The False Inspector Dew
Encyclopedia
The False Inspector Dew is a humorous crime novel by Peter Lovesey
. It won the Gold Dagger
award by the Crime Writers' Association
in 1982 and has featured on many "Best of" list since.
case, they plot a way to achieve it perfectly aboard the ocean liner, Mauretania
. The dentist takes on the identity of Inspector Walter Dew
, Crippen’s nemesis, but then a murder occurs aboard the ship and the captain invites "Inspector Dew" to investigate.
in his book Bloody Murder referred to it as “one of the cleverest crime comedies of the past few years.” Famous crime writer Ruth Rendell
said in a review: “A masterpiece. I defy anyone to foresee the outcome.”
Peter Lovesey
Peter Lovesey is a British writer of historical and contemporary crime novels and short stories. His best-known series characters are Sergeant Cribb, a Victorian-era police detective based in London, and Peter Diamond, a modern-day police detective in Bath...
. It won the Gold Dagger
Gold Dagger
The Gold Dagger Award was an award given annually by the Crime Writers' Association for the best crime novel of the year.For its first five years, the organization's top honor was known as the Crossed Red Herring Award....
award by the Crime Writers' Association
Crime Writers' Association
The Crime Writers Association is a writers' association in the United Kingdom. Founded by John Creasey in 1953, it is currently chaired by Peter James and claims 450+ members....
in 1982 and has featured on many "Best of" list since.
Plot introduction
It is 1921, and Alma Webster, a reader of romances, is passionately in love with her dentist, Walter Baranov. There is only one foreseeable outcome: the murder of his wife. Inspired by the real-life Dr CrippenHawley Harvey Crippen
Hawley Harvey Crippen , usually known as Dr. Crippen, was an American homeopathic physician hanged in Pentonville Prison, London, on November 23, 1910, for the murder of his wife, Cora Henrietta Crippen...
case, they plot a way to achieve it perfectly aboard the ocean liner, Mauretania
RMS Mauretania (1906)
RMS Mauretania was an ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson at Wallsend, Tyne and Wear for the British Cunard Line, and launched on 20 September 1906. At the time, she was the largest and fastest ship in the world. Mauretania became a favourite among...
. The dentist takes on the identity of Inspector Walter Dew
Walter Dew
Detective Chief Inspector Walter Dew was a Metropolitan Police officer who was involved in the hunt for both Jack the Ripper and Dr Crippen.-Early life:...
, Crippen’s nemesis, but then a murder occurs aboard the ship and the captain invites "Inspector Dew" to investigate.
Literary significance and reception
The novel is highly praised by many crime fiction critics and writers. Julian SymonsJulian Symons
Julian Gustave Symons 1912 - 1994) was a British crime writer and poet. He also wrote social and military history, biography and studies of literature.-Life and work:...
in his book Bloody Murder referred to it as “one of the cleverest crime comedies of the past few years.” Famous crime writer Ruth Rendell
Ruth Rendell
Ruth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, CBE, , who also writes under the pseudonym Barbara Vine, is an English crime writer, author of psychological thrillers and murder mysteries....
said in a review: “A masterpiece. I defy anyone to foresee the outcome.”
Awards
- CWA Gold DaggerGold DaggerThe Gold Dagger Award was an award given annually by the Crime Writers' Association for the best crime novel of the year.For its first five years, the organization's top honor was known as the Crossed Red Herring Award....
Award, 1982 - Listed in Crime & Mystery: the 100 Best BooksThe Top 100 Crime Novels of All TimeThe Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time is a list published in book form in 1990 by the British-based Crime Writers' Association. Five years later, the Mystery Writers of America published a similar list entitled The Top 100 Mystery Novels of All Time...
- Listed in Hatchards 100 Top Crime Novels
- Listed in The Times 100 Best Crime Novels of the Twentieth Century
- Dagger of DaggersDagger of DaggersThe Dagger of Daggers was a special award given in 2005 by the Crime Writers' Association to celebrate its 50th anniversary. All books that had previously won the CWA Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel of the Year were eligible, and the purpose was to select "the best of the best"...
shortlist, 2006
Publication history
- 1982, UK, London, Macmillan, ISBN 0333327489, Hardback
- 1982, USA, Pantheon, ISBN 039452294X, Hardback
- 1983, UK, Arrow Books, ISBN 0333327489, Paperback
- 1983, USA, Pantheon, ISBN 0394713389, Paperback