The Frozen River: A GMA Book Club Pick
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GMA BOOK CLUB PICK • AN NPR BOOK OF THE YEAR • From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.
"Fans of Outlander’s Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon’s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent. . . impressive."—The Washington Post
"Once again, Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine." —People Magazine
Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.
Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.
Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.
"Fans of Outlander’s Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon’s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent. . . impressive."—The Washington Post
"Once again, Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine." —People Magazine
Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.
Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.
Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.
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✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *The Frozen River* by Ariel Lawhon vividly captures 1789 Maine through rich character portrayals and immersive historical detail, with man...
A well-written historical fiction that tells the story of a midwife in late 18th-century Maine. It is suspenseful with a twist at the end. There were a lot of characters that were a part of the story, which confused me at times.
This was my first “historical fiction” I really liked it. Getting a glimpse of how life used to be in the late 17 hundreds was interesting albeit frustrating at times. A man having to be present before a woman can testify, not to mention charges for fornicating or having a child out of wedlock. Crazy times we used to live in. I really enjoyed learning about Martha and her family and was pleasantly surprised to find it was loosely based on a true person. I loved the romance between her and her husband and the relationships she had with her children. Her love for the town and the people within was felt in every aspect of her work. She was always wiling to come to the rescue of anyone no matter who they were or how they treated her. She was very genuine and respected by the town’s people.
The mystery of the book was good as well, and I enjoyed the twists at the end when we finally find out who committed the murder. The Joseph North character was a real piece of #$%, (hope he wasn’t a real person) and I was glad to see him get what he got in the end!
OhMyGod I loved.this.book! Way to hit it outta the park in our first book club's first book!
I found myself smitten with Martha Ballard; equally strong feelings, yet on the other end of the spectrum, for a couple of other characters. Oooo; they ticked.me.off! As in, had to put the book down several times "ticked me off". The writing/dialogue was fantastic!
I found myself smitten with Martha Ballard; equally strong feelings, yet on the other end of the spectrum, for a couple of other characters. Oooo; they ticked.me.off! As in, had to put the book down several times "ticked me off". The writing/dialogue was fantastic!
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