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The Frozen River
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction (2024)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.
Inspired by the life of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into history.
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.
Inspired by the life of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into history.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published December 5, 2023
39855 people are currently reading
495168 people want to read
About the author
Ariel Lawhon
14 books9,645 followersAriel Lawhon is the critically acclaimed, New York Times Bestselling author of THE WIFE, THE MAID, AND THE MISTRESS, FLIGHT OF DREAMS, I WAS ANASTASIA, and CODE NAME HELENE. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have been Library Reads, One Book One County, Indie Next, Costco, and Book of the Month Club selections. She lives in the rolling hills outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, four sons, and black Lab—who is, thankfully, a girl. Ariel splits her time between the grocery store and the baseball field.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44,135 reviews
November 27, 2023
The Frozen River is an example of historical fiction at its finest. I love books that not only educate me but evoke emotion and are thought provoking. This book did all three perfectly. The Frozen River was inspired by Martha Ballard (February 9, 1735 – June 9, 1812), a midwife who delivered hundreds of babies and kept diaries about her personal life as well as her experiences as a midwife. Her diaries have proven to be educational and provided insight into the lives of women during her time/life. I loved how the author blended fact and fiction to bring this book to life. I loved this gripping, and hard to put down historical mystery that had me turning the pages and wanting to know whodunit.
Maine, 1789 After successfully delivering a baby, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body of a man who has been found in the frozen Kennebec River. She makes her observations and determines that the man has been murdered. Martha's husband taught her to read and write and she maintains a diary where she keeps track of births, deaths, when she has provided healing and aspects of her personal life. She notes what she has observed when examining the dead man's body. The dead man just happens to be one of the men who has been accused of raping a woman several months earlier. When a trial date for the rape is set, Martha will be called as a witness, and her diary will be shown as evidence.
Over the course of the winter, Martha will deliver many babies and come up against, Dr. Benjamin Page, a Harvard educated doctor, who not only disagrees with her pertaining to how the man found in the river died, but also disagrees with her when it comes to childbirth. Man did he agitate me as he did Martha in the story. There was a lot of booing and hissing from me during his scenes.
I was completely and blissfully hooked from the very first page! I admired Martha's courage, her gumption, her intellect, her straightforward approach, her advocating for women and her healing knowledge. She lived in a time where many women could not read or write. As a midwife she could testify in court for certain things but for the rape trial could only testify if her husband was present.
This book also highlighted how women were treated during this time. Women could be tried for having a child out of wedlock due to fornicating, but the men involved walked around with their reputation intact. After all, it's her fault he got under her skirts. Grrr. I couldn't help but feel for the women of this book.
I was invested in the mystery as to how the man got into the river just as much as I was invested in Martha's life. I was happy she had a loving marriage with a man who respected not only her but her skills and always had her back. There were many characters in this book, each is distinct and played a part. As with most books, there were characters I loved, those I liked and there were characters that I loathed.
I loved the vivid descriptions, the chilling atmosphere, and the tension in this wonderful book. I could tell that the author did a tremendous amount of research prior to writing The Frozen River. I was glued to the pages of this beautifully written book. I love how Martha was assertive, outspoken, confident and a champion for women in a time when women were not considered equal.
The author's note at the end is also a must-read section of the book.
Gripping, thought provoking, atmospheric, tense and beautifully written.
Highly Recommend.
#TheFrozenRiver #NetGalley. #ArielLawhon #DoubledayBooks
Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Maine, 1789 After successfully delivering a baby, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body of a man who has been found in the frozen Kennebec River. She makes her observations and determines that the man has been murdered. Martha's husband taught her to read and write and she maintains a diary where she keeps track of births, deaths, when she has provided healing and aspects of her personal life. She notes what she has observed when examining the dead man's body. The dead man just happens to be one of the men who has been accused of raping a woman several months earlier. When a trial date for the rape is set, Martha will be called as a witness, and her diary will be shown as evidence.
Over the course of the winter, Martha will deliver many babies and come up against, Dr. Benjamin Page, a Harvard educated doctor, who not only disagrees with her pertaining to how the man found in the river died, but also disagrees with her when it comes to childbirth. Man did he agitate me as he did Martha in the story. There was a lot of booing and hissing from me during his scenes.
I was completely and blissfully hooked from the very first page! I admired Martha's courage, her gumption, her intellect, her straightforward approach, her advocating for women and her healing knowledge. She lived in a time where many women could not read or write. As a midwife she could testify in court for certain things but for the rape trial could only testify if her husband was present.
This book also highlighted how women were treated during this time. Women could be tried for having a child out of wedlock due to fornicating, but the men involved walked around with their reputation intact. After all, it's her fault he got under her skirts. Grrr. I couldn't help but feel for the women of this book.
I was invested in the mystery as to how the man got into the river just as much as I was invested in Martha's life. I was happy she had a loving marriage with a man who respected not only her but her skills and always had her back. There were many characters in this book, each is distinct and played a part. As with most books, there were characters I loved, those I liked and there were characters that I loathed.
I loved the vivid descriptions, the chilling atmosphere, and the tension in this wonderful book. I could tell that the author did a tremendous amount of research prior to writing The Frozen River. I was glued to the pages of this beautifully written book. I love how Martha was assertive, outspoken, confident and a champion for women in a time when women were not considered equal.
The author's note at the end is also a must-read section of the book.
Gripping, thought provoking, atmospheric, tense and beautifully written.
Highly Recommend.
#TheFrozenRiver #NetGalley. #ArielLawhon #DoubledayBooks
Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
March 23, 2024
4.5 - This one took me almost the whole month to finish, but definitely worth it! Love a historical fiction and this one was inspired by the real Martha Ballard’s life and being a midwife in the 1700’s. Listened to about 90% of it and just finished the last 60-ish pages and it was just so good. You HAVE to read the Author’s Note!!!!
September 9, 2024
Preaching much??🙄
It is 1789. A body is found frozen in the Kennebec river in Maine. The midwife, Martha Ballard who is called to determine the cause of death, is sure the victim was murdered, but her findings are rejected by the local doctor who writes off the cause of death as accident.
Moreover, it turns out that the victim was one of the men who were accused of raping the local minister’s wife.
Was the deceased murdered? And if so, who is the murderer?
Well, our Martha is determined to discover the truth.
Reasons for my 2 stars:
-The book could have been much shorter. It was long and slower than a lame snail.
-I didn’t like Martha. In fact I hated her. Martha is a kind of woman you would want to avoid. She is one of those controlling people, who would push you do things you don’t want to. She would meddle in your affairs and would bad-mouth your husband in front of you, and would expect you to agree with her, because if you don’t, you would be labeled weak.
-There wasn’t one character in the book she didn’t judge. She was condescending and irritating. In her view all the men were either devils incarnate or idiots (except her own husband) and the women were dumb and weak or extremely clever.
-I am a woman and even I was offended by her ‘feminist’ behavior, which brings me to the way she talked, which sounded more like a woman from the year 2024 talking/ranting, than someone from the year 1789. In fact most of the time I kept forgetting that she wasn’t from the 21st century.
-Apparently everybody and their uncle in that town is pregnant or has become pregnant out of wedlock.
It is 1789. A body is found frozen in the Kennebec river in Maine. The midwife, Martha Ballard who is called to determine the cause of death, is sure the victim was murdered, but her findings are rejected by the local doctor who writes off the cause of death as accident.
Moreover, it turns out that the victim was one of the men who were accused of raping the local minister’s wife.
