Listener Crossword 4659: Solution Notes
Me and My Puzzlers by Wan
Puzzle explanation
The thematic quotation was Agatha Christie’s “I’m a sausage machine, a perfect sausage machine”. The normal clues’ initial letters formed BANGER, and each of them contained the title of one of Agatha Christie’s novels. The extra letters in the other clues spelt out “the author and works in plain clues thematically”, so 1ac and 11ac were changed to SAUSAGE MACHINE, to be highlighted along with a snaking line of six sausages (SALAMI, WIENER, PEPPERONI, KIELBASA, MORTADELLA, SNAG), which metaphorically represented Christie and her output. “Processed” and “string” in the preamble were thematic hints.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra letter | Answer | Explanation, Christie title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | run(T) | NORTHER | N + OTHER around R |
| 6 | (H)ut | ARBOUR | BOAR * + U(t) + R |
| 11 | git(E) | AMOROSO | A + MORO(n) + SO |
| 12 | SALINE | SAE around ((peri)L + IN); Peril at End House | |
| 13 | Re(A)ctor | SKYR | SKYE with R for E |
| 14 | (U)na | PRENASAL | PAL around (NA in RES) |
| 15 | (T)enure | TREEN | (cen)TRE EN(ure) |
| 16 | w(H)ile | WIMPLE | WILE around MP |
| 19 | Ring(O) | KNELT | Knel(L) + (Bea)T(les) |
| 21 | swindle(R)s | HASP | HAS + P(lot) |
| 22 | pr(A)y | PERONES | PE(e)R + ONE’S |
| 25 | (N)eat | ALMANDINE | COALMAN − CO + DINE |
| 26 | lande(D) | RIDABLE | (A BIRD + L(and)E) * |
| 27 | (W)age | ITEM | TIME with halves reversed |
| 31 | SAICE | AMNESIC * − N − M; N or M? | |
| 34 | c(O)ast | PARAMO | PARAMOUNT − NUT * |
| 36 | rule(R) | ADIÓS | RADIO + S − R |
| 37 | ANURESIS | (IS EAS(y) + RUN) *; Murder Is Easy | |
| 38 | Mas(K)s | MESS | M + NESS − (Batma)N |
| 39 | trunk(S) | LONGAN | LOG around ’N’ + AN(y) |
| 40 | r(I)ot | SALLOWY | SALLY around ((r)O(t) + W) |
| 41 | Ba(N)d | ESSENE | SEEN * after ES |
| 42 | a(P)e | HYAENAS | (AE HAS + N(os)Y) * |
| Down | |||
| 1 | c(L)ans | NAUTCH | NATCH around U |
| 2 | (A)head | ROKERS | ROKE + R(oasting) + S |
| 3 | sa(I)d | TRYER | TERRY * |
| 4 | show(N) | HORN | (s)HO(w) + R(ecount) N(ightmare) |
| 5 | (C)ranks | RORIE | R + OR + I(rvin)E |
| 7 | b(L)ack | RANI | IN < after RA |
| 8 | b(U)y | BLAME | MALE * after B |
| 9 | Ang(E)lo | UNALTERED | (R(a)T (A)N(g)L(o) A(n)D (d)U(k)E (s)E(t)) * |
| 10 | (S)on | RELEASE | RE + EEL < around AS |
| 14 | (T)en | PEN PAL | (EN in PP) + AL(l) |
| 17 | PINE | NE after PI(c); Unfinished Portrait | |
| 18 | s(H)ip | CAPITANOS | (ON A SIP ACT) * |
| 19 | bas(E)s | KEMBS | KEMPS with B for P |
| 20 | ra(M)p | TRIKE | (s)TRIKE |
| 23 | (A)id | EDICTS | (ID ETC) * + S |
| 24 | wan(T) | PROPALE | PRO(m) + PALE |
| 25 | ADAR | A + DAR(k); Endless Night | |
| 28 | TOISON | IS in (TO + O) + N; Towards Zero | |
| 29 | e(I)ther | MOSEYS | (MY SHOES) * − (et)H(er) |
| 30 | (C)ars | SARGE | EG < after ARS * |
| 32 | (A)isle | IRISH | RISHI with second I moved up |
| 33 | (L)over | ADELE | (LED in EA) < |
| 35 | f(L)ed | MEAN | A in MEN |
| 36 | steam(Y) | AMLA | (ste)AM LA(nds) |