The False Faces

Lone Wolf #2

by Louis Joseph Vance

In his day, one guy played numerous roles, none more important than the Lanyard. The Monsieur Duchemin, who departed from "a British port" on the steamer Assyrian for New York ten days after that icy midnight, was in no way to be associated with the hunted animal who snuck through the British lines out of No Man's Land. The Assyrian has been a steadily moving Dobbin of the transatlantic lanes; she has knuckled down to it resolutely and has only buried her nose in the frothing green when absolutely necessary. Lower visibility was a result of sheeting spindrift; two destroyers approximately a mile apart on parallel courses to port and to starboard were frequently very faintly visible, ghostly ships whirling and dipping in the haze. The commander's face lost the frown and developed a vague look of stupefaction. He wavered, a palm trembling over the neatly punctured black blood that was starting to fill up on his forehead. His enormous frame violently shook during a convulsive quake. It was difficult to see Mr. Blensop go about his professional duties without thinking about the heinous injustice that Nature all too frequently inflicts upon her progeny. After Stanistreet, Stone, and the broken, sobbing Blensop left, there was a silence that was nearly as painful for Lanyard.

Genres: Mystery, Classics, Crime, Thriller, Ebooks

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1918

About the author

Louis Joseph Vance was a novelist educated in the preparatory department of the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. He wrote short stories and verse after 1901, then composed many popular novels. His character "Michael Lanyard", also known as "The Lone Wolf", was featured in eight books and 24 films between 1914 and 1949, and also appeared in radio and television series.

Vance was separated from his wife (whom he married in 1898 and by whom he had a son the next year) when he was found dead in a burnt armchair inside his New York apartment; a cigarette had ignited some benzene (used for cleaning his clothes or for his broken jaw) that he had on his body and he was intoxicated at the time. He had recently returned from the West Indies, where he gathered material for a new book. The death was ruled accidental.

Reviews

[gwen graves · Rating 2 out of 5]

Verbose

It was a good story, but the author use of two many words to describe something really put me off and I found it boring. His style of writing may have been the thing of 1920s,but as Mark Twain said “ Use plain language, and short sentences.” The characters were really good, that and goos storyline was why I gave it two stars.

[Gypsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Lanyard is a former gentleman thief, known as "the Lone Wolf". In the early days of the Great War, he suffers private loss of enormous magnitude, leaving him with a personal vendetta against all Germans in general, but one spy in particular. When the Allies accept his proffered talents, Lanyard travels to the U.S., and becomes embroiled in danger, espionage, intrigue, and revenge while still at sea, which dogs his steps all the way to a final encounter in New York City.

This was a completely entertaining adventure. Vance's stark depiction of the trenches made a gripping hook, and, despite being overly melodramatic at times, False Faces remained absorbing through the final scene. Lanyard is a surprisingly well-drawn character -- still tempted by the illicit, but striving to remain a lawful gentleman in his actions, even when life is at stake. The plot was fast-paced, never dull, and, though unbelievable, still intelligent. I enjoyed the first in the series (The Lone Wolf), but found this second to be far superior. I will certainly read more of the exploits of the Lone Wolf.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many of these early turn-of-the-century spy books (WWI) are just fantastic. Another in the series of the Lone Wolf novels, False Faces written in 1918 continues the escapades of Michael Lanyard - thief turned patriot as he travels from Europe to the US by means of ocean liner and submarine to vanquish the evil Ekstrom and fight with the Allies. The writing is a little old-fashioned, but it really makes you concentrate and think about what the author is saying. And the stories are complex and just so much fun. Very enjoyable and I will definitely continue on with this series.

[Sherry Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

Vance is a true word smith and provides quality reading instead of the everyday formula types that are on the market today! You will need your thinking caps on for this author but he is worth it!

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A war time thriller

This story had so many ins and outs of the hero. It was definitely hard to put down. I see there are many more books in the series.:

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot and the characters are very complex but well developed. A great read.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this novel yourselves and write your own review on this novel. I really enjoyed reading this novel very much so. Shelley MA