5⭐️

I was drawn to this book from all the buzz on social media. The hype is real, it really is one that you don’t want to miss out on.

Historical 17th century fiction with the main character a midwife and healer inspired by Martha Ballard who also kept a diary providing historians great insight into the life of Colonial women. This is a fictional account of a 6 month time frame in her life one winter while the river was frozen.

There’s a mystery which falls into Martha’s lap. It immediately drew me in, I love the writing style which has an informal chatty style about it, it gives a feeling of the era without all the old English, so it’s an easy read.
There are quite a few references to Shakespeare who was popular in the US at the time, but it doesn’t detract from the story’s premise.

I was absolutely drawn into Martha’s world, the harshness of the life, the struggle of women to have a voice, the mystery created. I loved this book so much! It’s in my books of the year.
It’s worth reading the authors notes to see how much is based on fact and how much fiction. X

You don’t need to love historical fiction to love this book. It’s very character driven, the characterisation is superb. I’m now keen to read more by this author.

Ariel Lawhon’s *The Frozen River* is a beautifully crafted historical novel that blends mystery, resilience, and rich period detail. Set in 18th-century Maine, the story follows Martha Ballard, a midwife whose meticulous record-keeping and sharp instincts lead her to uncover the truth behind a suspicious death. Lawhon captures the challenges of a woman navigating justice in a world dominated by men.

The Frozen River is a gripping and thought-provoking novel. The novel seamlessly weaves themes of justice, gender, and survival, making it a compelling read for historical fiction fans. Martha’s story lingers long after the final page—a testament to Lawhon’s talent for breathing life into the past.

I was lucky to receive a paperback copy of The Frozen River from my daughter who bought it for me in New York. The book was a bestseller there and all the bookshops had displays in their windows. Then I received an arc from Netgalley for an honest review.
As Ariel Lawhon explains The Frozen River is inspired by real events as opposed to being based on them. Martha Ballard was a midwife in Maine in the late 1700’s who delivered over a thousand babies in her career and never lost a mother in childbirth..
The story begins in 1789 when Martha is summoned to examine a body entombed in the Ice. This is a remarkable story which I really enjoyed. I have taken one star off because I don’t like romance in a good story and though some of it is necessary I found it a bit too much. Just my preference.
Thank you to Netgalley and a big thank you to my daughter for my early paperback.

An excellently researched, well plotted novel that is inspired by the historical figure of Martha Ballard, a mid-wife.

This was an extremely absorbing and enjoyable read. I particularly enjoyed reading about the brave women and midwifery in history. The relationship between Martha and her husband is a beautiful one, filled with love and care.

It is quite a long novel and I thought it could have benefitted with developing some of the characters further, I am thinking here especially of Martha's children.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.