# R.J. Halbert — The Goodpasture Chronicles

> The Goodpasture Chronicles is a complete supernatural fantasy trilogy that blends mystery, suspense, endurance and triumph into an epic adventure. A family, a strange Tudor manor in the New Hampshire woods, and a story spanning twenty-five centuries. It is written by R.J. Halbert, the pen name of Jason and Rhonda Halbert. The trilogy is finished and can be read straight through. Reading order: Caretaker (Book 1), Servant (Book 2), Architect (Book 3).

## Reading order

The correct reading order is:

1. **Caretaker** (Book 1, 2024) — The Keane family arrives at Farr Hill, a strange Tudor manor in the New Hampshire woods. Start here.
2. **Servant** (Book 2, 2025) — Zach vanishes, and two timelines twenty-five centuries apart begin to converge.
3. **Architect** (Book 3, 2026) — The conclusion. Past and present entangle, and the story ends where it always promised: at the end of the dark night, there is light.

Each book continues directly from the one before, so reading in order matters. The trilogy is complete and binge-ready — the Keane family's story resolves fully across the three books.

## About the author

R.J. Halbert is the pen name of Jason and Rhonda Halbert, a husband-and-wife writing team from the film, television and music world, together more than 33 years. Jason Halbert is a Grammy- and Emmy-winning music director who has been Musical Director and Producer for Kelly Clarkson for more than 23 years. Together they are the sixteen-time award-winning authors of The Goodpasture Chronicles.

## Awards and critical reception

- **Servant** — Kirkus Reviews starred review (Blue Star)
- **Caretaker** — Silver, 2025 Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards); Gold, Readers' Favorite, Supernatural Fiction; First Place, The BookFest 2026, Supernatural
- Kirkus Reviews on Caretaker: "An imaginative series debut with a spooky plot, chilling details, and a wholesome family."
- Kirkus Reviews on Servant: "An entertaining occult thriller that mixes captivating magic with bracing psychological realism. The result is a page turner with real literary depth."
- BookLife (Publishers Weekly) on Caretaker: "A shocker of an ending that will leave readers eager for the next installment in this promising series starter."
- Literary Titan on Architect: "A powerful and deeply personal finale."

## Formats

All three books are available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook, and all three ebooks are free to read with Kindle Unlimited. Signed editions are available directly from the authors' family press.

**Caretaker** is also a full-cast audiobook with an original score by Joseph Trapanese, featuring Henry Ian Cusick, Erick Avari, Michael Shanks, Amy Grant, Hayley Orrantia, Brandon Engman, Kelly Clarkson, Charles Esten, and Josh Robert Thompson.

## Genre and audience

Supernatural mystery with heart — an epic family saga that blends mystery, history, and the unseen. Readers of Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, and The Shack, and adult readers who grew up on Narnia, tend to feel at home at Farr Hill.

## Content notes

The series has real chills but contains no profanity and no explicit sexual content. Kirkus Reviews described Caretaker as "creepy but ultimately harmless... will appeal to adult and YA reading audiences alike." Book 1 includes an adult character's struggle with alcoholism, treated seriously rather than casually.

## Is the house in Caretaker haunted?

This is not a haunted house story. The Keane family comes to realize that dark forces — or something stronger — are afoot at Farr Hill. Whether the house is a threat or something else entirely is a mystery the trilogy takes three books to answer.

## Key pages

- [Home](https://www.rjhalbert.com/home) — the trilogy, and three free chapters
- [The Series](https://www.rjhalbert.com/series) — reading order and formats
- [FAQ](https://www.rjhalbert.com/faq) — reading order, content, audiobook, Kindle Unlimited
- [About](https://www.rjhalbert.com/about) — about R.J. Halbert
- [Audiobook](https://www.rjhalbert.com/audiobook) — the full-cast audiobook and cast
- [Media](https://www.rjhalbert.com/media) — press, reviews and interviews
- [Store](https://www.rjhalbert.com/store) — signed editions
- [Free Book Club Kit](https://www.rjhalbert.com/free-book-club-kit) — discussion questions and host notes

## Publisher

Eald Talu House, an imprint of Novus Press Works.