Mostly Murders

Memory is a wicked thing that warps and twists. But paper and ink receive the truth without emotion, and they read it back without partiality. That, I believe, is why so few women are taught to read and write. God only knows what they would do with the power of pen and ink at their disposal.

Inspired by the life of Martha Ballard, an American 18th-century midwife who kept a diary detailing her life and work from 1785 to 1812.

In Frozen River, Martha Ballard finds herself in the middle of a murder case, when the body of a man who is accused of rape, is found in the Kennebec River in November, 1789. Martha’s fierce dedication to the truth compels her to investigate when forces higher up attempt to cover things up, but as the winter continues and Martha’s suspicions begin to build, she finds herself in danger, and has to face the fact that she may end up uncovering truths that will hit far closer to home than is comfortable.

Frozen River is a story of the injustice of a fledgling legal system built on patriarchal values, time and time again failing women who were victims of assault and abuse. It is a story of privileged men refusing to acknowledge wise women and midwives who weren’t allowed the advantages of a formal education, and of the devastating emotional and psychological damages of hypocrisy, greed, prejudice, racism and the horrors of war.

But it is also a story about love, survival, motherhood and community. It is a story about resilience, about staying true to your ideals, about fighting for your beliefs in the face of hopelessness, and about second chances and accepting that justice can come in many forms.

Historical fiction – Historical mystery