The Frozen River
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is a historical fiction novel published by Swift Press in October 2025. This edition spans 448 pages and is presented in English. The narrative centers on Martha Ballard, a midwife in 1789 Maine, who becomes embroiled in a murder investigation following the discovery of a man frozen in the Kennebec River. As she documents her experiences in her diary, Martha navigates the complexities of her community, revealing secrets and confronting societal prejudices while striving for justice.
Readers will find a compelling exploration of Martha’s dual role as a caregiver and investigator, as she challenges the local physician’s conclusions about the death. The story delves into themes of resilience and justice, highlighting the struggles of women in a time when their voices were often marginalized. The Frozen River offers a layered narrative that intertwines personal and communal histories, inviting readers to engage with the intricacies of Martha’s life and the legacy she leaves behind.
Official synopsis Publisher
THE CAPTIVATING BESTSELLER BASED ON THE TRUE STORY OF HEROIC MIDWIFE MARTHA BALLARD
In the cold of night, she tends to the women.
In the light of day, she delivers them justice.
‘Thrilling’ Irish Times
‘Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine’ People Magazine
‘The narrator of Ariel Lawhon’s The Frozen River is another stalwart heroine’ The New York Times
‘Historical fiction at its best!’ 5 Star Reader Review
‘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’
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.
Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.
Inspired by the life of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into history.
For fans of OUTLANDER and WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING
Readers love Ariel Lawhon
‘The HYPE IS REAL … 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’
‘I give this book ALL THE STARS … One of the BEST HISTORICAL FICTION THRILLER BOOKS that I’ve read’
‘Extremely ABSORBING and enjoyable read’
‘RIVETING … I would thoroughly recommend it to any historical fiction lovers, or those who enjoy stories based around strong women’
‘This story is so POWERFUL, and it’s astonishing how relevant Martha’s FIGHT FOR JUSTICE still feels today … If you’re looking for a rich, layered story about justice, resilience, and a woman who refused to be silenced, The Frozen River is A MUST-READ’
‘Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction with STRONG FEMALE LEADS, intricate plotting, and a BEATING HEART OF JUSTICE. A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN, quietly fierce book that will stay with you long after the final page’
‘Its SECRETS kept me UTTERLY HOOKED’
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