The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon on December 5, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Historical / General, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths, Fiction / Women
Pages: 448
Format: Hardcover
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The Frozen River is a historical fiction that you don’t want to miss! This is based on a true story and I love it when the Author’s note is also so interesting and informative.
This one is based on the true story of Martha Ballard. This takes place in Maine is 1789. Martha is called to examine a body found in the ice. Was he murdered? Martha thinks so. She is a midwife so she gets called in to help with all kinds of cases. Only now they have a Harvard doctor in town and his story contradicts what Martha says.
Martha is infamous for keeping a daily journal with various facts of all the townspeople so she knows everyone’s business. She especially notates all the births and deaths in town and she knows who is who’s father. During one of her visits, she took down the story of a rape that occurred. So she is called to testify on behalf of the victim due to her detailed notes. One thing to note: she can’t testify without her husband present. The local judge is one of the men accused of the rape along with the man found in the ice. Is all this connected?
Over the course of the winter, and the time that the river is frozen, the trial is going on and lives will change. Her diary is proof and in the center of the scandal. At one point, her son is accused of murder. The judge isn’t going down without a fight. The tension in this one had me at the edge of my seat at times. I was always worried for Martha’s welfare.
This is definitely a 5 star read that is important to read. The further I read, the more anxious I got and the faster I read. This is full of drama and the characters are amazing. Martha is so strong & brave. What a great story!