The Frozen River
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The Frozen River
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Narrated by:
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Jane Oppenheimer
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Ariel Lawhon
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By:
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Ariel Lawhon
About this listen
From the bestselling author of Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who investigates a shocking murder that unhinges her small community.
Maine, 1789: When a man is found entombed in the frozen Kennebec River, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death.
As the local midwife and healer, Martha is good at keeping secrets. Her diary is a record of every birth, death and debacle that unfolds in the town of Hallowell. In that diary she has also documented the details of an alleged rape committed by one of the town’s most esteemed gentlemen – the same man who has now been found dead in the ice.
While certain townspeople are eager to put both matters to rest, Martha suspects that the two crimes are linked, and that there is more to both cases than meets the eye. Over the course of one long, hard winter, whispers and prejudices mount, and Martha’s diary lands at the centre of the scandal, threatening to tear both her family and her community apart.
The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense and tender story of an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice on behalf of those no one else would protect.
‘A gripping mystery, a touching love story, and a fascinating account of the life and times of women … Brilliantly atmospheric, with characters who leap off the page, a beautifully rendered landscape and an icy tension that pulls you through each chapter.’
Hannah Richell, bestselling author of The Search Party
'The Frozen River is so vivid, so textured and multi-layered that I felt I'd opened a door and entered post-revolutionary America ... This novel was unlike anything I'd read before, and it left me awe-struck.'
Lauren Belfer, New York Times bestselling author
Critic Reviews
What listeners say about The Frozen River
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 11-11-2024
Martha’s character is well written
Somewhat unbelievable characterisation of the protagonist and Efram given the era, but I like to think it was possible even then for a woman to have a voice, and some respect.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 17-02-2025
Riveting story!
Could not stop listening to this story. A great read and very well written and performed.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 25-07-2024
The way the book was written was different than other books and my first Audiobook.
I like the way the story teller adapts to the story and becomes the different people in the story. The story become more and more engulfing and engaging as it went along. And I liked the descriptive language and the “looking” back in the story.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jules
- 13-08-2024
Great insight to an important woman
Very enjoyable piece of historical fiction. Beautifully written. Great gift for any midwives in your life!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lib
- 22-02-2025
Enjoyable historical fiction
Great narrator. Based on a true story of a remarkable woman set in late 1700s USA. Mystery, intrigue and the beauty of life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 16-04-2024
Highly recommended
Thoroughly enjoyed this. I selected this title as it was a book club book this month and I just could not stop listening as I went about daily life at home. I was completely invested in Martha ballards character and will now turn my attention to the midwife’s take.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 05-07-2024
Herstory not history.
It was fascinating, hearing how the lives were entwined, communities vulnerable to the seasons, the power struggles between gender.
A great storyline based on fact made it the more insightful.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jenny
- 11-07-2024
Great storytelling
The first Ariel Lawhon book I’ve read. I was completely immersed in the story and was surprised to discover it was based on a real person (I missed the ‘inspired by a true story’ on the cover). 100% recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Karen Jackisch
- 06-09-2024
Excellent book!
From beginning to end I enjoyed this book. The fact that it was based on a true story got my attention first. Martha was an amazing woman for her time and I feel that Ariel has portrayed both her and her story exceptionally well. I would definitely recommend this book, particularly to those interested in historical fiction.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Whitworthmob
- 22-08-2024
Absolutely wonderful
I'm not generally a fan of historical fiction but listened to this for my book club and I loved it. Fantastic narration and wonderful story, few tears while reading but loved this book.
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1 person found this helpful