Listener Crossword 4848: Solution Notes
Return by Dysart
Puzzle explanation
The answers to wordplay-only clues were REICHENBACH FALLS, FLORENCE, PERSIA, KHARTOUM and LONDON, all Playfair-encoded using the code phrase FIND SHERLOCK. The initials of Down clues, decoded with the same phrase, spelt (The) Adventure of the Empty House, the first story in the collection The Return of Sherlock Holmes. In the grid, 32dn was changed to HOLMES, who in the story had visited the named places before meeting WATSON and catching Sebastian MORAN, who had murdered Ronald ADAIR (all three highlighted).
In The Final Problem (1893), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had killed off Holmes in a tussle with Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls, where both men plummeted to their deaths. However, in (The) Adventure of the Empty House (1903) Holmes explains how he survived and made his way back to London. Sadly, this Listener really is “the final problem” from Dysart, who died in July 2024.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 11 | HAME | HE around AM |
| 14 | EVOE | O’ in EVE |
| 15 | OROLOGIST | (LOOS(e) + GRIT + O’) * |
| 16 | LARI | LIAR with I’ moved |
| 17 | JIBED | JIB(b)ED |
| 18 | IRMA | (a)IRMA(n) |
| 19 | RIATA | (IT + R(opes) A(n) A(nimal)) * |
| 20 | ADIEU | DIE in AU |
| 21 | INN | (j)INN |
| 22 | SEA | (i)S(l)E(m)A(n) |
| 24 | ALL | (s)ALL(y) |
| 25 | FLOWER-BED | FLOWED around (BR + E) < |
| 30 | HERO | HECTOR * = (T + C + HERO) * |
| 33 | SAMP | SA + MP |
| 35 | CAESE | E in CASE |
| 37 | TAT | 2 meanings |
| 38 | OCREA | (bambo)O CREA(ting) |
| 41 | LONDON | (DON + DON) with L for D |
| 42 | PERSIA | SIR * in PEA |
| 43 | TOKES | TO + KES |
| 44 | MACHINE-PISTOL | (POLICEMAN + THIS) * |
| 45 | OPTS | OS around PT |
| 46 | PARSE | homophone of PARS |
| 47 | ISLA | ISLAM − M |
| Down | ||
| 1 | FLORENCE | (E + CONFER + L) * |
| 2 | LARAINE | LA + (honou)R + AINÉ |
| 3 | FERITY | RIT in FEY |
| 4 | KHOJAS | (HAS + JOK − E) * |
| 5 | EBLIS | E(nter) + BLISS − ’S |
| 6 | DOGES | DODGES − D |
| 7 | ADIDAS | (q)ADI + SAD < |
| 8 | BESIDE | BEDE around SI |
| 9 | CORMELS | R in COM- + ELS(e) |
| 10 | KHARTOUM | (H + OUT + MARK) * |
| 13 | ROBLE | ROE around LB < |
| 22 | SWAT | 2 meanings |
| 23 | ARET | AT around RE |
| 26 | LOSSY | LOS + S + Y |
| 27 | OVERTIP | (HIP − H) after OVERT |
| 28 | BOOKSIE | OK in BOSIE |
| 29 | ESCOT | (E, S) + COT |
| 31 | REDACT | CAD < in RET |
| 32 | MASKER | ASK in ME + R |
| 34 | ARNUTS | AR + NUTS |
| 35 | COMMO | COMMON − N |
| 36 | AHEAP | APACHE * − C |
| 39 | ENROL | (sev)EN ROL(led) |
| 40 | AKELA | MAKE − M’ + LA |