A midwife, a frozen corpse, and the diary that refuses to lie.
Who drives the story
Hallowell's midwife and healer, keeper of a diary that records every birth, death, and bruise in town. She wants the truth written down where no one can erase it, and she turns her diary into the evidence that convicts a judge.
The most powerful man in Hallowell, accused of raping Rebecca Foster and suspected in Burgess's death. He threatens Martha, mocks Rebecca, and ends the book convicted of murder and sentenced to hang.
A preacher's young wife who accuses two powerful men of rape and is branded hysterical for it. Mocked in court and betrayed by her husband, she finally leaves him and starts over with Martha's help.
Martha's surveyor husband, often away but steady when it counts. He warns her off the investigation, then helps her match the fatal button to Judge North's coat.
Rebecca's cold husband, who blamed her for their stillborn child and told her to stay silent about the rape to protect his position. He is exposed as a coward who chose his reputation over his wife.
The man found strangled in the frozen Kennebec, one of Rebecca's accused attackers. His body, the rope marks, and the button in his frozen hand set the whole investigation in motion.
How they are connected
Martha BallardJudge Joseph North
She wants the truth written down where no one can erase it, and she turns her diary into the evidence that convicts a judge.
Judge Joseph NorthRebecca Foster
The most powerful man in Hallowell, accused of raping Rebecca Foster and suspected in Burgess's death.
Judge Joseph NorthJoshua Burgess
The most powerful man in Hallowell, accused of raping Rebecca Foster and suspected in Burgess's death.
Mocked in court and betrayed by her husband, she finally leaves him and starts over with Martha's help.
Martha's surveyor husband, often away but steady when it counts.
Ephraim BallardJudge Joseph North
He warns her off the investigation, then helps her match the fatal button to Judge North's coat.
Reverend Isaac FosterRebecca Foster
Rebecca's cold husband, who blamed her for their stillborn child and told her to stay silent about the rape to protect his position.
The man found strangled in the frozen Kennebec, one of Rebecca's accused attackers.
Go deeper
Who gets believed · The power of the record · Complicity of respectable men · Women's labor as the spine of a town
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
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