The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (2023 fiction)

On the surface, this is a murder mystery, but it is much more than that. Based on the life of midwife and healer Martha Ballard, the story opens with the discovery of a body in the near-frozen Kennebec River, territory of Maine, in the late 1700’s. As one of her duties, Mrs. Ballard is called to give an opinion on the cause of death, which she deems to be murder. But this is a much more complicated tale than seeking out a murderer. As the book unfolds, many interconnected subplots come to bear: a rape, attempted theft of property, relationships, births, and deaths. This well-written, well-researched novel is a wonderful cross-section of life, people, and the laws in effect at the time. The characters are real and warm; you like the ones you are supposed to like, and you don’t like the villains. At the center of all of this are the frozen Kennebec River, a character in itself, and a silver vixen who reappears at appropriate moments throughout the story. This is a captivating read, and I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Ginger Russell