Was the deceased murdered? And if so, who is the murderer?
Well, our Martha is determined to discover the truth.
Reasons for my 2 stars:
-The book could have been much shorter. It was long and slower than a lame snail.
-I didn’t like Martha. In fact I hated her. Martha is a kind of woman you would want to avoid. She is one of those controlling people, who would push you do things you don’t want to. She would meddle in your affairs and would bad-mouth your husband in front of you, and would expect you to agree with her, because if you don’t, you would be labeled weak.
-There wasn’t one character in the book she didn’t judge. She was condescending and irritating. In her view all the men were either devils incarnate or idiots (except her own husband) and the women were dumb and weak or extremely clever.
-I am a woman and even I was offended by her ‘feminist’ behavior, which brings me to the way she talked, which sounded more like a woman from the year 2024 talking/ranting, than someone from the year 1789. In fact most of the time I kept forgetting that she wasn’t from the 21st century.
-Apparently everybody and their uncle in that town is pregnant or has become pregnant out of wedlock.
August 5, 2024
The Frozen River is a historical novel set in 1789 in Hallowell, Maine. Readers follow the life of Martha Ballard, a 54-year-old midwife. When two men are accused of rape and one of them is found dead, Martha is ensnared in the ensuing inquiries when she is called on to examine the body as a medical professional.
The book is a walkthrough of women’s rights and societal expectations while also adding a layer of murder mystery. It also is a reminder of the fragility of life (how many children died during this time).
While there were many interesting plot devices, this book was too long. Some scenes should have been cut like waiting in line for the bathroom.
The narrative voice was a bit underwhelming; it should have rotated to other characters. Many of the characters were also cliché, and the ending was weak. The fox wasn’t particularly interesting, and some plot lines felt a bit unresolved (Cyrus, Emmelline).
The Green Light at the End of the Dock (How much I spent):
Hardcover Text – Free through The Troy Public Library
Audiobook – 1 Audible Credit (Audible Premium Plus Annual – 24 Credits Membership Plan $229.50 or roughly $9.56 per credit)
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The book is a walkthrough of women’s rights and societal expectations while also adding a layer of murder mystery. It also is a reminder of the fragility of life (how many children died during this time).
While there were many interesting plot devices, this book was too long. Some scenes should have been cut like waiting in line for the bathroom.
The narrative voice was a bit underwhelming; it should have rotated to other characters. Many of the characters were also cliché, and the ending was weak. The fox wasn’t particularly interesting, and some plot lines felt a bit unresolved (Cyrus, Emmelline).
The Green Light at the End of the Dock (How much I spent):
Hardcover Text – Free through The Troy Public Library
Audiobook – 1 Audible Credit (Audible Premium Plus Annual – 24 Credits Membership Plan $229.50 or roughly $9.56 per credit)
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta
December 27, 2023
It’s 1789, Maine. A body has been found frozen in the river. The river that is the heart of this town. A midwife, Martha Ballard, has been summoned to determine the cause of death. This causes a series of impactful events.
An educated woman, Martha keeps a diary. She documents all that happens over the course of this bizarre winter. Both births and deaths. A colonel who has been accused of rape along with the deceased man. The rape of a minister’s wife.
In her quest for truth, she risks her own life and that of her family.
Lawhorn masterly takes us on a journey back in time when women were considered less than men. Not being able to testify in court unless a husband or father was present; Women often charged for fornication pre marriage while men had no consequences. Enraging as that was, Martha was an advocate for justice for these women and her personal journal was a hot piece of evidence.
This is a story of complexity- a layering of mystery and intrigue. The writing, character and research, extraordinaire.
My final 5⭐️for 2023.
An educated woman, Martha keeps a diary. She documents all that happens over the course of this bizarre winter. Both births and deaths. A colonel who has been accused of rape along with the deceased man. The rape of a minister’s wife.
In her quest for truth, she risks her own life and that of her family.
Lawhorn masterly takes us on a journey back in time when women were considered less than men. Not being able to testify in court unless a husband or father was present; Women often charged for fornication pre marriage while men had no consequences. Enraging as that was, Martha was an advocate for justice for these women and her personal journal was a hot piece of evidence.
This is a story of complexity- a layering of mystery and intrigue. The writing, character and research, extraordinaire.
My final 5⭐️for 2023.
February 7, 2025
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 5 Beautiful Stars ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
I have to say, I really enjoy historical fiction every now and then... depending on the themes, often more than not. When done correctly, it's like magic being transported back to a different time.
╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ This novel is definitely magic.
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.
Told in first person narrative, the story revolves around real life Martha Ballard and her duties as a midwife. Martha Ballard was a renowned 18th century midwife and, uncharacteristically for the time period, left behind her day book or diary filled not only with her life, but those of her neighbors. Her influence carried down throughout the decades.
The storytelling is exceptional! I was totally lost in this story for the last couple of days. Poignant and enthralling.
I loved the details of life in the time period, as well as the unassuming women who show their true strength and conviction when it counts. Martha's position as midwife means she's privy to all sorts of secrets and truths in town.
I love a story about a woman in the medical profession during an era when this was not the norm, and the details of her care for new mothers and babies was one of my favorite aspects of the story.
In Lawhon's story, Martha is also a strong-willed feminist who is set on fighting for the rights of the largely powerless women in her orbit.
Loved the characters. Loved the story. Loved the writing. I just loved it. Highly recommend.
❄️18th-Century Maine Setting
❄️Based on True Events
❄️Pioneering Midwife
❄️Middle-Aged FMC
❄️Feminist
❄️SA Triggers
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
I have to say, I really enjoy historical fiction every now and then... depending on the themes, often more than not. When done correctly, it's like magic being transported back to a different time.
╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ This novel is definitely magic.
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.
Told in first person narrative, the story revolves around real life Martha Ballard and her duties as a midwife. Martha Ballard was a renowned 18th century midwife and, uncharacteristically for the time period, left behind her day book or diary filled not only with her life, but those of her neighbors. Her influence carried down throughout the decades.
The storytelling is exceptional! I was totally lost in this story for the last couple of days. Poignant and enthralling.
I loved the details of life in the time period, as well as the unassuming women who show their true strength and conviction when it counts. Martha's position as midwife means she's privy to all sorts of secrets and truths in town.
I love a story about a woman in the medical profession during an era when this was not the norm, and the details of her care for new mothers and babies was one of my favorite aspects of the story.
In Lawhon's story, Martha is also a strong-willed feminist who is set on fighting for the rights of the largely powerless women in her orbit.
Loved the characters. Loved the story. Loved the writing. I just loved it. Highly recommend.
❄️18th-Century Maine Setting
❄️Based on True Events
❄️Pioneering Midwife
❄️Middle-Aged FMC
❄️Feminist
❄️SA Triggers
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
December 18, 2023
Oh my.. this was an amazing story for me!
This story was inspired by the real life and journals of Martha Ballard of Hallowell, Maine…who was a midwife in the late 1700’s. Martha was married to Ephraim and they had many children.
In the story there is a male body found dead right at the beginning of the story .. we find out about a rape. This causes quite a stir in this town, and hence, a mystery to be solved.
I really learned a lot about how women were treated in these times.. quite infuriating..
I absolutely loved Martha and Ephraim.
This story was a page turner!
This story was inspired by the real life and journals of Martha Ballard of Hallowell, Maine…who was a midwife in the late 1700’s. Martha was married to Ephraim and they had many children.
