Super Short Summary

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is a 2023 historical fiction thriller set in 18th-century Maine, centering on Martha Ballard, a midwife who uses her professional standing to investigate a murder and a rape involving prominent town members. Leveraging her medical expertise, Martha uncovers evidence that challenges the prevailing power dynamics and faces threats to her family and herself. The novel explores themes such as Puritan shame culture, gender oppression, the courtroom as a theatrical spectacle, and familial loyalty in the face of suspicion. The book includes discussions of rape, sexual assault, murder, historical execution practices, pregnancy loss, child loss, and descriptions of racism.