The Spencer Investigations #2 Justice In God’s Hands
Author: Steve Matthews
Publisher: Big Sky Publishing
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction
Year of release: 2025
Release date: 02/07/25
Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
TW Death, Death of a domestic pet, kidnapping, sexual assault, trauma, drugs.
Book #2 of #4 Book can be read as a stand alone.
Synopsis
The Spencer Investigations’ series
In the fight for justice, no secret stays buried forever.
Diane Spencer is embracing her new life as founder of the Social Injustice Centre, a groundbreaking project aimed at freeing the innocent and exposing corruption. But as Diane champions justice for others, the ghosts of her own past resurface with a vengeance.
When the daughter of Judge Lucy Prior—known for her lenient sentences—vanishes, Sydney erupts in a media storm. Chief Superintendent Bruce Spencer, Diane’s brother, leads the investigation, but the list of suspects is tangled in a web of power, crime, and revenge. Is the culprit Sarah Bancroft’s vengeful brother, disgraced aristocrat Winston Stevens, or her son Henry, a wannabe gangster out of his depth in Sydney’s criminal underworld?
Meanwhile, the SIC team races to prove the innocence of an Aboriginal woman wrongly imprisoned for murder. As the case grows more complex, Diane’s newly recruited intern, Emma, becomes a victim herself, drawing the team into the dark, dangerous world of Henry Bancroft.
While lives hang in the balance, Diane confronts the man who shattered her own. As buried secrets come to light, the boundaries between justice and vengeance blur. With the stakes rising, Diane and Bruce find themselves on a collision course—both seeking resolution, but in ways that could destroy everything they’ve fought for.
A gripping tale of betrayal, redemption, and resilience, Book 2 of’ The Spencer Investigations’ series delivers shocking twists and a finale that will leave you questioning how far you would go for justice.
Review
Diane Spencer is the founder of the Social Injustice Centre (SIC), an organisation dedicated to freeing innocent members of society while exposing corruption. Though Diane is at the forefront of the fight for others, the ghosts of her past refuse to let her go, trapping her in a cycle of torment as they resurface with a vengeance.
Judge Lucy Prior is known for her lenient sentences, but when her daughter vanishes, Sydneysiders erupt in outrage. Media coverage goes into overdrive, and even those in government demand the crime be solved and the perpetrators brought to justice immediately. Chief Superintendent Bruce Spencer, Diane’s brother, leads the investigation. However, he soon discovers that the suspects are entangled in a web of power, crime, and revenge. The deeper Bruce digs, the tighter the web becomes, trapping everyone who gets too close.
Everyone involved in the search for the missing teenager begins to suspect disgraced aristocrat Winston Stevens—Sarah Bancroft’s vengeful brother. Even Sarah’s own son falls under suspicion. But perhaps Bruce should be looking closer to home?
SIC is racing against the clock to prove the innocence of an Aboriginal woman wrongly convicted of murder. As the case grows more complicated, Diane’s young intern, Emma, finds herself in danger—now a victim herself. The team is drawn into the dark and dangerous underworld of Henry Bancroft, where they are anything but welcome. Meanwhile, Bruce and Diane’s professional lives are on a collision course, and this encounter could destroy everything they’ve fought for.
Will the siblings escape the tight grip of Sydney’s underworld, or will the darkness consume them, along with their demons and unfinished business?
After Perversion of Justice became my top read of 2024, there was no question—I had to get my hands on Justice in God’s Hands the moment it was announced. I needed to know what Bruce, Diane, and Otto were up against this time, and more importantly, who they were fighting for. I wasn’t disappointed. This instalment gripped me from the first page, pulling me into a case so compelling that I tore through the book with urgency, desperate to uncover the truth alongside them. Without a doubt, this is my favourite book in the series.
While the characters were already well-developed in the previous novel, the author’s skilled writing brings them into even sharper focus without overwhelming the reader or detracting from the current story. Diane Spencer plays a much larger role in Justice in God’s Hands, allowing readers to truly understand her motivations for helping others through their trauma. I found myself loving and caring for these characters even more than I did in Perversion of Justice.
Diane remains true to herself, but there is a noticeable shift in her personality since the start of the series. It’s clear that the trauma she endured years ago still weighs heavily on her. I appreciate the author for recognising this and handling it with such care and sensitivity.
As for the rest of the characters , I was delighted to see everyone return for book two—it felt like a reunion of sorts. If you’ve read Perversion of Justice, you’ll no doubt appreciate this element too. Some may consider certain characters minor, but in my opinion, the series wouldn’t be the same without them.
Like every other book I’ve read from this author, I start with the intention of pacing myself—just a few chapters to begin with. But before I know it, half the book is gone. Justice in God’s Hands is perfect for readers who enjoy a story that starts slow and gradually builds momentum. Steve Matthews has mastered the art of keeping readers hooked—just when you think it’s safe to put the book down, he drops another breadcrumb, and you must know where it leads.
One of the reasons I keep returning to this author’s books isn’t because everything is neatly wrapped up by the end—it’s because each story offers a deeper lesson, sparking discussion and reflection. With The Spencer Investigations, he challenges readers to examine social justice and our expectations of the justice system. Rather than simply delivering what readers want, he provides what they need. Not everyone gets closure or justice the way they should, and as cruel as that may seem, it’s an honest and impactful truth. It’s this raw authenticity that lingers long after the final page—one of the many reasons behind my high five-star rating.
With a plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seats—and likely up until the early hours—Justice in God’s Hands is impossible to put down. It’s safe to say that Steve Matthews knows how to write a cliffhanger. As a reader, I’m always left wanting more, yet at the same time, dreading the moment the series comes to an end too soon.
Australia is home to many brilliant crime, mystery, and thriller authors, with an abundance of incredible titles to choose from. What sets The Spencer Investigations series apart is its setting—rather than a small country town, readers are immersed in the vibrant and dynamic world of Bondi, New South Wales. It’s a refreshing change. And without giving away any spoilers, I can confidently say this: if you think you can predict how this instalment will end just by reading the synopsis, think again.
Sub plots and tropes included in Justice in God’s Hands:
- Mother daughter relationship
- Mother Son relationship
- Relationship breakdown/ Divorce
- Brother/sister relationship
- Trauma/ sexual assault
- Teenage pregnancy
- Kidnap
- Blackmail
- Secrets
- Lies
- Self-discovery
- Drugs
- Grief
- Death of a parent/ death of a domestic pet
- The big plot twist
- Light bulb moment
- The big reveal
Steve’s books always leave me experiencing a wide range of emotions, and while I was mostly satisfied when this one ended, I’ll be honest—it’s hard not to feel disappointed in the justice system, or rather, the lack of justice for victims and their families. Steve has done an outstanding job of presenting every side of this complex issue. The judicial system’s limitations are made painfully clear in this book, and that reality lingers long after the final page.
I highly recommend this book to a mature audience. Readers of crime, mystery, and thriller genres should add this series to their bookshelf. The Spencer Investigations is more than just another whodunnit with a hero cop—it has heart. It challenges readers to examine the world around them, even when that makes for uncomfortable reading.
With continued thanks to author Steve Matthews and Big Sky Publishing for sending a physical copy of In Gods Hands to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion.