In the story there is a male body found dead right at the beginning of the story .. we find out about a rape. This causes quite a stir in this town, and hence, a mystery to be solved.
I really learned a lot about how women were treated in these times.. quite infuriating..
I absolutely loved Martha and Ephraim.
This story was a page turner!
January 10, 2024
A glimpse into Martha Ballard’s life and also the lives of her friends, family and neighbors. Martha is a midwife in 1789 and is privy to the town’s secrets. Historical fiction based on the life of Martha Ballard.
Things are about to get salty. Oh, my. Everyone loves this book and it’s an understatement to say I did not. I’m still cringing and rolling my eyes. The weird thing is I’m a feminist and a liberal, but this is sadly over the top. I dislike being preached to, and there are 432 pages of that here. Maybe there are people out there who need to be told what’s right from wrong. I’m not one of them.
The pacing is glacial at best and the writing felt a little lazy and immature. The murder mystery being solved by this caped crusader is so very slow. The main character is overly preachy and although the story takes place in 1789, she miraculously has command of a 2024 vernacular. 🙄
Jane Oppenheimer is an excellent narrator, but she couldn’t save this one.
The sadly self congratulatory author’s note at the end came far too late and would have been helpful at the beginning so expectations could be appropriately set. The author loves to say, “you’re welcome” although no one in this house said thank you. When a story is labeled historical fiction, that is what the reader expects. Here the author tells the reader it’s actually fiction and she took the idea from a real book written 30 years ago by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. It would have been helpful to have that information up front. Nothing original here and it’s put me off “historical” fiction for quite awhile.
Things are about to get salty. Oh, my. Everyone loves this book and it’s an understatement to say I did not. I’m still cringing and rolling my eyes. The weird thing is I’m a feminist and a liberal, but this is sadly over the top. I dislike being preached to, and there are 432 pages of that here. Maybe there are people out there who need to be told what’s right from wrong. I’m not one of them.
The pacing is glacial at best and the writing felt a little lazy and immature. The murder mystery being solved by this caped crusader is so very slow. The main character is overly preachy and although the story takes place in 1789, she miraculously has command of a 2024 vernacular. 🙄
Jane Oppenheimer is an excellent narrator, but she couldn’t save this one.
The sadly self congratulatory author’s note at the end came far too late and would have been helpful at the beginning so expectations could be appropriately set. The author loves to say, “you’re welcome” although no one in this house said thank you. When a story is labeled historical fiction, that is what the reader expects. Here the author tells the reader it’s actually fiction and she took the idea from a real book written 30 years ago by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. It would have been helpful to have that information up front. Nothing original here and it’s put me off “historical” fiction for quite awhile.
January 24, 2024
Heartbreaking.
Raw.
Painful.
Hopeful.
Redemptive.
Insightful.
Immersive.
Family bonds.
Womanhood.
Motherhood.
*And that authors note!!!! Make sure to read that AFTER you finish.
Raw.
Painful.
Hopeful.
Redemptive.
Insightful.
Immersive.
Family bonds.
Womanhood.
Motherhood.
*And that authors note!!!! Make sure to read that AFTER you finish.
April 13, 2024
What a great story! It’s going onto my Best of 2024 list. Based on the real life midwife, Martha Ballard, it gives a fascinating picture of life in late 18th century New England. Lawton’s vivid writing transported me to this hardscrabble life.
The story starts when a man is found frozen in the ice of the Kennebec River. Once he’s retrieved, it’s obvious the man was murdered, even if the Harvard educated doctor tried to say otherwise. Given that the man was one of two accused of rape by the minister’s wife and the other is the town’s “judge”, this brings a lot of questions. Martha, as the town’s midwife, had been the one to see the woman’s body and hear her story.
The story has lots to say about the fate of women in this time and place. As always, I value historical fiction that can teach me something while still telling an engrossing story. This fits the bill. It’s also interesting how many of the plot points are based on actual events, even if the timing and some details have been changed.
Martha was a great main character. Strong willed, lucky to be in a loving marriage. She’s also one of the rare women who can read and write. And she makes use of that talent by keeping a detailed journal. The journal, thanks to her family, survived and is the basis of this story. Her position as a midwife also offers her rights denied to other women, like the ability to testify in court without her husband present (at least in some cases).
The recurring themes of the book center on justice and equality, or, too often in the case of women, the lack thereof. The ending was perfect. Now that was true justice!
I found it interesting that while many residents still had bitter memories of the French and Indian Wars, the American Revolution barely registers in the story.
A side note - I was entranced by the silver fox. When we lived in the country, we had a pair of foxes that would come and frolic and sun bath in our backyard. One had somehow lost most of his tail and had only a little clump like a bunny’s tail, so I always knew which one I was seeing if they weren’t together. I developed a great fondness for watching them and felt a real kinship with Martha. Although I doubt my pair would ever have gotten close to me.
The story starts when a man is found frozen in the ice of the Kennebec River. Once he’s retrieved, it’s obvious the man was murdered, even if the Harvard educated doctor tried to say otherwise. Given that the man was one of two accused of rape by the minister’s wife and the other is the town’s “judge”, this brings a lot of questions. Martha, as the town’s midwife, had been the one to see the woman’s body and hear her story.
The story has lots to say about the fate of women in this time and place. As always, I value historical fiction that can teach me something while still telling an engrossing story. This fits the bill. It’s also interesting how many of the plot points are based on actual events, even if the timing and some details have been changed.
Martha was a great main character. Strong willed, lucky to be in a loving marriage. She’s also one of the rare women who can read and write. And she makes use of that talent by keeping a detailed journal. The journal, thanks to her family, survived and is the basis of this story. Her position as a midwife also offers her rights denied to other women, like the ability to testify in court without her husband present (at least in some cases).
The recurring themes of the book center on justice and equality, or, too often in the case of women, the lack thereof. The ending was perfect. Now that was true justice!
I found it interesting that while many residents still had bitter memories of the French and Indian Wars, the American Revolution barely registers in the story.
A side note - I was entranced by the silver fox. When we lived in the country, we had a pair of foxes that would come and frolic and sun bath in our backyard. One had somehow lost most of his tail and had only a little clump like a bunny’s tail, so I always knew which one I was seeing if they weren’t together. I developed a great fondness for watching them and felt a real kinship with Martha. Although I doubt my pair would ever have gotten close to me.
December 23, 2024
“Truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long” – William Shakespeare
Although historical fiction (late 1700’s), this is based on a true story of a mid-wife who kept a meticulous diary of an incident that occurred in which she wanted to find justice. For her time, this was not an easy task for women to do. So, in many ways, this is her story.
The fictional story depicts, a strong woman, Martha Ballard, a mid-wife, who speaks her mind against impossible powerful men who appear to easily get away with despicable acts.
In many ways this was a page-turning historical murder mystery that was complex and immersive. It was also insightful about women of the time, creating a feeling of helplessness and awe.
But mostly this was a story that put a spotlight on strong assertive women who needed to find ways to insert themselves into a world that didn’t always see them as relevant voices.
To add to the reader’s experience is the Author’s Note at the end.
“I collect people.” – Ariel Lawhon
Although historical fiction (late 1700’s), this is based on a true story of a mid-wife who kept a meticulous diary of an incident that occurred in which she wanted to find justice. For her time, this was not an easy task for women to do. So, in many ways, this is her story.
The fictional story depicts, a strong woman, Martha Ballard, a mid-wife, who speaks her mind against impossible powerful men who appear to easily get away with despicable acts.
