The Frozen RiverThe Frozen River
What it's about
Maine, 1789. When a man's body is found frozen in the Kennebec River, the midwife Martha Ballard is called to examine it. She already knows something about him: months earlier she recorded a woman's account of being raped by two of the town's respected men, and this is one of them. When the town's doctor contradicts her findings, Martha refuses to back down, using the diary she keeps of every birth, death and scandal in Hallowell, even as it puts her family at risk.
Why it's worth reading
It spent more than thirty weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's a rich historical mystery with a heroine who is warm, stubborn and real.
You'll love it if you liked
A Midwife's Tale
The Women
The Four WindsGood to know
Martha Ballard was real, and her diary survives. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich's Pulitzer-winning A Midwife's Tale is the nonfiction account of it. The novel deals with rape and its aftermath.
By the numbers
- Readers91 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller66 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz36 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #15 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #23 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #38 of the 481 new books we rank
- #214 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Moving
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Quick answers
Is The Frozen River worth reading?
Yes. It spent more than thirty weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #214 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 83.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Frozen River about?
Maine, 1789. When a man's body is found frozen in the Kennebec River, the midwife Martha Ballard is called to examine it. She already knows something about him: months earlier she recorded a woman's account of being raped by two of the town's respected men, and this is one of them. When the town's doctor contradicts her findings, Martha refuses to back down, using the diary she keeps of every birth, death and scandal in Hallowell, even as it puts her family at risk.
How long does it take to read The Frozen River?
About 11 hours (432 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Frozen River?
If you liked it, try A Midwife's Tale by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, The Women by Kristin Hannah or The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah.