Ariel Lawhon

"A novel based on the real life story of socialite spy Nancy Wake, about the astonishing woman who killed a Nazi with her bare hands and went on to become one of the most decorated women in WWII"--

A Novel

Code Name Hélène

Ariel Lawhon, a rising star in historical suspense, unravels the extraordinary twists and turns in Anna Anderson's fifty-year battle to be recognized as Anastasia Romanov. Is she the beloved daughter, revered icon, and Russian grand duchess or is she an imposter, liar, and the thief of another woman's legacy? Countless others have rendered their verdict. Now it is your turn. Russia, July 17, 1918: Under direct orders from Vladimir Lenin, Bolshevik secret police force Anastasia Romanov, along with the entire imperial family, into a damp basement in Siberia, where they face a merciless firing squad. None survive. At least that is what the executioners have always claimed. Germany, February 17, 1920: A young woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Anastasia Romanov is pulled shivering and senseless from a canal. Refusing to explain her presence in the freezing water or even acknowledge her rescuers, she is taken to the hospital where an examination reveals that her body is riddled with countless, horrific scars. When she finally does speak, this frightened, mysterious young woman claims to be the Russian grand duchess. As rumors begin to circulate through European society that the youngest Romanov daughter has survived the massacre at Ekaterinburg, old enemies and new threats are awakened. With a narrative that is equal parts The Talented Mr. Ripley and Memento, Lawhon wades into the most psychologically complex and emotionally compelling territory: the nature of identity itself. The question of who Anna Anderson is and what actually happened to Anastasia Romanov creates a saga that spans fifty years and touches three continents. This thrilling saga is every bit as moving and momentous as it is harrowing and twisted.

I Was Anastasia

"A gripping historical mystery based on the real-life diary entries of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife who found herself at the center of a murder trial"--

The Frozen River

Ariel Lawhon and Jane Collingwood Sian Thomas

"At every page a guilty secret bobs up; at every page Lawhon keeps us guessing. Who will bring down the Hindenburg? And how?” -- New York Times Book Review On the evening of May 3rd, 1937, ninety-seven people board the Hindenburg for its final, doomed flight to Lakehurst, New Jersey. Among them are a frightened stewardess who is not what she seems; the steadfast navigator determined to win her heart; a naive cabin boy eager to earn a permanent spot on the world’s largest airship; an impetuous journalist who has been blacklisted in her native Germany; and an enigmatic American businessman with a score to settle. Over the course of three hazy, champagne-soaked days their lies, fears, agendas, and hopes for the future are revealed. Flight of Dreams is a fiercely intimate portrait of the real people on board the last flight of the Hindenburg. Behind them is the gathering storm in Europe and before them is looming disaster. But for the moment they float over the Atlantic, unaware of the inexorable, tragic fate that awaits them. Brilliantly exploring one of the most enduring mysteries of the twentieth century, Flight of Dreams is that rare novel with spellbinding plotting that keeps you guessing till the last page and breathtaking emotional intensity that stays with you long after.

Flight of Dreams

A steamy reimagining of the scandal-marked 1930 disappearance of Justice Joseph Crater explores events decades later from the perspectives of the three women who knew him best, including his Chanel-draped wife, his showgirl mistress and his dutiful housemaid.

The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress

AN NPR BOOK OF THE YEAR • From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history. "Fans of Outlander’s Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon’s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent. . . impressive."—The Washington Post "Once again, Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine." —People Magazine Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own. Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie. Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.

Susan Meissner

Kristina McMorris

A Story of the Angels of Bataan

When We Had Wings

From three bestselling authors comes an interwoven tale about a trio of World War II nurses stationed in the South Pacific who wage their own battle for freedom and survival. The Philippines, 1941. When U.S. Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, U.S. Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel forge a friendship at the Army Navy Club in Manila, they believe they’re living a paradise assignment. All three are seeking a way to escape their pasts, but soon the beauty and promise of their surroundings give way to the heavy mantle of war. Caught in the crosshairs of a fight between the U.S. military and the Imperial Japanese Army for control of the Philippine Islands, the nurses are forced to serve under combat conditions and, ultimately, endure captivity as the first female prisoners of the Second World War. As their resiliency is tested in the face of squalid living arrangements, food shortages, and the enemy’s blatant disregard for the articles of the Geneva Convention, the women strive to keep their hope— and their fellow inmates—alive, though not without great cost. In this sweeping story based on the true experiences of nurses dubbed “the Angels of Bataan,” three women shift in and out of each other’s lives through the darkest days of the war, buoyed by their unwavering friendship and distant dreams of liberation. “Three of the biggest powerhouses in historical fiction come together to pen this breathtaking story of three nurses serving in the Philippines during the Second World War.” —PAM JENOFF, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman with the Blue Star World War II historical fiction Stand-alone novel Book length: approximately 128,000 words Includes discussion questions for book clubs

An inquisitive woman defies expectations to become the mother of forensic science in this absorbing short story by New York Times bestselling author Ariel Lawhon.