In many ways this was a page-turning historical murder mystery that was complex and immersive. It was also insightful about women of the time, creating a feeling of helplessness and awe.
But mostly this was a story that put a spotlight on strong assertive women who needed to find ways to insert themselves into a world that didn’t always see them as relevant voices.
To add to the reader’s experience is the Author’s Note at the end.
“I collect people.” – Ariel Lawhon
April 27, 2024
5+ stars!
2024 Favourites List! 🏆
Atmospheric and haunting.
Maine, 1789. Martha Ballard, a midwife in a riverside small town, also serves as doctor and coroner. She aides in the investigation into the death of a local man which appears to have been murder.
This was a quiet, slow burn historical mystery — a story to be savoured. I truly adored every element of this novel and the powerful way the author presented this story. The writing is gorgeous and haunting. The further I got into the book, I found myself hanging on every word. The diary entries were a brilliant layer to the story.
The characters were exceptional. Unique and interesting, each with an element of mystery that kept me curious about every one of them. I loved the small, isolated community that was at the centre of this story. The town felt like a character itself. Transportation depended on river status — frozen or flowing. This limitation controlled business opportunities and life in general. The traveling court system was a fascinating aspect of this story.
I am always drawn to stories revolving around midwives and natural medicine, and this will be a stand out in that regard. Martha was a multi-layered, fascinating character and to learn that she was a real person made the book even more impactful. The Author’s Note at the end had me in tears, inspiring me to learn more about this important woman in our history as well as wanting to read every other book this author has written. There is something really endearing about the way this author explained her inspiration for this novel and writing process.
This was a highly anticipated read for me and it completely lived up to the hype! Highly recommend!
2024 Favourites List! 🏆
Atmospheric and haunting.
Maine, 1789. Martha Ballard, a midwife in a riverside small town, also serves as doctor and coroner. She aides in the investigation into the death of a local man which appears to have been murder.
This was a quiet, slow burn historical mystery — a story to be savoured. I truly adored every element of this novel and the powerful way the author presented this story. The writing is gorgeous and haunting. The further I got into the book, I found myself hanging on every word. The diary entries were a brilliant layer to the story.
The characters were exceptional. Unique and interesting, each with an element of mystery that kept me curious about every one of them. I loved the small, isolated community that was at the centre of this story. The town felt like a character itself. Transportation depended on river status — frozen or flowing. This limitation controlled business opportunities and life in general. The traveling court system was a fascinating aspect of this story.
I am always drawn to stories revolving around midwives and natural medicine, and this will be a stand out in that regard. Martha was a multi-layered, fascinating character and to learn that she was a real person made the book even more impactful. The Author’s Note at the end had me in tears, inspiring me to learn more about this important woman in our history as well as wanting to read every other book this author has written. There is something really endearing about the way this author explained her inspiration for this novel and writing process.
This was a highly anticipated read for me and it completely lived up to the hype! Highly recommend!
August 28, 2024
I couldn't bring myself to finish this, despite listening to over 6 hrs of this overly long novel.
Many of my GR friends loved this novel so I was sure I'd love it too. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Early on, my antennas were raised, first, it was the very modern language and concepts that felt off to me. I had to double check that it wasn't one of those dual timelines novels and that I wasn't listening to a modern day section. It's all set in the eighteenth century.
The first obvious anachronism - the use of the term vernix to describe the film many newborns are covered in when coming into the world. I'm annoying like that and googled, apparently, "the term 'Vernix caseosa' first appeared in 1846 in the Dunglison dictionary of Medical Sciences."
I continued on. Our heroine is Martha Ballard, a fifty-four year old midwife, who sounded like a modern-day woman, the way she was challenging the status quo, the men and the entire society was so outside of anything I could believe, it irked me.
This is yet another so-called "historical fiction" that doesn't care much about history, fact and takes lots of liberties. I find it more jarring and frankly insulting when we have google at our fingertips.
The husband, whatever his name was, a carpenter, was so unbelievable, even if he had been a contemporary man. Were people French kissing in the 18th century? While we don't know for sure people's proclivities, it's unlikely they would do that when cleanliness was dubious. Speaking of cleanliness, Martha knew about disinfecting wounds back then? I can't be bothered to search, but I'm dubious.
Irrespective of all these many anachronisms, the liberties taken with language and people's behaviours and the fact that Martha was better than everyone in so many respects irked me big time.
I'm a feminist, I'm passionate about reinstating, reviving the "forgotten women", but we don't need to go so over the board, even if it's fiction.
Many of my GR friends loved this novel so I was sure I'd love it too. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Early on, my antennas were raised, first, it was the very modern language and concepts that felt off to me. I had to double check that it wasn't one of those dual timelines novels and that I wasn't listening to a modern day section. It's all set in the eighteenth century.
The first obvious anachronism - the use of the term vernix to describe the film many newborns are covered in when coming into the world. I'm annoying like that and googled, apparently, "the term 'Vernix caseosa' first appeared in 1846 in the Dunglison dictionary of Medical Sciences."
I continued on. Our heroine is Martha Ballard, a fifty-four year old midwife, who sounded like a modern-day woman, the way she was challenging the status quo, the men and the entire society was so outside of anything I could believe, it irked me.
This is yet another so-called "historical fiction" that doesn't care much about history, fact and takes lots of liberties. I find it more jarring and frankly insulting when we have google at our fingertips.
The husband, whatever his name was, a carpenter, was so unbelievable, even if he had been a contemporary man. Were people French kissing in the 18th century? While we don't know for sure people's proclivities, it's unlikely they would do that when cleanliness was dubious. Speaking of cleanliness, Martha knew about disinfecting wounds back then? I can't be bothered to search, but I'm dubious.
Irrespective of all these many anachronisms, the liberties taken with language and people's behaviours and the fact that Martha was better than everyone in so many respects irked me big time.
I'm a feminist, I'm passionate about reinstating, reviving the "forgotten women", but we don't need to go so over the board, even if it's fiction.
December 14, 2023
The opening chapters of this historical novel are incredibly immersive, so much so that I went through the author's other novels and added a bunch of them to my TBR. But the length, structure, and focus of this book eventually wore me down a bit, so that the visceral grip of the beginning never quite took hold in the same way again.
This story is based on the life of an 18th century New England midwife named Martha Ballard, and much of it centered around a brutal rape in her small community and Martha's contributions to uncovering the truth of what happened. The author's note at the end indicates that there is no historical documentation of Martha's existence other than her own notes and by way of her husband in public records. There's no doubt she was an extraordinary woman whose work and determination was remarkable, and considering the dearth of research material available, this work of fiction is pretty solid piece in some ways.
Still, as a novel, it is pretty uneven. After an incredible beginning written almost like a suspense novel, much of the rest of it felt like it was having an identity crisis. The most urgent parts relate to the central crime, though I would expect to feel anger and compassion more acutely for all the women. Ideas and observations are set forth from Martha's POV, which eventually felt like a writing shortcut in many instances, without enough actual demonstration or passion to balance them out. I'm also a little surprised by the inclusion of a couple of (mild, fade-to-black) sex scenes, which I have no objection to on principle, but felt out of place here when there are few instances of genuine emotion expressed otherwise other than a meager handful in passing.
All in all, I am glad to have learned about this very interesting woman, but as a work of fiction this didn't quite hit the mark for me. But it depends on what you're drawn to as a reader, I suppose; for me, this was overly long and needed more focus, deeper exploration of themes and a lot more emotion.
