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51%
In a future where corporations own everything—including people—one murder could ignite a revolution.
Twenty years from now, the United States is completely privatized. The Big Six syndicates own schools, roads, police departments… even human beings.
When a young immigrant woman—51% owned by the syndicates—is brutally murdered, NYPD, Inc. detective Juke O'Keefe and his partner, crime marketing consultant Haylee Navarro, catch the case. Pregnant and broke, Haylee knows they can’t crowdfund enough from a dead immigrant to pay for basic forensics, let alone their paychecks. But Juke, with his old-school sense of justice, is determined to find the killer.
Their search for the truth leads them to Juke’s ex, a Resistance leader on the syndicates’ most wanted list. As the three join forces, they stumble onto a conspiracy designed to destroy the last shreds of American freedom. To rescue fifty-one percenters—and everyone else—from syndicate control, they’ll have to defeat the Red Queen, the most ruthless, powerful AI in the world.
51% is a gritty, fast-paced thriller about power, justice, and what happens when everything—even people—can be owned.
Twenty years from now, the United States is completely privatized. The Big Six syndicates own schools, roads, police departments… even human beings.
When a young immigrant woman—51% owned by the syndicates—is brutally murdered, NYPD, Inc. detective Juke O'Keefe and his partner, crime marketing consultant Haylee Navarro, catch the case. Pregnant and broke, Haylee knows they can’t crowdfund enough from a dead immigrant to pay for basic forensics, let alone their paychecks. But Juke, with his old-school sense of justice, is determined to find the killer.
Their search for the truth leads them to Juke’s ex, a Resistance leader on the syndicates’ most wanted list. As the three join forces, they stumble onto a conspiracy designed to destroy the last shreds of American freedom. To rescue fifty-one percenters—and everyone else—from syndicate control, they’ll have to defeat the Red Queen, the most ruthless, powerful AI in the world.
51% is a gritty, fast-paced thriller about power, justice, and what happens when everything—even people—can be owned.
- GenresDystopia
397 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2026
About the author
Matt Witten
11 books177 followersMatt Witten is a TV writer, novelist, playwright, and screenwriter who has written for many TV shows including House, Pretty Little Liars, Law & Order, Medium, Supernatural, and CSI: Miami. His thriller novel The Necklace is published in eight languages, is an Amazon Editors' Pick, and has been optioned for film by Leonardo DiCaprio. His novel Killer Story won a Foreword Indie award for best mystery and has been optioned for TV by Endgame Entertainment. Matt wrote four amateur sleuth novels that were published by Signet, including the Malice Domestic Award-winning Breakfast at Madeline’s, and he has been nominated for two Edgars and an Emmy. His published stage plays include The Deal, Washington Square Moves, and The Ties That Bind. He wrote the movie Drones, produced by Whitewater Films. His futuristic thriller, 51%, comes out in 2026. NBC has hired Matt to cowrite a TV pilot based on 51%.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 18, 2026
Thank you to Matt Witten for the autographed ARC!
Twenty years from now, everything in the United States - roads, police departments, schools and even people - are owned by The Big Six syndicates. Basically, people are able to sell percentages of themselves in exchange for a college education or health care etc. Once their percentage reaches 51%, a microchip is inserted to monitor their every move. Before long, the Syndicates want to chip everyone.
Detective Juke and his partner Haylee are tasked with the case of a 51% immigrant who was found brutally murdered. In their task to get to the truth, they find themselves up against The Red Queen - the most ruthless AI ever created…
This was a wild concept for the future but scary because I could see it actually happening! What starts off as an "innocent" concept - sell a small percentage for a better life - quickly gets out of hand. I don’t read much sci-fi or dystopian novels but this one I couldn’t put down! It was just the right mix of sci-fi and fast-paced thriller. The action was steady and the pacing was perfect to keep me glued to the pages. The world-building Witten created was literally perfect - I won’t lie, I often get confused with this kind of concept but this one flowed SO well I had no trouble following along. The concept of AI being at the center of this world/government was eerie because again, I could see it happening!
I loved Witten’s previous book, Killer Story, so I was thrilled to get a chance to read this one early! I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next because whether it is a thriller, mystery or sci-fi, I know I will love it!
Would you consider selling off percentages of yourself to pay for something? If it was for my kids I could see myself taking a long, hard look at it.
“51%” releases April 28, 2026. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
Twenty years from now, everything in the United States - roads, police departments, schools and even people - are owned by The Big Six syndicates. Basically, people are able to sell percentages of themselves in exchange for a college education or health care etc. Once their percentage reaches 51%, a microchip is inserted to monitor their every move. Before long, the Syndicates want to chip everyone.
Detective Juke and his partner Haylee are tasked with the case of a 51% immigrant who was found brutally murdered. In their task to get to the truth, they find themselves up against The Red Queen - the most ruthless AI ever created…
This was a wild concept for the future but scary because I could see it actually happening! What starts off as an "innocent" concept - sell a small percentage for a better life - quickly gets out of hand. I don’t read much sci-fi or dystopian novels but this one I couldn’t put down! It was just the right mix of sci-fi and fast-paced thriller. The action was steady and the pacing was perfect to keep me glued to the pages. The world-building Witten created was literally perfect - I won’t lie, I often get confused with this kind of concept but this one flowed SO well I had no trouble following along. The concept of AI being at the center of this world/government was eerie because again, I could see it happening!
I loved Witten’s previous book, Killer Story, so I was thrilled to get a chance to read this one early! I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next because whether it is a thriller, mystery or sci-fi, I know I will love it!
Would you consider selling off percentages of yourself to pay for something? If it was for my kids I could see myself taking a long, hard look at it.
“51%” releases April 28, 2026. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
April 28, 2026
I was lucky to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of Matt Witten’s new thriller 51%. Witten has created a believable and completely disturbing dystopian New York City twenty years from now, where syndicates own schools, roads, the police, and percentages of human beings. In this world, humans sell percentages of themselves in exchange for college education and health care. Once the ownership percentage reaches fifty-one percent, a microchip is inserted to monitor the 51 percenter’s every move. But that’s not enough. Now the syndicate wants to chip everyone.
Matt’s attention to detail in this world building is impressive and he’s created a cast of characters that are distinct and memorable. The action starts when a 51-percenter young immigrant woman is brutally murdered. To solve the murder, crowd funding is required to pay for basic forensics, search warrants, autopsies, and law enforcement’s salaries. The main protagonists are detective Juke O’Keefe, his partner/crime marketing consultant Hayley Navarro, and the Red Queen, a forty-ton, five thousand square foot fire engine computer system with a Margaret Thatcher voice. Haylee is broke, grieving, and pregnant and Juke has an old school sense of justice that is completely rare in this cynical new world.
The Red Queen runs the New York Division of syndicate safety with sarcastic wit (“Carbon units were so unreliable,”) and psycholinguistic analysis, ever on the alert for any signs of resistance, allowing Witten ingenious commentary on the threat of AI. The novel is laced with humor, especially with its play on social media trends.
Witten’s pacing, stakes-raising, and tension building lead to an electrifying and satisfying ending. Relevant, accessible, and hopefully not a prediction of what is to come. Bravo Matt.
Matt’s attention to detail in this world building is impressive and he’s created a cast of characters that are distinct and memorable. The action starts when a 51-percenter young immigrant woman is brutally murdered. To solve the murder, crowd funding is required to pay for basic forensics, search warrants, autopsies, and law enforcement’s salaries. The main protagonists are detective Juke O’Keefe, his partner/crime marketing consultant Hayley Navarro, and the Red Queen, a forty-ton, five thousand square foot fire engine computer system with a Margaret Thatcher voice. Haylee is broke, grieving, and pregnant and Juke has an old school sense of justice that is completely rare in this cynical new world.
The Red Queen runs the New York Division of syndicate safety with sarcastic wit (“Carbon units were so unreliable,”) and psycholinguistic analysis, ever on the alert for any signs of resistance, allowing Witten ingenious commentary on the threat of AI. The novel is laced with humor, especially with its play on social media trends.
