“The best stories always end up being about the people rather than the event.” —Stephen King
Although I’m not a big horror girl, I am a fan of Annie Wilkes’ brainchild. He knows plenty about the best stories. I couldn’t agree more with The King of Horror on character-driven narratives. Take Theo of Golden, for example—the self-published, word-of-mouth phenom is remarkable largely because Theo is remarkable. Theo is the sun around which the story’s solar system revolves. The same holds true for Ariel Lawhon’s latest historical novel, The Frozen River. Martha Ballard is the polestar, the guiding light through Lawhon’s captivating pages.
Martha Ballard is a real-life protagonist. Born in Oxford, Maine, in 1735, Martha became a lighthouse for future midwives and healers. Despite not having any formal medical training, she delivered 800 babies that we know of and never lost a mother. Not one. Midwifery in the 18th century was a tough row to hoe, but Martha was a cool-headed pioneer. Her survival rate shines, even amid today’s rates. Because Martha was a faithful journal writer, Harvard historian and Pulitzer Prize winner Laurel Thatcher Ulrich was able to “transform what most considered ‘trivia’ into a groundbreaking micro-history” surrounding this ordinary-not-so-ordinary woman. No doubt Martha was the inspiration for Ulrich’s famous statement: “Well-behaved women seldom make history.”
Lawhon, a meticulous researcher and emotionally compelling writer, made sure we all feel doubly blessed and doubly fortunate by offering readers a “gripping blend of 18th century historical detail, intense murder mystery, and [a] compelling true-life story.” Bringing forgotten, sometimes misunderstood, women to light is her specialty. Who doesn’t want to learn about a quiet, strong, unsung heroine? Martha Ballard is an inspiration. If you’re still wondering whether this book is for you, consider this: “Atmospheric, unique and elegantly written, The Frozen River will satisfy mystery lovers and historical fiction enthusiasts alike.”