The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon HC

GMA Book Club Pick * New York Times Bestseller

Step into the frozen heart of 1789 Maine, where midwife Martha Ballard stands as the only voice willing to speak truth to power. When the Kennebec River surrenders a body trapped in ice, Martha’s keen eye sees what others refuse to acknowledge: this is no accident—it’s murder. And the victim? One of two prominent men she’d previously accused of a brutal crime against a young woman.

From the author who brought us the spellbinding I Was Anastasia comes a historical mystery that reads like it was ripped from actual diary pages—because it was. Martha Ballard was real. Her meticulous diary was real. And her refusal to be silenced? Absolutely real.

This is historical fiction at its finest: a story where every birth, every death, every whispered secret in Hallowell’s close-knit community becomes evidence in Martha’s determined pursuit of justice. As winter deepens and the trial approaches, she must navigate a treacherous landscape where her own diary becomes a weapon, her loyalties are tested, and speaking up could cost her everything.

Perfect for readers who loved:

• The fierce independence of Claire Fraser in Outlander
• Atmospheric historical mysteries with strong female leads
• True stories of unsung heroines who changed history

Clever, layered, and utterly gripping—this is the story of a woman who wrote herself into American history, one brave entry at a time.

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