The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon – 336 pages
ARC from Doubleday, PRH audio and Netgalley for an honest review
Book Blurb:
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.
My Review: 4.5 stars
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is an incredible journey in time as we learn about Martha Ballard’s incredible life. I love that Lawhon brought this remarkable woman to life as her strength, smarts, honesty, and compassion are all things we can learn from.
The book starts with a jolt as a man accused of rape is found dead in the frozen river. Ballard, a midwife and healer, is called to the scene which starts this compelling plot. The mystery behind what actually happened is woven through the story as well as several subplots that focus on some of the townspeople.
I found life in the late 1700s to be fascinating. Whether scenes took place in the town, the courthouse or at one of the frolics, I was completely invested. I loved the way Martha mothered, and her relationship with her husband was beautiful. Her smarts were on display at all times and the fact that she journaled with precious quill and ink was certainly ahead of her time.
The pacing for this book was spot on and her ability to create tension with the antagonists were done well. The characters were flawed, yet relatable, and the story was shrewdly layered to keep the pace moving.
The author’s note at the end of the book shares how she learned about the real Martha Ballard but do not read the notes until you finish the book. It will spoil the experience of reading this gem. I had the luxury of listening to the gorgeous narration of Jane Oppenheimer while also reading it.
Quotes I liked:
This is what it means to age, I think. The days are long, but the years are short.”
“History is written by the men who live. Not the ones who die. But I’ve heard these stories myself.”
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