural threat that had lain buried deep in the walls of their house for nearly a century.

R.J. Halbert is a sixteen-time award-winning, and best-selling husband and wife team who have collaborated as authors of The Goodpasture Chronicles, a supernatural fantasy trilogy that blends mystery, suspense, endurance, and triumph into an epic adventure. Book one in the series, CARETAKER, received the 2025 Bill Fischer Silver Award, and book two, SERVANT, received the coveted Blue Star from Kirkus Reviews.

Jason Halbert, one-half of R.J. Halbert, is an Emmy and Grammy Award winning producer and songwriter. His songs have reached millions of listeners worldwide through multiple #1 and Platinum selling albums. In addition to his 23+ year career as Music Director and Producer for Kelly Clarkson, he has left his creative mark on numerous works in film and television, and as well as a copious amount of recording artists over the years. When not creating music, he loves bee-keeping, Sci-Fi, and is known to be quite a storyteller.

After homeschooling their two children around the world on a tour bus, Rhonda Halbert, the second half of R.J. Halbert, has spent the past 15 years as a successful music and television manager, guiding her clients’ relationships with labels, networks, and producers. She is also a published photographer, music supervisor, passionate cook, garden enthusiast, and spiritual practitioner.

Together, Jason and Rhonda have woven their 33+ years of life together into a riveting story, based somewhat on truth and experience, but even more so, brimming with imagination.