Reviews

“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!