Audio Notes: Jane Oppenheimer's voice is very pleasant, but her narration feels more suited to cozy mysteries or modern thrillers than a historical work like this, though certainly the writing contributed to that as well. As a whole, this just didn't feel very "period," and I think the responsibility is both in the writing and in the choice of narrator.
This story is based on the life of an 18th century New England midwife named Martha Ballard, and much of it centered around a brutal rape in her small community and Martha's contributions to uncovering the truth of what happened. The author's note at the end indicates that there is no historical documentation of Martha's existence other than her own notes and by way of her husband in public records. There's no doubt she was an extraordinary woman whose work and determination was remarkable, and considering the dearth of research material available, this work of fiction is pretty solid piece in some ways.
Still, as a novel, it is pretty uneven. After an incredible beginning written almost like a suspense novel, much of the rest of it felt like it was having an identity crisis. The most urgent parts relate to the central crime, though I would expect to feel anger and compassion more acutely for all the women. Ideas and observations are set forth from Martha's POV, which eventually felt like a writing shortcut in many instances, without enough actual demonstration or passion to balance them out. I'm also a little surprised by the inclusion of a couple of (mild, fade-to-black) sex scenes, which I have no objection to on principle, but felt out of place here when there are few instances of genuine emotion expressed otherwise other than a meager handful in passing.
All in all, I am glad to have learned about this very interesting woman, but as a work of fiction this didn't quite hit the mark for me. But it depends on what you're drawn to as a reader, I suppose; for me, this was overly long and needed more focus, deeper exploration of themes and a lot more emotion.
Audio Notes: Jane Oppenheimer's voice is very pleasant, but her narration feels more suited to cozy mysteries or modern thrillers than a historical work like this, though certainly the writing contributed to that as well. As a whole, this just didn't feel very "period," and I think the responsibility is both in the writing and in the choice of narrator.
June 11, 2024
If you enjoy historical novels with rich stories and strong character development, you definitely want to experience The Frozen River. The audiobook format enriches the already incredible story and you feel as though you are along with Hope on her journey to Silver Lake.
Listen: "The Frozen River" Audiobook Format
Tang’s excellent storytelling is transported harmoniously through the performance and makes it so the reader can feel the story come to life.
The narrator did an outstanding job building the story from their voices and the listener could tell the narrator was not just reading every line, they were acting each character out. This audiobook was so full of emotion, tension and passion. To sum it up- engaging and captivating.
Listen: "The Frozen River" Audiobook Format
Tang’s excellent storytelling is transported harmoniously through the performance and makes it so the reader can feel the story come to life.
The narrator did an outstanding job building the story from their voices and the listener could tell the narrator was not just reading every line, they were acting each character out. This audiobook was so full of emotion, tension and passion. To sum it up- engaging and captivating.
September 20, 2023
'I am in the business of mortality. Its beginning and its end'.
Martha Ballard, has been the local midwife and healer in Hallowell for the last 12 years. As a habitual journal writer, Mistress Ballard has recorded years of births, deaths, and illegitimate secrets, 'I do not consider myself a scribe of any repute. I am a chronicler of facts, not feelings'. When the dead body of a townsman, alleged to have committed a heinous crime is discovered, entombed within the ice of the frozen river, Martha is certain she'll find answers within her diary. Having long been an advocate for women at their most vulnerable, she won't stop asking questions until she finds answers.
Inspired by the real-life diaries of 18th Century, Martha Ballard, Ariel Lawhon has given us a glimpse of the daily life of not only a small, post-Revolution, town in America but specifically the lives of women. History often lacks the everydayness of womanhood. Between literacy and expense, reading and writing were often reserved for 'important' communication. Added to this, is a real small-town whodunnit, replete with a cast of characters and plenty of gossip. But it's also a love story. Martha's husband Ephraim is a ballast steadying the emotional storms that test her daily; dealing with life and death, 'I have long since mastered the art of nursing joy at one breast and grief at the other'. Martha is a lot of things, but ultimately she is a champion for fairness and justice, and in her line of work, that often means women.
I loved this book and all its layers. It is a long story made up of everyday stories of life. Its austere tone beautifully reflects the harsh winter and somewhat Puritanical attitudes that lingered. Whether you enjoy historical fiction, mysteries, or a bit of romance, you're sure to enjoy this book.
'Memory is a wicked thing that warps and twists. But paper and ink receive the truth without emotion and they back it without partiality. That, I believe is why so few women are taught to read and write'.
Martha Ballard, has been the local midwife and healer in Hallowell for the last 12 years. As a habitual journal writer, Mistress Ballard has recorded years of births, deaths, and illegitimate secrets, 'I do not consider myself a scribe of any repute. I am a chronicler of facts, not feelings'. When the dead body of a townsman, alleged to have committed a heinous crime is discovered, entombed within the ice of the frozen river, Martha is certain she'll find answers within her diary. Having long been an advocate for women at their most vulnerable, she won't stop asking questions until she finds answers.
Inspired by the real-life diaries of 18th Century, Martha Ballard, Ariel Lawhon has given us a glimpse of the daily life of not only a small, post-Revolution, town in America but specifically the lives of women. History often lacks the everydayness of womanhood. Between literacy and expense, reading and writing were often reserved for 'important' communication. Added to this, is a real small-town whodunnit, replete with a cast of characters and plenty of gossip. But it's also a love story. Martha's husband Ephraim is a ballast steadying the emotional storms that test her daily; dealing with life and death, 'I have long since mastered the art of nursing joy at one breast and grief at the other'. Martha is a lot of things, but ultimately she is a champion for fairness and justice, and in her line of work, that often means women.
I loved this book and all its layers. It is a long story made up of everyday stories of life. Its austere tone beautifully reflects the harsh winter and somewhat Puritanical attitudes that lingered. Whether you enjoy historical fiction, mysteries, or a bit of romance, you're sure to enjoy this book.
'Memory is a wicked thing that warps and twists. But paper and ink receive the truth without emotion and they back it without partiality. That, I believe is why so few women are taught to read and write'.
February 1, 2025
3.75
I LOVE STRONG, COURAGEOUS, AND CONFIDENT WOMEN
this is one of the books i’d imagine a middle-aged book group full of moms would love.
i had plenty of flashbacks to the days before i ever discovered booktok/booktube and only read historical fiction and rated everything 5 stars. what a strange era of mine.
it was good but holllyyyy molllllyyyyy it was slow.
juicy small town drama in 1789 is pretty fun to read, though.
i ended up enjoying this but it definitely took longer to get through than i’d planned. historical fiction can be so captivating when done correctly, and this was certainly intriguing but i’ll admit it was difficult to binge like i typically do.
I LOVE STRONG, COURAGEOUS, AND CONFIDENT WOMEN
this is one of the books i’d imagine a middle-aged book group full of moms would love.
i had plenty of flashbacks to the days before i ever discovered booktok/booktube and only read historical fiction and rated everything 5 stars. what a strange era of mine.
it was good but holllyyyy molllllyyyyy it was slow.
juicy small town drama in 1789 is pretty fun to read, though.
i ended up enjoying this but it definitely took longer to get through than i’d planned. historical fiction can be so captivating when done correctly, and this was certainly intriguing but i’ll admit it was difficult to binge like i typically do.
January 12, 2024
How is this book rated so highly?! It was so painful to read: the length, the plot, the boredom. My gosh, it was so boring. It dragged and the flashbacks were even worse. The main character was preachy and sanctimonious. Why do we care exactly what she writes in her journal when we just read about the events themselves? I wanted to give up so many times, but I hoped the mystery would be solved. Ugh. I'm so angry at this book.