Witten’s pacing, stakes-raising, and tension building lead to an electrifying and satisfying ending. Relevant, accessible, and hopefully not a prediction of what is to come. Bravo Matt.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
review of advanced copy received from netgalley
Really gripping thriller set in a dystopian future. This book got me out of a reading slump, and I tore through it in 2 days. It starts with the murder of a woman nobody cares about, in a society where police need to crowdfund their investigations, and evolves from there. I love that its written from all sorts of different perspectives. Highly recommend.
Really gripping thriller set in a dystopian future. This book got me out of a reading slump, and I tore through it in 2 days. It starts with the murder of a woman nobody cares about, in a society where police need to crowdfund their investigations, and evolves from there. I love that its written from all sorts of different perspectives. Highly recommend.
May 3, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
If Matt wrote it, I have read it, and this is a treat! The questions
and answers posed here are so important, and in some places
are actually scary and nearly here. A futuristic, dystopian world for
some who just cannot pay anymore for what we all expect to have~
a high believability factor in a total work of fiction. I also love
the vocabulary he created, which, of course, includes the
51%'ers, and chocolate, which became so well laid out.
I am not usually a dystopia / chocolate reader, but I became
SO attached to everyone that last night I was up so late I
had to read several chapters over again! I'm hooked
So, I recommend this book for everyone ~ this is a
first class genre buster.
If Matt wrote it, I have read it, and this is a treat! The questions
and answers posed here are so important, and in some places
are actually scary and nearly here. A futuristic, dystopian world for
some who just cannot pay anymore for what we all expect to have~
a high believability factor in a total work of fiction. I also love
the vocabulary he created, which, of course, includes the
51%'ers, and chocolate, which became so well laid out.
I am not usually a dystopia / chocolate reader, but I became
SO attached to everyone that last night I was up so late I
had to read several chapters over again! I'm hooked
So, I recommend this book for everyone ~ this is a
first class genre buster.
March 31, 2026
Which “Big Six” corporate institution would I sell 51% of myself to? Since Barnes and Noble and my local bookshop might not be in the top choices, I guess I’d bite the bullet for Bezos’ Amazon, so I could read all the books and watch movies and streaming series, but I’d partially crowdfund my other 49% for participation in a coffee chain (called Starpunks in “51%”), too. I know my husband would aim for a 50/50 Tesla/Apple split.
And that’s sort of how Matt Witten’s imaginative dystopian future world works. Everything is privatized like NYPDinc (DINC) where homicide detectives Juke and partner Haylee, a crime marketing specialist, work (and get paid by the murder, but have to crowdfund the forensic help and buy search warrants). Juke is all about justice, but it ‘s the glam murders that pay better. Too bad for the recent immigrant Crimean girl who was beaten up and then run over.
The premise: sell yourself percent point by percentage point, but once you reach 51%, you (a carbon unit) get chipped and totally controlled by the Big Six syndicate. There is a “Resistance” based in chip-free Canada. If you want something, you have to mostly crowdfund for it.
Witten is a crime story writer unafraid to look forward at AI intrusion and the billionaire oligarchies that are seeping into the present day (have you noticed how many murder mysteries are set in the 80s and 90s, pre-DNA, Ring cameras, and iPhones, to avoid tech solving crime?)
I bet author Witten had fun creating his version of the future and then setting his characters into a clash of technological systems. We get an AI villain (the Red Queen), but at its heart “51%” is still a murder mystery. It’s engaging and there is depth to the characters who are grappling with too much technological and corporate interference. There are moments when the new slang terms get too much over the top (well, that’s every new dystopian fantasy genre, too), but it’s a fascinating story that will get you thinking. 4.5 stars!
Note to author: Witten writes “Government deregulation gave people a lot of small freedoms, like programming their horns any way they wanted.” Meet my current 2024 Tesla: I can program the walk away chirp on it to be a clown horn, a sigh, or a fart right now.
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES The Krishna leader has piercing green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO However, as in most dreary futureworlds, the only horticulture is contained to small oases of trees in parks, rather than tree-lined streets and gardens.
Thank you to Level Best Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
And that’s sort of how Matt Witten’s imaginative dystopian future world works. Everything is privatized like NYPDinc (DINC) where homicide detectives Juke and partner Haylee, a crime marketing specialist, work (and get paid by the murder, but have to crowdfund the forensic help and buy search warrants). Juke is all about justice, but it ‘s the glam murders that pay better. Too bad for the recent immigrant Crimean girl who was beaten up and then run over.
The premise: sell yourself percent point by percentage point, but once you reach 51%, you (a carbon unit) get chipped and totally controlled by the Big Six syndicate. There is a “Resistance” based in chip-free Canada. If you want something, you have to mostly crowdfund for it.
Witten is a crime story writer unafraid to look forward at AI intrusion and the billionaire oligarchies that are seeping into the present day (have you noticed how many murder mysteries are set in the 80s and 90s, pre-DNA, Ring cameras, and iPhones, to avoid tech solving crime?)
I bet author Witten had fun creating his version of the future and then setting his characters into a clash of technological systems. We get an AI villain (the Red Queen), but at its heart “51%” is still a murder mystery. It’s engaging and there is depth to the characters who are grappling with too much technological and corporate interference. There are moments when the new slang terms get too much over the top (well, that’s every new dystopian fantasy genre, too), but it’s a fascinating story that will get you thinking. 4.5 stars!
Note to author: Witten writes “Government deregulation gave people a lot of small freedoms, like programming their horns any way they wanted.” Meet my current 2024 Tesla: I can program the walk away chirp on it to be a clown horn, a sigh, or a fart right now.
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES The Krishna leader has piercing green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO However, as in most dreary futureworlds, the only horticulture is contained to small oases of trees in parks, rather than tree-lined streets and gardens.
Thank you to Level Best Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
May 6, 2026
A massive thanks to Matt Witten, Level Best Books and NetGalley for this free advanced copy of 51%. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions expressed are my own.
This is a really well written dystopian crime/police thriller with the really interesting premise of what would happen in a futuristic world where people can sell a percentage of themselves in order to get what they need.
Although set in the future, it is still very much rooted in reality and at times the events of the book don't sound that far removed from some of the more unsavoury and terrifying events going on in the world right now
There are a few connected storylines that kep me engaged in the book and the pacing meant that the story had enough space to develop without feeling slow. The characters were well developed and relatable in different ways.
Towards the end, the pace really accelerated and I was definitely satisfied with the ending.
It gave Blade Runner/Robocop/Demolition Man vibes and had a real cinematic feel. I'd love to see a movie or TV show adaptation.
This is a really well written dystopian crime/police thriller with the really interesting premise of what would happen in a futuristic world where people can sell a percentage of themselves in order to get what they need.
Although set in the future, it is still very much rooted in reality and at times the events of the book don't sound that far removed from some of the more unsavoury and terrifying events going on in the world right now
There are a few connected storylines that kep me engaged in the book and the pacing meant that the story had enough space to develop without feeling slow. The characters were well developed and relatable in different ways.
Towards the end, the pace really accelerated and I was definitely satisfied with the ending.
It gave Blade Runner/Robocop/Demolition Man vibes and had a real cinematic feel. I'd love to see a movie or TV show adaptation.
May 7, 2026
51% is set in America, twenty years in the future, a bleak dystopian imagining. The Big Six own and control virtually everything, including some, but not all, people. This extends to the police, and their approach to the most serious crimes. This is where we meet our cast, and their AI data analyst, The Red Queen, who bizarrely, speaks like Margaret Thatcher.
The world that the author has created, feels so authentic, I could feel the stress and pressure of living in that environment. The pacing was perfect, and kept me fully engaged. The characters all felt distinct and genuine.
I appreciate that this a dystopian work of fiction, but as ever with the best in this genre, you can see echoes of our current reality. The increasing importance of money, rather than empathy. Press attention, resources and investigations leaning towards “worthy” victims.
If you love dark, tense, dystopian thrillers, this is a must read for you.
The world that the author has created, feels so authentic, I could feel the stress and pressure of living in that environment. The pacing was perfect, and kept me fully engaged. The characters all felt distinct and genuine.
I appreciate that this a dystopian work of fiction, but as ever with the best in this genre, you can see echoes of our current reality. The increasing importance of money, rather than empathy. Press attention, resources and investigations leaning towards “worthy” victims.
If you love dark, tense, dystopian thrillers, this is a must read for you.
