Listener 4232 A Murder Mystery By Hedge-Sparrow

[dr b]

What a long preamble, but what a fun puzzle. It took me a few minutes to get what the down message was telling me, but the P D'd, all was clear. Thanks hedge-sparrow.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, just completed this delightful puzzle with so much fun both in the solving and in the endgame. Lovely, Hedge-Sparrow!

[AndrewG-S]

Yes a fine puzzle, plenty of twists and turns to keep it entertaining to the end. Thanks hedge sparrow.

[Alekhine]

Phew! Away on business last week, so I was delighted that this was so straightforward (and fun) as I haven't looked at 4231 yet.

I found some interesting options for the murder weapon, but Mrs Alekhine assures me that most of these are not practical suggestions.

I predict a little fuss over how the name of the correct detective is entered.

[SethMould]

Sorry to butt in. I started a fund to help John Green on my blog. The Crossword Centre mafia are now saying I should stop the fund. I've received some donations from you guys, and I don't know what to do now.

But please do not make any more donations.

Seth Mould (Google me)
ex-Mango

[contendo]

A few minutes to get the down message Dr B? It took you that long?
I've filled the grid & got the murderer, so thought I'd leave the decoding till tomorrow. An enjoyable puzzle (so far).
Sorry about JG's problems but hope they're resolved soon. It sounds as though Seth's got his own problems now.

[aldanna]

I thought I was comfortably in the Friday club with this fun puzzle, but then realised I hadn't spotted the weapon. Much grid-staring later I still haven't found it. Will leave it to mature overnight. Sorry to hear Mr G has problems, but have no idea what these are.

[cluelessJoe]

Before anyone worries too much. please don't get distracted by JEG's 'problems' - they were logistics related (specifically he needed to find a new source for the photocopying of the annual stats). It's my understanding that it is now sorted and someone has now found / provided a way for the reprographics to be done.
Now, back to Hedgesparrow's problem - enjoyable wasn't it?.

[trux]

Indeed it was, CJ. Got back lateish, and after post-work preprandial drinks (February abstinence now fading into distance) but still didn't take too long to get into this, and most enjoyable, light-hearted fun it was, too. Many thanks to Hedge-Sparrow - now will this grid get rejumbled and used again in three weeks' time, mewonders?

[SethMould]

For info Media URL: http://youtu.be/A9QS8LE0Quc
Description:

[jockie]

Just made it into the Friday Club even though I foolishly misread the Preamble and got the idea that the 9 extra letters spelt out the victim. So I had to decipher the coded stuff cold. Oddly enough it yielded quite quickly thanks to the --KK-, -KRRK- and K- twice. Even more fun if you make life difficult for yourself. Thanks H-S.

[Mesnilpat]

What a lovely puzzle to come back to. I made sure the BRB was in one of the first boxes to unpack and briefly looked at 4231 on Thursday, when the broadband in our new house was up and running, but didn't make any significant progress. This one is providing just the respite needed from unpacking, though it will be a while before I finish. I obviously missed something while away, to do with JEG and photocopying?

[Antmark]

All completed, but unsure which detective is A, B or C. Do you just take them in grid order reading down?

[dr b]

The preamble notes that the detectives appear "as coded unclued entries with adjacent labels".

[Antmark]

Many thanks Dr B. How did I miss that?

[djawhufc]

Hi all

This is the first Listener I have managed to have a proper go at.
I've done all the clues- got the name of murderer and think I have the 5 word phrase that helps uncode.

Because I'm new to this sort of puzzle I'm now staring blankly as to what to do next. Is the phrase in clue order (I know you have to turn some of the 2 letter combinations around)?

Is there any tips or hints as to what I should do next with code?


Hopefully I haven't broken convention by asking?

Thanks in advance

DJA

[AndrewG-S]

Dja on the website we tend not to ask and answer direct questions but more to comment on overall quality or issues. But if you want to drop me an email I am happy to guide you through the endgame. Andrew. Email [email protected]

[tilbee]

Excellent fun, and a very enjoyable end game. Even with the victim located, the identification of the murder weapon still took me a little time to finally resolve. Thanks to Hedge-Sparrow.

[magichour]

Am I wrong in thinking there is more than one possible weapon according to BRB definitions of words 'touching' the victim?

[Ruthrobin]

Magichour, we spotted at least five including one that is the subject of an amusing story by Roald Dahl and one that US solvers could probably be convinced is the right one. However, I believe that the required one is so obviously the right one that anybody will know they have found it - when they have.

[djawhufc]

Thanks Andrew I've taken you up on your kind offer