The Frozen River

From the bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping new historical mystery that’s impossible to put down. Inspired by the real-life diary of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife who boldly challenged the legal system, The Frozen River takes you deep into a world where secrets run as cold as the Maine winter.

Picture this: It’s 1789, and the Kennebec River has frozen solid. When a man is found trapped in the ice, Martha Ballard is called upon to examine the body and uncover the truth behind his death. As a midwife and healer, Martha knows the town’s hidden stories better than anyone. Her diary isn’t just a record of births and deaths—it’s a window into the whispered scandals and quiet struggles of a close-knit community.

Months before the frozen body surfaces, Martha had already recorded a disturbing event: an alleged rape involving two of the town’s most respected men. Now, with one of those men dead, suspicion and tension rise. But when the local physician dismisses Martha’s findings and calls the death an accident, she refuses to back down. Alone and determined, Martha begins her own investigation, facing prejudice and danger as the trial draws near.

What’s truly captivating is how Martha’s diary becomes a flashpoint, dragging everyone she cares about into the scandal and forcing her to confront where her loyalties really lie. It’s a story about courage, justice, and a woman who refused to be silenced in a time when women were expected to stay quiet.

The Frozen River is clever, layered, and utterly compelling—a perfect read for anyone who loves strong, real-life heroines and historical mysteries that keep you guessing. If you’re a fan of Outlander’s Claire Fraser, you’ll find a new heroine to root for in Martha Ballard. Ariel Lawhon has once again worked storytelling magic, bringing to life a remarkable woman whose legacy deserves to be remembered.