ellieb_reads 's review for:

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

5.0

emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

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I really loved this one. The mystery had me hooked from the very beginning, but I also appreciated the digressions from it. Sometimes with books like these, the characters solve the puzzle unrealistically quickly. This one stretches over months, and it makes additional stories out of the characters’ lives in the interim. I loved Martha (kind of hilarious to me that most of the negative reviews mention not liking her and also say “I’m a feminist but…” LOL). Her challenges as a midwife were fascinating to read about, and I loved her relationship with her husband. The story was emotional and heartbreaking without being graphic about women’s trauma. It was a little longer than was probably necessary, but I couldn’t put it down. An excellent historical fiction inspired by a real woman who cared for other women? Sign me up.