Ev: Sunday Telegraph Enigmatic Variations 1210: Whodunnit? By Ranunculus

[jim360]

This is a seriously good crossword. Nothing too hard but full to bursting with thematic material, something to smile at in every clue. Wonderful stuff, Ranunculus. I can't say I completely understand how the killer and murder weapon are hinted at, so I hope I've deduced them correctly.

[jockie]

I agree with all of that, including the final sentence. If I interpret the preamble correctly, the letters in the death room comprise the corpse, the killer and the cause of death. If so the killer's name is not one I've ever seen in real life, although it's a perfectly good work. But maybe my second sentence is reading too much into the preamble?

[devadolly]

Hello Jim & Jockie, love this EV as I love the game. Not quite done but saving a bit for later. Far too cold to venture out.....even got some snow here so some poor souls will be 3 feet under a blanket of white.

[doorbell]

I think the hints are the three words starting 'one.....' in two of the clues. Agreed, seriously enjoyable puzzle.

[roslyn251254]

Yes I liked this one too.
I thought the hints were in the death room clues?

[Keepatit]

Great fun, and FWIW I agree with doorbell about the clues

[ringer]

Enjoyed this but struggling with the endgame. I too can't see the hints!! Btw Devadolly, are you trying to use AB on a tablet? The adverts on mine mean I have problems typing.

[ringer]

Duh - got the four letter changes. Was trying to make it harder than it really was! Still don' t see much of a hint apart from the first word of the first clue in the room.

[roslyn251254]

ringer - think "corpse"

[Spoffy]

...and see doorbell's post above (regarding the second and fourth clues in the relevant 'room').

[devadolly]

No ringer, on the usual laptop, just being difficult I think....or was last week, just hope it's got over its paddy by now! Thanks for the hints as I was having difficulty thinking how I was supposed to get the good Dr B into the requisite square.

[DocHH]

I obviously did not search for clues, and started a thread much later!

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puzzles/Crosswords/Question1469252.html

[devadolly]

Most enjoyable puzzle but can someone help me parse 12a, just don't see it at all! Many thanks

[jim360]

anagram [cast] of "dances in" without anagram [slipping] of "and".

[devadolly]

Many thanksJim.

[crosswhit99]

Can anyone explain why MUSTARD (21) and BLACK (25) both appear hidden in the Study ? The preamble makes no reference to there being 2 suspects in a room and in the board game Dr. Black is the victim.

[Spoffy]

BLACK isn't really hiding in 25 - he's not a Cluedo suspect, but, more importantly, the preamble states that the consecutive words used for concealing suspects/weapons should be ignored when solving the clue, and taking out 'Thick album' from 25 would remove the definition and the first letter of the solution. I suspect the sequence of letters in the clue is purely coincidental.