January 24, 2024
2.5 stars rounded down
Inspired by the life of a real midwife in late 1700s Maine who left a decades-long journal behind, this heavy-handed fictionalized account makes the point (over and over and OVER) that life wasn’t fair for women, circumscribed by societal expectations, punished if they tried to colour outside the lines, and of course constantly subjected to real and threatened male violence. The villain of the piece was such a caricature I kept expecting him, Snidely Whiplash-like, to twirl the end of his moustache and emit evil snickers. And did I mention how repetitive? This was 500 pages of leaden prose that could easily have been whittled down by a couple of hundred pages.
Inspired by the life of a real midwife in late 1700s Maine who left a decades-long journal behind, this heavy-handed fictionalized account makes the point (over and over and OVER) that life wasn’t fair for women, circumscribed by societal expectations, punished if they tried to colour outside the lines, and of course constantly subjected to real and threatened male violence. The villain of the piece was such a caricature I kept expecting him, Snidely Whiplash-like, to twirl the end of his moustache and emit evil snickers. And did I mention how repetitive? This was 500 pages of leaden prose that could easily have been whittled down by a couple of hundred pages.
September 11, 2025
reading this book passed in the same way the characters painstakingly waited for the river to slowly thaw and winter to melt away, fearing that it might never end. the pacing can only be described as glacial.
and while a slow story is not inherently bad - in this case, it perfectly suits the atmosphere and tone of the story - it just wasnt what i was wanting from this book, personally. AL prides herself on the research she puts into each novel and claims she writes biographical fiction, rather than historical fiction (which i would agree with); but the detail-heavy narrative, combined with the slow pace and long length, made this a story that i kept wanting to put down and take breaks from.
which is a shame because martha is a very inspiring character with a commendable life, so i just wish i had connected with the storytelling and writing style more than i did. but this is still easy to recommend to readers looking for a novel that recounts a hidden gem of history, particularly for women.
↠ 3.5 stars
and while a slow story is not inherently bad - in this case, it perfectly suits the atmosphere and tone of the story - it just wasnt what i was wanting from this book, personally. AL prides herself on the research she puts into each novel and claims she writes biographical fiction, rather than historical fiction (which i would agree with); but the detail-heavy narrative, combined with the slow pace and long length, made this a story that i kept wanting to put down and take breaks from.
which is a shame because martha is a very inspiring character with a commendable life, so i just wish i had connected with the storytelling and writing style more than i did. but this is still easy to recommend to readers looking for a novel that recounts a hidden gem of history, particularly for women.
↠ 3.5 stars
October 16, 2023
4.5 stars
One of the reasons I love the historical fiction genre is it gives me the opportunity to learn about a person or event. In this instance, I wasn't familiar with midwife Martha Ballard before picking up The Frozen River. Wow, what a fascinating woman! Highly recommend checking this book out.
Martha Ballard was a midwife in Maine back in the late 1700s. She keeps a diary noting her work as well as various things going on in the Hallowell community. After a man is found in the frozen Kennebec River, Martha is certain he was murdered. The dead man is one of two men accused of raping a woman a few months ago. Martha's diary could provide key evidence if the rape case against the other suspect is brought to trial.
While the story has heartbreaking moments, it's also an incredible tale of a woman fighting for justice. The laws in place and the general attitudes during this time period made it no easy feat, but Martha refused to back down. Her work as a midwife was also interesting to read about as well as all the work it took to keep the household running as smooth as possible.
The Author's Note is worth reading after you finish the book as it provides good insight into the writing process. I think she did a fantastic job brining Martha Ballard's story to life.
Thank you Doubleday for sending me an advance reader's copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
One of the reasons I love the historical fiction genre is it gives me the opportunity to learn about a person or event. In this instance, I wasn't familiar with midwife Martha Ballard before picking up The Frozen River. Wow, what a fascinating woman! Highly recommend checking this book out.
Martha Ballard was a midwife in Maine back in the late 1700s. She keeps a diary noting her work as well as various things going on in the Hallowell community. After a man is found in the frozen Kennebec River, Martha is certain he was murdered. The dead man is one of two men accused of raping a woman a few months ago. Martha's diary could provide key evidence if the rape case against the other suspect is brought to trial.
While the story has heartbreaking moments, it's also an incredible tale of a woman fighting for justice. The laws in place and the general attitudes during this time period made it no easy feat, but Martha refused to back down. Her work as a midwife was also interesting to read about as well as all the work it took to keep the household running as smooth as possible.
The Author's Note is worth reading after you finish the book as it provides good insight into the writing process. I think she did a fantastic job brining Martha Ballard's story to life.
Thank you Doubleday for sending me an advance reader's copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
November 29, 2023
Martha Ballard was a midwife in Hallowell, on the banks of the Kennebec River in Maine, and loved her profession. Her care, compassion and empathy saw her as the first called on when a baby was birthing, when someone was ill. She held the respect of many. But there were others who ridiculed her, and when a friend, and wife of the local pastor was raped by two men, Martha was the one who saw and documented her injuries. And when a man was cut from the recently frozen river, Martha was asked to look at him to determine cause of death. As soon as Martha saw him, she knew him to be one of the rapists, but that wasn't all she saw.
With the rape allegation as well as the death, there were questions to be answered. The court - such as it was in 1789 - would oversee and discuss both cases, but would they find the answers? Martha was doubtful they'd look for truth, and she was determined to find out what happened. With her husband and mostly adult children by her side, the depth of the scandal rocked the small community. Martha's courage and tenacity were second to none - even Brutus understood that...
The Frozen River is an outstanding historical novel by Ariel Lawhon which is based on fact. Martha Ballard was indeed a midwife and healer, born in 1735 and died in 1812 and her diary, which she wrote in daily, recording births, deaths and the weather, took her into history. The long, brutal winter of 1789 lasted six months, much longer than usual, marking a horrific time for the community of Hallowell. The Author's Notes at the end of the book are fascinating and I thank the author for including them. Martha's courage and calm strength was admirable; the people she served, women especially, had much to thank her for. I loved this book, and recommend it unreservedly to all fans of historical fiction. I will be reading more by Ariel Lawhon.
With thanks to Simon & Schuster for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
With the rape allegation as well as the death, there were questions to be answered. The court - such as it was in 1789 - would oversee and discuss both cases, but would they find the answers? Martha was doubtful they'd look for truth, and she was determined to find out what happened. With her husband and mostly adult children by her side, the depth of the scandal rocked the small community. Martha's courage and tenacity were second to none - even Brutus understood that...
The Frozen River is an outstanding historical novel by Ariel Lawhon which is based on fact. Martha Ballard was indeed a midwife and healer, born in 1735 and died in 1812 and her diary, which she wrote in daily, recording births, deaths and the weather, took her into history. The long, brutal winter of 1789 lasted six months, much longer than usual, marking a horrific time for the community of Hallowell. The Author's Notes at the end of the book are fascinating and I thank the author for including them. Martha's courage and calm strength was admirable; the people she served, women especially, had much to thank her for. I loved this book, and recommend it unreservedly to all fans of historical fiction. I will be reading more by Ariel Lawhon.
With thanks to Simon & Schuster for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2024
4.5*.
Wow, right from the start this story captivated me and didn't let me go until the very last sentence. This was a treat to read.
Wow, right from the start this story captivated me and didn't let me go until the very last sentence. This was a treat to read.
