Recommendations from our site
“The Frozen River is one of two books on the 2026 shortlist that also fall into the historical fiction category. The main character of The Frozen River is based on a real-life midwife, Martha Ballard, who lived in the 18th century along the Kennebec River in what is now Maine. What’s unusual about her is that she kept a diary, so we know many details about her daily life in a frontier town, including her appearance as a witness in a rape trial. Lawhon reimagines her life and thoughts, and adds a bit of mystery – who killed the person found dead under the frozen river.” Read more...
The Best Crime Fiction: The 2026 Gold Dagger Shortlist
Sophie Roell, Journalist
