Synopsis:
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.
I can’t remember who suggested this book but so glad they did! I have never heard of Ariel Lawhon, but she is a fabulous writer! I really appreciate the cleanness of her novels. After I finished reading this book, I checked out another one, and it is just as good as this one. I love how she brings life to small unknown stories from history.
I was fascinated by the story of Martha, the midwife. It’s crazy to think how she probably had no clue that her daily writings would one day bring life to her experiences and give voice to those who were failed by the court system. It actually makes you appreciate all the precedents that have now been established to bring justice (or try to bring justice) to victims of crimes. And not only that, reading more about the difficulties of life during the early, young years of our nation makes me appreciate the paths that were laid by the early Americans.
If you are needing a book to read, do yourself a favor and read this book. I will post soon about her second book (The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress). The Frozen River is a little long (for an ebook) and does take some chapters to build; however, once you get towards the end, you want to know more. Also, be careful reading reviews. I read one review that Lawhon seems to be “making a statement” about how times haven’t changed. If you read Lawhon’s discussion of this story at the end of the novel, you will clearly see that is not what she is doing. She legit says that she modified the story to streamline the events but wanted to give, hopefully, justice and a voice to the lady that was brutally raped (and whose accusers were never held accountable). Another review says the author insinuates that Martha was raped when young; Lawhon says there is no proof of that but built that into the story as a “what if.” I am amazed how these Amazon reviewers did not bother to read her afterward. Sigh…
There is a biography on Martha Ballard (link); however, I don’t think I want to read through a biography of her diary or that time period. I think it is more interesting to read this historical FICTION novel then do some research on my own.
Happy Reading!
Other Resources:
PBS A Midwife’s Tale (information on film)
Amazon – rent A Midwife’s Tale
Martha Ballard’s Diary (images)
