Will I love The Frozen River?

I thought the author did a wonderful job of recreating the world of 1700s Maine and the character Martha.

I felt like I was THERE at that icy river facing impossible odds but trusting that all would be well in the end. I love a story inspired by real people that sends me to the internet to research and learn more. Plus, an absolutely propulsive story that's expertly written!

This is a layered story based on historical events that is told in a fresh and engaging way. The characters are detailed and very relatable and the murder mystery . . . excellent.

I appreciated the fact that the main character was based on a real person and the main plot line was based on real events. Martha Ballard, the midwife and healer, was a true hero, using her journal notes as evidence to support the victim's claims and speaking up for her in court. Abuse of power and the place of women are just two aspects of this rich and complex novel.

This book was so good. Martha is a real person, and I enjoyed the author's portrayal of this historical figure. I adored Ephraim, her husband. My gosh, he really was something! The author, though she used some phrases that are more contemporary in her writing, immerses the reader into the time period and setting. Very descriptive. Additionally, the characters were all strong and jumped off the page. Finally, the plot was quite gripping. It really happened, and happened much worse than what was detailed in the book, and I was on the edge of my seat hoping that justice was… show more.

Set in 18th century Maine, the book fully convinced me I was there too, and since it was based on the true story of a midwife, I found it even more compelling.

I love The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon because even though it’s fiction, the main character is based on a real midwife who kept a diary of the happenings in a small town in Maine.

During the time in the 19th century when women’s everyday life was a struggle, I found Martha Ballard inspiring as someone who challenged the patriarchal order of the day by searching for the truth behind a murder despite the serious threats to her safety and well-being.

I was fascinated by the vivid details portraying daily life for women in a harsh physical environment constantly hemmed… show more.

“The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawson begins with a birth and a death. It’s 1789 in rural Maine at the start of the coldest winter in memory. Midwife Martha Ballard assists at the disappointing birth of a family’s third daughter: the blacksmith had hoped for a helpful son. Then Martha is called again into the frigid night to examine the body of a murdered man hacked from the frozen Kennebec River. The victim is one of two men accused of raping the village clergyman’s wife; the other is the town’s most powerful figure.
What I love about the book is… show more.

Midwife and healer Martha Ballard is thrust into the middle of a chilling mystery in 1789 Maine: who murdered the villager entombed in ice? She examines the victim and puts forth her theory, but a local physician undermines her conclusions. She is forced to investigate the murder on her own and struggle with her knowledge of a scandal long buried in the village. The Frozen River is a suspenseful read about a courageous woman largely forgotten by history.

So interesting to read about times before the USA was a country. Not a good time to be a woman!