The Frozen River

Maine, 1789: The Kennebec River has frozen, leaving a dead man trapped beneath the ice. When midwife Martha Ballard is called to examine the body, she finds evidence that points to murder. Martha suspects that the dead man might be one of the gang who raped the wife of the town’s minister four months earlier. When she’s undermined by the local physician, Martha undertakes an investigation of her own. Drawing upon information shared with her in her position as a healer, she uncovers a shocking truth, even as suspicion is cast on her own family. Lawhon’s (Code Name Hélène) latest is inspired by the real-life Martha Ballard, drawn from the diary entries and notes she left behind. Narrator Jane Oppenheimer gives a stunning performance as Martha, a determined woman who manages to chart her own course despite the era’s limits on women’s independence. Oppenheimer captures the mood and ambiance of the novel, skillfully giving voice to Martha and the men who try to hide the truth of what happened. Author Lawhon narrates the endnote, adding depth and gravitas as she explains the history behind the novel.