May 4, 2024
“Memory is a wicked thing that warps and twists. But paper and ink receive the truth without emotion, and they read it back without partiality. That, I believe, is why so few women are taught to read and write. God only knows what they would do with the power of pen and ink at their disposal.” ~Ariel Lawhon, The Frozen River
This was such a good book! The Frozen River is a historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, an 18th century midwife and healer.
Maine 1789: A body is found frozen in the Kennebec River. Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine the cause of death. Martha, whose husband Ephraim (he was my favorite character) taught her to read and write early in their marriage and gifted her a diary, diligently recorded daily events such as births, deaths, and local news. Prior to the discovery of the body, Martha had documented details of an alleged rape involving two of the town's esteemed individuals, one of whom is now found deceased in the river. Martha concludes that the cause of death is hanging, but her determination to uncover the truth intensifies when a new local physician publicly disputes her findings, asserting the death was an accident.
The story has many layers and I enjoyed the way they unfolded, revealing what really happened. Martha was smart, strong-willed and compassionate, but what I loved most about her was her determination to speak up despite the possible consequences and to do the right thing especially during a time when women's rights were pretty much nonexistent. It was interesting learning about the different things Martha did as a midwife and healer which also included judicial responsibilities.
While I loved this book, I had a few minor niggles. The dialogue felt more modern rather than 18th century in nature. There are a lot of characters and in the beginning it was hard to keep them all straight since many of their names were quite similar. Be sure to read the Author's Note. I always appreciate when an author distinguishes fact from fiction. 4.5 stars rounded up.💫
This was such a good book! The Frozen River is a historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, an 18th century midwife and healer.
Maine 1789: A body is found frozen in the Kennebec River. Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine the cause of death. Martha, whose husband Ephraim (he was my favorite character) taught her to read and write early in their marriage and gifted her a diary, diligently recorded daily events such as births, deaths, and local news. Prior to the discovery of the body, Martha had documented details of an alleged rape involving two of the town's esteemed individuals, one of whom is now found deceased in the river. Martha concludes that the cause of death is hanging, but her determination to uncover the truth intensifies when a new local physician publicly disputes her findings, asserting the death was an accident.
The story has many layers and I enjoyed the way they unfolded, revealing what really happened. Martha was smart, strong-willed and compassionate, but what I loved most about her was her determination to speak up despite the possible consequences and to do the right thing especially during a time when women's rights were pretty much nonexistent. It was interesting learning about the different things Martha did as a midwife and healer which also included judicial responsibilities.
While I loved this book, I had a few minor niggles. The dialogue felt more modern rather than 18th century in nature. There are a lot of characters and in the beginning it was hard to keep them all straight since many of their names were quite similar. Be sure to read the Author's Note. I always appreciate when an author distinguishes fact from fiction. 4.5 stars rounded up.💫
January 9, 2024
first audiobook of the year complete! i liked it and learned A LOT. i can see why so many readers enjoyed this book and why GMA picked it as a book club pick. sooo much to discuss and sit with 🤯
*if you’re looking for a historical fiction novel NOT based on a world war, add this to your TBR!
for HF, this story was unique. i don’t read A TON of historical fiction but i do enjoy roughly 10-15/year. this was set in the 1700s and i truly learned so much. i had to keep reminding myself of the year and sit with that alone for a minute or two as i took in what was happening. its insane to think about how some things were back then, especially pertaining to women’s rights and their place in their communities. so many HF novels lately are around childbirth, fertility, history of motherhood and pregnancy and it’s such an inspiring and jaw opening reading experience. it’s no irony or coincidence why those stories sit with us much deeper than others right now in 2023.
it was also so interesting to learn this was based on real events. i squealed when Paul Revere came into the story, LOL! it was giving high school history vibes for a second.
like so many others, i really liked Martha. she was arguably the best part. she’s a strong female MC and i can’t imagine how hard it was to have this strong of a voice and be outspoken against men during this timeline 👏🏼
but while i enjoyed this book, it’s not 5 stars for me and i can’t quite put my finger on why? maybe it was overhyped? perhaps there too many characters? i listened on audio and it was rather hard to keep track of them all and remember how they weaved together. i felt like i needed an org chart 😂 curious if readers of the physical copy felt the same. there were also a few unanswered questions left for me at the end. if anyone has finished this recently and wants to chat, please DM me on IG!
all said, this is definitely worth the read! and as so many historical fiction novels have proved over the last year or so… it is so shocking what women went through and continue to experience even in 2023 💔
*if you’re looking for a historical fiction novel NOT based on a world war, add this to your TBR!
for HF, this story was unique. i don’t read A TON of historical fiction but i do enjoy roughly 10-15/year. this was set in the 1700s and i truly learned so much. i had to keep reminding myself of the year and sit with that alone for a minute or two as i took in what was happening. its insane to think about how some things were back then, especially pertaining to women’s rights and their place in their communities. so many HF novels lately are around childbirth, fertility, history of motherhood and pregnancy and it’s such an inspiring and jaw opening reading experience. it’s no irony or coincidence why those stories sit with us much deeper than others right now in 2023.
it was also so interesting to learn this was based on real events. i squealed when Paul Revere came into the story, LOL! it was giving high school history vibes for a second.
like so many others, i really liked Martha. she was arguably the best part. she’s a strong female MC and i can’t imagine how hard it was to have this strong of a voice and be outspoken against men during this timeline 👏🏼
but while i enjoyed this book, it’s not 5 stars for me and i can’t quite put my finger on why? maybe it was overhyped? perhaps there too many characters? i listened on audio and it was rather hard to keep track of them all and remember how they weaved together. i felt like i needed an org chart 😂 curious if readers of the physical copy felt the same. there were also a few unanswered questions left for me at the end. if anyone has finished this recently and wants to chat, please DM me on IG!
all said, this is definitely worth the read! and as so many historical fiction novels have proved over the last year or so… it is so shocking what women went through and continue to experience even in 2023 💔
October 5, 2024
I love historical fiction ❤️ This one follows a strong willed and determined midwife. 👍
January 22, 2024
The Frozen River is an amazing and satisfying read! When I learned that it is based on the diary of a real midwife, Martha Ballard, and that the setting is Maine, where I live, I couldn’t pass it up. I’m so glad I didn’t!
Not only is it a very detailed account of a midwife’s daily duties and hardships but a mystery as well. The way Ariel Lawhon weaves this story together with her beautiful choice of words is spellbinding. Its a work of art that I could not put down or I should say, stop listening to. Her use of all five senses makes you feel as if you are there watching the story unfold. There was never a dull moment in the book.
I didn’t know that midwives dealt with illness and deaths along with delivering babies! Ariel Lawhon gave Martha just the right amount of strength and tenderness to balance her personality and endear me to her.
There are some dark situations discussed in this book. Detailed rape, murder, injury, misogyny, and bad language. If you are able to read about those things then I recommend you read this book.
I am going to read all her books now!
Not only is it a very detailed account of a midwife’s daily duties and hardships but a mystery as well. The way Ariel Lawhon weaves this story together with her beautiful choice of words is spellbinding. Its a work of art that I could not put down or I should say, stop listening to. Her use of all five senses makes you feel as if you are there watching the story unfold. There was never a dull moment in the book.
I didn’t know that midwives dealt with illness and deaths along with delivering babies! Ariel Lawhon gave Martha just the right amount of strength and tenderness to balance her personality and endear me to her.
