FINDING MARTHA

By: Peter Morton Coan

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Finding Martha is a true story about one man’s search for his birthmother, their miraculous reunion and the visits that would transform their lives. In it, Peter Morton Coan writes about his experience growing up an only child who was adopted as an infant by an affluent New York Jewish family. When his retired adopting father, cleaning out his basement, shows him his original adoption papers and true identity, Peter begins the search to find his birthmother, Martha, a devout Christian woman raised in the Bible-belt backwoods of West Virginia and Tennessee. He eventually finds her nearly two years later in suburban Cincinnati. He’s 42 years old and she’s 64 when they meet for the first time one Mother’s Day weekend. In finding her, he discovers his deep southern Christian roots, as Martha becomes his religious role model and teacher during his frequent visits. But he soon uncovers her many secrets and lies well hidden beneath her “bless your heart” covering. When Martha is caught in a lie by his two young daughters, her character is called into question, as is the truth about his birthfather’s real identity. Will the disappointment of her deception cause him to turn against her and his newfound religion? In the end, it his faith in God—the very thing that allowed him to find Martha in the first place—that permits him and his daughters to heal together as a family, as they journey through the dark world of adoption, which ultimately becomes a story of hope and redemption. In his previous books, Peter Morton Coan explored the family history and genealogy of others. With this new book, he explores his own.

Beautifully Written, Deeply Human

Finding Martha is a moving and beautifully written memoir about the lifelong search for love, belonging, and emotional truth. Peter Coan writes with clarity, restraint, and deep humanity, exploring family estrangement and the enduring impact of growing up without the love one needs.

Rather than offering easy answers, the book invites reflection—on grief, resilience, and the quiet work of making peace with the past. Coan’s thoughtful, intelligent voice gives the story emotional depth without sentimentality.

This is a powerful memoir that will resonate with anyone who has wrestled with family, identity, or the longing to be truly seen.