The Fifth of July

by Kelly Simmons

Sometimes the people you know best are the ones you should fear the most

Any of the Warners could have been behind the accident. Every one of them had a problem that threatened to tarnish more than their old-money silver.

Having spent the past three decades' worth of summers on Nantucket, the Warners are as much a part of the island as the crust of salt on the ferry. But this year is different: Tripp is no longer the father he was, and it becomes clear that nothing - not the beams that hold the house together, and not the values the family clings to - can survive the ravages of time. When tradition turns to tragedy, the creaky old house swirls with suspicion. There are just so many reasons to want someone gone.

With no easy answers as to how, why, or who, the Warners must face another frightening question: do they really want to know the truth?

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary, Thriller, Book Club, Womens Fiction, Adult

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 2017

About the author

My sixth novel NOT MY BOY debuted January 2021. Booklist compared it to Big Little Lies, and Julie Clark, the author of LAST FLIGHT said it was "impossible to put down." I hope you enjoy it -- and please check out my backlist, Amazon Exclusive standalones and NEW 2025 Crime Collection -- all featuring good women making bad decisions.

Start with my best-selling book, ONE MORE DAY, maybe? Or my first two, a bit more literary in tone -- STANDING STILL and THE BIRD HOUSE, both with unilaterally glowing reviews. (If you like it dark, you might prefer THE FIFTH OF JULY.)

My books have been applauded by bestselling authors like Megan Abbott, Caroline Leavitt, and Sarah Pekkanen. They've been hailed as "great titles for book groups who love strong female characters" by the Library Journal. Publishers Weekly called my first novel, Standing Still "An electrifying debut" in its starred review. Even Kirkus likes me! Maybe you'd enjoy discovering a new-to-you author?

Prefer SHORTER books to binge?
My indie pubbed NEW 2025 Crime Collection includes: THE OFF SEASON, THE SHOULDER SEASON, and THE HIGH SEASON. Great page turning short reads featuring unforgivable crimes in unforgettable locations.

I've visited hundreds and hundreds of book clubs via Zoom, Google Hangouts or in person. I'd love to meet with yours.

For book signing events or more information, see my website kellysimmonsbooks.com. Or friend me on Facebook (kellyatbubble) or Insta (kellyasimmons) or follow me on twitter (kellysimmons) for more giveaways etc etc.

Thanks for being part of the goodreads community!

Reviews

[L A · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Any of the Warners could have been behind the accident. Every one of them had a problem that threatened to tarnish more than their old-money silver."

I love the beginning setup with POV's from bystanders on the Nantucket Island. Matt, the caretaker, and Maggie, the housekeeper, give their analysis on a death that has occurred and yes, they may have access to everyone's beach homes, but they appear innocent enough. I love their point of view on how the wealthy live and how much they are incapable of doing on their own. As Matt says, they can fix houses, but not "fix" lives.

With the salty air from the ocean, comes repairs on a continuous level. The Warner's house is no exception and is the eyesore in the community. Whereas, they love their weathered home, the other homeowners had rather take a match to it ....to hold the value of their "newly" advantaged homes. With complaints abound, comes vandalism and prejudice. This becomes an intriguing suspense full of twisted, sometimes emotional events. The constant reminder of the division between summer guests and year-rounders is ever present.

Tripp Warner, the senior citizen father has suffered not only cancer, but brain fog from the treatments. He is not quite himself and becomes a handful for all... especially for his wife, Alice, which is a very unlikeable character, as if her lifestyle will need adjustments. Their daughter, Caroline, arrives for vacation with her husband, John, and their teenage daughter, Sydney. Caroline suffers from PTSD triggers when 2 girls are sexually attacked on the island. Tom, her brother, is frustrated with the whole bunch over protecting their father when he sees a man wanting to actively live. With so much going on, you will not be without drama.

A death occurs, even with cameras on every corner, you will not know who is coming and going, trespassing, vandalizing and also be aware of the widow's walk...it's a little unstable...😳

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars → The well-to-do Warner family has been summering on Nantucket for decades - it's tradition, after all - but this year tragedy strikes over the 4th of July holiday. The story is told from the points of view of several characters, including different family members, the housekeeper, and the caretaker, of the imposing, timeworn beach house.

