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  • The Frozen River: A Novel
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The Frozen River: A Novel Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Ariel Lawhon (Author, Narrator), Jane Oppenheimer (Narrator), Random House Audio (Publisher)
4.5 out of 5 stars 80,094 ratings

鶹

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER GMA BOOK CLUB PICK AN NPR BOOK OF THE YEAR From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.

"Fans of Outlander’s Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon’s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent. . . impressive."—The Washington Post

"Once again, Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine." —People Magazine

Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.

Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.

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  1. Listening Length
    15 hours and 5 minutes
  2. Author
    Ariel Lawhon
  3. Narrator
    Jane Oppenheimer, see all
  4. Audible release date
    Dec 5 2023
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Random House Audio
  7. ASIN
    B0BXK4TYR9
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
Next slide of product details

Product details

Listening Length 15 hours and 5 minutes
Author Ariel Lawhon
Narrator Jane Oppenheimer, Ariel Lawhon
Audible.ca Release Date December 05 2023
Publisher Random House Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0BXK4TYR9
鶹 Rank

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
80,094 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the content wonderful, interesting, and well-written. They also describe the story as rich and interesting, inspired by true events. Readers also appreciate the aesthetics of the book.

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ContentStoryAesthetics
34 customers mention "Content"34 positive0 negative

Customers find the content wonderful, interesting, and well-written. They say the writing and story hold them engaged to the very end. Readers also describe the book as inspiring, realistic, and a mystery.

"...Well written, as well as, well researched. I would highly recommend this book if you like historical fiction. I gave it a 5 star rating." Read more

"...A wonderful read that left me wanting to know more about the life of the incredible Martha Ballard." Read more

"Loved this book. Great writing, wonderful characters…couldn’t put it down. A great blend of history but not overwhelming, of a midwife in the 1700s.." Read more

"great read" Read more

19 customers mention "Story"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the story interesting, well-written, and beautiful. They mention it's inspired by true events and tells of love and family. Readers also mention the 75% of the novel is historically correct.

"It was a very good book, easy to read and interesting." Read more

"...Martha Ballard was an extraordinary woman! The ending of the book makes me chuckle and Colonel North gets what he deserves!..." Read more

"Truly loved this book, so well written with a great story of family love, plus so many interesting characters in this story, kept me on edge written..." Read more

"Interesting character of a 1700s midwife and her place in the small community. Slow going story until the last 20%." Read more

3 customers mention "Aesthetics"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautiful.

"...available so mid wives worked tiredlessly and on call 24/7 Beautiful book" Read more

"It was an interesting, well written and beautiful read and highly recommended it." Read more

"Beautiful and inspiring..." Read more

Top reviews from Canada

  • Kristina Anderson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Historical Fiction Novel
    Reviewed in Canada on July 17, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    That was quite a read! This is my first book by Ariel Lawhon and I loved it! Martha Ballard was an extraordinary woman! The ending of the book makes me chuckle and Colonel North gets what he deserves! Well written, as well as, well researched. I would highly recommend this book if you like historical fiction. I gave it a 5 star rating.
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  • Mary Euler
    4.0 out of 5 stars It's a mystery book
    Reviewed in Canada on February 6, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this for my sister-in-law who is an avid reader
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  • 鶹 Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars If looking for a good mystery well narrated, this is an excellent choice …B
    Reviewed in Canada on June 22, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    From beginning to end ,I didn’t want this story to end!the author wove a very realistic tale of women’s struggles in the 1700,s.Set in small town Maine , many stories of births , deaths ,and power struggles are narrated by a midwife of those times,,,intrigue , rape, murder, love ,strong family relationships captivates the reader throughout ….a fascinating tale ,,! Bev macdougall
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  • Lisa S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Recommend
    Reviewed in Canada on July 26, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed this book.
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  • Elinor Florence
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great book club selection
    Reviewed in Canada on April 23, 2025
    4.5 stars. With a very slender historical source, the 1789 diary of a New England midwife, the author has woven a compelling tale of rape and murder. Her sense of time and place is impeccable, and I was fully engaged with the story and rooting for the main character every step of the way. The novel is also a painful reminder of how women were treated as inferior creatures, in ways that seem staggering to us today. I was particularly interested in the justice system in this new American nation, borrowed from the British, which was flawed but functioning.
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  • claudette veinotte
    5.0 out of 5 stars Tragedy on a frozen river
    Reviewed in Canada on April 13, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Truly loved this book, so well written with a great story of family love, plus so many interesting characters in this story, kept me on edge written in a time when medical doctors were not readily available so mid wives worked tiredlessly and on call 24/7 Beautiful book
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  • Joan Rowe
    3.0 out of 5 stars Frozen River
    Reviewed in Canada on July 23, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting character of a 1700s midwife and her place in the small community. Slow going story until the last 20%.
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  • Brenda
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent read
    Reviewed in Canada on June 26, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    great read
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Donna Allen
    5.0 out of 5 stars One strong woman is the glue that holds this community together.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Great character development. The facts are well intertwined with the fiction. I think many women can relate to Martha Ballard or would want to have her as an advocate. The balance between her hard work and her relationships makes this an easy book to read. Ephraim is a perfect partner.

