Happy New Year! About new things…one of the most wonderful things about reading is the discovery of a new author–an author whose backlist you have a desire to read right away!
Ariel Lawhon is a critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction. She first came on my radar when her book Code Name Hélène came out, but I never got around to reading it. The Frozen River is her latest and I will definitely go back and read the others she has written. Her research is thorough and her storytelling well paced and oh so readable. Readers should be aware of sexual assault content that could be triggering for some, but the treatment of the topic is well handled by the author. Even though it took me awhile to get through this book because of life circumstances, it held me captive throughout.
Martha Ballard was a midwife in Maine in the 1700’s. She delivered over a thousand babies in her career and never once lost a mother in childbirth. As a midwife and healer, she was privy to much of what went on behind closed doors in her community. She kept a meticulous daily diary that recorded every birth, death, crime and debacle that unfolded.
Martha documents the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen–one of whom was found dead in the ice. When a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the 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.
I loved Martha’s character and integrity as a professional, in a time when women were disregarded at best, and abused at worst. Her role as loving mother and wife is so wise and reasoned and her family is portrayed so beautifully strong and resilient in troubling times.
This is a gripping historical mystery that brings to life a remarkable American woman who might otherwise have gotten lost in history.
Joanne's Reading Blog 
Great post ✍️