Reviews

Love this educational read 📝

I’m an avid reader. Always have a book on the go. My daughter, a student of Dave’s from grade 7 & 8, gave me the book. She’s still meets up with Dave a couple of times a year, and she’s 50 now! That should tell you a bit about the character of this author, and his success as a teacher. I figured, I’ll read the book, but wasn’t really expecting much. This book made me laugh, made me cry, and I don’t do either easily. It’s one of the best books I’ve read…ever. Engrossing, entertaining, I could go on and on, but you might think me prejudice because of the daughter/author link. I’m not that way inclined. Just read this book. You won’t regret a minute of it. I only hope that someone with some pull reads this book, and they make a movie out of it. Bravo Dave!! I hope this book brings you the success that you truly deserve as an author.

This novel follows runaway slaves along the Underground Railroad with a strong focus on historical accuracy, weaving in real routes, safe houses, and crossings from the United States to Canada and back again. Geographical detail which ties to Clan Cameron history deepen its themes of survival and displacement, while unpredictable events—betrayals, narrow escapes, and shifting alliances—keep the tension high. A subtle love story is present but secondary, as the novel ultimately stands out for its realism, suspense, and powerful sense of the era it takes place in.

A rollicking good tale! The clever weaving of historical fact with true to life characters makes for a most enjoyable read. I couldn’t put it down and when I did I found myself missing it. Now that I’ve finished it, I want more. Would love to know what happens next to a truly fascinating group of characters in a truly fascinating time!

“The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” That’s the quote that drives this historical novel about the Underground Railroad from the perspective of both sides of the Canada/U.S. border. D.C. Shepherd has written about a tragic period in history with great sensitivity and occasionally a wry sense of humour, which makes for very enjoyable reading. He includes fascinating detail about the conditions of the era and the driving forces behind all the characters, good and evil. And all this provides the background for a page-turning adventure for several main characters, who have individual struggles to come to grips with situations for which they couldn’t possibly have been prepared. Beautifully written.

In addition to all that, Shepherd wrote this novel in such detail about the conditions, politics, emotions, and economics of the time, that surprisingly I came across situations many times that, to me, parallel what is happening today. It compels me to wonder whether after almost 200 years, the history between Canada and the U.S. is close to repeating itself.

For me, this book is the perfect historical novel, gently educating while keeping me engrossed in a fascinating story.

Really Powerful and Thought-Provoking

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into The Only Thing Necessary, but I’m so glad I read it. The story follows escaped slaves and how their journey affects people all the way from the American South to Canada. It’s emotional, intense at times, humorous at times and really makes you think about what it means to do the right thing—even when it’s hard.

The characters felt real, and I appreciated how the author didn’t shy away from tough topics. It’s clearly well-researched, but it still reads like a good story, not a history lesson. If you like historical fiction that feels personal and meaningful, I definitely recommend this one.

Best historical novel I have ever read. The characters popped off the page as the author was so detailed in his description of each one, both physically and emotionally. An excellent read!

Dave Shepherd weaves an intriguing and riveting tale of adventure, deceit and revenge. He works storytelling magic recounting the escape of three slaves from the deep South and their perilous journey to reach freedom in Canada.

Each chapter of this historical novel leaves the reader on the edge of his seat, awaiting the next unexpected twist in the plot. It is a sobering reminder of an essential contribution Canadians made in history, and a timely truth that unrest and distrust of some of our southern neighbours is not a new concept.

The Only Thing Necessary is a powerful journey through a difficult to digest, and often glossed over, historical era. The storyline was a masterful melding of action packed “life or death” situations, and quiet moments of beautifully simplistic human connection. The character development was natural and subtle, while also incredibly effective. The full gambit of human nature was on display in this story. From the purely evil or disgustingly indifferent, to the borderline saintly, and every shade in between. The attention to period-specific detail was fantastic, and really helped to illustrate how terribly “normalized” things were at the time. All-in-all a very worthwhile read with a cleverly powerful title!

The Only Thing Necessary is a refreshing novel. The humour and historical details make every page a pleasure to read. The characters come to life through the description and dialogue. It was a long book but I enjoyed it from start to finish. I hope there is a sequel so that I can find out what happens to the characters.

THE ONLY THING NECESSARY

A Tale from the Cameron Line

This gripping and well-researched historical fiction novel transports the reader back to the days of slavery in the old south when escaped slaves risked – and often lost their lives – in the attempt to gain their freedom. The author masterfully weaves the reader into the landscape, the lives and the escape of three slaves who make their bid for freedom, as they head north to Canada. So vividly is the story told that you will feel as if you too, are running for your life and alongside them. My heart was in my mouth every step of the way.

The tale also tells a lesser-known story of the underground railway leading up to – and through – Canada. So dangerous was this endeavour that crossing the border into Canada was no guarantee of freedom. Bounty-hunters were known to follow the escaped slaves across the border (who knew)? There was no guarantee of safe harbour for either the former slaves – nor sometimes for those who sheltered them. The underground railroad to – and within – Canada was not for the faint of heart, but demanded courage from all who participated.

The intensity of this tale was skillfully counterbalanced with intermittent comedic relief in the form of Mrs. Hedley (local town-gossip and arbiter of propriety), as well as a marine escapade involving the best of friends, a boat and some… liquid refreshments (ahem).

The finale involves a nail-biting boat-race to freedom in which the outcome cannot be predicted. I very nearly broke my reader’s discipline as I fought a battle to not skip to the last page to see the outcome! I was completely absorbed in the story – as far as I was concerned – I travelled every step of two the way with the book’s characters. I also learned about the role of Canada and the Canadians who played a vital role in the underground railway – I felt very proud of our early Canadian/Scottish heritage. Give yourself a gift and read this story!