Right away you can feel the undercurrents of dysfunction in this family. It keeps you wondering what tragedy is lying in wait for these troubled people, and who among them could be responsible? They may not be the most likable bunch, but I found all of their stories compelling. Actually we're presented with three mysteries that may or may not be connected, one decades old and two recent.

Overall I enjoyed the writing style, setting, and story (Nantucket Gothic?), though I was disappointed that there were unanswered questions in the end. I felt like two of the three mysteries weren't truly solved - or maybe they were? Anyway, the ending was confusing, but I still feel like THE FIFTH OF JULY was a worthwhile read.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Theresa Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is told from multiple first-person perspectives about a privileged family, the Warners. It’s also told from the perspective of the caretaker, Matt, and the cleaning woman, Maggie Sue. The Warner family is not easy to like. They come together in Nantucket every summer.

We know that something bad happens over the Fourth of July holiday, and as the different characters tell their side of the story, bits and pieces of what is assumed to be an accident emerge, as does their lifetime of resentments and regrets. There is the daughter, uptight Caroline, who married a nice guy and is hyper protective of her twelve-year-old daughter because of her own experience. There is Tom, the brother Caroline bickers with endlessly. The mother, Alice, has the most distinct voice because of her aversion to technology and change. She resents people moving to Nantucket and building or renovating houses.

I liked the pacing of the story, but the characters weren’t particularly likeable, and I’m not sure the subplot and mystery were fully revealed. I don’t mind books that make you think for yourself, but even so, this was a little too vague for my liking. RELEASES 8/29/17

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

For more of my reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blog

[Sonja Yoerg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know these people, this old-school Nantucket family. I can see the frayed collars of their Brooks Brothers button-downs, the crushed heels of their Sperrys. I can hear the way the screen door slams when they leave their never-remodeled beach house. I can feel how they all mistrust each other--mother, father, son, daughter--and yet can't stay away, compelled to try another time, or take another bite. Oh, boy, do I feel that.

Lots of stories focus on family dysfunction but few authors have the nerve to take it on, really take it on. Simmons doesn't blink. And the words she uses are like scalpels. It isn't word play; the psychology is that precise, making for honest, intriguing storytelling. I read it quickly, hungry for the next insight, the next move, the next revelation. I was fascinated, appalled, and amused. Fifth of July is a damn good book.

[Heather Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite aspects of a good book is the way it transports me to another time or place, far from the daily grind. I want to fall into a world with a setting so vivid, I can taste the salt on my lips and hear the cry of a foghorn. Kelly Simmons captures Nantucket life to a “T”; the sea-worn clapboard and constant turmoil of the ocean, the grit of sand and crumbling rock. The distinct look of old New England money, and the push and pull between locals and visitors. I saw, smelled, and felt it all.
But that’s not all.

For more, see my review on BookTrib:

https://booktrib.com/2017/08/family-s...

[Pamela Endlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too any unanswered questions. Book was very well written, characters were all very strong, however I finished the book dissatisfied.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dysfunctional family vacations together on Nantucket when an accident occurs. What happened to mother (Caroline) when she was a teenager? Why is her father (Tripp) currently acting like a carefree teenager? Is her mother (Alice) hiding anything? What about her brother (Tom)? Are they all hiding something?

While I very much enjoyed the fast-paced writing style, I was left feeling confused, like the story hadn't been wrapped up as much as it should have been. Did I miss something? After reading other reviews, it seems I unfortunately did not. While I appreciated the point of the story ... "Sometimes the people you know best are the ones you should fear most," overall, it was too vague and left too many unanswered questions for me. Perhaps another type of reader would enjoy the indeterminate ending more than I did.

With that being said, this was my first time reading anything by this author, and since I enjoyed the writing style so much, I plan to read at least one more before making a final decision.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

"Wasn't life so much easier when we didn't give a rat's behind, when we didn't have to know so much?" - Alice

Location: Nantucket, Massachusetts

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great beach read! Told from multiple POVs the reader gets a glimpse into a privileged family's life set against a picturesque, sleepy beach town. Simmons drops the reader into the middle of the Warners annual family vacation and the story takes off from there. I enjoyed the contrasting voices and the style of writing.

Very enjoyable. Read in your own beach town with a glass of wine!

[Aeron · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed by this novel - the beginning of it made me feel as though there was quite the mystery to be unravelled as I went through it, but it never quite came to be. The prose was certainly good, continually drawing me through it, and I was certainly interested in what happened next, but I constantly found myself wondering ‘what is the point?’. The mysteries seemed basic at best, leaving me with more questions than answers, and I was left empty-handed by the end.