April 25, 2026
3.75/5⭐️
ARC provided by NetGalley
Imagine a world in which the concept of credit becomes payable with a percentage of yourself. That is, you sign your earnings away for a set amount of time and once you reach a certain threshold, the syndicate you’ve promised yourself to owns you. This story gave me very much “In Time” vibes (gotta love prime JT, and I’ll watch just about anything with Amanda Seyfreid). The story, while a little clunky, followed multiple viewpoints from both the Agency (enforcers) and the Resistance which created a fast-paced adventure.
Not my typical choice of book, but a good read overall.
ARC provided by NetGalley
Imagine a world in which the concept of credit becomes payable with a percentage of yourself. That is, you sign your earnings away for a set amount of time and once you reach a certain threshold, the syndicate you’ve promised yourself to owns you. This story gave me very much “In Time” vibes (gotta love prime JT, and I’ll watch just about anything with Amanda Seyfreid). The story, while a little clunky, followed multiple viewpoints from both the Agency (enforcers) and the Resistance which created a fast-paced adventure.
Not my typical choice of book, but a good read overall.
May 1, 2026
This book grabbed me from the very first chapter and didn't let go. I loved the characters and was completely drawn into the mystery. The idea that they had to crowdfund to solve the mystery of a poor murdered immigrant made me furious... but I could see it happening as our own society gets more and more unfair in the way we treat rich and poor. This book was both fun and disturbing. I was rooting for the Resistance the whole way, and I loved the ending. Yet I also came away thinking about the danger we face in our own world of ending up like this - which has made the book linger in my mind for days since I finished it.
May 2, 2026
So it's been a hot minute since I read a dystopian book, and when the author reached out to me asking if I would like an ARC of 51%, I readily accepted!
It was quite an enjoyable read, the plot was good, and the characters were a mixture of "I'm rooting for you!" and "I want to strangle you!!".
The made up words and slang was a little distracting for me, but it didn't take away from the thrilling and suspenseful murder investigation, as well as a resistance/revolution plot.
It is a compelling and quite unsettling storyline, and could potentially happen - it is set in a world of privatisation and AI, so you know...
Thanks to Matt Witten, NetGalley and Level Best Books for an ARC of 51% - it's out now!
It was quite an enjoyable read, the plot was good, and the characters were a mixture of "I'm rooting for you!" and "I want to strangle you!!".
The made up words and slang was a little distracting for me, but it didn't take away from the thrilling and suspenseful murder investigation, as well as a resistance/revolution plot.
It is a compelling and quite unsettling storyline, and could potentially happen - it is set in a world of privatisation and AI, so you know...
Thanks to Matt Witten, NetGalley and Level Best Books for an ARC of 51% - it's out now!
May 8, 2026
What a wonderful book! I don't normally pick up thrillers but I love Matt Witten's work. This one did not disappoint! It's my favorite one yet! The book reminded me of a fantasy novel in the wonderful world building he created. We had a whole world complete with new rules of society, new jargon, new use of AI, new occupations, and so forth. I found it all really intriguing and thought provoking. How much of this could actually come true? It makes you think about how can someone make a difference in a society where everything is privatized and people are often only looking out for themselves? Highly recommend.
Want to Read
April 13, 202651% is a gripping dystopian thriller with a chillingly realistic premise. The idea of a fully privatized world where even people can be owned is both unsettling and compelling.
Matt Witten blends fast paced investigation with deeper themes of power, justice, and control, making the story not just exciting but thought provoking. The characters feel grounded, and the stakes remain high throughout.
With its upcoming release, 51% is set to resonate strongly with fans of dystopian and techno thrillers. A timely and engaging read.
Matt Witten blends fast paced investigation with deeper themes of power, justice, and control, making the story not just exciting but thought provoking. The characters feel grounded, and the stakes remain high throughout.
With its upcoming release, 51% is set to resonate strongly with fans of dystopian and techno thrillers. A timely and engaging read.
April 18, 2026
My very first eARC! (From Netfalley) Thanks Matt.
If you enjoy dystopian fiction, this is a fast-paced and engaging read. It gave me the feel of a Black Mirror episode—I pictured it as a cyber-punk version of Gilead. I also appreciated how the characters had their own language (“Gen Delta!”—genius).
However, I did find that the chapters included too many shifting viewpoints, which made it difficult to maintain narrative momentum, especially when perspectives changed multiple times within the same chapter.
Overall, I did enjoy the book! 3.5 stars.
If you enjoy dystopian fiction, this is a fast-paced and engaging read. It gave me the feel of a Black Mirror episode—I pictured it as a cyber-punk version of Gilead. I also appreciated how the characters had their own language (“Gen Delta!”—genius).
However, I did find that the chapters included too many shifting viewpoints, which made it difficult to maintain narrative momentum, especially when perspectives changed multiple times within the same chapter.
Overall, I did enjoy the book! 3.5 stars.
Review of advance copy
This is not my normal genre of reading but I really enjoyed this book and the humor in it.
May 4, 2026
Matt Witten's new mystery novel is scary and suspenseful, and it points clearly to a problem that presents a major trap for America. No, it's not about the potential takeover of the country and the world by artificial intelligence. That subject already has been treated in numerous articles, essays, videos and some excellent novels. But an equally dangerous trap is at the heart of this complex work.
This time, it's the all-too-likely takeover of the country by the world of corporations and syndicates, groups of those companies and institutions. Even as the U.S. exists right now, huge corporations are so ubiquitous and powerful that it sometimes feels hopeless to attempt to overcome their power. And that is essentially what 51% is about.
First, the setting of the novel is fascinating --- the condition of the city of New York about 20 years from now. The night sky is completely covered by holograms depicting the beauty of the syndicates and the alleged liberty they provide. No stars, no moon, no nature. And for the citizens, no more financial woes, no worries about the future, no stressful decisions about occupational strife. Everything will be provided through help from and decisions made by the syndicates, which now own everything of importance to human beings: the medical industry, the places of relaxation, the sources of food, the availability of vehicles and all other forms of transportation, the political world, the financial systems, the police departments --- and the people.
Ergo, the novel's title. Every person carries a chip that has been securely implanted into the body. It ensures that everyone is, to one degree or another, a slave of the system. Most significantly, when an individual needs money, he or she can always procure it through the auspices of the syndicate that owns his or her chip. “Here's money for your kid's education, kindergarten through college. And we, your dedicated syndicate, will add only 20% of your life to the percentage of you that we already own. And when that percentage of you reaches 51% --- voila! We now own you. We will decide everything about your future and your life. We own more of you than you do.”
Second is the multiplicity of important characters, both good and evil. It's almost impossible to zero in on one protagonist of the novel because so many cast members play such vital roles in the two primary plots. Even a summary must recognize their actions, beliefs and ideals. Witten emphasizes the presence of the most significant characters by placing their names at the headings of each chapter. And he wisely names some chapter headings “Everyone.”
Here is a list of several of the characters who rate inclusion in the chapter headings. It's also important to point out the ways in which their actions influence the unfolding of the main storylines. The search for the murderer of a beautiful young woman can be labeled plot #1, and the execution of those plans to escape the bonds of the syndicates can be called plot #2.
(1) Juke: a good man (though flawed, of course, like all well-drawn characters) and a good cop, whose job is to solve murders. He has experienced his share of tragedies. But through thick and thin, he stubbornly sticks to his goal of always acting on his belief that everyone deserves his full attention as he tries to solve every crime he comes across. Unfortunately for Juke, that decency costs him dearly because only rich or famous people who are involved in murder cases bring in the money, potentially thousands of dollars, that the police department cares about. Cases involving only poor people bring Juke a payment of about $18.
We quickly become aware that the police department is, in fact, the NYPD, Inc., owned top-to-bottom by a syndicate. That's why it's referred to by those who don't exactly love it as “Dinc,” which is one of many clever future colloquialisms or slang expressions coined here by Witten. So when Juke insists on tracking down the killer of a beautiful young woman whose body he finds in the street --- beaten, raped and run over twice by a car --- solving the case will net just a few dollars for Dinc and almost nothing for him and his partner. That's plot #1.
