The False Inspector Dew is a 1982 humorous crime novel by Peter Lovesey and his ninth book.

[1] It won the Gold Dagger award by the Crime Writers' Association in 1982 and has featured on many "Best of" lists since.

Set in the 1920s, The False Inspector Dew tells the story of dentist Walter Baranov and his romantic interest Alma Webster, who plot to murder his wife while aboard the ocean liner Mauretania.

Learning from mistakes made by real-life murderer Dr Crippen, they plan to push Mrs Baranov overboard and have Alma take her place.

When the book was first published, Library Journal commended the "delightfully comic story with countless twists and turns of plot".