The Frozen River - Ariel Lawhon

Maine, 1789. When a man's body is discovered frozen in the ice of the Kennebec River, midwife and healer Martha Ballard is called upon to determine how he died. In the close-knit town of Hallowell, Martha's work gives her rare insight into the private lives of its residents, and her meticulous diary records every birth, death, scandal, and crime.

Months earlier, Martha had documented the testimony of a woman accusing two of the town's most prominent men of rape. Now, one of those accused has been found dead. Convinced the death was no accident, Martha is alarmed when a local physician dismisses her findings and rules it accidental. Determined to uncover the truth, she begins her own investigation.

As a bitter winter unfolds and the trial approaches, rumours spread and tensions rise. Martha's diary becomes central to the controversy, exposing secrets that threaten both her community and those closest to her. Faced with mounting pressure, she must decide how far she is willing to go in pursuit of justice.

Richly atmospheric, intricately plotted, and deeply compelling, The Frozen River brings to life an extraordinary woman who challenged the constraints placed on women in eighteenth-century America. Inspired by the true story of Martha Ballard—a pioneering midwife whose detailed journals preserved a remarkable record of her time—this gripping historical novel is a powerful tale of courage, resilience, and the search for truth.