You will have ninety minutes to solve the murder. A startling declaration by a new Harvard instructor: sixty-seven-year-old Frances Glessner Lee. It’s 1945. Before her, six wary male students given to assumptions—especially when it comes to women without a formal education—are challenged to solve a real-life whodunit using Mrs. Lee’s creation, the crime scene diorama. Every detail is accurate. And every detail matters when solving a crime with no survivors…

Ariel Lawhon’s Barriers to Entry is part of Blaze, a collection of short stories about incendiary women across the decades who dare to defy convention. They can be read or listened to in one sitting.

Barriers to Entry

Romanova

Un retrato cercano y apasionado de los verdaderos pasajeros del último vuelo del Hindenburg. Atrás dejaron una tormenta en ciernes en Europa y delante de ellos se vislumbraba un desastre. Pero, mientras tanto, sobrevolaron el Atlántico, ajenos al inexorable y trágico destino que les esperaba. En la tarde del 3 de mayo de 1937 noventa y siete personas se embarcaron en el Hindenburg para su vuelo con destino a Lakehurst, New Jersey. Entre ellas se encontraban la asustada azafata que no era lo que aparentaba, el resuelto piloto decidido a conquistar su corazón, el ingenuo ayudante de cabina deseoso de mantener el puesto en el mayor zepelín del mundo, el impetuoso periodista que figuraba en la lista negra en su Alemania natal y el enigmático hombre de negocios americano con afán de venganza. En el transcurso de tres días, confusos debido a la cantidad ingerida de champán, descubrimos sus mentiras, sus miedos, sus intenciones ocultas y sus esperanzas para el futuro. ¿Quién será capaz de destruir el Hindenburg? ¿Y cómo? Si te emocionaste con Titanic, prepárate para un viaje por las nubes repleto de intrigas, secretos, amor y un trágico final. Reseñas: «Esta novela sorprende con una extraordinaria e intensa intriga que deja al lector hipnotizado.» The New York Times Book Review «Un libro fascinante y emocionante...» People Magazine «Una gran novela al estilo de Agatha Christie.» Kirkus Reviews «El viaje de los sueños ha conseguido que nos acordemos de aquellos hombres y mujeres que murieron aquel funesto día de hace ochenta años o que lograron sobrevivir milagrosamente. De esta forma, la ficción de nuevo pone en valor lo que la historia dejó en segundo plano.» Blog Libros y literatura

El viaje de los sueños

De rivier van Ariel Lawhon vertelt het spannende, waargebeurde verhaal van Martha Ballard die zichzelf in de 18e eeuw ontpopt als detective wanneer een man dood onder het ijs wordt gevonden. Als vroedvrouw heeft Martha toegang tot alle geheimen van het plaatsje Hallowell. In haar dagboek houdt ze precies bij wie er worden geboren en overlijden, maar ook welke misdaden er achter gesloten deuren plaatsvinden. En laat de dode man nu precies degene zijn die een paar maanden geleden werd verdacht van een verkrachting... Martha vermoedt opzet en wanneer de lokale dokter haar vermoedens wegzet als roddelpraat, besluit ze dan maar zelf op onderzoek uit te gaan. Haar zoektocht onthult niet alleen details over de moord, maar legt ook de onmogelijke positie van vrouwen bloot in een wereld waar mannen de dienst uitmaken. Een indrukwekkend verhaal over gerechtigheid en de kracht van een vrouw die weigert de waarheid te verbloemen.

De rivier

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GMA BOOK CLUB PICK • AN NPR BOOK OF THE YEAR • From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history. "Fans of Outlander’s Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon’s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent. . . impressive."—The Washington Post "Once again, Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine." —People Magazine Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own. Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie. Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.

