Listener Crossword 4481: Solution Notes
Jury by Twin
Puzzle explanation
The extra words in clues were jumbles of the first names of the 12 suspects in Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, plus an extra letter. The extra letters spelt out “eastern state”, a clue for ORIENT EXPRESS, which replaced HERCULE POIROT along the grid’s main diagonal.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra word (name + letter) | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | HAST | (c)HAST(e) | |
| 5 | ergate (Greta + E) | SILASTIC | SIC around (I + LAST) |
| 11 | EO IPSO | (IS POE) * + O | |
| 12 | Jonah (John + A) | SCAT | CAST * |
| 14 | PARR | (te)RRAP(in) < | |
| 15 | MIASMATIC | (A + SMA + TIC) after MI | |
| 16 | symar (Mary + S) | CONS | C(alic)O + N(eed) S(titching) |
| 17 | TELIAL | (I’LL EAT) * | |
| 18 | NISI | SIN < + I | |
| 20 | SCALENE | AL in SCENE | |
| 22 | NUNS | NU + NS | |
| 23 | griddle-heat (Hildegarde + T) | LEAR | 2 meanings; ref. Edward Lear |
| 24 | USER | 2 meanings | |
| 26 | LINACS | ((builder)S CAN IL(l)) < | |
| 28 | RYPE | P(tarmigan) in RYE | |
| 30 | PREP | PEP around R | |
| 31 | SASH | HAS * after S(eries) | |
| 33 | CHARLES | CHARLESTON − TON | |
| 35 | SCUL | SCULL − L | |
| 37 | Trochee (Hector + E) | HALVED | V in HALE + D |
| 39 | SOLI | SOL + I | |
| 41 | ALLA BREVE | VERBAL < in ALE | |
| 42 | ’ARRY | (A + Y) around RR | |
| 43 | TOLE | TO LURE − RU < | |
| 44 | ANANAS | (b)ANANAS | |
| 45 | Perrier (Pierre + R) | FEET | (THOSE − HOSE) after FEE |
| Down | |||
| 1 | HOPING | CHOPIN − C + G | |
| 2 | SERFS | FRES(h) < + S | |
| 3 | cornelian (Caroline + N) | TORC | TOR + C(herry) |
| 4 | TIMOUS | SUIT < around MO | |
| 5 | SPINE | S + PINE | |
| 6 | Alsatian (Natalia + S) | LOST | OS in LT |
| 7 | ASMEAR | (EXAMS ARE − EX) * | |
| 8 | notation (Antonio + T) | TATIES | TATI’S around (programm)E |
| 9 | CYCLERS | SCARCELY * − A; “tired” for “tyred” indicates US usage | |
| 10 | awarded (Edward + A) | EATING | EG around (A + TIN) |
| 13 | CALLUNAS | (SAN + U + LILAC − I) < | |
| 19 | INTERVAL | INTERVITAL − IT | |
| 21 | CALP | PLAC(e) < | |
| 23 | LARE | LA + RE | |
| 25 | crusty (Cyrus + T) | ARCHAIC | (ON ISN’T + ARCHAIC) * = ANACHRONISTIC |
| 27 | CHURRO | C + HURR(y) + O | |
| 29 | PALLOR | PO(o)R around ALL | |
| 30 | PLEBES | PLEASES with B for AS | |
| 31 | SOLENT | SO + LENT | |
| 32 | PLAY AT | (ALP after TAY) < | |
| 34 | upholder (Rudolph + E) | NOVAE | AVON < + (movi)E |
| 36 | CARSE | RACES * | |
| 38 | DRAT | TRAD with outer letters switched | |
| 40 | IAAF | IF around (A + A) | |