Spectator 2549

[solidair123]

Just two to finish. 4a Plundered item operations officer returned. sp???a?ed
6d Dull people, nasty and surly, not unknown. ?urd?ns

[Lie-in King]

4a Spoliated - 'detail (item) ops (officer)' (back)
6d Lurdans - anag 'and surl(y)' (not unknown; y)

[solidair123]

Thank you. I would not have got these without your help.

[johnpiper]

But have found that i need to solve 30 down and 37 a
For the second word in 27A I have BOTE which is an Awards so that presumably in the plural is 37A AWARDS but then i have 30 down as ?C?AEN (6) which doesn't make much sense to me

Sorry to be slow here but its a puzzle
unless i have missed a synonym for 1 across which is one of the characters in the novel?

[professorplum13]

30d SCREEN...the 1st E coming from amEnds

screen synonym of fire....

[professorplum13]

bote is the synonym for amends not awards

[johnpiper]

yes thank you!
i just got there myself
Amends is a better synonym for Bote which i cant say i have ever head of before
the title of the puzzle is appropriate!