Title: 51%
Author: MATT WITTEN
ISBN: 9798898201739
Publisher: Level Best Books
Pages: 354
Source: ARC from Author
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.
Official Summary
23 March 2026
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.
Also by Matt Witten
THE NECKLACE
The clock ticks down in a heart-pounding crusade for justice
Susan Lentigo’s daughter was murdered twenty years ago—and now, at long last, this small-town waitress sets out on a road trip all the way from Upstate New York to North Dakota to witness the killer’s execution.
On her journey, she discovers shocking new evidence that leads her to suspect the condemned man is innocent—and the real killer is still free. Even worse, her prime suspect has a young daughter who’s at terrible risk. With no money and no time to spare, Susan sets out to uncover the truth before an innocent man gets executed and another little girl is killed.
But the FBI refuses to reopen the case. They—and Susan’s own mother—believe she’s just having an emotional breakdown. Reaching deep, Susan finds an inner strength she never knew she had. With the help of two unlikely allies—a cynical, defiant teenage girl and the retired cop who made the original arrest—Susan battles the FBI to put the real killer behind bars. Will she win justice for the condemned man—and her daughter—at last?
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Matt Witten is a TV writer, novelist, playwright and screenwriter who has been writing for television for the past twenty years, including such shows as House, Pretty Little Liars, Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Medium, JAG, The Glades, Homicide, Judging Amy, and Women’s Murder Club. He has written four mystery novels that were published by Signet: Breakfast at Madeline’s, Grand Delusion, Strange Bedfellows, and The Killing Bee.
His novel The Necklace will be published in September 2021 by Oceanview Publishing. The novel has been optioned for film by Appian Way and Cartel Pictures, with Leonardo DiCaprio attached as producer.
A huge thank you to Matt Witten for sharing an ARC of his new book with me. It was a brilliant read, and I know it will prove to be a big success.
Thank you for visiting the blog and reading my review. Please leave a comment below sharing your thoughts on this book. I would love to hear from you. Until next time… Happy Reading!
