2024 the best books of 2024 review

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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.

Reviewer: Dadannac
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Must Read
Review: This is not the type of book I would ordinarily read, but a couple of outstanding reviews and recommendations convinced me to try it. So glad I did. This is the best book I have read in a long time. It is historical fiction, family and community drama, thriller, mystery, crime drama, feminist manifesto, love story, and a lot more. The writing is superb and the post-Revolutionary War life and details struck me as very well researched and authentic. The narrator and hero Martha Ballard is a literary icon in my opinion—brave, wise, funny, loving, smart, ambitious and, of course, way ahead of her time ( the latter at times seemed a bit over the top, but I loved the book too much to quibble,). Ariel Lawhon has woven together a great story with memorable characters

Reviewer: SKJ
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: enjoyed this, especially the time period
Review: I thought this was well written and presented interesting moral dilemmas for the characters. I enjoyed the time period - late 1700s. The setting felt vivid to me and the characters were believable. The plot moved along for the most part. While I enjoyed what happened to North, it was a little too ‘perfect.’ Overall a good book.

Reviewer: susan
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Deeply moving look at women's lives in 1700's Massachusetts
Review: This biographical history based on the actual diary of Martha Ballard is intricately plotted, peopled with very real characters, some lovable and some despicable. Lawhon's writing is picturesque, lovely to read, compelling in pushing the story forward. Loved this novel from beginning to end. I didn't want it to end, and kept setting it aside so I wouldn't race through it too fast. Ballard's surroundings and experiences are are described so effectively they are tangible, so real that the flavor of life on the Kennebec River in the mid-1700s becomes very understandable, very "contemporary." We are allowed to live Martha Ballard's life. This is great writing! We are invited inside a woman's head during this journey, to assess and experience the frequency with which 18th century women are the victims of sexual assault, by men who go scot-free. Lawhon has done an exceptional job of imputing the details and intricacies of Bsllard's life by using her diary as the base document. An amazing feat.

Reviewer: Robyn
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Compelling! Exceptional!
Review: Martha Ballard....how I will miss you. I absolutely love the way Ariel wrote Martha's character. This book is going to be one that I reread, and when I do, it'll be because I miss Martha and want to spend time with her. ❤️•This story begins with the body of a man being found frozen in the Kennebec River in 1700s Maine. Martha Ballard, a midwife, is summoned to inspect the body and declares the man has been murdered. The man?..... one of 2 alleged of raping a married woman, Rebecca Foster. We are carried through the story by our desire to find out who committed the murder, and if Rebecca will receive justice through the legal system during a time women had few rights. Along the way, we get a beautifully crafted look into day-to-day, small town life in 1700s America, social inequalities, motherhood, and childbearing, with Martha Ballard's journal entries being at the heart of this story.•There is no denying an incredible amount of research preceded this book. The realities of that time are wonderfully depicted. The hardships and prejudices. It causes one to take pause and consider what life was like for people back in that time, especially women, leaving you thankful for how things have changed. However, it also makes you consider what hasn't changed as much as you'd expect.•Again, I could not get enough of Martha. She is strong and bold FMC. I admired her courage and intellect. I also admired how she stood up for women, herself included, and fought to give them all a voice when women had none.🥰 She is a remarkable woman and such an inspiration!!•I enjoyed seeing glimpses of her and Ephraim's love story throughout the years. Ephraim was endearing. It's hard not to love him....for the man he was, the husband he was... and the provider he was. I enjoyed their family and life together.•I highly recommend this book! I did find myself losing track of who some people were, and it was a slower pace for a mystery. But this book embedded itself into my heart, so I have to give it 5🌟. Don't skip the author's note! This was my first Ariel Lawhon read, but it will not be my last.

Reviewer: Rantine
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Refreshing and well written.
Review: A well written novel that keeps the reader interested throughout. The characters are engaging, believable and real. Thoroughly enjoyable. A treat.

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I hardly have the words to say how interesting this book was, particularly because it was based on the journal of a real woman who lived in those times. The plot was interesting, it was very educational about that time period, and all the characters were so well described that I easily thought of them as living, breathing people. Even the author's notes at the end were compelling to read. Excellent, excellent!

Reviewer: Christine Boos
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This was a great read! The author lent a convincing voice to Martha, inspired by her real life. Very interesting indeed to read about all Martha achieved as a midwife ( not one mother she delivered died ). In this fictional novel though, she is also investigating a murder.... Her story reveals a woman very much aware of the low consideration of women even in case of rapes.... Even though she clearly and loudly dared testify in court, her testimony was not taken seriously....The author painted a warm picture of a very lively Martha. I liked her immensely straight from the beginning of the novel! I loved her courage, resilience, her sense of duty and deep love for her family. Martha is also witty and brought a smile to my face many times! Through Martha's story, the legal and social historical background is meticulously revealed. Highly recommended!

Reviewer: Kathleen Cusato
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Really enjoyed this novel. It was a chosen novel for our bookclub, and it was enjoyed by us all. Can really recommend it.

Reviewer: Jenni James
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I really enjoyed this book, thank you Ariel. As a retired midwife, it rang true on many levels for me

Reviewer: marie powell
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Loved this book. Characters seemed so real. Interesting that I didn't know til the end of the book that main character was an historical figure.