Listener Crossword 4791: Solution Notes
No Time to Die by Vainglorious
Puzzle explanation
The letters unclued in wordplay spelt out ASSASSINS. The multiple letters in clashing cells were jumbles of the names of the four assassins who killed sitting US presidents: GUITEAU, CZOLGOSZ, BOOTH and OSWALD. Entering one letter from each assassin’s name completed the name of his respective victim, appearing diagonally in the grid: GARFIELD, MCKINLEY, LINCOLN and KENNEDY. The puzzle was published just after the 60th anniversary of the shooting of John F Kennedy.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer (unclued letter) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Rows | ||
| 1 | ARAROBA | ARABA around OR < |
| B(A)RBECUE | (BR + B) + (d)EUCE < | |
| 2 | SAGAMORE | MORE after SAGA |
| REEF | FEE < after R | |
| FAR | FAR(e) | |
| 3 | STONE | (add)S TO NE(cklace) |
| ECAD | DACE < | |
| DERN | (N + RED) < | |
| 4 | KEF | (wa)KE F(rom) |
| FADS | FADE with S for E | |
| 5 | MOTHS | M(iG) + SHOT * |
| SEXI(S)M | MIXES < | |
| SMIT | I’M < in ST | |
| 6 | LIEN | IE in (L + N) |
| NE’ER | REEN < | |
| 7 | SPINEL | L after SPINE |
| ELSIN | INSOLE * − O | |
| INCLOSE | IN + CLOSE | |
| 8 | EIDS | (b)E(h)I(n)D + S |
| DSOBOS | SOB in DOS | |
| STOEP | POETS * | |
| 9 | AWDLS | (BE + AWDLS + RICH) * = BARDIC WELSH |
| 10 | YIELDS | ((to)Y + SLIDE) * |
| (S)TUNG | T(hing) + GNU < | |
| UNGAG | GUN * + AG | |
| 11 | ENMESHES | (SENSE HEM) * |
| SEIL | LIES < | |
| 12 | G(A)SSIEST | GS + SIEST(a) |
| STALL | S + TALL | |
| Columns | ||
| 1 | ASSUME(S) | (S + SUM) in AE |
| ESSAYED | ES + SAY + ED | |
| 2 | RATOO | RA + TOO |
| OLPES | POLES with P moved down | |
| LOADING | LOG around (A + DIN) | |
| 3 | AGOUTI | AI around GOUT |
| EDEMA | MED < in EA | |
| 4 | RANCH | (b)RANCH (limb = edge) |
| CHENILLES | CHEES(e) around NILL | |
| 5 | OMENS | ENS after OM |
| (S)NEDS | (sharpe)NED S(cythes) | |
| 6 | BOCKED | COB < + KED |
| SUSHI | S + US + HI | |
| 7 | ARAK | A in ARK |
| ESTHETE | (THE + E + SET) * | |
| 8 | DEID | DIED < |
| D(I)SCUSS | D(efendant)S + CUSS | |
| 9 | BEEFS | BEES around F |
| TE(N)ET | TEE + T(rinitarian) | |
| 10 | FRAME | RAM in FE |
| MEZZOS | SOZZ(led) < after ME | |
| GORGIA | GROG < + I’ + A(udience) | |
| 11 | CANDIES | C + AND + E in IS |
| SETAL | SEAL around T | |
| 12 | GUITARIST | (I + SITAR) * in GUT |
| (S)TREP | PERT < | |
| PYGAL | P(rett)Y + GAL | |