Book Review: Looks Can Be Deceiving in Palm Beach-Based ‘The Tutor’
We also review Hollywood Kills: An Anthology, edited by Adam Meyer and Alan Orloff.
‘The Tutor’ by Courtney Psak
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton | Pages: 304 | Price: $17.99
At first glance, a mystery filled with stereotypical characters and a predictable storyline might not inspire much confidence. However, as fans of the genre know, appearances can be misleading. In The Tutor, Courtney Psak transforms the expected into something much more intriguing.
The story is set in Palm Beach and features a cast of characters who feel genuine and well-developed. Rose Grant, a modest widow, shares life with her intelligent 15-year-old son, James. Both are still mourning Ian, Rose’s late husband, whose passing left them lost in different ways—Rose finding escape in her art.
Into their lives comes Grant Caldwell, a wealthy heir with strong family ties to Palm Beach and New York City. Rose and Grant marry quickly, and he initially seems like a good match for both Rose and James. Isabel, the tutor from the title, is hired to assist James and quickly forms a close relationship with him.
However, Grant’s mother, Evelyn, opposes the marriage. She appears to resent Rose while maintaining a kind demeanor towards James. Evelyn seems determined to unsettle Rose enough to encourage a divorce.
In the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, Evelyn persuades Grant, Rose, and James to leave their Central Park apartment and move into her spacious Palm Beach home.
“Looks can be deceiving. Or in the case of Courtney Psak’s ‘The Tutor,’ the anticipated can quickly spin into the unexpected.”
As the story progresses, a fatal twist surprises the reader, yet remains believable within the narrative’s context.
Author’s Summary
This Palm Beach mystery skillfully subverts genre clichés with realistic characters and an unpredictable, compelling plot twist.