Top Shelf: The Frozen River

Ariel Lawhon's The Frozen River may be one of the best books I'll read in 2025. It's a fictional novel based on the life of Martha Ballard, a midwife in the late 1700s. The novel takes place in Maine in 1789 after a man's body is removed from the Kennebec River.

Martha is a healer, wife and mother and an important member of her close-knit community. She records her days — births, deaths, weather, crimes and daily events in her town. Her intellect and commitment to her community are driving forces to do good. When Martha's documentation of a rape by two well-known men in the community (one who is pulled from the frozen river) thrusts her into the criminal investigation, her ethics and loyalties are challenged.

As her community grapples with the crimes and accusations and the trial looms, Martha's diary becomes an important component in her quest for the truth even when it questions the involvement of those closest to her. These external and internal conflicts drive the story.

I loved Lawhon's writing. Martha is a strong, female character who the reader appreciates, trusts and admires. She is honest, dedicated and fearless. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction novels with a heroine who will stay with you long after you finish the book.