(2) Haylee: Juke's new partner, another flawed but decent human being. Her main problem is that she is pregnant, and the father of the baby she carries is her former partner, who was tragically killed while in the process of capturing a criminal, and whose death she blames on herself. On top of that tragedy, Haylee is desperate for more money because she will need it to enable her daughter to be “enhanced,” an ultra-expensive medical procedure that ensures that a baby will grow up to be able to compete with others for successful educational and occupational careers. Haylee does not wish to sell herself to her corporate bosses. Perhaps above all, she does not want to put herself in danger of becoming a 51%-er. She wants her life to be her own. And now she's stuck with Juke, who refuses to look for wealthy connections. She apparently has nowhere to turn.
(3) Safiya: the brilliant and beautiful founder and head of the New York 19, a group that she has put together for the purpose of defeating America's syndicates. Her plan is to form the most effective resistance to the corporate world that owns America. She is the main character of the second plot, the book’s most suspenseful element and the one that best represents its primary theme: fight the power, even if and when the the power's influence is overwhelming, owning everything and everyone in the country. Safiya has helped discover a method to "D-chip" people, and her plan is to D-chip the folks in New York 19, to escape with all the members to Canada --- which is NOT a corporate-owned entity --- and from that place and time to teach everyone in the U.S. the process of D-chipping. This dangerous young woman is also Juke's ex-lover. He still loves her, and perhaps she still loves him. That’s all to be decided.
(4) The Red Queen: a most important character even though she's not a person. She’s a zillion-pound steel AI monster (well, maybe two tons) and the world's most efficient detective/investigator as she sniffs out (even without a nose) anyone who might pose a threat to the syndicates or the Dincs. She possesses absolutely no redeeming qualities and is a terrific character.
(5) Talia: the murdered beautiful young immigrant whose life had been taken even before the novel begins. But as a member of the New York 19, she exerts tremendous influence over both plots --- the search for her killer and the plans for The Great Escape.
(6) Jeannie and Cheyenne: minor good-guy characters who play increasingly important roles in the escape to Canada, as well as the D-chipping process.
(7) Diego: Talia's lover and maybe her murderer. A crime of passion? He also plays an instrumental role in the novel’s climactic scenes.
(8) Rey: Safiya's current boyfriend who leaves all the dirty work to her but still emerges as a heroic figure.
(9) Karolyn: Deputy Director at “The Agency” --- a villainous, arrogant, officious, ambitious creep whose greed and thirst for power, promotions and money are her primary characteristics. She poses a terrible threat to anyone who may be involved with the Resistance.
(10) Billingsley: another arrogant villain who is the very essence of corporate evil. He's an ultra-wealthy jerk who is quite capable of ruining the lives of people who are desperate for financial help. He's also sly and tricky, especially when he turns on the charm. He's the type who sincerely wishes that all poor people and minorities would automatically become 51%-ers.
We must note here that ALL the villains are so deliciously evil that you'd like to take a big ugly bite out of all of them. Their ultimate plan, mentioned specifically only once but very openly and frighteningly, is to use the chips that will have been implanted in every single "enemy's" brain to make everyone happy and obedient. They will be more than willing to absorb all the drugs that will be shot into them so that they can be forever perfectly happy and willing to do nothing to alter their drug-induced lazy contentment. In other words, they will do anything their corporate masters deem useful and not do anything their masters deem dangerous. Their lives will match those of the citizenry of Aldous Huxley's BRAVE NEW WORLD --- they'll be brainless and powerless.
But back to the unfolding of plot #2. The night of the planned escape turns into an exciting taste of a finely tuned action/suspense novel --- all the blood and gore, all the revenge, all the suspense involved in the courageous but longshot escape attempt, all the sadness of loss, maybe all the schadenfreude of sweet success, even if it's temporary. And all the suspense and action come shooting off the pages of this extraordinary novel, right into the brain of the fascinated and excited reader.
So there we have it: Matt Witten's venture into the novelistic worlds of murder mystery, suspense, political commentary, action, and even something of a touching love story, all-in-one. It’s an amazing effort --- a terrific and extremely enjoyable experience for readers. And there should be many of those.
Reviewed by Jack Kramer
This time, it's the all-too-likely takeover of the country by the world of corporations and syndicates, groups of those companies and institutions. Even as the U.S. exists right now, huge corporations are so ubiquitous and powerful that it sometimes feels hopeless to attempt to overcome their power. And that is essentially what 51% is about.
First, the setting of the novel is fascinating --- the condition of the city of New York about 20 years from now. The night sky is completely covered by holograms depicting the beauty of the syndicates and the alleged liberty they provide. No stars, no moon, no nature. And for the citizens, no more financial woes, no worries about the future, no stressful decisions about occupational strife. Everything will be provided through help from and decisions made by the syndicates, which now own everything of importance to human beings: the medical industry, the places of relaxation, the sources of food, the availability of vehicles and all other forms of transportation, the political world, the financial systems, the police departments --- and the people.
Ergo, the novel's title. Every person carries a chip that has been securely implanted into the body. It ensures that everyone is, to one degree or another, a slave of the system. Most significantly, when an individual needs money, he or she can always procure it through the auspices of the syndicate that owns his or her chip. “Here's money for your kid's education, kindergarten through college. And we, your dedicated syndicate, will add only 20% of your life to the percentage of you that we already own. And when that percentage of you reaches 51% --- voila! We now own you. We will decide everything about your future and your life. We own more of you than you do.”
Second is the multiplicity of important characters, both good and evil. It's almost impossible to zero in on one protagonist of the novel because so many cast members play such vital roles in the two primary plots. Even a summary must recognize their actions, beliefs and ideals. Witten emphasizes the presence of the most significant characters by placing their names at the headings of each chapter. And he wisely names some chapter headings “Everyone.”
Here is a list of several of the characters who rate inclusion in the chapter headings. It's also important to point out the ways in which their actions influence the unfolding of the main storylines. The search for the murderer of a beautiful young woman can be labeled plot #1, and the execution of those plans to escape the bonds of the syndicates can be called plot #2.
(1) Juke: a good man (though flawed, of course, like all well-drawn characters) and a good cop, whose job is to solve murders. He has experienced his share of tragedies. But through thick and thin, he stubbornly sticks to his goal of always acting on his belief that everyone deserves his full attention as he tries to solve every crime he comes across. Unfortunately for Juke, that decency costs him dearly because only rich or famous people who are involved in murder cases bring in the money, potentially thousands of dollars, that the police department cares about. Cases involving only poor people bring Juke a payment of about $18.
We quickly become aware that the police department is, in fact, the NYPD, Inc., owned top-to-bottom by a syndicate. That's why it's referred to by those who don't exactly love it as “Dinc,” which is one of many clever future colloquialisms or slang expressions coined here by Witten. So when Juke insists on tracking down the killer of a beautiful young woman whose body he finds in the street --- beaten, raped and run over twice by a car --- solving the case will net just a few dollars for Dinc and almost nothing for him and his partner. That's plot #1.
(2) Haylee: Juke's new partner, another flawed but decent human being. Her main problem is that she is pregnant, and the father of the baby she carries is her former partner, who was tragically killed while in the process of capturing a criminal, and whose death she blames on herself. On top of that tragedy, Haylee is desperate for more money because she will need it to enable her daughter to be “enhanced,” an ultra-expensive medical procedure that ensures that a baby will grow up to be able to compete with others for successful educational and occupational careers. Haylee does not wish to sell herself to her corporate bosses. Perhaps above all, she does not want to put herself in danger of becoming a 51%-er. She wants her life to be her own. And now she's stuck with Juke, who refuses to look for wealthy connections. She apparently has nowhere to turn.
(3) Safiya: the brilliant and beautiful founder and head of the New York 19, a group that she has put together for the purpose of defeating America's syndicates. Her plan is to form the most effective resistance to the corporate world that owns America. She is the main character of the second plot, the book’s most suspenseful element and the one that best represents its primary theme: fight the power, even if and when the the power's influence is overwhelming, owning everything and everyone in the country. Safiya has helped discover a method to "D-chip" people, and her plan is to D-chip the folks in New York 19, to escape with all the members to Canada --- which is NOT a corporate-owned entity --- and from that place and time to teach everyone in the U.S. the process of D-chipping. This dangerous young woman is also Juke's ex-lover. He still loves her, and perhaps she still loves him. That’s all to be decided.