There are some dark situations discussed in this book. Detailed rape, murder, injury, misogyny, and bad language. If you are able to read about those things then I recommend you read this book.
I am going to read all her books now!
February 7, 2025
This is an interesting and captivating listen on audiobook!!!
A midwife in a small town has to unravel how a man under the ice ended up dying and how he got there. She is a strong FMC with even stronger opinions. Charging herself with finding the truth, she’s on a journey to find a killer and unravel a mystery.
This is an incredible telling of a story inspired on true events and the author states 75% is true and accurate. Full of mystery, intrigue and some suspense, I found myself walking right along side our midwife, easily envisioning the scene due to the rich and detailed descriptions.
What an incredible story that gives us a look back in time. I appreciated the accurate history intwined with the multiple stories that hitches your breath, rises your anger, brings in the tears and without a shadow of a doubt, a smile to your lips. I felt every emotion in this novel and I know it’s one I’ll be thinking about long after I’ve finished reading it.
Highly recommend you listen to or read this novel for a unique story that actually happened for the most part.
A midwife in a small town has to unravel how a man under the ice ended up dying and how he got there. She is a strong FMC with even stronger opinions. Charging herself with finding the truth, she’s on a journey to find a killer and unravel a mystery.
This is an incredible telling of a story inspired on true events and the author states 75% is true and accurate. Full of mystery, intrigue and some suspense, I found myself walking right along side our midwife, easily envisioning the scene due to the rich and detailed descriptions.
What an incredible story that gives us a look back in time. I appreciated the accurate history intwined with the multiple stories that hitches your breath, rises your anger, brings in the tears and without a shadow of a doubt, a smile to your lips. I felt every emotion in this novel and I know it’s one I’ll be thinking about long after I’ve finished reading it.
Highly recommend you listen to or read this novel for a unique story that actually happened for the most part.
January 21, 2025
—— 𝟻 ✰ 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤. ❄️
📖: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐧
「 ”A thrilling, tense, and tender story that takes place in Maine 1789 about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.”」
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★
ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ: ❄️
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ʜᴏᴛ ꜱᴛᴇᴡ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ꜱɪᴅᴇ ᴏꜰ ʙʀᴇᴀᴅ 🥣
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: 📻 ʟᴀʙᴏᴜʀ ♪ ᴘᴀʀɪꜱ ᴘᴀʟᴏᴍᴀ
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: ᴀʙꜱᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ʏᴇꜱ!
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
❄️ ꜰᴇᴍɪɴɪꜱᴍ
❄️ ᴍɪᴅᴡɪꜰᴇʀʏ
❄️ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀɪᴇꜱ
❄️ ʜɪꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴄᴀʟ ꜰɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ
❄️ ɴᴇᴡ ᴇɴɢʟᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ
❄️ ɪɴꜱᴘɪʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʀᴜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛꜱ
❄️ ꜱᴛʀᴏɴɢ ꜰᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀꜱ
⚠️ TW: sexual assault, rape
💬: First read of 2025 & wow what a book to kick off the new year. The Frozen River is the prime example of why I love historical fiction so so much. It’s sad I didn’t know much about Martha Ballard before this book, her life was such an interesting & important one, being a pioneer of midwifery & just a badass female, making a name for herself in a predominantly male field. I’m not surprised that I loved this book as much as I did because it reminded me a lot of Outlander, without the time traveling. I really don’t have much else to say about this book. For me, it was one of those rare perfect reads. The setting, the characters, the story itself & the way it flows; all of it was phenomenal & I can’t recommend it enough.
✒️ᝰ
❝ᥲᥒd shᥱ kᥒows, bᥱᥴᥲυsᥱ shᥱ wᥲrᥒs him, ᥲᥒd hᥱr iᥒstiᥒᥴts ᥒᥱvᥱr fᥲiᥣ, thᥲt thᥱ fᥱmᥲᥣᥱ of hᥱr sρᥱᥴiᥱs is morᥱ dᥱᥲdᥣყ thᥲᥒ thᥱ mᥲᥣᥱ.— rυdყᥲrd kiρᥣiᥒg, "thᥱ fᥱmᥲᥣᥱ of thᥱ sρᥱᥴiᥱs" ❞
📖: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐧
「 ”A thrilling, tense, and tender story that takes place in Maine 1789 about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.”」
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★
ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ: ❄️
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ʜᴏᴛ ꜱᴛᴇᴡ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ꜱɪᴅᴇ ᴏꜰ ʙʀᴇᴀᴅ 🥣
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: 📻 ʟᴀʙᴏᴜʀ ♪ ᴘᴀʀɪꜱ ᴘᴀʟᴏᴍᴀ
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: ᴀʙꜱᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ʏᴇꜱ!
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
❄️ ꜰᴇᴍɪɴɪꜱᴍ
❄️ ᴍɪᴅᴡɪꜰᴇʀʏ
❄️ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀɪᴇꜱ
❄️ ʜɪꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴄᴀʟ ꜰɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ
❄️ ɴᴇᴡ ᴇɴɢʟᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ
❄️ ɪɴꜱᴘɪʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʀᴜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛꜱ
❄️ ꜱᴛʀᴏɴɢ ꜰᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀꜱ
⚠️ TW: sexual assault, rape
❝mᥱmorყ is ᥲ wiᥴkᥱd thiᥒg thᥲt wᥲrρs ᥲᥒd twists. bυt ρᥲρᥱr ᥲᥒd iᥒk rᥱᥴᥱivᥱ thᥱ trυth withoυt ᥱmotioᥒ, ᥲᥒd thᥱყ rᥱᥲd it bᥲᥴk withoυt ρᥲrtiᥲᥣitყ. thᥲt, i bᥱᥣiᥱvᥱ, is whყ so fᥱw womᥱᥒ ᥲrᥱ tᥲυght to rᥱᥲd ᥲᥒd writᥱ. god oᥒᥣყ kᥒows whᥲt thᥱყ woυᥣd do with thᥱ ρowᥱr of ρᥱᥒ ᥲᥒd iᥒk ᥲt thᥱir disρosᥲᥣ.❞
💬: First read of 2025 & wow what a book to kick off the new year. The Frozen River is the prime example of why I love historical fiction so so much. It’s sad I didn’t know much about Martha Ballard before this book, her life was such an interesting & important one, being a pioneer of midwifery & just a badass female, making a name for herself in a predominantly male field. I’m not surprised that I loved this book as much as I did because it reminded me a lot of Outlander, without the time traveling. I really don’t have much else to say about this book. For me, it was one of those rare perfect reads. The setting, the characters, the story itself & the way it flows; all of it was phenomenal & I can’t recommend it enough.
✒️ᝰ
❝i wiᥣᥣ ᥒᥱvᥱr υᥒdᥱrstᥲᥒd whყ mᥱᥒ thiᥒk thᥲt womᥱᥒ work so hᥲrd to dᥱstroყ thᥱm. iᥒ mყ ᥱxρᥱriᥱᥒᥴᥱ it is υsυᥲᥣᥣყ thᥱ oρρositᥱ. ❞
January 30, 2025
I listened to this book in tandem with reading a physical copy before bed and... I don't think I'll ever shut up about how good this way.
Midwifery has long been a revered practice and I was ecstatic to find a book detailing a true historical figures life!!
Not to mention the mystery behind her story - this was a perfect book!!
Midwifery has long been a revered practice and I was ecstatic to find a book detailing a true historical figures life!!
Not to mention the mystery behind her story - this was a perfect book!!
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