The Frozen River: A GMA Book Club Pick: A Novel by Ariel Lawhon

The Frozen River is a New York Times bestseller and GMA Book Club Pick that resurrects the remarkable true story of Martha Ballard — an 18th-century Maine midwife whose real diary becomes the engine of a taut historical mystery set against the frozen landscape of 1789 Hallowell. Ariel Lawhon, the bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène, constructs a narrative in which a body entombed in the Kennebec River, an alleged rape by two prominent townsmen, and a community's determination to silence a woman's testimony all converge in one relentless winter. Starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, Shelf Awareness, and BookPage confirm the novel as a standout in both the historical fiction and historical mystery genres.

Reviewed Apr 2, 2026