R.J. HALBERT’S SERVANT HAS ARRIVED, IMMEDIATELY HITS NO. 1
TOUTED AS "A PAGE TURNER WITH REAL LITERARY DEPTH," AND A "RIVETING ATMOSPHERE," SERVANT FOLLOWS BEST-SELLING, AWARD-WINNING DEBUT CARETAKER
Media appearances include "The Kelly Clarkson Show", "Chicago Today", "CBN," "Today In Nashville" and more
Nashville, TN – November 19, 2025 - SERVANT, R.J. Halbert's highly-anticipated follow-up to their nine-time award-winning, No.1 best-selling debut novel CARETAKER, has officially arrived and immediately hit No. 1 on Amazon's Metaphysical books best-seller list. "The Kelly Clarkson Show" welcomed Clarkson’s music director, Jason and his wife Rhonda (aka R.J. Halbert) on the show today, while other media hits include "Chicago Today," "CBN News," GOD101 with Julie Chen Moonves, Patheos, "Today In Nashville," Yahoo! and more.
Along with an audiobook narrated by actor Henry Ian Cusick (Lost), SERVANT is the second book from The Goodpasture Chronicles, a supernatural fantasy trilogy that blends mystery, suspense, endurance, and triumph into an epic adventure. This second novel continues the immersive and unforgettable journey into the world of CARETAKER.
BookLife praised SERVANT'S "Riveting atmosphere… creeping symbols, blurred visions, and the dread of a family being hollowed out by forces they can’t explain," calling it a "moody, unsettling thriller that thrives on family tension" and "blends domestic suspense with supernatural undertones as a family’s unfolding grief collides with an ancient curse.” Kirkus Reviews said it is "a page turner with real literary depth.”
Together, Rhonda and Jason Halbert (a.k.a. R.J. Halbert) have woven their 32+ years of life together into a riveting story, based somewhat on truth and experience. In January 2024, just prior to the couple's first appearance on The Kelly Clarkson show in support of CARETAKER, Jason was diagnosed with a rare cancer - something he is only now making public. The journey deeply influenced how they approached SERVANT and thus were forced to live out some of the very themes they had written into the story as lines between characters and creator began to blur.
“After having lived through so much trauma in our lives the previous few years, this diagnosis was so unexpected and quite a blow," says Jason. "The irony is that while CARETAKER was written after coping with that trauma, all of a sudden I had the chance to live out some of the supernatural themes we explored through the characters - it was like therapy back to myself and helped me process the unexpected news while writing SERVANT."
As they did with the audiobook for CARETAKER, which featured an all-star lineup of actors and celebrities, including Cusick as the Narrator, Erick Avari, Kelly Clarkson, Amy Grant, and more - the Halberts were able to incorporate music into SERVANT. While it is rare to be able to include song lyrics in a novel, they were able to obtain publishing rights for several iconic songs, including "These Dreams," "Take Me Home," "All By Myself," which Jason also performed on the show today.
Picking up just minutes after CARETAKER ends, SERVANT plunges even deeper into the Goodpasture legacy-where dark secrets, chilling curses, and unbreakable hope collide. With even more suspense, emotion, and haunting twists, readers will finally learn the truth of the mysterious world teased in the prologue and epilogue of CARETAKER.
SERVANT Synopsis:
A child vanishes. A family unravels. Ancient powers stir.
When Zach disappears overnight, his family begins to fracture under the weight of grief and unthinkable possibilities. Ian Keane, Professor of Ancient History, becomes obsessed with cryptic symbols appearing around their New England property as his wife Lyana experiences visions that blur the lines between madness and revelation. Caught between her disintegrating family and her own supernatural awakening, daughter Ariel grows increasingly suspicious of Marshall, the enigmatic caretaker who seems to know more than he’s willing to reveal about their property’s dark history. As the Keanes grapple with how far they must go to recover their son, they discover that some homes demand more than just caretakers—this home demands a servant.
About the Authors:
R.J. Halbert is a nine-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.
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 20+ 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 10 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 32+ years of life together into a riveting story, based somewhat on truth and experience, but even more so, brimming with imagination.
CARETAKER has already received widespread acclaim, earning prestigious honors including most recently “receiving the silver medal" for the Independent Book Publishers Association's coveted Bill Fisher Award. Previously the book garnered the Global Book Award, Amazon Best Seller status, and recognition from the International Book Awards, Literary Global Book Awards, Next Best Read, and more. R.J. Halbert also been featured on popular platforms including The Kelly Clarkson Show, Chicago Today, USA Today, Parade, Yahoo!, Coast to Coast AM, KTLA, California Live and more.
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