(4) The Red Queen: a most important character even though she's not a person. She’s a zillion-pound steel AI monster (well, maybe two tons) and the world's most efficient detective/investigator as she sniffs out (even without a nose) anyone who might pose a threat to the syndicates or the Dincs. She possesses absolutely no redeeming qualities and is a terrific character.
(5) Talia: the murdered beautiful young immigrant whose life had been taken even before the novel begins. But as a member of the New York 19, she exerts tremendous influence over both plots --- the search for her killer and the plans for The Great Escape.
(6) Jeannie and Cheyenne: minor good-guy characters who play increasingly important roles in the escape to Canada, as well as the D-chipping process.
(7) Diego: Talia's lover and maybe her murderer. A crime of passion? He also plays an instrumental role in the novel’s climactic scenes.
(8) Rey: Safiya's current boyfriend who leaves all the dirty work to her but still emerges as a heroic figure.
(9) Karolyn: Deputy Director at “The Agency” --- a villainous, arrogant, officious, ambitious creep whose greed and thirst for power, promotions and money are her primary characteristics. She poses a terrible threat to anyone who may be involved with the Resistance.
(10) Billingsley: another arrogant villain who is the very essence of corporate evil. He's an ultra-wealthy jerk who is quite capable of ruining the lives of people who are desperate for financial help. He's also sly and tricky, especially when he turns on the charm. He's the type who sincerely wishes that all poor people and minorities would automatically become 51%-ers.
We must note here that ALL the villains are so deliciously evil that you'd like to take a big ugly bite out of all of them. Their ultimate plan, mentioned specifically only once but very openly and frighteningly, is to use the chips that will have been implanted in every single "enemy's" brain to make everyone happy and obedient. They will be more than willing to absorb all the drugs that will be shot into them so that they can be forever perfectly happy and willing to do nothing to alter their drug-induced lazy contentment. In other words, they will do anything their corporate masters deem useful and not do anything their masters deem dangerous. Their lives will match those of the citizenry of Aldous Huxley's BRAVE NEW WORLD --- they'll be brainless and powerless.
But back to the unfolding of plot #2. The night of the planned escape turns into an exciting taste of a finely tuned action/suspense novel --- all the blood and gore, all the revenge, all the suspense involved in the courageous but longshot escape attempt, all the sadness of loss, maybe all the schadenfreude of sweet success, even if it's temporary. And all the suspense and action come shooting off the pages of this extraordinary novel, right into the brain of the fascinated and excited reader.
So there we have it: Matt Witten's venture into the novelistic worlds of murder mystery, suspense, political commentary, action, and even something of a touching love story, all-in-one. It’s an amazing effort --- a terrific and extremely enjoyable experience for readers. And there should be many of those.
Reviewed by Jack Kramer
April 27, 2026
51% is a gripping dystopian thriller set in the near future. I really enjoyed the world building and learning all about how six large syndicates now run everything, you can sell of parts of you to until you hit 51% and then they own you and you have a biochip placed, you can now pay to have your child enhanced and the NYPD has now become commercialized and you can pay to help solve murders.
Witten hooks you in immediately with a murder, the story then alternates between different points of views and threads and keeps up a cracking pace (with a touch of humour) throughout the novel. We have Juke, the old school cop and his partner Hannah, a marketing expert trying to solve the murder, Saniya, the leader of the resistance, trying to de-chip herself and others and escape to Canada and Karolyn and the Red Queen from the Agency, trying to stop the uprising. Each of the storylines had me on the edge of my seat as I watched play out and then come together with a big finish. For fans of thrillers and dystopian fiction.
Thanks to the author and for the eARC.
QOTD: what are you reading this week?
Witten hooks you in immediately with a murder, the story then alternates between different points of views and threads and keeps up a cracking pace (with a touch of humour) throughout the novel. We have Juke, the old school cop and his partner Hannah, a marketing expert trying to solve the murder, Saniya, the leader of the resistance, trying to de-chip herself and others and escape to Canada and Karolyn and the Red Queen from the Agency, trying to stop the uprising. Each of the storylines had me on the edge of my seat as I watched play out and then come together with a big finish. For fans of thrillers and dystopian fiction.
Thanks to the author and for the eARC.
QOTD: what are you reading this week?
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am always thrilled when an author emails me directly to ask if I would like to review a book. The Necklace by Matt Witten remains one of my all-time favourites, so I jumped at the chance to read 51%. Needless to say, this one went straight to the top of my TBR pile.
Described as “a gritty, fast-paced thriller about power, justice, and what happens when everything – even people – can be owned,” this novel delivers exactly that.
Witten wastes no time setting the scene and drawing readers into his world, grabbing your full attention from the start and making it almost impossible to put the book down. I raced through it in a single day — I simply could not read it fast enough.
Set twenty years in the future, America is controlled by “The Big Six” syndicates. They own everything — even people. What began as a system designed to help young people finance their education has evolved into something far more sinister, leaving many with no way out. Once an individual reaches a 51% income share, they are implanted with a chip that allows the syndicates to monitor their every movement. But 51% is no longer enough — now the syndicates want everyone chipped.
When Juke O’Keefe begins investigating the death of a young immigrant woman, he soon finds himself caught between the law, the resistance, and the syndicates.
I would normally steer clear of futuristic novels. The world-building and technical explanations often slow the story down for me. However, 51% avoids this entirely. Its setting, only twenty years ahead of our own time, keeps the story grounded and relatable. Witten cleverly plays with current social media trends and ideas, adding moments of wit that had me smiling more than once.
Juke O’Keefe is a fantastic protagonist — the kind of character you immediately find yourself rooting for. He carries a few “old-school” qualities while navigating a very modern world, and his unwavering commitment to justice drives the story forward. No matter the obstacles, he is determined to uncover what really happened to the victim.
I also loved the touch of humour in the Red Queen, having the voice of Queen Elizabeth — a clever detail that lightens what is otherwise a chilling concept.
51% presents a possible future that, when viewed through the lens of today’s world, does not feel all that far-fetched. Our growing reliance on social media, the increasing presence of AI, the monitoring of our online interactions, and global financial pressures make the premise of this novel just a little too believable.
Matt Witten has delivered another five-star read. If, like me, you are not usually drawn to futuristic fiction, don’t worry — while 51% is set in the future, it remains highly relevant, accessible, and incredibly entertaining. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
https://featzreviews.com/review-51/
Described as “a gritty, fast-paced thriller about power, justice, and what happens when everything – even people – can be owned,” this novel delivers exactly that.
Witten wastes no time setting the scene and drawing readers into his world, grabbing your full attention from the start and making it almost impossible to put the book down. I raced through it in a single day — I simply could not read it fast enough.
Set twenty years in the future, America is controlled by “The Big Six” syndicates. They own everything — even people. What began as a system designed to help young people finance their education has evolved into something far more sinister, leaving many with no way out. Once an individual reaches a 51% income share, they are implanted with a chip that allows the syndicates to monitor their every movement. But 51% is no longer enough — now the syndicates want everyone chipped.
When Juke O’Keefe begins investigating the death of a young immigrant woman, he soon finds himself caught between the law, the resistance, and the syndicates.
I would normally steer clear of futuristic novels. The world-building and technical explanations often slow the story down for me. However, 51% avoids this entirely. Its setting, only twenty years ahead of our own time, keeps the story grounded and relatable. Witten cleverly plays with current social media trends and ideas, adding moments of wit that had me smiling more than once.
Juke O’Keefe is a fantastic protagonist — the kind of character you immediately find yourself rooting for. He carries a few “old-school” qualities while navigating a very modern world, and his unwavering commitment to justice drives the story forward. No matter the obstacles, he is determined to uncover what really happened to the victim.
I also loved the touch of humour in the Red Queen, having the voice of Queen Elizabeth — a clever detail that lightens what is otherwise a chilling concept.
51% presents a possible future that, when viewed through the lens of today’s world, does not feel all that far-fetched. Our growing reliance on social media, the increasing presence of AI, the monitoring of our online interactions, and global financial pressures make the premise of this novel just a little too believable.