    I bought this book for a Book Club meeting but was intrigued by the locations. I grew up in a town next to Oxford, Massachusetts and I spend two weeks in the fall near the Kennebec River. Both locations are dear to me, making it even easier to relate to Martha. Although it takes place more than 200 years ago, the human behavior isn't much different. There are mean girls, bigots, power-hungry angry white men in charge and kind-hearted people. The author created a beautiful picture of being in a small village along the frozen river in Maine. Revenge is a powerful tool.
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  • 鶹 Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Truly brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 24, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I have loved this story, a real epic story. I have loved all the characters. It's nice to read about storyvwhere the women are strong and stand up for themselves but retain their femininity. I liked the writing. The author has a lovely way of telling a story so you feel involved. I felt like I was a part of the story. I will certainly read more by this author.
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  • M. Van Den Heuvel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Historical fiction at its best!
    Reviewed in Germany on May 6, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Martha Ballard was a real person. This historical fiction is based on her life as a midwife in 1789 Maine.
    When the river freezes over and a dead man is found trapped under the ice, Martha is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death.
    Martha captures her days in a diary: births, deaths, crime and social happening. She is privy to quite a lot that goes on in the town.
    Months earlier, she noted a rape in her diary by two of the town’s respectable gentlemen, one of which is now being cut outbid the ice.
    Starts the search for who killed him and why.
    Like a diary, the events unfold, places play an as important role as each character. Family life, both Martha’s and that of the townspeople shows the hardship they have to endure, the difference between rich and poor, men and women and how easy it is to twist the truth.
    I could not put this book down. Told from Martha’s point of view it felt very personal, intimate. And although the murder plot moves slowly, it never lacks mystery, and is accompanied by the many parallel and past stories that only make this book feel more real.
    Report
  • LBA_Reads
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book Review - History, Mystery, and Strong Women
    Reviewed in Mexico on February 4, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Perfectly well delivered! - paperback cover

    A solid 4.5 stars from me! And honestly, I can’t even pinpoint exactly why—it’s just that good.

    For starters, the book is incredibly easy to read. Although it’s historical fiction, it doesn’t get bogged down with excessive historical data or events. Instead, the author keeps the focus on the story, making it all the more engaging. That said, the historical backdrop is still well-explored, offering an insightful look into 18th-century American life without feeling like a history lesson.

    What I loved most was how the novel highlights the experiences of women from this era—bringing visibility to voices often overlooked in history. Ariel does this masterfully, presenting their stories in a way that feels natural and authentic, without glorifying or diminishing their struggles.

    And then there’s the mystery! In fact, this book could just as easily be classified as a thriller rather than strictly historical fiction. The suspense kept me hooked from start to finish, making it an even more compelling read!
    Customer image
    LBA_Reads
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Book Review - History, Mystery, and Strong Women

    Reviewed in Mexico on February 4, 2025
    Perfectly well delivered! - paperback cover

    A solid 4.5 stars from me! And honestly, I can’t even pinpoint exactly why—it’s just that good.

    For starters, the book is incredibly easy to read. Although it’s historical fiction, it doesn’t get bogged down with excessive historical data or events. Instead, the author keeps the focus on the story, making it all the more engaging. That said, the historical backdrop is still well-explored, offering an insightful look into 18th-century American life without feeling like a history lesson.

    What I loved most was how the novel highlights the experiences of women from this era—bringing visibility to voices often overlooked in history. Ariel does this masterfully, presenting their stories in a way that feels natural and authentic, without glorifying or diminishing their struggles.

    And then there’s the mystery! In fact, this book could just as easily be classified as a thriller rather than strictly historical fiction. The suspense kept me hooked from start to finish, making it an even more compelling read!
    Images in this review
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  • Linz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Similar to Outlander series
    Reviewed in Australia on July 4, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I loved Martha and her strong character. How brave and clever to be always riding her horse on freezing nights.
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