Western Historical Fiction Author

Silas Grant Book 1

Rescuing Crockett

What if David Crockett survived the Alamo?

Lonesome Dove meets The Da Vinci Code in this award-winning Western historical fiction thriller.

1838. Silas Grant is preparing for life with the girl of his dreams. The resourceful sixteen-year-old is learning the blacksmith trade from his father and frontier skills from Texas Revolution veterans. But when the discovery of a portrait of David Crockett raises the possibility that the folk hero didn't die two years earlier, Silas joins a quest for the truth.

Seizing a chance at redemption for the deaths of friends and family during the rebellion, Silas and his fellow Texians explore a world healing from the war. They investigate conflicting accounts of Alamo survivors, search for clues along the path of the Mexican army's retreat, and pursue a witness to the battle's final moments. The odyssey turns lethal as layers of the last stand's mystery peel away to expose a shocking secret.

The gripping debut of the Silas Grant series is an adventure, a mystery, and a love story set in the turbulent years of the Republic of Texas. If you enjoy visceral historical fiction in the tradition of Bernard Cornwell, gritty westerns in the tradition of Larry McMurtry, high-concept mystery thrillers in the tradition of Dan Brown, and Texas fiction in the tradition of Stephen Harrigan, you'll love David Z. Pyke's epic of the American West.

Read excerpts from Rescuing Crockett

What reviewers say

"A young Texan investigates a rumor that Davy Crockett survived the massacre at the Alamo in Pyke's historical novel.

"While attending a reception at the Prussian Embassy in Mexico City in 1838, Powhatan Ellis, the American envoy to Mexico, is stunned when he sees a recently painted portrait that seems to feature the famed Davy Crockett, who was supposed to have died two years earlier at the Alamo. Concerned that Crockett, the beloved frontiersman and former congressman, could be a prisoner of the Mexican government, Ellis feels compelled to explore the possibility, one presented with artful plausibility by the author. Ellis hires Hiram Brown, a mysterious man—even his appearance is “ethnically androgynous”—to investigate. Brown maintains an extraordinary intelligence network, largely made up of people from Indigenous tribes throughout Mexico. He recruits a team to scour Texas that includes Silas Grant, a 16-year-old who fought by his father's side in the war against Mexico and even drove a wagon transporting the wounded.

"The investigative process centers around interviews of witnesses and survivors. The reconstructions of that catastrophic day in 1836 are utterly gripping and portrayed with both intelligence and dramatic power by Pyke. These accounts diverge considerably, raising provocative questions about the legitimacy of eyewitness testimony, long considered the gold standard of judicial evidence. As the author observes in a supplementary note: 'Was Crockett killed in battle or captured and executed? We will never know for certain. The death of David Crockett is a case study in the fallibility of witness testimony.' Pyke has achieved something rare: a novel that is dramatically captivating, historically rigorous (if ultimately fanciful), and philosophically inquisitive. This is the first in a series planned by the author, and it will likely leave the reader eager for more.

"A thrilling historical drama, as engrossing as it is edifying."

—Kirkus Reviews

2023 gold medal winner in the American category, five stars, and the 'Highly Recommended' award of excellence: "Mr. Pyke unfurls a remarkable historical novel.... Pyke takes the reader on a very well-researched journey where all your senses are involved in the battles, the landscape, the emotions, and the intrigue of this unfolding mystery. The characters are well-fleshed out, as real as a Texas storm, and the propulsion of the storyline keeps one glued to the narrative until the very end. Without a doubt, any fans of western historical fiction, of the early days of Texas, and the heroic and tragic tale of the Alamo, will love this story."

—The Historical Fiction Company

Editor's Pick: "...revels in a little bit of everything looked for by lovers of the genre.... Pyke offers rousing adventure, engaging camaraderie between the characters, a smoldering romance.... The story moves fast, despite Pyke's feel for immersive scenic detail and welcome commitment to historical plausibility.... keeping the excitement up while never losing sight of the cast's humanity.... Pyke takes pains to keep style and prose close to reality, making sure that the actual history on display here (and contextualized in clarifying notes) is as engaging as the what-if? of Crockett's possible survival."

—BookLife by Publishers Weekly

Five stars: "As I was reading Rescuing Crockett by David Z. Pyke, I kept going online to check if the events being described were real. That is how good Pyke is at crafting his completely unique and engrossing storyline. The historical details are rich and textured.... These felt so real, and the written visuals are almost cinematic in scope. There is a continued thread of tension and uncertainty throughout the novel.... The twists are wonderful and, aside from feeling immersive, the book is just plain good. An entertaining read and a line of literature that I want more of. Very highly recommended."

—Readers' Favorite

"Thoroughly researched with beautifully detailed descriptions, Rescuing Crockett explores the possibility that David Crocket survived the siege on the Alamo.... We ride along with the Texians through the Texas prairie and meet some of the hardscrabble pioneers scratching out a living.... Their journey brings them face to face with their own demons as they recall their experiences during the revolution, but it also creates a brotherhood that bonds them together.... The author has taken great pains to ground the novel in historical fact, deviating only when the fictional story required it; thus giving the story an air of authenticity."

—International Review of Books

Loved it! "As a native Texan, I truly enjoyed reimagining Crockett's fate at the Alamo. The tale, as seen through the eyes of lesser-known heroes of the Texas Revolution, was a treat and spurred me to discover more about their roles in history. Many of his characters were actual persons, and kudos to Pyke for his research and for putting their contributions into perspective. I also appreciated the description of geography and terrain, which helped to paint a more complete picture of the time and place.... Pyke is a fine writer with a good eye for detail and a good ear for dialogue. His research is impressive, and he loves the characters he writes about.... Fans of historical fiction and the Alamo will find Rescuing Crockett thrilling and a welcome addition to books about the iconic last stand and its heroes."

