Caretaker

The Goodpasture Chronicles, Book 1

By: R.J. Halbert

Narrated by: Henry Ian Cusick, Erick Avari, Michael Shanks, Amy Grant, Hayley Orrantia, Charles Esten, Kelly Clarkson, Josh Robert Thompson

A haunting and heartfelt supernatural thriller, The Caretaker invites you into a world where memory, mystery, and the unseen collide. Featuring an extraordinary cast—Erick Avari, Kelly Clarkson, Henry Ian Cusick, Charles Esten, Brandon Engman, Amy Grant, Hayley Orrantia, Michael Shanks, and Josh Robert Thompson—this fully immersive audiobook blends original music by Joseph Trapanese with rich sound design and cinematic foley to elevate every chilling twist and tender moment. Written by R.J. Halbert, The Caretaker is more than a story—it’s an experience.

A family desperate for a fresh start finds themselves tangled up in a strange connection to a mysterious old house.

After experiencing marriage troubles and dark pasts, Ian and Lyana Keane are ready to leave Boston behind and move with their two kids—Ariel (15) and Zach (12)—to the sleepy New Hampshire town of Littleton. They are inexplicably drawn to an old house that they all feel an immediate connection to—a home complete with a rich history, extensive grounds, intriguing character, and a Caretaker. But as time goes on, strange things begin to happen with the house and the family living within its walls. They see recurring symbols, experience realistic hallucinations, uncover mysteries they can’t explain. One by one the Keane family realise that dark forces—or something stronger—are afoot. Be it cursed ancient mythology, dark magic, or just chilling coincidence, the Keane family are forced to rely on Marshall the caretaker for help, but is he really as kind and cooperative as he seems?

One thing is clear: the Keane family is more connected to this house than they could have ever anticipated.

But will it have the power to save their family from tragedy? Or will it tear them apart for good?

©2024 Novus Press Works (P)2025 Novus Press Works

Great premise

I am anxiously awaiting new additions to this series, this first book intrigued me. CW

Confused

The story started out with a lot of promise and then just lost it. I understand that it’s the first book in a series, but there were too many storylines and the disconnect was too great.

not really a whole book

There no answers to questions raised. Everything is left unresolved. It's like half a story

This is what audiobooks should be

I've been listening to audiobooks for years because, like so many people, I love a good story but rarely have time to sit down with a physical book. Over time, I’ve learned to temper my expectations—many audiobooks are delivered in a flat, monotone style, often with one narrator barely shifting their voice between characters. Audio quality matters to me, and it’s rare to find a production that truly feels alive.

Enter Caretaker.

Within minutes, I knew this wasn’t just another audiobook—this was the immersive, cinematic audio experience I had always hoped audiobooks could be. The narration by Henry is excellent, the character performances are vivid and engaging (special shoutout to Erick’s portrayal of Marshall). On top of that, the foley effects and Joe Trapaneze’s incredible score add a level of depth and atmosphere that made this one of the most compelling audiobook experiences I’ve ever had.

It’s clear that a tremendous amount of care, creativity, and effort went into this production. I genuinely can’t wait for the next two installments. If you're looking for a story that’s as well-produced as it is well-told, Caretaker should be at the top of your list.

Intriguing!

Where does this series go from here here? It will be fascinating to read/listen to the next book in the series as there are so many directions the plot could take.