What readers think of The Frozen River, plus links to write your own review.

This book is definitely going on my favorite of all time's list. I could not spend enough time with this engrossing story of a midwife, Martha Ballard, in 1789 who, as a vital person in her Maine community, finds herself involved in what she perceives as a murder while a younger, male, Harvard grad, physician disagrees with her determination.

As if this story line isn't enough, Lawhon includes Ballard's family is among the well-developed characters. Her relationship with her husband is full of mutual respect and consideration.

I had just a little trouble keeping track of other citizens, but usually was able to be reminded within a few paragraphs (thanks to Lawhon's mastery) exactly who had just re-entered the story.

This is an excellent story based on of a real life midwife in the 1700s.It is historical fiction, murder mystery, and a love story wrapped into one, and a fascinating book that you can't stop reading!

This is historical mystery focused on the life of a real midwife in post revolutionary America. While respected by women, a midwife was not respected by the medical community in early America and although she has the role of giving testimony on mortalities, when she gives her opinion that a recent death is a murder she conflicts with the powers that want to rule an accidental drowning. I loved the setting of this book- in Maine's winter- and the writer makes you feel "chilled' at every turn. The mystery of the death unfolds among side stories of other discriminations against women and powerful men controlling the community. Evil lurks, but our heroine will not give up on her quest for the truth! If you enjoyed books like Lady Tan's Circle of Women you will enjoy seeing the role of a courageous midwife in early America.

This story masterfully weaves together themes of life and death in a harsh, unforgiving environment. The vivid and chilling imagery of the frozen Kennebec River, where a dead man drifts under the ice, sets a dark, mysterious tone that grips the reader. The transition to a childbirth scene is stark yet thematically resonant, contrasting the harshness of death with the raw power of new life. The descriptions are rich and immersive, drawing the reader into both the physical and emotional landscapes of the characters. The story's strength lies in its atmospheric writing and the powerful juxtaposition of life's fragility against nature's indifference.