this book felt so real and fleshed out. its like watching real life occurrences from a moment in time somewhere out there in the real world. i dont know how to escribe it. it just felt so perfectly put. you could feel the emotions. you could feel the sense of place and you could feel the story unfolding.
it goes way beyond a murder mystery which in itself was well written. but the thoughts and feeling also mounted themselves off the pages. i felt like i was getting to people and the place. and the story and what comes up from this murder sparks so much more than a crime that has been committed and to solve. and there feels with each page yet to come into the open.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is a historical fiction thriller set in 1789 Maine. The story begins with the discovery of a frozen body in the Kennebec River. Martha Ballard, a midwife, identifies the corpse as Joshua Burgess, a man recently accused of raping the parson’s wife, Rebecca Foster. Rebecca had also accused the local judge Robert North of being an accomplice in the attack.

As Martha investigates, tensions rise in the community as she navigates societal prejudices, familial loyalty, and her pursuit of justice, all while facing challenges to her authority as a woman in a male-dominated society.

Ariel Lawhon's The Frozen River is an evocative piece of historical fiction that immerses readers in the harsh realities of frontier life while delving into the intricacies of human resilience and morality. Lawhon crafts a gripping tale that captures the tension between individual desires and societal expectations.

One of the novel's standout features is its rich depiction of the natural world and its relationship with the characters. The frozen landscape mirrors the icy justice system and underscores the isolation faced by Martha and those around her.

Beyond its historical significance, The Frozen River provokes contemplation about the role of women in history and the often-overlooked contributions they made to their communities.

If you're drawn to stories that examine the intersection of history and human nature, this novel will leave a lasting impression.

Thanks to Swift Press and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

The Frozen River is a brilliant book. It’s fairly simple premise of a man being found dead in in the frozen Kennebec river and Martha who is the local midwife is called to examine the body and give a cause of death.
The death of this person unravels secrets that are kept in this small town.
The best thing about this book are the characters. The Ballard family are wonderful and Ephraim and Martha’s relationship is so beautiful.
I didn’t really until the authors note that Martha Ballard was a real midwife and her diary which features heavily in the book was the inspiration for this novel.
A definite 5 star read for me and I’ll be looking out for some of her other novels. Thanks NetGalley for approving my request!

4.5*
There are plenty of reviews summarising the plot, so I’m not going to add to them.
Here are my bullet points:
- fascinating historical fiction. I love it when a book draws me in and immerses me in the life of the characters. Set in 1780’s Maine, I got a real sense of what life was like.
- the writing is good. Really good.
-it made me feel. Outrage at the hypocrisy and double standards applied to men and women. Relief when a healthy baby was born, saddened when one was lost.
- the author’s notes at the end which provided a lot of information about the real Martha Ballard.
The only thing keeping it from a solid 5* was that that there were a couple of wee unresolved storylines.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Swift Press and Ariel Lawhon for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

‘Outside her own diary, Martha has no history. No independent record of her work survives. It is her husband’s name, not hers, that appears in censuses, tax lists, and merchant accounts for her town’.

Inspired by a true story, Lawhon certainly makes sure that the life of Martha Ballard lives on into the 21st century. What an absolutely fascinating tale of (mostly) true events. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully written historical fiction - particularly the main event that is threaded through her diary entries. I was THRILLED to see that at Lawhon’s hands, North was served some justice - that horrible, nasty man - I only wish it had been the case in real life. My heart was in my mouth at the end there!

I absolutely love this depiction of Martha. She’s talented, family-oriented (a fierce mama bear) and someone that isn’t written as a perfect person. She has her flaws - but that is what makes her so likeable. In fact, I love the whole family - Ephraim and Martha make such a realistic but idealistic partnership. I adore his protectiveness of her, whilst he still encourages her to have her own independence. It’s so sad that Cyrus never married, and I would have really liked to find out what happened to Rebecca’s baby in the end.

This journey through the lives of quiet, everyday people felt just as vital as the version of history heard through large voices.

There were a few dips in the flow of this for me, but overall it kept me on my toes and thoroughly immersed me in the small American town and its residents.

Stunning novel, highly recommended!

It wasn’t until I had finished this book that I realised it was based on a real life person. Martha Ballard was a notable midwife in the eighteenth century whose diaries give us a wealth of information about the era. Martha was also involved in the trial of the rape of Rebecca Foster and the issues it raised around the way women were treated my men at the time. Lawhon has produced an excellent murder mystery novel that is enhanced by well researched historical fact.

Thank you to Net Galley and Swift Press for a kindle copy of this book. This novel is set in 1789 and based on the true story of Martha Ballard who delivered over 1000 babies and never lost a mother in childbirth. When a local man James Burgess who had being accused of rape is found dead in the Kennebec river Martha is called upon to examine the body.. Her conclusion upon examination is contradicted by the new ‘modern’ Harvard educated doctor in town. An interesting look at the clash between traditional and modern forms of medicine. Martha is able to read and write and records in her diary daily which is unusual in those times portraying her to be an intelligent woman. The story carries you along life in those times, how the juridical system worked and ultimately Martha’s discovery of the truth about James’ s death. Martha’s character leaps from the pages as a devoted mother, wife, and midwife. A well researched compelling novel. Trigger warning of rape scenes.

