The Frozen River

This historical mystery by Ariel Lawhon is based on the real life midwife, Martha Ballard, who in the late 1700's delivered over 1,000 babies and never lost a mother. When the rape of a friend and a murder occur in her small town, Martha is determined to seek justice. Here is the plot summary and review from Booklist: 

"Spanning the winter of 1789--90 in Hallowell, Maine, from the freezing of the Kennebec River to its late thaw, Lawhon's outstanding sixth novel is based on the actual life of frontier midwife Martha Ballard, who recorded daily diary entries about her household and career. Called to examine the body of Joshua Burgess after it was retrieved from icy waters, Martha recognizes the telltale signs of hanging. Burgess and another man, a local judge, had been accused of raping a young pastor's wife four months earlier, and Martha believes her account unquestioningly. She also guesses the two crimes are connected. A sage, strong presence at 54, Martha is an extraordinary character. Devoted to her patients and her six surviving children, mostly young adults with complicated love lives, she battles subjugation by a Harvard-educated doctor who dares to think her incapable. Although this isn't a traditional detective story, Martha's narrative will capture historical mystery fans' attention with its dramatic courtroom scenes and emphasis on justice, particularly for women. Flashbacks to Martha's past add context and generate additional suspense. Martha's enduring romance with her supportive husband, Ephraim, is beautifully evoked, and details about the lives of the townspeople make the post-American Revolutionary atmosphere feel fully lived-in. Lawhon's first-rate tale should entrance readers passionate about early America and women's history." 

Publishers Weekly concurs, concluding, "Lawhon combines modern prose with the immediacy of her source material, making for an accessible and textured narrative. This accomplished historical powerfully speaks to centuries-old inequities that remain in the present day." Highly recommended.