The Frozen River: A GMA Book Club Pick

Mit farbigem Buchschnitt in limitierter Auflage

Codename Hélène

Im Jahr 1936 wird die Auslandskorrespondentin Nancy Wake in Paris Zeugin des Schreckens von Hitlers Aufstieg in Europa. Kaum hat Nancy den französischen Industriellen Henri Fiocca kennengelernt, sich in ihn verliebt und zugestimmt, ihn zu heiraten, fallen die Deutschen in Frankreich ein und zwingen sie, ihren ersten Decknamen anzunehmen. Die Gestapo nennt sie weiße Maus wegen ihrer bemerkenswerten Fähigkeit, sich der Gefangennahme zu entziehen, wenn sie alliierte Soldaten über die Grenzen schmuggelt. Sie wird zu Hélène, als sie Frankreich verlässt, um bei einer Spezialeinheit in London eine Spionageausbildung zu absolvieren. Als sie nach Frankreich zurückkehrt, ist sie die tödliche Madame Andrée. Doch je näher Frankreich der Befreiung kommt, desto mehr rücken Nancy und die Menschen, die sie liebt, in den Fokus. Inspiriert von wahren Kriegsereignissen, ist Codename Hélène eine packende und bewegende Geschichte von außergewöhnlichem Mut, unerschütterlicher Entschlossenheit, bemerkenswerter Aufopferung - und dauerhafter Liebe.

Ausgabe ebook

THE UNMISSABLE BESTSELLER INSPIRED BY THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY OF MIDWIFE MARTHA BALLARD The Good Housekeeping GOOD BOOKS Winner 2025 Brimming with courage, mystery, and heart, The Frozen River is the perfect curl-up-and-dive-in read for anyone who loves unforgettable heroines and atmospheric winter drama. 'Thrilling' Irish Times 'Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine' People Magazine 'The narrator of Ariel Lawhon's The Frozen River is another stalwart heroine' The New York Times 'Historical fiction at its best!' 5 Star Reader Review 'These markings of ink and paper will one day be the only proof that I have existed in this world. That I lived and breathed' Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town's most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own. Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie. Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon's newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day. Inspired by the life of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into history. For fans of OUTLANDER and WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING Readers love Ariel Lawhon 'The HYPE IS REAL ... I was absolutely drawn into Martha's world, the harshness of the life, the struggle of women to have a voice, the mystery created. I loved this book so much! It's in my books of the year' 'I give this book ALL THE STARS ... One of the BEST HISTORICAL FICTION THRILLER BOOKS that I've read' 'Extremely ABSORBING and enjoyable read' 'RIVETING ... I would thoroughly recommend it to any historical fiction lovers, or those who enjoy stories based around strong women' 'This story is so POWERFUL, and it's astonishing how relevant Martha's FIGHT FOR JUSTICE still feels today ... If you're looking for a rich, layered story about justice, resilience, and a woman who refused to be silenced, The Frozen River is A MUST-READ' 'Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction with STRONG FEMALE LEADS, intricate plotting, and a BEATING HEART OF JUSTICE. A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN, quietly fierce book that will stay with you long after the final page' 'Its SECRETS kept me UTTERLY HOOKED'

A RIVETING WINTER DRAMA Inspired by a Real Heroine—The Perfect Gift for Your Christmas Reading Stack

From the bestselling author of Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who investigates a shocking murder that unhinges her small community. Maine, 1789: When a man is found entombed in the frozen Kennebec River, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As the local midwife and healer, Martha is good at keeping secrets. Her diary is a record of every birth, death and debacle that unfolds in the town of Hallowell. In that diary she has also documented the details of an alleged rape that occurred by one of the town's most esteemed gentlemen - the same man who has now been found dead in the ice. While certain townspeople are eager to put both matters to rest, Martha suspects that the two crimes are linked, and that there is more to both cases than meets the eye. Over the course of one long, hard winter, whispers and prejudices mount, and Martha's diary lands at the centre of the scandal, threatening to tear both her family and her community apart. In her newest offering, Ariel Lawhon brings to life a brave and compassionate unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice on behalf of those no one else would protect. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense and tender story of a remarkable woman who had the courage to take a stand, and in the process wrote herself into history.

From the Bestselling Author of Code Name Hélène

From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia comes a “genuinely surprising whodunit” (USA Today) that tantalizingly reimagines a scandalous murder mystery that rocked the nation. One summer night in 1930, Judge Joseph Crater steps into a New York City cab and is never heard from again. Behind this great man are three women, each with her own tale to tell: Stella, his fashionable wife, the picture of propriety; Maria, their steadfast maid, indebted to the judge; and Ritzi, his showgirl mistress, willing to seize any chance to break out of the chorus line. As the twisted truth emerges, Ariel Lawhon’s wickedly entertaining debut mystery transports us into the smoky jazz clubs, the seedy backstage dressing rooms, and the shadowy streets beneath the Art Deco skyline.

Ariel Lawhon

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