—Robert Carpenter, Reedsy Discovery

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What readers say

★★★★★

"This author can definitely tell a story! There is plenty of adventure, excitement, danger, mystery, and romance to keep readers of almost any genre turning pages."

—Amazon reviewer Karen Siddall

★★★★★

"When an alternate history book is so well written that you have to keep reminding yourself......this is fiction......you have to give it 5 stars."

—Goodreads reviewer Denice Langley

★★★★★

"The narrative kept me spellbound from beginning to end as the plot grew stronger with each passing chapter. The storyline culminated with a spectacular finish."

—Amazon reviewer Paul Falk

★★★★★

"I don't know a lick about Texas history.... but this book drove me to the history books.... the fictional characters are so well-developed that they read like flesh-and-bone real men and women.... There's a quiet strength to these characters - historic and fictional - that shows why men lay down their lives for a cause, how boys strive to become men of integrity, how you pick up the pieces of your live and somehow continue when it seems impossible.... The plot held my interest absolutely every step of the way.... I can't recommend this book enough."

—Amazon VINE VOICE reviewer CrabbyPatty

★★★★★

"What a wonderful novel!... Mr. Pyke's writing is a joy to read. We learn enough about the various characters to find them likable with kind, but implacable personalities. The book reads quickly, partially because the reader gets so involved in the story that it becomes obsessive. The dialogue among the men is very well done with little spots of humor.... I have always been fascinated with the story of the Alamo and the brave men who died there.... this book was a boon for me to find. I will never forget it and will read it gladly again."

—Amazon VINE VOICE reviewer Tripower53

★★★★★

"A thrill-a-minute historical romp. With a cast of well-rendered characters, Rescuing Crockett takes readers on a quest of discovery.... Instead of a historical retelling, I found myself pulled into a spy thriller that didn't stop for a moment.... Bullets fly, intrigue abounds, and love blooms in this tale that defies easy classification..... The main character, Silas Grant, practically jumps off the page.... Pyke's artistry is on full display from the first page to the last. With a magical mixture of fact and fiction, these Texians come to life. I enjoyed each page and look forward to Silas Grant's future exploits."

—Amazon reviewer DJ88

★★★★★

"I LOVED this book. It was well written, and I wanted to know more about the characters as I read the story."

—Amazon reviewer Tricialy

★★★★★

"What a treat! Historical fiction always causes me to think 'what if' and this book took me there."

—Amazon reviewer KerryO

★★★★★

"Absolutely loved this book! I look forward to reading more of his stories about Silas Grant in the future!"

—Amazon reviewer Pap

★★★★★

"An absolutely amazing read!! I loved this book!!! Absolutely true to the time period and the story is believable and fits in the current tone of scholarly study.... Absolutely a highly recommended read."

—Amazon reviewer Lee Murray Brazos Booksellers

★★★★★

"A winner. I certainly enjoyed this book. It captured my attention from the very beginning and held it throughout.... I highly recommend this book and hope it is very successful."

—Amazon reviewer Deacon Tom

★★★★★

"Ghosts tell the tragic tale.... The writer amplifies the whispers and allows the reader to hear the ghosts speak."

—Amazon reviewer Calinurseguy

★★★★★

"Amazing Story!! I so loved reading this story, it is my favorite one where they blend truth and fiction.

—Apple Books reviewer Carolyn Valdez

★★★★★

"A great book full of history and fiction.... The love Emily and Silas had for each other was adorable."

—Amazon reviewer coyotecactus

★★★★★

"A true Texan, especially a San Antonian, might be affronted at the very idea of even the smallest alternative to Alamo history (even with a fiction disclaimer), but this reader (a forever resident of the Alamo City) is beyond enthralled with David Pyke's imagination and skill at melding fact and fiction to craft a story that is meant to be entertaining and quite thought provoking."

—Goodreads reviewer Ruthie Jones

★★★★★

"A real page turner! The author's attention to detail had you hearing the shots and and screams of battle.... The story was a nice mixture of Western and thriller with well-researched and well written characters. You love these people like you've known them personally."

—Amazon reviewer Don G. Burbank

★★★★★

"Mr. Pyke's research, woven into the thrilling tale, takes readers on an unbelievable ride through realistic history in a wild, untamed environment from Texas to Mexico.... The realism of the people, places, and events shows sides of life not always shown in history books."

—Goodreads reviewer Rox Burkey

★★★★★

"I was invested in Silas and the rest of the cast, it was a great concept and worked well overall. I look forward to read more in this series and from the author."

—Amazon reviewer darkcatra

★★★★★

"The characters are well-defined, empathetic, and engaging.... I was equally impressed with the quantity and quality of the female characters in the novel.... the women in this novel are as appealing as the male characters."

—Goodreads reviewer Lynn Pope

★★★★★

"A great read - excellent historical fiction with action, adventure, romance, and more.... I hope we will learn more about Silas and Emily in future installments!"

—Amazon reviewer Amazon Customer

★★★★★

"Rescuing Crockett is a fun read.... It is fast in the moments it needs to be, and it lulls in some cozy spots that let a reader breathe within the world."

—Amazon reviewer Samantha

★★★★★

"Well researched, with a terrific story! I so enjoyed this "what-if" story of rescuing Dave Crockett after the Alamo attack."

—Amazon reviewer Prof

★★★★★

"It is surprising how many of the events are historical and woven together masterfully by Pyke."

—Amazon reviewer retired to read

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