Author: Steve Matthews
Publisher: Big Sky Publishing
Genre, Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Fiction
Year of release: 2024
Release date: 04/09/24
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
TW Death of a domestic pet, accidental overdose, Sexual assault.
Synopsis
In the darkest shadows, the pursuit of truth is the only light.
‘Brilliant … a captivating new voice in Australian crime fiction’
In the scorching summer of 2004, a working-class Sydney suburb erupts in turmoil when Percy Fullwood, a respected local, is accused of a heinous crime by his own family. As the media frenzy ignites, Detective Bruce Spencer leads a high-profile raid, branding Percy guilty before trial.
Enter Diane Spencer, Bruce’s wealthy and determined sister, who refuses to accept the verdict. Teaming up with enigmatic lawyer Otto, Diane launches a daring quest for justice.
While Percy languishes in prison, Diane and Otto risk everything to uncover the truth, delving deep into the labyrinth of corrupt officials and Sydney’s dark underbelly.
Against a backdrop of political intrigue and personal vendettas, the investigators navigate treacherous waters to unravel the conspiracy. As they dig deeper, Diane and Otto realise that the powerful forces at play will stop at nothing to protect their web of secrets.
Will truth triumph against the odds, or will the Spencer team be consumed by the darkness they seek to defeat?
Review
Sydney Australia, 2004 in the early hours a peaceful suburb is about to become the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons respected local Percy Fullwood finds himself in hot water, accused of a heinous crime by his own family.
It doesn’t take long for word to spread about the Fullwood family and soon enough the community is pointing fingers, making assumptions and sides are taken that will forever change the Fullwood family; it doesn’t take long for the story to catch the attention of the media and that’s when things take a turn for the worst for Percy and Grace Fullwood. Detective Bruce Spencer is the policeman behind making sure justice is served and thanks to Detective Spencer, Percy is considered guilty even before the matter is before the courts.
Diane Woodford a woman who has recently come into a considerable amount of money refuses to believe that Percy Fullwood is guilty of anything other than being to kind. Diane launches headfirst into a quest for justice, along the way she enlists the help of an old friend Otto who just happens to be a highly skilled criminal Lawyer. Everything is going to work out for the Fullwood family, Diane is certain of it! Just as long as nobody finds out that Diane Woodford is actually Diane Spencer; sister to the lead detective on this case Detective Bruce Spencer, if they do heads will roll and Percy won’t be the only man in hot water!
The race is on as Diane and Otto stop at nothing to free Percy and Grace Fullwood from living out their days apart, will the dynamic duo be able to set Percy free or will those in power pull off one of the biggest cover-ups the country has ever seen leaving the truth well and truly buried thus ensuring Percy Fullwood will remain behind bars?
I first discovered Steve Matthews books back in 2021, Hitler’s Brothel has become one of the books I recommend to most readers of the Historical Fiction wartime genre, Fast Forward to 2023 and I was listening to a podcast where Steve was talking about his latest release at the time Ted Watts and when asked what his readers can expect from him next he mentioned that he was heading into the crime genre, I needed no further information I was all in.
Perversion of Justice has quite a few characters and this might seem a little overwhelming to some readers at first especially if like me you’re trying to decide whether you should or could end up becoming attached to these people or if you should steer clear of them altogether, thanks to the author’s skilled writing the division of loyalties becomes clear very early on.
It is clear from the opening chapters that the author has put a great deal of time and effort into bringing Percy Fullwood to life, I believe because of this the reader can really take on board Percy’s plight rather than feeling as if it’s an obligation just because he’s one of the main characters of the book.
In most novels character changes seem to show the characters growing in positive ways at times even removing themselves from a situation or distancing themselves from other characters; but in Percy Fulwood’s case I witnessed a confidant, happy, helpful man certain of himself and his faith, become a mere shell of a man who had no choice but to question everything… himself included.
Steve Mathews has put Percy’s current predicament under the spotlight making him the most developed character in this book in my opinion. But what makes this detail noteworthy is that you can care deeply for this man and his situation. One of the reason’s I find myself drawn to this author’s works is his ability to make you care so deeply for characters and are ultimately moved by the situations they find themselves in, if you were hoping I would tell you I found a Steve Matthews offering where I didn’t shed a tear I can assure you that isn’t the case for Perversion of Justice.
I found myself engaged in the minor characters of the book too, I found myself becoming rather attached to Liza and Delroy Fullwood, it was clear just how much Delroy and Percy genuinely cared for each other, even though it was a bit more a struggle to care for Leroy he makes up for that sometimes adding some much needed comic relief adding touches of light for an at times dark novel.
Perversion of Justice will no doubt have readers flying through the opening chapters as the plot progresses to the conflict and resolution chapters, I believe there were times when the plotline slowed considerably; having now completed the book I wonder if this was done on purpose to allow the reader the opportunity to completely sympathise for poor Percy and the Fullwood family rather than it feeling like an afterthought, this detail is the reason behind my high- five- star rating. Perhaps it was done to supply the reader with more information to piece together further along in the story? Overall, my enjoyment of this story remained intact till the end.
If you’ve not read anything by this author, I highly recommend you rectify that immediately! Having now read five of his books I think it’s safe to say he surprises me and knows how to turn my emotions on like a tap every time. I think I have the plot and it’s direction all sorted and then Steve goes and adds something into the story I just didn’t see coming, for fans of the Historical Fiction genre I highly recommend The Hitler trilogy.
Difficult topics covered in Perversion of Justice such as accidental overdose, death of a domestic pet, terminal illness and sexual assault are handled with sensitivity and care.
Sub-plots included in Perversion of Justice:
- Corruption in government
- Corruption in the police force
- Public figures
- Historical crime
- Sibling revelry
- Secrets
- Lies
- Whodunnit
- Police force who want the case closed quickly
- Must-be guilty
- Terminal illness
- Death
- Plot twist
- Light bulb moment
- The big reveal
Tropes included in Perversion of Justice:
- Secrets
- Lies
- Historical crime
- Police force who want the case closed quickly
- Whodunnit
- Death
- Plot twist
- Light bulb moment
- The big reveal
Without giving anything away for future readers Perversion of Justice has a bittersweet ending in my opinion, on one hand, I was relieved to see this story reach a satisfying conclusion but on the other hand, it was certainly hard not to feel a great sense of loss at the same time for Percy and Grace.
I highly recommend this book to a mature audience and readers of the Crime Mystery genre should investigate Perversion of Justice as soon as possible.
With Continued thanks to Big Sky Publishing and author Steve Matthews for sending a physical copy of Perversion of Justice to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion.