Listener 4511: Death In The Afternoon By Little Hare

[kdgs2]

Well that was a nice straightforward puzzle this week. I particularly liked the clueing this time round - my favourite being 20 across. Some of the misprints were very well hidden too. Thanks Little Hare!

[starwalker]

I also thought that this was a lovely puzzle, with some well-hidden bits. An interesting mix of clues (33A made me smile, eventually), but I was just a touch disappointed by tha final stage. I feel that something more could have been done, but I'm not sure precisely what. Thanks, Little Hare, for giving me time for the local carnival

[Hagen]

I thought this was terrific, and I really did laugh out loud (which almost never happens) when at last I understood the "hint to both a grid entry...etc.). I remember really enjoying Little Hare's last puzzle, and this one too had the emphasis on fun rather than difficulty for the sake of it. Lovely theme well implemented, with some nicely placed red herrings.

One point - it seems that these days two- or three-letter abbreviations can appear as anagram fodder if indicated by the whole word. Probably not unfair as such but I'm not keen.

Great stuff though; thanks Little Hare!

[Hagen]

Sorry about the inconsistent punctuation - PLEASE, AB admin, can we have an edit option?

[cross_lover]

Hmm. I have a nasty suspicion I may have fallen into a trap. I have found a relevant phrase which leads to the expected "resident" but I can't see the connection between the grid entry at the start of said line and the theme. Is there a red herring, anyone? I'm starting NE by the way.

[Cruncher]

Nicely worked although I found the final step a little prosaic. Spent ages looking for something more abstruse!

[Scorpius]

I thought this was a terrific puzzle. As others have said, there were some lovely clues and well-disguised misprints.
I'm not sure what more some expected from the endgame. It seemed just right to me, with several thematic strands neatly incorporated in the grid. The path didn't jump out at me immediately, so finding all the thematic elements was satisfying enough for me.

[Philoctetes]

Yes, a sweet puzzle (theme in my area of expertise) with enough material and good clues. However, something grates about the last letter of 30 - I know what is expected, from the wordplay, but it grates.

[12barblues]

File under ‘Classic Listener’, nowhere really difficult, nice treatment of theme (although ultimately a little forced). An enjoyable couple of hours and like Hagen a wry smile on understanding all of the preamble. Thanks Little Hare.

[icynorth]

Gentle and fun. My only quibble is some unnecessary thematic repetition.

Thanks, Little Hare!

[contendo]

I agree with Hagen that a whole word in a clue shouldn't be used as anagram-fodder in its abbreviated form. Otherwise an excellent construction, but why Charlotte's in 25D?

[Garaman]

To indicate an Americanism? (Haven't done it.)

[emcee]

A good beginner's puzzle. I too felt there was a bit of duplication with one element of the theme, however all seemed to go well. I was expecting a closed arena but perhaps it's my understanding of the preamble that is at fault here.

Decent puzzle though; thanks Little Hare.