The Frozen River: A Novel
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 investigates a shocking murder that unhinges her small community.
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Community Reviews
This was the April Book Club pick at my work and it's not the type of story I would have ever picked up on my own. But I did enjoy it. I loved the authenticity of the history, even though women had it so rough back then. And I loved the mystery throughout. Idk if I'd willingly dive into this genre again on my own but it was an interesting read and kept me engaged.
I very much enjoyed this book and I had actually rated it a little bit lower but what ended up making me love it even more was the author’s note at the end. This is my first Ariel Lawhon book so I didn’t know anything about her writing style so although I knew this was historically based, I didn’t realize how closely based this was on true events. I loved Martha Ballard’s character and the strength she shows in a time period where women are uneducated and under valued,, so to find out later that Martha was a real person had me obsessed. I want to read more about her now! Although fictionalized, so much of this could’ve been a possible truth and reading it really makes you think twice about how far we have come. I loved the plot and the characters and thought everything was beautifully written and represented. I felt like certain pieces were a bit slow but overall the story kept progressing so I never felt unfulfilled. Something I found so appealing was the description of the town and area. It very clearly provides a picture of the setting even if I personally couldn't stop picturing the setting of Little House on the Prairie. I will say I couldn’t help picture the setting of Little House on the Prairie! 10/10 recommend.
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