Doubleday Books
The Frozen River: A GMA Book Club Pick
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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.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9780385546874
EAN:
9780385546874
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
448
Authors:
Ariel Lawhon
Publisher:
Doubleday Books
Published Date: 2023-05-12
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This is a great and wonderful booK. I loved the rare mix of medicine, mystery, and bravery in an intelligent woman.
I picked up this book to enjoy on a 10-day vacation, and read it entirely on Day 1. Could. Not. Put. It. Down.
This story is told by the main character, Martha Ballard, a midwife in Maine in 1789. She is a remarkable woman and I am amazed to hear this story is inspired by the life of a real woman of the same name. She tells it in a very matter of fact way and recounts 6 months in her life and the lives of the people in her town. I found it very nuanced and was completely engrossed in their story. Highly recommend it.
Fast delivery. Just finished reading and loved the book.A bit of fiction and non fiction. nice writing style with life lessons of non judgement and kindness. I plan to read more of this writer's books.
This book takes the reader back to life in colonial America but for once you get to see things from a woman's perspective. And the woman is a real midwife and the story is very closely based on her daily diary that she kept for 27 years. The writing is clear and the the main character's voice is convincing and authentic. Enjoyed it very much.
