A gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a famed midwife who defied the justice system and carved out her place in American history… Maine, 1789: when the Kennebec River freezes over, entombing a man in ice, Martha Ballard is called in to examine the body and determine the cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much that goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that transpires in the close-knit town. Just months ago, Martha recorded the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected men; one of them has been found dead in the river. However, when a local doctor challenges Martha’s conclusion and declares the death an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own. Over the course of one winter, as the trial draws near and rumors and prejudices mount, Martha relentlessly pursues the truth. Her diary soon ends up in the middle of a scandal and incriminates her loved ones, forcing Martha to decide where her loyalties lie.