Matt Witten has delivered another five-star read. If, like me, you are not usually drawn to futuristic fiction, don’t worry — while 51% is set in the future, it remains highly relevant, accessible, and incredibly entertaining. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
https://featzreviews.com/review-51/
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was wild! It has a unique, but scarily plausible, high-concept premise. In a near-future dystopia of complete privatization, six corporations own everything, from roads to people. A murder and a resistance movement expose the deepest dark reality of this twisted world, yet there is hope.
Sharply written and gritty, this is as imaginative as it is unsettling. The author really went for it with the world-building. Each aspect of privatization introduced was more diabolical than the last, making this feel frightening and claustrophobic, although the story is balanced by humor. But, imagine crowdfunding for private law enforcement to investigate crimes, while people sell income shares to corporations just to survive. Once they sell 51% of their future earnings, they become corporate property, microchipped and monitored. And those chips have multiple mechanisms to thwart removal.
Homicide detective Juke O'Keefe seeks justice in a world where the rules no longer make sense, aided by his partner, Haylee Navarro, a crime marketer. She must convince the public to donate to the investigation, so she analyzes the murder through PR and optics rather than the hard evidence. The detectives pursue justice, but the victim was 51% owned, so the corporations want damage control, and every step of the investigation is politically charged. Adding to the suspense is an all-powerful AI called the Red Queen, which manipulates personal data and larger society. Then, there's a resistance movement fighting for freedom from surveillance chips while the corporations secretly plan to chip everyone. The rebels provide critical intelligence to Juke and Haylee, who soon realize the race is on to bring down the ruthless syndicates.
Fast-paced, this is provocative and thought-provoking. It's cinematic and has already been optioned for an NBC adaptation. Excited to see it on screen!
Thank you to Level Best Books and the author for the gifted review copy
Sharply written and gritty, this is as imaginative as it is unsettling. The author really went for it with the world-building. Each aspect of privatization introduced was more diabolical than the last, making this feel frightening and claustrophobic, although the story is balanced by humor. But, imagine crowdfunding for private law enforcement to investigate crimes, while people sell income shares to corporations just to survive. Once they sell 51% of their future earnings, they become corporate property, microchipped and monitored. And those chips have multiple mechanisms to thwart removal.
Homicide detective Juke O'Keefe seeks justice in a world where the rules no longer make sense, aided by his partner, Haylee Navarro, a crime marketer. She must convince the public to donate to the investigation, so she analyzes the murder through PR and optics rather than the hard evidence. The detectives pursue justice, but the victim was 51% owned, so the corporations want damage control, and every step of the investigation is politically charged. Adding to the suspense is an all-powerful AI called the Red Queen, which manipulates personal data and larger society. Then, there's a resistance movement fighting for freedom from surveillance chips while the corporations secretly plan to chip everyone. The rebels provide critical intelligence to Juke and Haylee, who soon realize the race is on to bring down the ruthless syndicates.
Fast-paced, this is provocative and thought-provoking. It's cinematic and has already been optioned for an NBC adaptation. Excited to see it on screen!
Thank you to Level Best Books and the author for the gifted review copy
Review of advance copy received from Author
Many thanks to NetGalley, Level Best Books and the author for gifting me a digital and physical copy of this wonderful book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!
Imagine a not-so-distant future, where the government controls everything, even the people. Need to get into high school or college? Need to make sure your children have all the advantages possible? One of the Big 6 Syndicates will give you money for a percentage. But be careful, because if you get to where the syndicate controls 51% of you, they have control and chip you. When a young immigrant woman, a 51%'r, is brutally murdered, NYPD, Inc. Detective Jude O'Keefe and his partner, Crime Marketing Consultant Haylee Navarro, catch the case. They have to crowdfund enough money to investigate the case and Haylee knows this case won't bring in any money. But Jude is determined to find the killer.
This book is unlike anything I've read - and I've read a lot! The premise is so scary because it's so real. Who can afford to send their kid to college now? We have to pay entrance fees to drive into some cities. We're calling to defund the police. One big medical bill can have us reeling. AI has its fingers all over our lives and social media rules. But what sets this book apart from other dystopian books is that it is not only a thriller, but it has plenty of humor, different speech jargon, science that feels real rather than made up, and characters you will love and root for. Once I started reading it, it was tough to put down and I found myself thinking about it in between. Even if this genre isn't something you would normally read, you must read 51%!
Imagine a not-so-distant future, where the government controls everything, even the people. Need to get into high school or college? Need to make sure your children have all the advantages possible? One of the Big 6 Syndicates will give you money for a percentage. But be careful, because if you get to where the syndicate controls 51% of you, they have control and chip you. When a young immigrant woman, a 51%'r, is brutally murdered, NYPD, Inc. Detective Jude O'Keefe and his partner, Crime Marketing Consultant Haylee Navarro, catch the case. They have to crowdfund enough money to investigate the case and Haylee knows this case won't bring in any money. But Jude is determined to find the killer.
This book is unlike anything I've read - and I've read a lot! The premise is so scary because it's so real. Who can afford to send their kid to college now? We have to pay entrance fees to drive into some cities. We're calling to defund the police. One big medical bill can have us reeling. AI has its fingers all over our lives and social media rules. But what sets this book apart from other dystopian books is that it is not only a thriller, but it has plenty of humor, different speech jargon, science that feels real rather than made up, and characters you will love and root for. Once I started reading it, it was tough to put down and I found myself thinking about it in between. Even if this genre isn't something you would normally read, you must read 51%!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I hesitate to call this book 'dystopian' because it is so completely and imminently plausible that I just don't think it fits with your standard dystopian genre, it definitely stands out as a more pressing warning.
I'm an unabashed hater of the current administration, so I already have major concerns about the way the country is going but with this book Witten finds such a clear line from current problem to future nightmare that it's a little unsettling. In this (not so) far off US where presumably the credit and loan industries have collapsed (as many would argue is currently happening in reality given the student loan and consume credit issues), you finance things by committing a certain portion of your income to it. Want to go to college? 7% of your salary. Need a new car? 4% of your salary, home repairs? Another 4%, Medical debt? Another 10%.... it adds up quickly, and in this future world, once you have signed away 51% of your income the government implants you with a microchip and keeps tabs on you to make sure they're going to get their investment back. In a very obvious reaction to an unhinged, over-surveilled tyrannical government, a resistance emerges. This Resistance creates an underground network where people can have their chips removed and be given some assistance in escaping to Canada where they do not have these kinds of end-stage Capitalism problems.
It took me a minute to stop being so concerned about how real this book could be an enjoy the story, but once I reminded myself that it's (at least for now!) fiction, I really enjoyed it! This book should be a warning for anyone still supporting the current US Admin.
I'm an unabashed hater of the current administration, so I already have major concerns about the way the country is going but with this book Witten finds such a clear line from current problem to future nightmare that it's a little unsettling. In this (not so) far off US where presumably the credit and loan industries have collapsed (as many would argue is currently happening in reality given the student loan and consume credit issues), you finance things by committing a certain portion of your income to it. Want to go to college? 7% of your salary. Need a new car? 4% of your salary, home repairs? Another 4%, Medical debt? Another 10%.... it adds up quickly, and in this future world, once you have signed away 51% of your income the government implants you with a microchip and keeps tabs on you to make sure they're going to get their investment back. In a very obvious reaction to an unhinged, over-surveilled tyrannical government, a resistance emerges. This Resistance creates an underground network where people can have their chips removed and be given some assistance in escaping to Canada where they do not have these kinds of end-stage Capitalism problems.
It took me a minute to stop being so concerned about how real this book could be an enjoy the story, but once I reminded myself that it's (at least for now!) fiction, I really enjoyed it! This book should be a warning for anyone still supporting the current US Admin.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Matt Witten gives readers a glimpse into a dystopian future fueled by corporate greed in his new novel “51%”. In his vision, which hopefully isn’t too prescient, Walmart and a handful of other companies grant loans in exchange for a percentage of the recipient’s future earnings. Those who pledge 51% or more of themselves can be chipped, tracked, and controlled.
The story begins with the murder of a 51 percenter, a young immigrant just trying to build a better life for herself. Dedicated detective Juke gets the case and vows to identify the killer, but to do that, he needs resources, like a coroner’s report, fingerprinting, surveillance camera footage – and in this future, that means working with a Crime Marketing Specialist to present the crime on social media, and hoping people care enough to crowdsource a budget.