[Penny Watson]

DNF.

As soon as I realized the topic of this book (SPOILER WARNING...rape, and it appears to be a gang-rape of a teenage girl)...I was out.

The book was very well-written and I loved the descriptions of Nantucket and I liked the various POVs. But I can't handle that content. It gave me a sick stomach ache, so I had to stop reading.

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fifth of July plunks us down in Nantucket in the middle of summer, spending time with the Warners, a highly dysfunctional, fascinating, motley crew of a family! The story is riveting and fast-paced...the laundry and vacuuming can wait until you finish....I could barely put it down! Told from several perspectives, each character distinct and fascinating, harboring secrets and shame; the author did a brilliant job weaving their storylines together. Although fraught with tension, there is humor in this book as well...emotions rising to the surface in every scene...with lines that left me gasping with their sincerity. I love how the author is able to create feelings, to convey emotions, succinctly and with brevity.

[Christine Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!! It is a wonderful story told by 5 different people. The characters are great and it's like you know each and every one. So many secrets and mysteries and keeps you reading until the very end. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as I was reading it, but ultimately was so disappointed. It just didn't make any sense and the resolution was very confusing. I couldn't really figure out what happened and I really thought I was paying attention - ha.

[Leith Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a great summer read! I was engrossed after the first few pages, and couldn't stop reading until the very end. The book is set in Nantucket at the Warner family's summer house. The patriarch, Tripp has recovered from cancer, and is joining his wife Alice and their grown children, Caroline, her husband John and daughter Sydney, and her brother Tom. It turns out to be a holiday that none of them could have ever expected.

The story is told from the different points of view of Alice, Caroline, Tom, Matt Whitaker, a local caretaker with history with the Warner family, Lt. Billy Clayton, the local policeman, and Maggie Sue, a local housekeeper. It's a great way to tell the story, and the book is hard to put down. As the plot develops, you want to know more and more about the characters, even the ones you don't particularly like.

There's a mystery involved, and the island and the locals are involved. This is a great first novel and I'm looking forward to future books from Kelly Simmons.

I highly recommend this book. It will appeal to many different readers.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of literary novel I love: eloquent prose, complex characters, and a riveting plot. Kelly Simmons lures you onto Nantucket with the hint of family secrets but then catapults you through the baggage, lies, and turmoil of the multigenerational Warners, their longtime handyman, a local maid, and a mysterious neighbor, until everything has changed for everyone.

I couldn't put it down.

[Katie Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelly Simmons’s THE FIFTH OF JULY is replete with memorable voices telling a thrilling story set in a unforgettable place. Like a torpedo zooming inexorably toward its target, the story launches from past tragedy and a family’s failure to care for its own straight toward a present disaster. A compelling, exhilarating read.

[Haley Nemmers · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending was disappointing and left me wanting more. I feel like major plot points were left unresolved or poorly explained. Maybe that’s the point? I did like how it was written from multiple points of view though

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
I liked some of the prose but ultimately, just a bit boring and I was left wanting more from the story as a whole.

[Janet Fiorentino · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had an interesting premise. Something horrific happens over the Fourth of July weekend to the Warner family, but the reader does not know what. The intent is for the reader to learn about this event as a variety of characters take turns sharing their side of the story.

I do not mind novels with alternating points of view, but it was difficult to find any of the characters very likeable. Hence, I felt as if I were reading simply because I felt I had to know more about the events versus wanting to know more about the characters. I also felt like there was more teasing regarding possible revelations versus the actual revelations themselves. I did think the author had a good command of the language and although I have never been to Nantucket, her descriptions made me feel as if I was right there.

