Louis Vance was an American writer of short stories and verse. Later he began writing novels. The Lone Wolf was his most famous character appearing in 8 books and 24 films. The character Michael Lanyard, also known as "The Lone Wolf" appeared in radio and a television series. He was a jewel thief turned private detective. Lanyard was a rouge and always ready to come to the aid of a damsel in distress. In The False Faces Lanyard comes out of retirement to battle an enemy spy ring after Germany sinks a cross-Atlantic passenger ship.