Witten doesn’t go into long diatribes about how this system came to be, but he does give us glimpses into why some people support it. We’re introduced to characters who believe wholeheartedly in the system, as well as those working tirelessly to end corporate control of individuals struggling to survive.
The slang of the new generation is fairly easy to follow (a couple of social platform names gave me a chuckle), and the story moves along at a good clip. It takes place over a roughly 24 hour period, as Juke uses the slim resources available to him to track the victim’s movements, and as her friends try to stay one step ahead, so the cops don’t learn of their desperate plan to break free of corporate control. I don’t want to say too much and spoil the next reader’s fun, but I will say that it’s thought provoking, entertaining, and satisfying.
The story begins with the murder of a 51 percenter, a young immigrant just trying to build a better life for herself. Dedicated detective Juke gets the case and vows to identify the killer, but to do that, he needs resources, like a coroner’s report, fingerprinting, surveillance camera footage – and in this future, that means working with a Crime Marketing Specialist to present the crime on social media, and hoping people care enough to crowdsource a budget.
Witten doesn’t go into long diatribes about how this system came to be, but he does give us glimpses into why some people support it. We’re introduced to characters who believe wholeheartedly in the system, as well as those working tirelessly to end corporate control of individuals struggling to survive.
The slang of the new generation is fairly easy to follow (a couple of social platform names gave me a chuckle), and the story moves along at a good clip. It takes place over a roughly 24 hour period, as Juke uses the slim resources available to him to track the victim’s movements, and as her friends try to stay one step ahead, so the cops don’t learn of their desperate plan to break free of corporate control. I don’t want to say too much and spoil the next reader’s fun, but I will say that it’s thought provoking, entertaining, and satisfying.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you’ve ever wondered what America might look like with no obligation to care for its citizens, Matt Witten’s 51% has an answer—and it’s unsettling. Be prepared for the intensity of a five-alarm fire: this near-future portrayal of a fully privatized U.S. feels disturbingly plausible. The story centers on a gripping premise: the brutal murder of a young woman. The unraveling of the mystery, told through multiple POVs, is fast-paced and gritty, grounded in a world where corporate control over infrastructure and profit-over-people has gone terribly wrong.
Witten’s screenwriting background shines in this high-stakes narrative. Juke serves as the story’s moral anchor, paired with Haylee, whose arc is far more complicated. They’re set against antagonists who are easy to despise from start to finish. The close third-person, multi-POV style moves quickly between perspectives—sometimes abruptly—but rewards readers who can keep up. The pacing feels reminiscent of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, blended with the layered scope of The Expanse, as the escalating tension keeps the truth just out of reach. The developed slang adds another layer of immersion.
The wait for the truth is satisfying, but the final act feels a bit rushed compared to the careful buildup. The result is a resolution that feels a bit too neat for the gritty tone established earlier. Still, if you are a fan of dystopian thrillers and crime-driven mysteries, 51% delivers a morally complex, high-stakes ride that’s hard to put down.
Witten’s screenwriting background shines in this high-stakes narrative. Juke serves as the story’s moral anchor, paired with Haylee, whose arc is far more complicated. They’re set against antagonists who are easy to despise from start to finish. The close third-person, multi-POV style moves quickly between perspectives—sometimes abruptly—but rewards readers who can keep up. The pacing feels reminiscent of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, blended with the layered scope of The Expanse, as the escalating tension keeps the truth just out of reach. The developed slang adds another layer of immersion.
The wait for the truth is satisfying, but the final act feels a bit rushed compared to the careful buildup. The result is a resolution that feels a bit too neat for the gritty tone established earlier. Still, if you are a fan of dystopian thrillers and crime-driven mysteries, 51% delivers a morally complex, high-stakes ride that’s hard to put down.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
If you ever wondered what a corporate-controlled dystopian future looks like, with everything from the streets to law enforcement privatized, then look no further than 51%. A concerning and not totally implausible glimpse at a democracy-killing timeline if greed and power are left unchallenged. Matt Witten has crafted a thrilling and entertaining story featuring a frightening world we better hope remains on the pages of a fictional novel.
51% is a book that contains multitudes, presenting multiple layers that are simultaneously entertaining and thought-provoking. On one level, it’s a fast-paced crime novel featuring multiple suspects with a twisting-turning investigation, conflict between law enforcement agencies, an underground revolution and deep emotion stemming from complex personal circumstances. But on a deeper level, it’s a profoundly unsettling look at a world where everything is up for sale and people are forced to make impossible choices between freedom and selling out to better or save their lives. Resulting in an engaging and gripping story that gives you pause, makes you contemplate the future, and asks uncomfortable questions about how you would handle living in a commoditized society where you’re treated as an asset instead of a human.
Minority Report and Blade Runner meet Idiocracy.
If you ever wondered what a corporate-controlled dystopian future looks like, with everything from the streets to law enforcement privatized, then look no further than 51%. A concerning and not totally implausible glimpse at a democracy-killing timeline if greed and power are left unchallenged. Matt Witten has crafted a thrilling and entertaining story featuring a frightening world we better hope remains on the pages of a fictional novel.
51% is a book that contains multitudes, presenting multiple layers that are simultaneously entertaining and thought-provoking. On one level, it’s a fast-paced crime novel featuring multiple suspects with a twisting-turning investigation, conflict between law enforcement agencies, an underground revolution and deep emotion stemming from complex personal circumstances. But on a deeper level, it’s a profoundly unsettling look at a world where everything is up for sale and people are forced to make impossible choices between freedom and selling out to better or save their lives. Resulting in an engaging and gripping story that gives you pause, makes you contemplate the future, and asks uncomfortable questions about how you would handle living in a commoditized society where you’re treated as an asset instead of a human.
Minority Report and Blade Runner meet Idiocracy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
So, having read two other Matt Witten books, and having loved them both, I knew this was going to be a good one, but I had no idea that I was going to absolutely love this book and just tear through it.
It’s an action/thriller that just kept me on the edge of my seat from the first to the last page, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that at all. Witten knows how to write a great story that grabs your attention and takes you on a high speed ride until the very last sentence. I cheered for the heroes, hated the villains, and absolutely had to know the solution to the book’s central questions, which included a murder as well as the fate of a government resistance movement.
I think what also made the book so great was that its premise is somewhat believable. It’s a future that is made of nightmares, but that could, in theory, come to pass, in a world that can seem driven by money. That’s what makes things most scary in these scenarios: when you can put yourself in them and ask yourself, “What would I do if I were there?” I definitely asked myself that several times when reading this book.
Overall, this was a great book that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a good read to keep them entertained and on the edge of their seat. It’s another winner from Matt Witten and I am excited to see what come next!
It’s an action/thriller that just kept me on the edge of my seat from the first to the last page, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that at all. Witten knows how to write a great story that grabs your attention and takes you on a high speed ride until the very last sentence. I cheered for the heroes, hated the villains, and absolutely had to know the solution to the book’s central questions, which included a murder as well as the fate of a government resistance movement.
I think what also made the book so great was that its premise is somewhat believable. It’s a future that is made of nightmares, but that could, in theory, come to pass, in a world that can seem driven by money. That’s what makes things most scary in these scenarios: when you can put yourself in them and ask yourself, “What would I do if I were there?” I definitely asked myself that several times when reading this book.
Overall, this was a great book that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a good read to keep them entertained and on the edge of their seat. It’s another winner from Matt Witten and I am excited to see what come next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The storyline/plot for this book was great, and I really enjoyed the timeline, characters and how fast paced this book was! Imagine a future where all parts of life are privatized and big corporations' rule over everything from police departments, schools, the roads you drive on etc. The storyline of this is a classic dystopian ruling class (the syndicates) vs the resistance. The main character, Juke, is a NYPD homicide detective who is working on a murder case that evolves into something much more. He has to navigate a system that works against the average person in favor of big corporations that own everything.. including people! In order to better yourself and your life you can "sell" yourself on a credit like system where part of what you earn is paid back to the corporation who bought a percentage of you hence some people being 51%'ers who are owned by the syndicate. This would be a 4-star read for me but the made-up words were extremely distracting and didn't add to the story. At first I didn't think I would be able to finish the book because the slang and made-up words kept distracting me and took away from some of the serious parts of the book but I am glad I did as the story WAS good!