The Frozen River begins with a body being dragged from the frozen Kennebec river. Martha Ballard, the local midwife, is asked to inspect the body. The dead man turns out to be a suspect in a serious legal case. There is a lot that happens in this little town and Martha finds herself looking for answers.

This book has a little bit of everything that I like a murder mystery combined with a lot of complex characters and it keeps you guessing.

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction based on true events.

I just loved this slow-burning read. I enjoyed reading about this era on time and how life was, especially for the women. Very enjoyable and well written

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is nothing short of phenomenal. This contained historical mystery had me gripped from beginning to end and though the story was compelling and at times heartbreaking for me the real strength of this story is in the characters, most notably Martha Ballard, the midwife at the heart of the tale and her husband Ephraim. As the author explains her her notes at the end of the book it is inspired by the true story and the diaries of Martha Ballard, a woman who lived in 1700s Maine and was renowned for never having lost a woman in childbirth. Unlike many women of the time she could read and write and kept a diary or day book which was used as a source in the creation of this book. I really appreciated not only the amount of work and research that the author had put into the book, but also her clear explanations of when and why she deviated from the historical facts.
I described this as a contained mystery because not only is it set in a small settlement but it also takes place over a relatively short period of time, spanning just one winter. The book opens with Martha being summoned to examine the body of a man found trapped in the ice of the now frozen over river, and it does not take long for her to realise that the death was not accidental, there is clear evidence that the man was dead before he entered the water. However not everyone in the town agrees with her assessment, most notably the young doctor who has newly arrived and the local judge who may have reasons of his own for wanting a quick verdict of accidental death. It soon emerges that the dead man, along with the judge was implicated in the brutal rape of a local woman and as Martha continues to push for an independent trial she risks not just her reputation but also putting herself and those she loves in danger when her own son is arrested as part of the investigation.
I cannot stress how much I loved this book, I did not want to put it down. I immediately warmed to Martha as a character, who does not love a strong independent woman who uses her knowledge and skills to help her community, but as her story unfolded in a series of flash backs I grew to love her as I learned of the struggles and hardships she had faced . Her relationship with her husband is marriage goals, they are such a wonderfully written couple, it is clear that they have been through much yet the love and joy that they share is just beautiful, and that tenderness is something that we don't see enough of in my opinion. In fact this book is populated by a wealth of excellent secondary characters, even the ones you hate feel incredibly believable. This is absolutely a contender for my book of the year and is one that I will be recommending widely.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Phew, life was tough in Maine in the late 1700s when rivers were frozen solid and winters seemed to last forever. This historical fiction is closely based on facts. The Kennebec river and the towns mentioned do exist and Martha Ballard the midwife healer did keep a diary and was a hugely significant character.
Tough life for the women also , as they all had huge families in and out of marriage and the risk of rape was high and then they were treated like scum if they fell pregnant. It might appear that this was book was heavily promoting a feminist point of view but I never felt I was being brow beaten into certain opinions, rather things were simply being described as they were.
I liked the conflict between the Martha and the Harvard trained doctor who comes to live in the town. She has to withstand much pressure to not bow to the wishes of the “superior” doctor in various areas. Martha certainly was a very feisty lady which is in much contrast to other women in the tale. The men are nearly all rotters.
The book starts off with a body being found in the frozen Kennebec river and it is satisfying as the facts slowly come to light and some of the mysteries are solved at the very end of the book.
In a separate story line cases of rape come to court and there are several different levels of hearings.
So plenty of midwifery, plenty of legal process and plenty of sleuthing make for a very enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Swift Press for the ARC

I know it's only March, but I believe this will be the best book I read this year.

Frozen River is a remarkable historical fiction novel set in the 18th century Maine inspired by the life of a midwife called Martha Ballard. Martha is a well-established 54 year old midwife and a healer in her hometown. She is called to examine a dead man who was found in the local river. He is one of two men who were recently accused of rape of a local woman and it appears that the dead man has been murdered. The local judge, the second of the two men accused of rape, does not believe Martha’s professional judgement and rules that the man died of drowning.

I have not heard of Martha before and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and reading her captivating story. Set mostly in the late 18th century with some flashbacks to younger Martha, this book is very atmospheric and haunting. Martha is married with 6 living children and reading about the love between Martha and her husband Ephraim reminded me a little bit of Jamie and Claire from the Outlander.

This book was a real treat to read and my hope is that the author will consider writing a sequel.

The Frozen River is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read.

Based on the life of Martha Ballard, a midwife in Maine in the late-1700’s, all I knew about the book beforehand was that a midwife is called to examine the body of a possibly murdered man found in the frozen river and it turns out that that same man had been accused of raping a local woman. Soon the novel evolved into so much more than just a murder mystery or a historical fiction novel - this is a story about the cruelty of man, about the choices you get to make and the choices you don’t have because other people make the decisions for you, and about standing up for what you know to be right but also realizing that sometimes things don’t turn out for the best no matter how hard you try. And in the heart of it all is the story of a wise and strong woman and the love of a good man.

