The Frozen River: A Novel

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GMA BOOK CLUB PICK • AN NPR BOOK OF THE YEAR • From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.

"Fans of Outlander’s Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon’s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent. . . impressive."—The Washington Post

"Once again, Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine." —People Magazine

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.

Ariel Lawhon is an award-winning, critically acclaimed, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. She is the author of THE WIFE THE MAID AND THE MISTRESS, FLIGHT OF DREAMS, I WAS ANASTASIA, CODE NAME HELENE, and THE FROZEN RIVER. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have been Good Morning America, Library Reads, Indie Next, One Book One County, Amazon Spotlight, Costco, and Book of the Month Club selections. She lives in the rolling hills outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and four sons. Ariel splits her time between the grocery store and the baseball field.

An NPR Best Book of 2023

“The narrator of Ariel Lawhon’s The Frozen River is another stalwart heroine. . .detailed descriptions of the routines of village life give this narrative its intimate sense of connection — and set [the narrator] up for a pivotal confrontation.” --The New York Times Book Review

"Fans of 'Outlander’s' Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon’s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent. . . impressive." --The Washington Post

“Compelling . . .a most uncozy mystery that addresses the unbalanced power dynamics of men and women, rich and poor.” --NPR, Weekend Edition

“Martha Ballard is not just a Maine midwife who’s never lost a patient. She’s also a truth speaker and a justice seeker in an era when women can’t even testify in court. . .Once again, Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine.” --People Magazine, Book of the Week

“[Lawhon’s] gripping tale…feels like an authentic foray into the past and her wonderful heroine rings true. Indeed, Martha is so vividly rendered that it is hard not to become absorbed in her narrative and emotionally invested in her life. . . Martha’s journal entries flesh out further this tough, brave and resourceful woman. Her valiant fight against the evil that men do makes for a winning blend of fact and fiction.” --Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Part murder mystery, part historical fiction . . . this novel has a gothic, wintry feel that makes it an ideal fireside read.” --Real Simple

"A richly satisfying drama . . . A vivid, exciting page-turner from one of our most interesting authors of historical fiction.” --Kirkus, starred review

“Outstanding. . . Martha is an extraordinary character. . . Lawhon's first-rate tale should entrance readers passionate about early America and women’s history.” --Booklist, starred review

“Atmospheric, unique and elegantly written, The Frozen River will satisfy mystery lovers and historical fiction enthusiasts alike.” --BookPage, starred review

“Gripping. . . Examines the ripple effects of a crime in a small community—and paints a striking portrait of a woman devoted to healing and justice. . . Lawhon draws on the real Martha Ballard’s diary to construct her narrative, which contains a number of breathless twists and a large cast of hardscrabble characters. . . Lawhon’s novel is a riveting story of small-town justice and a fitting tribute to a quiet, determined heroine.” --Shelf Awareness, starred review

"A propulsive historical thriller with a contemporary sensibility." --Portland Press Herald

"The stirring story of one woman’s quest for justice. . . Lawhon combines modern prose with the immediacy of her source material, making for an accessible and textured narrative. This accomplished historical powerfully speaks to centuries-old inequities that remain in the present day." --Publishers Weekly

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is a gripping historical novel centered on the real-life midwife Martha Ballard in the winter of 1789 in Hallowell, Maine. When a man’s body is discovered frozen in the Kennebec River, Martha is summoned to examine it and determine the cause of death. She quickly identifies the victim as Joshua Burgess and concludes that he was murdered, likely by hanging, based on the marks on his neck and other physical evidence. Burgess had recently been named as one of two men who allegedly raped Rebecca Foster, the local parson’s wife, several months earlier. The other accused man is Joseph North, a powerful colonel and judge in the community. Martha’s findings put her at odds with the town’s new Harvard-educated physician, Dr. Page, who insists the death was an accident and dismisses her expertise.

Martha keeps a meticulous diary of her work as a midwife, recording every birth, death, and notable event in the close-knit town. This diary becomes crucial evidence as the story unfolds, because Martha had already documented details of Rebecca Foster’s rape and the injuries she observed shortly afterward. Rebecca’s accusation against Burgess and North threatens the reputations of two respected men, and when Burgess turns up dead, suspicions multiply. Martha feels a deep sense of responsibility to support Rebecca and see justice served, especially since the laws of the time make it extremely difficult for a woman to prove rape without strong corroboration. As the investigation proceeds, Martha’s diary is called into court, and her testimony places her in direct conflict with the powerful men who control the local justice system.

The novel explores the daily realities of life in late eighteenth-century Maine through Martha’s eyes. She delivers babies in all kinds of weather, often traveling on foot or by sled, and she witnesses the fragility of life in an era when many infants and mothers do not survive childbirth. Her own family is large and complicated. Her husband Ephraim is a surveyor and mill owner who supports her work, but he is frequently away on jobs. Their children include a mute son named Cyrus who becomes entangled in the murder investigation, and daughters who help run the household. Martha’s diary also reveals painful flashbacks to her own past, including a rape she endured years earlier and the way Ephraim helped her rebuild her life afterward. These personal memories deepen her empathy for Rebecca and fuel her determination to uncover the truth.

As the winter drags on, tensions rise in Hallowell. Dr. Page undermines Martha’s midwifery practice and challenges her medical conclusions at every turn. Rebecca Foster faces accusations of fornication and slander, and her housekeeper overhears a private conversation that leads to further legal trouble for the Foster family. Martha must navigate court appearances, community gossip, and threats from those who want the murder and rape cases quietly forgotten. She continues delivering babies even as she pieces together clues about who might have killed Burgess and why. The investigation reveals layers of corruption, old grudges, and the ways powerful men protect one another in a society that often silences women.

The story builds toward a dramatic confrontation that forces Martha to defend herself and her family in unexpected ways. Throughout the novel, Lawhon captures the harsh beauty of a frozen Maine winter and the quiet strength of a woman who refuses to back down when justice is at stake. Martha’s diary serves as both a record of events and a testament to her resilience, showing how one woman’s careful observations can challenge the official version of the truth. By the end, the reader sees how Martha’s persistence affects not only the outcome of the trials but also the lives of those around her, including her children and the women she serves as a midwife.

The Frozen River blends historical detail with suspenseful storytelling, bringing to life a real woman whose diary survived to tell part of the story. Lawhon fills in the gaps with vivid scenes of childbirth, courtrooms, and family life, creating a portrait of a community under strain. The novel highlights the limited options available to women in 1789 while celebrating Martha’s intelligence, courage, and compassion. It is a story about truth, loyalty, and the long reach of the past, told through the eyes of a midwife who sees more than most people in her town are willing to acknowledge.