Thank you NetGalley, Level Best Books and Matt Witten for providing an advanced copy of 51% for an honest review!
Thank you NetGalley, Level Best Books and Matt Witten for providing an advanced copy of 51% for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
MASTERPIECE. This is now one of my top 5 favorite fiction books of all time, and I read dozens per year. This book is also "important," in the same way that Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" was important in giving us a lens and language to understand the rise of White Christian Nationalism and organize resistance to it. "51%" does the same for free market fundamentalism.
51% depicts a near future where American free market fundamentalism has reached its Ayn Rand-level grotesquerie, where 6 giant corporations can purchase percentages of a poor person’s life, until they reach 51% ownership and have near complete control. As the “common good” is anathama in America, there are no regulations on corporations, police work has to be crowd-funded, and oligarchs and monopolistic corporations completely control the media and surveillance state to perpetuate extreme inequalities of wealth and power. In other words, this is the near future America we are currently heading towards. This great world-building is just the backdrop for a fast-paced murder mystery, populated by rich characters who are far more vibrant than the usual black-and-white of political novels. The plot and characters will entertain you like the best mystery-thrillers, while the world they inhabit will help you see America and capitalism through new eyes and and purpose.
51% depicts a near future where American free market fundamentalism has reached its Ayn Rand-level grotesquerie, where 6 giant corporations can purchase percentages of a poor person’s life, until they reach 51% ownership and have near complete control. As the “common good” is anathama in America, there are no regulations on corporations, police work has to be crowd-funded, and oligarchs and monopolistic corporations completely control the media and surveillance state to perpetuate extreme inequalities of wealth and power. In other words, this is the near future America we are currently heading towards. This great world-building is just the backdrop for a fast-paced murder mystery, populated by rich characters who are far more vibrant than the usual black-and-white of political novels. The plot and characters will entertain you like the best mystery-thrillers, while the world they inhabit will help you see America and capitalism through new eyes and and purpose.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I've been reading Matt Witten's excellent books for many years. This one is a real departure from his previous mysteries. It's a true thriller, with an intriguing and well thought out setting -- a future America in which everything has become privatized, it's all about ownership, everything is a commodity, even people. In debt for whatever reason - college tuition, illness, bad luck -- people sell out and can become 51% "owned" which traps them as pawns for the big companies running the world. An independent and ideosyncratic detective, Juke, who would like to stay apolitical, attempts to solve a murder with his partner, crime marketing specialist Haylee, herself in danger of being owned. But can they raise enough money to finance the investigation? Meanwhile Juke's ex girlfriend is working behind the scenes to start an insurrection and to free a first batch of 51%ers by sneaking them into Canada, and Juke and Haylee are drawn into this vortex. The author has created a convincing and nightmarish world, through which we are led by both an intriguing mystery, and by our sympathy for Juke. A fine balance, peppered with exciting action, and characters we care about. Recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ll start this review by saying near-future sci-fi isn’t one of my typical genres to read, but having been impressed with Matt Witten’s previous thriller novels The Necklace and K*ller Story was eager to give it a try.
It’s a dark and grimy future New York, twenty years from now cops have to crowdfund their own investigation and syndicates run things. People pledge percentages of their future income against education, training, biometric enhancements or just for money to get by. You’re in trouble if you end up owing 51%, then the syndicate effectively own you, microchip you and take control of your life.
There’s a m*rder, we see the cops’ investigation, we also see the resistance who are planning a risky pioneering escape to free some fifty-one percenters. Juke O’Keefe is a cop, his ex Safiya is a resistance leader, and you know their paths are going to cross.
The world building is great, the slang and lingo flows smoothly. It’s a comprehensive, and quite believable vision.
Not entirely my thing, but I’d say it’s probably very well done if this is your thing. There’s plenty going on with a good balance of tech, humanity and plot.
Thanks to Netgalley and Level Best Books
It’s a dark and grimy future New York, twenty years from now cops have to crowdfund their own investigation and syndicates run things. People pledge percentages of their future income against education, training, biometric enhancements or just for money to get by. You’re in trouble if you end up owing 51%, then the syndicate effectively own you, microchip you and take control of your life.
There’s a m*rder, we see the cops’ investigation, we also see the resistance who are planning a risky pioneering escape to free some fifty-one percenters. Juke O’Keefe is a cop, his ex Safiya is a resistance leader, and you know their paths are going to cross.
The world building is great, the slang and lingo flows smoothly. It’s a comprehensive, and quite believable vision.
Not entirely my thing, but I’d say it’s probably very well done if this is your thing. There’s plenty going on with a good balance of tech, humanity and plot.
Thanks to Netgalley and Level Best Books
May 3, 2026
Set in the future of America where five major syndicates rule America. They own the government and many of the citizens. Everything is privatized, and police must raise their own funds to investigate crime. Fingerprints, forensics all need to be paid for with money raised through donations or sponsorship. Everything comes at a cost. College might cost 10% of your wages for seven years, a major surgery 20%. Once you owe 51%, the syndicate owns you as an indentured servant for the rest of your life, and you are chipped so they can keep track of you.
When a woman is found beaten and driven over multiple times, old fashion detective Juke O’Keefe believes that all victims deserve to have their killers found. He fights an uphill battle until he finds evidence that this might be the work of a member of the resistance. One of the syndicate case managers, with the help of a powerful AI will use O’Keefe to try to stop the resistance's latest attack: the removal of the chips in a group of 51 percenters.
The concept is wild, yet in today's world, believable. The action is non-stop, and the world-building is top-notch. Witten has produced a prolific story that echoes Orwell’s 1984 which could very well be mankind’s future.
When a woman is found beaten and driven over multiple times, old fashion detective Juke O’Keefe believes that all victims deserve to have their killers found. He fights an uphill battle until he finds evidence that this might be the work of a member of the resistance. One of the syndicate case managers, with the help of a powerful AI will use O’Keefe to try to stop the resistance's latest attack: the removal of the chips in a group of 51 percenters.
The concept is wild, yet in today's world, believable. The action is non-stop, and the world-building is top-notch. Witten has produced a prolific story that echoes Orwell’s 1984 which could very well be mankind’s future.
Review of advance copy received from Author
51% by Matt Witten. Thanks to the author for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s the future and everything in America is privatized- everything. The syndicates own everything, even the citizens, as individuals can sell percentiles of their selves. Now a pair of detectives have stumbled upon a conspiracy and team up with a Resistance leader as they investigate a young immigrants murder.
I loved Killer Story so even despite this one not really being my genre, I wanted to give it a try. It has the writing flow and fast pace that I saw in Killer Story. It’s easy to follow, despite being about a future that the reader needs to learn and begin to understand. The author did a great job of showing that world through the action, instead of telling. I never felt that I was missing anything and it all flowed well. This is not typically something id read based on the synopsis, but I’m glad I did. I could SO see this being a movie; the atmosphere kept putting me on the mind of 12 Monkeys and The Fifth Element- that 90’s action-packed dystopian type!
“We’re hoping to free tens of millions of people and start a revolution.”
Read if you like:
-Dystopian science fiction
-Revolution stories
-Cat and mouse chases
51% comes out 4/28.
It’s the future and everything in America is privatized- everything. The syndicates own everything, even the citizens, as individuals can sell percentiles of their selves. Now a pair of detectives have stumbled upon a conspiracy and team up with a Resistance leader as they investigate a young immigrants murder.
I loved Killer Story so even despite this one not really being my genre, I wanted to give it a try. It has the writing flow and fast pace that I saw in Killer Story. It’s easy to follow, despite being about a future that the reader needs to learn and begin to understand. The author did a great job of showing that world through the action, instead of telling. I never felt that I was missing anything and it all flowed well. This is not typically something id read based on the synopsis, but I’m glad I did. I could SO see this being a movie; the atmosphere kept putting me on the mind of 12 Monkeys and The Fifth Element- that 90’s action-packed dystopian type!
“We’re hoping to free tens of millions of people and start a revolution.”
Read if you like:
-Dystopian science fiction
-Revolution stories
-Cat and mouse chases
51% comes out 4/28.
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