The Frozen River: A GMA Book Club Pick: A Novel

Waoooooo.....i just want to say it here this book once picked can not be put down.The way it caught me about the problems the women faced from those times upto today ...the emotions and audacity of men of not changing everrrr ...to always belittle women and judge them and yet this women patience and courage to do her work diligently and with heart is something that is to be respectable and admired. ITS AN EXCELLENT READ!!!

The story has a lot of suspense and an undercurrent of feminism that makes it even more compelling read. Recommending

I picked this one up purely because the blurb caught my eye - and wow, what a story. You all know I love strong heroines, but a 𝐛𝐚𝐝a**, 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞-𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬? That’s something else entirely. It takes a different kind of courage, strength and conviction to stand up for your beliefs in a world that constantly tried to silence women.🫶 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐝, a 54-year-old midwife, absolutely stole my heart. I’ve read plenty of fierce heroines, but she’s different. She’s strength, wisdom and grace all rolled into one. The world-building, the narration, the tone - everything was so vivid and mesmerizing. And the characters? Remarkable. Martha, her husband 𝐄𝐩𝐡𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐦, Dr. Page, Barnabas - each one felt alive, layered, and real. And speaking of Ephraim - what an incredible man! If you’re looking for the true definition of “made for each other,” you’ll find it here. The way he understood Martha, stood by her, and quietly supported her was pure magic. ✨ Historical fiction. Mystery. Courtroom drama. Justice. A powerful woman at the center of it all - this book had everything.♥️ From the moment I stepped into the town of Hallowell, Maine, I was completely lost in its world. I wasn’t just reading about Martha - I was Martha. I lived her strength, her compassion, her unshakable sense of right and wrong. I felt her husband’s love, the closeness of her family, and the respect she commanded within her community. Amidst the mystery and the weight of patriarchy, Martha’s resilience and voice shone so powerfully that it left me in awe.🩷 I could honestly go on and on about this book. Just do yourself a favor and pick it up - you won’t regret it.🩷

Book Review—The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon Ariel Lawhon’s The Frozen River is an absorbing blend of historical fiction, mystery, and feminist resilience, inspired by the real-life 18th-century midwife Martha Ballard. Set in the harsh winter of Maine in 1789, the novel begins with a chilling discovery: the body of a respected local man trapped in the frozen Kennebec River. Martha, known for her skills as both a midwife and healer, is called to examine the body. What follows is not just an investigation into his death but a fearless pursuit of justice that pits her against the entrenched power and prejudice of her time. Lawhon crafts Martha as a complex, unflinching heroine—compassionate in her care for women, yet relentless when confronting lies and corruption. The diary entries she keeps, which record births, deaths, and crimes in meticulous detail, become the key to unraveling both the murder and a prior, horrifying assault. The stakes rise when her own words threaten to implicate people she loved. The writing is atmospheric, immersing the reader in the frigid, claustrophobic setting of a small New England town. Themes of justice, loyalty, and women’s voices in a male-dominated society resonate powerfully, making the story feel startlingly relevant despite its historical setting. The pace balances the slow-burn depth of character study with the tautness of a courtroom drama. Fans of Outlander or Where the Crawdads Sing will find the same blend of rich historical detail and emotional intensity here. More than just a murder mystery, The Frozen River is a testament to one woman’s determination to write herself into history and refuse silence. Verdict: A gripping, layered, and thought-provoking novel—perfect for readers who love historical fiction anchored by a strong female lead and a tightly woven mystery.

Seemed fake

I love historical fiction, from an educational viewpoint as well as enjoyment of the actual story. Ariel Lawhon’s book, as she herself states in the author notes at the end of the book, was inspired by, as opposed to based on, Martha Ballard ‘a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into history’ and is therefore not completely factual. Martha Ballard kept a comprehensive daily diary for several decades (it can be found online but looks very difficult to decipher.) The author also states that a Pulitzer Prize winning account of Martha Ballard’s life, taken from her diaries, is available entitled ‘A Midwife’s Tale.’ However, Ariel Lawhon’s storytelling is evocative and I was drawn into the story immediately. The story begins as Martha is called to examine a body that was found in the icy river Kennebec. She is a well known midwife and healer in the vicinity and records each birth and death in the village of Hallowell, where she lives. The dead man is one of two well thought of locals who were accused of raping and assaulting the local minister’s wife earlier in the year. Martha determines Joshua Burgess, the man in the river, had been murdered. She has opposition in the form of Dr Benjamin Page. He undermines her decision regarding the cause of the man’s death and, further into the story, also calls into question her methods of midwifery. Because he was Harvard educated and Martha was a mere woman, he considered himself far superior, even though Martha had delivered hundreds of babies and had never lost a mother in childbirth. Women in the 18th century were rarely, if ever, believed regarding allegations of rape and Martha was determined to advocate for Rebecca Foster. A trial date is set. Martha refused, as much as possible, to be constrained by the conditions of the time and stood strong in her beliefs. Ariel Lawhon’s characters are fully and naturally realised, along with their experiences, whether it was the unrelenting winter or personal struggles hampered by the rulings and/or behaviour of men. The Frozen River is a fascinating, thought provoking and insightful read which can also be classed as a murder mystery. This is the first time I’ve listened to a book narrated by Jane Oppenheimer, I thought she did a great job, giving distinct voices to the cast of characters. It’s also my first book by this author, I’ll definitely be reading more of her books.

Just finished this exciting title (Ariel Lawhon: The Frozen River) inspired by Martha Ballard, 18th century midwife’s diary that turned out to be an amazingly plotted thriller while retaining authentic picture of America just after the Revolutionary War. I was amazed how the author carefully withdrew information and gave the reader in surprising doses all the backstory, one chunk of a time. The language is beautiful, the characters are perfectly crafted and you can’t wait to turn the pages. Reviewers say it’s two long (over 600 pages in my edition) but I was never bored, just the opposite. Immerse yourself in Maine’s freezing winter, follow the mysteries around a dead body, discover how a midwife knew more about women than doctors of the time. There is a lot to learn about the subordinate position of women of the time and how they were fined when raped (!) while the male perpetrator walked away in numerous cases with impunity. But it’s not only about the dark side of the age. Love, honesty and integrity is a main topic of the story, even when law or “justice” may not be on your side. Highly recommended to lovers of rich historical fiction with mystery elements - 5* from me!

Fabulous book, the ending did not disappoint. A great read.

Perfectly well delivered! - paperback cover A solid 4.5 stars from me! And honestly, I can’t even pinpoint exactly why—it’s just that good. For starters, the book is incredibly easy to read. Although it’s historical fiction, it doesn’t get bogged down with excessive historical data or events. Instead, the author keeps the focus on the story, making it all the more engaging. That said, the historical backdrop is still well-explored, offering an insightful look into 18th-century American life without feeling like a history lesson. What I loved most was how the novel highlights the experiences of women from this era—bringing visibility to voices often overlooked in history. Ariel does this masterfully, presenting their stories in a way that feels natural and authentic, without glorifying or diminishing their struggles. And then there’s the mystery! In fact, this book could just as easily be classified as a thriller rather than strictly historical fiction. The suspense kept me hooked from start to finish, making it an even more compelling read!

That was quite a read! This is my first book by Ariel Lawhon and I loved it! Martha Ballard was an extraordinary woman! The ending of the book makes me chuckle and Colonel North gets what he deserves! Well written, as well as, well researched. I would highly recommend this book if you like historical fiction. I gave it a 5 star rating.