I absolutely loved everything about this heartbreaking, tender and captivating novel.

“… these markings of ink and paper will one day be the only proof that I have existed in this world. That I lived and breathed. That I loved a man and the many children he gave me. It is not that I want to be remembered, per se. I have done nothing remarkable. Not by the standards of history, at least. But I am here.”

This is an excellent read! Ariel Lawhon takes the bones of history and fleshes them out beautifully into the story of a woman who is a wife, mother, midwife and healer in a harsh winter in 18th Century east coast America. Strong and principled, Martha loves her husband and children and is well-regarded by the community. When a young woman is raped and a body is discovered, Martha is thrust into the centre of a puzzle. I loved the style of writing and the cast of characters that Ariel Lawhon has assembled. One of my top books of 2025.

This captivating book, based on a real person has an odd feeling of everything happening and nothing happening simultaneously. I was drawn to read it due to the setting in Snowy Maine, and because of the profession of Martha. From the very beginning, I felt a sense of calmness that the prose bestowed, I loved that Martha felt strong and capable. I hadn't heard of her before but am so glad that the author has chosen to speak about this remarkable lady and give a voice to just one of many women who have been underestimated and forgotten throughout history because of their gender. The story unfolds very slowly, but because of this, the reader is able to fully immerse in the setting and the characters. A big recommend for anyone interested in past times healthcare and the role of women., or just looking for a really good story.

I first heard of this novel when it was published in the US last year and added it to my TBR list, partly because it ticked the 'set in Winter' prompt for the 52 books reading challenge. I did recently come across some less positive reviews, mostly based around the historical accuracy of the novel, however, perhaps because I knew going in to reading it that the novel is based on actual historical events, this was one of the reasons I loved the book so much!

The Frozen River is the story of a community in Maine in the late 18th century, somewhat cut off due to the frozen river and in turmoil following a rape and then murder. But it's really the story of Martha Ballard, local midwife, who finds herself at the centre of both legal cases whilst continuing to deliver babies and care for her own family. I found Martha's story engrossing and inspriring, and whilst I did wonder about historical accuracy in places, it didn't jar with me the way it seems to have done for other readers. Then I read Lawhon's author's notes and was even more interested and impressed by both Martha Ballard and Lawhon's writing. She is clear about the parts of the story she made up and which parts (the majority) are based on Martha's own diaries and other historical records.

Ariel Lawhon transported me to 18th century New England and I loved how vividly descriptive her writing is in this novel. She conveys clearly the cold of that winter of 1789 and the pain of childbirth as well as creating characters who felt completely believable. I love historical fiction where I learn something and this taught me a lot about life at the time. Life was tough out in small towns that were still growing and especially so for women. Martha was privileged to a certain extent because of her status as midwife but other women seemed to have almost no legal rights whatsoever.
Martha is a brilliant character. She is a woman who is secure in her position and is lucky enough to be married to a man who values and loves her. She is determined to do the best for the women that she treats as well as discovering the truth about the murder. Her husband taught her to read and write which is very unusual for the time and she uses that skill to keep a daily journal of all the things that she does. This journal actually exists and has provided the inspiration for the author to write this story.
I really enjoyed reading the author’s notes at the end of the book where she explains how the story grew out of Martha’s journal and which parts were historical facts and which were fiction. To me, The Frozen River is historical fiction at its best where an author combines historical information with their creative skills as an author to produce a book that can transport a reader to another place and time.
This was an excellent read and I am very grateful to Net Galley and the publishers, Swift Press, for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thoroughly enjoyed this historical novel based on the true story of Martha Ballard, a midwife in the 1700s. It's part biographical and part murder mystery. Although it's quite a long book it kept me hooked to the end.

When a body is found trapped in the ice of the Kennebec River, Martha Ballard is called in to determine the cause of his death. As the town's matron, this isn't the first time. The man lying lifeless on the table was accused months earlier of brutally raping the minister's wife. And his death was no accident. The journals Martha keeps could be the key to solving the crime. Throughout the winter, Martha will unravel the truth about what happened that night, making powerful enemies along the way, while continuing to care for the women of Hallowell. The narrative occasionally goes back in time to unravel the story of love and loss between Martha and Ephraim, her husband (and one of my favorite characters in the novel). It's a gripping story that grips you from the first page, impossible to put down. Although there's no time travel or anything like that, I think Outlander fans will enjoy it because Martha and Claire share many traits: strong women knowledgeable in natural remedies, completely dedicated to their patients, and with a forward-thinking mindset for their time. The protagonist, Martha Ballard, actually existed, and through her diaries, she documented her daily life as a midwife in the late 18th century. I hope to get my hands on one of her biographies, because I've been fascinated by them.

Absolutely beautifully written, I am in awe at how the author managed to make imagine the 1700s world so well. It is quite a triggering book but I did read that it is based on true story, a true story that is harrowing but has definitely been done justice through this book!