This novel had a lot of potential and some solid writing, but overall, I felt something was lacking.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is roughly a 2.5. The biggest issue with this book is that it not only doesn't know what it wants to be, but the description on the back doesn't accurately represent the plotline. This is a book that really needed a strong editor. The characters were mostly good and the description of Nantucket was melodic, but the whole side plot of Bear Bernstein should have been removed as it added nothing and really detracted from the story. The cheap gimmick of changing viewpoints was also a drawback. This should have been rewritten from a single, third person narrative and it would have flowed better. Instead, it was choppy and seemed to have left other readers confused, thinking it was an ambiguous ending, which it wasn't. I wanted the deep family drama the description promised me, but I only got a glimpse. A great idea, poor execution.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really impressed with this new to me author. Her writing style just draws you and keeps you drawn in to the very last page. The 5th of July is truly a beach book. Set at the beach with island people 's. and summer people ' s view points intermingled. It covers three generations of family and their secrets while also dealing island crimes both past and present. I love suspense and mysteries and this is a good one. Will be watching for more from this author as well as backlist

[Katie Scarvey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked many things about this book, but the ending is not one of them. If you're going to present a mystery, even a literary one, you need to wrap it up somehow. It doesn't have to be pat or neat, but there should be some sense of closure. For that reason, I wouldn't recommend the book, although there are patches of writing that I like a great deal.

[Nicholle Thery-Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author, Kelly Simmons, introduces you to the Warner family and their beach house on Nantucket. She tells the story from different POV even the house is a character. A great beach read.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a riveting story of a dysfunctional family spending time together on Nantucket Island as they have for the past thirty years. The Warner family consists of five adults and one child trying to pretend everything is alright except their lies are taking a toll on each of them. The story is told in five point of views which gives the reader a fascinating glimpse in to their compartmentalized lives. Initially, the story opens with the family coming together because of Alice's insistence. Sadly, Tripp, the elderly father is not the same but his wife isn't disclosing to Carolyn or Tom the real story. She's living up to the true matriarch role do as I say. But, that's nothing new, they never were honest with their children. Carolyn and Tom aren't functional as adults either. All they do is relive each battle with a venomous recall. John is married to Carolyn and tends to let her micro-manage his and their daughter's life and be the peacemaker when needed.
I enjoyed the spending time with each fascinating and believable character. Their idiosyncrasies added depth to the plot as it unfolded at their beloved summer home where everyone knew your business. The subplots and flashbacks added incredible dimension as they discovered the life they had known was built on lies. The best secrets are the ones right under your nose as Simmons cleverly weaves this poignant tale.

I had the pleasure of meeting the author at the Writer's Coffeehouse in Willow Grove, Pa. She is an engaging speaker in addition to being a magnificent storyteller. I will be reading more of her work in the near future.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you write a novel from five points of view? Kelly Simmons has done it, and my hat is off to her. It's hard enough staying in one character's head as a writer, and plenty of authors have failed. But with The Fifth of July, Simmons has crafted a suspenseful story with characters so distinct it's easy to tell them apart and to identify with all of them.
I've never been to Nantucket, nor do I travel in the privileged circles of the Warners, a family who has "summered" there for years, but as their secrets were deftly revealed, I understood how they became selfish, scared, self-serving, bitter, jealous...and remained human. They are all loved by someone. Bad things happened to the daughter, Caroline, as a teen, and now she is a mom with a teen girl of her own on an island where a sexual predator roams free. Meanwhile, her dad is slipping into dementia, her mom wants it all to go away, and her husband loves her. As does an old boyfriend who still loves on the island, working as a handyman.
Lots can happen, and it does. A good summer read, highly recommended.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not as lighthearted as I thought it would be. I guess when I see Nantucket, I'm thinking fun in the sun, a vacation with no worries. This book was nothing like that. This family was so dysfunctional in every way. They all walked around each other like they had corn cobs up the arse. The tension was bleeding through the pages as I swept through this story. I don't know who I felt sorry for the most.

A thoroughly broken family saga that, believe it or not, was a great escape.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Simone Weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable and easy read. Kept me guessing til the very end.

[Matty Dalrymple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous use of language, deft handling of multiple points of view, compelling (and blood-curdling) characterization, and the world’s best book tagline: “The last word in families is ‘lies’.” : ) I can’t recommend Kelly Simmon’s THE FIFTH OF JULY highly enough.

[Stephanie Doyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid summer read. It reminded me a little of Big Little Lies in the way it was told. None of the characters were particularly likeable, and there was a sort of weird sub-plot that kept getting in the way, but not a bad way to spend a day on the beach, reading this.

Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Leslie Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was mildly interesting to me towards the end. I thought I would learn the truth about Tripp's accident as well as what happened to Caroline the summer she was 13, but I guess I'm still not clear about either of these. The writing is good but I never really cared about any of the characters enough to try and figure it out. I just don't think contemporary American fiction is my thing.